QUESTION
How long will it take to show symptoms of an STD after having oral sex?

ANSWER
Giving head can put you at risk for chlamydia, gonorrhea, herpes, syphilis and possibly HPV. Going down on a woman can put you at risk for herpes and possible HPV. While that sounds like a lot, STDs in the back of the throat often have no symptoms and some clear on their own. An easy throat swab for gonorrhea or chlamydia or blood test for syphilis or herpes can tell if you have an infection.

Because most STDs have no symptoms, the only way to know for sure is to get tested. Visit http://www.sfcityclinic.org for more information on testing in the Bay Area or call the CDC National Hotline at 1-800-CDC-INFO for a place to get tested near you.

To your health,
Dr. K