The Better2Know Blog

This article was first published on 08/09/2023. Last updated 27/06/2025.

At Better2Know, we talk to all sorts of people who are worried about STIs. One topic that frequently comes up during our consultations is the concern surrounding vaginal fluids. Many people wonder how safe these substances are and how they should interact with them during sex.

In this blog, we’ll look at what vaginal fluid is and whether you should worry about STIs.

If you want to protect your sexual health, keep reading!

If you’re worried about STIs, you should get tested as soon as possible.

What is vaginal fluid?

Let’s start with the basics: what is vaginal fluid?

Is swallowing vaginal discharge dangerous?

In general, swallowing vaginal fluids during sex is nothing to worry about. Vaginal fluids are completely natural and there is no need to be afraid of them.

However, no matter what kind of sexual intercourse you are having, there is always a risk of STIs.

What about STIs?

STIs, or sexually transmitted infections, are infections that tend to be spread through sexual intercourse. However, full intercourse isn’t required for someone to get an STI. You can get an STI in all sorts of ways, from anal sex and oral sex to sharing sex toys and needles.

Vaginal fluids, in a person infected with an STI, may be contaminated with viruses and bacteria that could be transferred to a sexual partner.

Your throat contains a mucous membrane that is very vulnerable to infection. If you ingest infected vaginal fluids, you will be at risk of getting an STI.

Vaginal fluids are secretions discharged by the vagina during arousal and orgasm. The cervix and vagina produce these vaginal secretions to help with lubrication during intercourse. These fluids can vary in texture, colour, and scent depending on a range of factors such as menstrual cycle, hydration levels, and diet.

Chlamydia

Chlamydia is a common STI caused by the bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis. It often doesn’t cause noticeable symptoms, which means many people may not realise they have it. When symptoms do occur, they can include unusual discharge, burning during urination, and pain in the lower abdomen or genitals. If left untreated, Chlamydia can lead to serious health issues, including infertility.

Symptoms of Chlamydia in the Throat:

• Sore throat: This is a common symptom, but can be mild and mistaken for a cold or other viral infection. 
• Redness in the mouth or throat: This can be a sign of inflammation. 
• White spots on the tonsils: These can appear similar to strep throat. 
• Swollen lymph nodes: Swollen glands in the neck can be another indicator. 
• Cough: A persistent cough may also be present. 
• Difficulty swallowing: Some individuals may experience discomfort while swallowing. 
• Mouth sores or blisters: These may resemble cold sores. 
• Low-grade fever: A slight fever may also accompany the infection. 

You can get Chlamydia from oral sex if you come into contact with the bacteria through the penis, vagina, or rectum of an infected person. For example, if you perform oral sex on a partner who has Chlamydia in their genitals, the bacteria can be transmitted to you.

Gonorrhoea

Gonorrhoea is caused by the bacterium Neisseria gonorrhoeae. It can affect various parts of the body, including the genitals, rectum, throat, and eyes. Many people don’t experience symptoms, but when they do, they might notice:

• Pain or burning when urinating
• Unusual discharge from the penis or vagina
• Sore throat (if the throat is infected)
• Pain or discomfort in the rectum (if the rectum is infected)

Transmission through oral sex can occur when someone performs oral sex on a partner who has Gonorrhoea in their genitals or anus. The bacteria can infect the throat without causing symptoms, making it easy to pass on unknowingly.

Symptoms of throat Gonorrhoea:

• Sore throat: A persistent sore throat is a common symptom, but it can be mild and similar to other throat irritations. 
• Swollen lymph nodes: Swollen lymph nodes in the neck can be a sign of infection. 
• Difficulty swallowing: Some individuals may experience difficulty swallowing, although this is not always present. 
• Redness or swelling in the throat: The throat may appear red and swollen as a result of the infection. 
• Other symptoms: In some cases, fever or high temperature may also occur. 

Herpes

Herpes is a common viral infection caused by the Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV), which comes in two main types:

• HSV-1: Often causes cold sores around the mouth but can also cause genital Herpes.
• HSV-2: Typically causes genital Herpes but can also infect the mouth and throat.

Transmission through oral sex can happen in either direction. Performing oral sex on someone with a genital Herpes infection may make you susceptible to getting cold sores in and around your mouth.

HPV

HPV (Human Papillomavirus) is a very common group of viruses that affect the skin and mucous membranes. There are over 200 types of HPV, and while most don’t cause problems, some can lead to Genital Warts or certain types of cancer, including cervical, anal, penile, and some head and neck cancers.

HPV spreads through skin-to-skin contact, including oral, vaginal, and anal sex. You can contract HPV in the mouth or throat if you perform oral sex on someone who has the virus in their genital area. This is known as oral HPV, and while it often causes no symptoms, it can sometimes lead to mouth or throat cancers.

HPV can be passed on even when the infected person has no symptoms, and it’s possible to carry the virus for years without knowing it.

Syphilis

Syphilis is caused by the bacterium Treponema pallidum. It develops in stages—primary, secondary, latent, and tertiary—and can cause serious health problems if left untreated. Early symptoms may include:

• Painless sores (chancres) on the genitals, anus, or mouth
• Skin rashes, especially on the palms of your hands and soles of your feet
• Flu-like symptoms such as fever, fatigue, and swollen glands
• White patches in the mouth or wart-like growths around the genitals or anus

Syphilis can spread through direct contact with a Syphilitic sore, which can appear on the genitals, anus, lips, or inside the mouth. You can also get it during normal sexual activities, like vaginal sex, anal sex, and oral sex, even if a sore isn’t present. If you perform oral sex on someone who is infected with Syphilis, you can get it yourself. Likewise, if someone has a sore in their mouth and performs oral sex, they can transmit the infection to their partner.

What about other infections?

STIs aren’t the only infections you can get from eating vaginal fluid.

Yeast infections

While not an STI, a yeast infection can be transmitted during oral sex.

Yeast infections are caused by Candida bacteria, which live naturally on most people’s genitals. When they overgrow, they can cause a yeast infection. These infections tend to be caused by stress, hormone imbalances, antibiotics, pregnancy, and irritants like douches, soaps, deodorants, and spermicides.

It’s possible to get a yeast infection in your throat if you ingest vaginal discharge from someone who has a yeast infection. Such an infection can usually be cured with medication.

Urinary tract infections (UTIs)

One exception to all these infections is UTIs. The bacteria that cause UTIs don’t typically cause throat or mouth infections, so performing oral sex on someone who has one shouldn’t transmit anything.

How can I stay safe?

When engaging in any kind of sexual activity, you should always practice safe sex.

In the case of oral sex, it’s important to communicate with your sexual partner (or sexual partners) about your sexual histories and discuss anything that may be concerning you. Regular testing for STIs is the best way to know if you become infected. You may want to consider using dental dams during oral sex if you have access to them.

If you think you may have been exposed to a sexually transmitted infection, get tested as soon as possible with Better2Know. Our dedicated team will help you choose an STI clinic and screen that’s right for you.

Don’t leave your sexual health to chance. Book an STI test at a sexual health clinic near you.

[Get tested]

This article has been medically reviewed by Dr. Steve Chapman, 11/06/2024.

This blog was first published on 05/05/2023. Last updated 13/06/2025.

Fingering is pretty common – many people don’t think twice about it.

But what you may not know is that fingering can put you at risk of getting a sexually transmitted infection (STI).

In this blog, we’ll explore the risks associated with fingering and how to reduce your chances of getting a sexually transmitted disease.

Media organisations in the US and around the world were shocked to discover a new outbreak of Hepatitis A in Los Angeles, California.

Local authorities declared a community-wide outbreak of the highly contagious infection, which can cause serious health damage if left untreated.

The Los Angeles Department of Public Health confirmed 165 Hepatitis A cases in the county since 2024, three times the number of cases reported in 2023. Counts continue to climb as public health officials attempt to address the issue. A further 29 cases were confirmed in the first three months of 2025, double the number of the same period last year.

The Los Angeles Times reports that seven deaths have been linked to the 13-month-old outbreak.

Dr. Sharon Balter, director of the country’s Division of Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, told the LA Times: “We definitely think that the outbreak is bigger than the numbers imply.”

When you think of STIs, you may not think of hair loss. But it is indeed a symptom that some people experience.

Syphilis can cause hair loss in some infected people. But how does this happen?

Keep reading to find out.

The world encounters countless new infectious diseases every year, like COVID 19, bird flu, Ebola, and Zika. What’s just as impressive as the sheer number of new infections are the cures scientists create to prevent them.

Scientists have created a form of chewing gum that could prevent the spread of oral infections responsible for causing conditions like Herpes and the flu.

But how does it work? Keep reading to find out more.

Experiencing the symptoms of an STI can be very stressful. It can be extra stressful when those symptoms change over time. And the symptoms experienced during a Herpes infection are no exception.

In this blog, we’ll plot out what a Herpes sore might look like, and how this might change over time. Keep reading to find out more.

This article first appeared on 27/01/2023. Last updated 04/04/2025.

One of the tricky things about sexually transmitted infections (STIs) is knowing whether you actually have one.

Most people assume they can tell if they have an infection when they experience symptoms, but this isn’t necessarily the case.

Most STIs are asymptomatic, which means that, even though you may have an established infection, you may not experience any symptoms. Some STIs can also produce symptoms that can be confused for other, less serious infections. Some people can have an STI for months or years and not know it.

So, should you get tested, even if you feel fine?

Keep reading to find out.

This blog first appeared on 19/05/2023. Last updated 07/03/2025.

Very rarely, the odd person might wake up one day to strange symptoms they’ve never experienced before. They get tested and realise that they’ve got an STI.

But they never had sex. So, what’s going on?

While people can’t get infected with a sexually transmitted infection (STI) out of the blue, it’s possible to get one without having sex, and there are some rare instances where you can “give yourself” an STI.

How does this happen? To understand, we need to explain how STIs are transmitted and detail all the non-sexual ways you can get an STI, from using contaminated household items to transferring an infection to another part of your body.

Keep reading to find out more.

There are many factors that can affect and disrupt a woman’s menstrual cycle. One rarely-discussed factor that can affect your period is an STI.

Read on to find out how your period might be affected by an STI you may not know you have.

In the world of STIs, it can be easy to assume that most people get infections only in specific ways – namely, through sex.

This is true for most infections, but not all.

Hepatitis B is a great example of how STIs can be transmitted, and it reminds us that we can’t be too vigilant when protecting our sexual health.

Let’s dive into the details and learn how you can stay safe and healthy.

Most people know that you can get Syphilis from sex. But did you know that you can get it in other ways, too?

Today, we’re addressing an important topic that we hear about a lot from our patients: whether Syphilis can be transmitted through saliva. Syphilis has made a comeback in recent years, so it’s important to know how to protect your health from the worst effects of this infection.

Let’s get into it.

Some people may think once they get treated for an STI, they don’t have to worry anymore.

This isn’t always true.

While most medications to treat STIs are highly effective and safe, they won’t rid you of your infection the moment you swallow a pill or take an injection.

We often hear from patients on our phone lines about concerns surrounding whether they’ll test positive for an infection even after they’ve been treated.

How does this work? Let’s get into it.

New research in the British Medical Journal has highlighted an increase in Herpes Simplex Virus infections and genital ulcer disease in 2020. Between 2016 and 2020, researchers estimate that global Herpes infections have risen to the extent that the virus now infects 846 million people aged 15 to 49. At least one person each second—around 42 million people annually—is estimated to acquire a new infection.

This raises questions about the efficacy of public health and prevention strategies. While not serious and asymptomatic in most cases, Herpes can cause pain and distress in many people who get it.

When you get into the world of sexual health, there are a lot of terms to keep track of. It’s easy to get confused. But Better2Know is here to help!

We often hear our patients get confused about the incubation period and the window period. These two concepts offer different views about how an infection progresses through the body.

Knowing the difference between these two can help you maintain your sexual health and avoid the worst effects of untreated STIs.

Let’s get started.

If you’re sexually active and you’re aware of the risks, you probably know about Chlamydia. It’s the most common bacterial STI in the world, and many sexually active people will get it in their lifetime.

Getting treated for Chlamydia is pretty simple: in most cases, after testing positive, the next course of action is to take antibiotics. The good news for those worried about Chlamydia is that it’s easily detected and easily cured.

However, many people may not know about the effects of prolonged Chlamydia infections, especially on their fertility.

Keep reading to find out more.

One of the best tools for fighting infections is testing. It allows healthcare providers to see pathogens as they enter our bodies. Trying to treat and manage an infection without testing is like entering a boxing ring with a blindfold on. You can do it, but you’re unlikely to fare very well.

A new meta-analysis has been released in BMC Infectious Diseases about the state of STI prevalence in the Middle East and North Africa region (MENA). Researchers analysed 23 MENA countries, 19 different STIS, and data from over 20 million participants.

The meta-analysis sheds light on the chronic issues the area has with testing provision and public health plans that effectively address these issues.

Keep reading to find out more about the state of play of sexually transmitted infections in the region.

When most people think of STIs, they tend to think of infections that affect the genitals. While this is true – many STIs will cause symptoms that affect the genital area – it’s not true in all cases.

The thing about infections is they’re often indiscriminate. They don’t mind where or how they get into your body, so long as they can survive once there. And several STIs are perfectly happy hunkering down in your mouth.

In this blog, we’ll cover what STIs are, how they can infect the mouth, what symptoms you may experience during an oral STI infection, and how you can get tested and treated.

Let’s go!

When you think about who tends to get STIs, you probably think of young people living foot-loose and fancy-free, dating widely and experiencing a wide range of sexual partners.

However, older adults are also at risk, and they might be more vulnerable than you’d expect. The rise in STD rates among older adults can be attributed to increased dating in later mid-life and old age, longer life expectancies, and less concern about pregnancy.

In this article, we’ll uncover several sneaky STDs that often go unnoticed by older adults and explain why recognising the symptoms and seeking treatment is essential.

At Better2Know, we often receive questions from our patients about various health concerns. One recent query stood out: “Does Bacterial Vaginosis (BV) count as a sexually transmitted infection (STI)?” This question arose after a reader experienced BV following sexual intercourse.

Understanding BV and its causes is crucial for any sexually active woman. While BV is not classified as an STI, we only see it in sexually active women, and it can be influenced by sexual activity.

Keep reading to find out more!

Getting some illnesses can make you more susceptible to getting others.

Diabetes can lead to heart disease. Getting the flu makes you more likely to get pneumonia. High blood pressure is tied to kidney disease.

This is also true in the world of STIs. For example, it’s well-known that having HIV can increase the likelihood of getting other STIs.

But it turns out HIV isn’t the only bad host letting in other nasty infections into your home.

Trichomonas may be the reason why some people have HPV…

In the world of HIV, the discovery of the p24 antigen has been a game-changer for effective HIV infection detection.

This one antigen has helped many people get the testing and treatment they need to live long and healthy lives.

But what is the p24 antigen, and how has it changed the testing process?

Let’s get into it.

Medical professionals working to limit the spread of STIs like Chlamydia, Gonorrhoea, and Syphilis may have a new tool on hand to help stop the spread of infection.

The new medicine is called DoxyPEP, an antibiotic pill that acts as a post-exposure prophylactic that could limit the likelihood of developing an STI after a potential exposure.

Sexual health testing can be a bit complicated. The average person who gets tested for a sexually transmitted infection may not know all the ins and outs of the different kinds of tests available.

At Better2Know, we want to make sure people can make informed decisions about their sexual health.

In this blog, we’ll cover antigen testing, how it works, and when it’s appropriate to get.

Let’s get started.

Yeast infections, also known as vulvovaginal candidiasis or vaginal candidiasis, disrupt the delicate balance of your intimate flora. These common fungal overgrowths can cause itching, irritation, and discomfort.

In this blog, we’ll unravel the mysteries of the duration of yeast infections, examining their causes, symptoms, and effective management strategies.

Pregnancy can be stressful enough without having to worry about anything going wrong. However, sometimes a pregnancy doesn’t go the way we may want, and complications can occur.

Ectopic pregnancies are a not-uncommon complication of some pregnancies. They can occur on their own, but certain conditions can make them more likely. And STIs are a common culprit of this condition.

The connection between STIs and ectopic pregnancies may not be widely known, but research has shown that certain STIs can increase the risk of an ectopic pregnancy. This is why understanding STIs and their potential complications is so important.

In this blog, we aim to shed light on this connection, empowering you with knowledge to take control of your sexual health.

Let’s get started.

STIs are infections that are primarily passed from one person to another during sexual contact. They can have a range of effects on the body, from mild symptoms that are barely noticeable to severe complications that can cause long-term health problems.

While most people are aware of the more common symptoms of STIs, such as sores, unusual discharge, or pain during sex, it’s less well-known that these infections can also affect other parts of the body. One such condition that can be caused by certain STIs is conjunctivitis, an inflammation of the eye that can cause redness, itching, and sometimes a discharge from the eye.

In this blog, we’ll explore the link between STIs and conjunctivitis, helping you understand how and why these infections can lead to eye problems.

When the thought of having a sexually transmitted infection (STI) enters your mind, you want answers, and fast. Having knowledge of your sexual health status can help you make the best possible decisions for your sexual health.

This blog will give you all the answers you will need about HIV testing and how long it will take.

Let’s dive in.

Symptoms can be a tricky issue when talking about STIs.

While most STIs are asymptomatic, certain symptoms can indicate the presence of an infection. And when these symptoms appear, it’s important to get tested and treated as soon as possible.

However, not all STIs have the same symptoms, and even the same STI can present differently in different people.

In this blog, we’ll look at how STIs present differently in both men and women, review what HIV is, and how it may present differently in women.

Keep reading to find out more.

When most people think about sexually transmitted diseases, they tend to think about symptoms that affect the genitals. Rarely do they think about the mouth.

But the mouth is one of the places where many people infected with STIs get their symptoms.

Syphilis is no exception.

Syphilis, known as the “great imitator”, can produce a wide range of symptoms. One potential indicator is the condition referred to as a “Syphilis tongue.” It’s one of the more unusual manifestations of Syphilis, and one you need to be aware of if you’re concerned about this infection.

In this guide, we’ll explore what causes Syphilis tongue, how to identify a Syphilis tongue, and why promptly recognising and receiving treatment for this symptom is crucial.

Keep reading to find out more.

No one wants to find a sore on their genitals.

When it happens, it can be a serious cause for concern. After all, developing sores, bumps, or lesions around the vagina can signify the presence of a sexually transmitted infection (STI).

However, if you’ve discovered a sore on your vagina, it’s important to understand what it may be and the kind of treatment you should seek.

In this blog post, we’ll explore what vaginal sores are, what STIs are known to cause them, and how to move forward if you notice any strange bumps or lesions in your genital area.