Have you wondered if you can get gonorrhea from kissing? Find out if this is a risk factor for this sexually transmitted infection or not!
Gonorrhea is a sexually transmitted infection or STD that can be spread through vaginal or anal sex with an infected person. If you are affected, you may have no symptoms, or you may experience painful urination and abnormal vaginal discharge. It turns out that the bacterium that causes this infection can survive in various warm and moist areas of the body. Thus, it is not only the reproductive tract that can be targeted, but also the mouth and throat. While unprotected sex is a risk factor, is kissing also a risk factor for gonorrhea? Let’s find out.
What is gonorrhea?
It is an infection caused by the bacterium Neisseria gonorrhoeae, and mainly affects the mucous membranes of the reproductive tract. “But it can also infect other areas, including the throat and rectum,” says gynecologist Dr Sriprada Vinekar. It is transmitted through direct contact with contaminated bodily fluids, usually during sexual activity. Here are some ways of transmission:
- Having vaginal sex with an infected person.
- Engaging in anal sex can make it easier to spread this sexually transmitted infection.
- Having oral sex on an infected partner can lead to oral gonorrhea, which affects the throat.
- An infected pregnant woman can pass this STD to her baby during childbirth.
What are the symptoms of gonorrhea?
“Some people may not experience any symptoms of this infection at all, especially in the early stages of the sexually transmitted infection,” says the expert. But some of the symptoms associated with gonorrhea in women include:
- Painful or burning sensation when urinating.
- Change in the amount or color of vaginal discharge.
- Spotting or bleeding even if you don’t have a period.
- Pain in the lower abdomen, which may be accompanied by discomfort during sex.
- Swelling around the vagina or pelvis.
- In the case of oral gonorrhea, you may have pain and discomfort when swallowing, white spots or sores in the throat, and swollen lymph nodes.
Can you get gonorrhea from kissing?
“If there are active infections in the throat, kissing could spread the bacteria, especially if the infected person has cuts or sores there,” says Dr. Vinekar. Deep kissing, which involves an exchange of saliva, can lead to gonorrhea, according to research published in Lancet Infectious Diseases in 2019. Another research published in Sexually Transmitted Diseases magazine in 2023 found that tongue kissing may be a risk factor for oral gonorrhea.
This STD can infect the throat, leading to a condition known as pharyngeal or oral gonorrhea. “This usually happens when Neisseria gonorrhoeae bacteria enter the throat, usually through oral sex with an infected partner,” says the expert. But if a person has an active infection in their throat, they can potentially spread the bacteria through kissing. The bacteria may be present in saliva or on the surface of the mucous membranes in the mouth and throat.
“Although it is possible to catch this STD through kissing, the risk is generally lower than through other forms of sexual activity, such as vaginal or anal sex,” says the expert. The concentration of bacteria is usually higher in genital fluids compared to saliva.
Can sharing food cause gonorrhea?
Neisseria gonorrhoeae is transmitted mainly through sexual contact with infected mucous membranes. “Thus, sharing food, drinking from the same straw or using the same utensils is considered a low-risk activity for its transmission,” says the expert. It is also not spread by hugging, using toilet seats, or sharing towels, glasses, or cutlery with an infected person. This is because the bacteria responsible for this infection cannot survive outside the human body for long, according to the UK National Health Service.
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How to reduce the risk of oral transmission?
- Use condoms or dental dams during oral sex to reduce contact with contaminated bodily fluids.
- Regular STI testing for sexually active people, especially those with multiple partners, can help detect and treat infections early.
- Not having multiple sexual partners can reduce the risk of exposure to STDs.
- Talk to your sexual partner about STDs and test history.
How to deal with it?
If you suspect you have this infection or have been exposed to it through kissing or in any other way, contact your doctor. This STD is treated with antibiotics, usually a dual therapy approach, which may include:
- Ceftriaxone: Medicine by injection or by mouth.
- Azithromycin: It is usually taken as a single dose.
Antiseptic mouthwash can also help with oral gonorrhea. During a 2016 study published in Sexually Transmitted Infections journal, researchers found that antiseptic mouthwash significantly reduced the amount of Neisseria gonorrhoeae on the surface of the pharynx (throat).
Gonorrhea from kissing is not the most common way the infection is transmitted, but it is possible. If you are affected, complete your full course of treatment and try not to engage in sexual activity until cleared by your doctor to prevent spreading the infection.
