- Home
- Parents Home
- A to Z Dictionary
- Allergy Center
- Asthma Center
- Cancer Center
- Cerebral Palsy Center
- Diabetes Center
- Flu Center
- Food Allergy Center
- Heart Health Center
- Homework Help Center
- Nutrition & Fitness Center
- Play & Learn Center
- Pregnancy & Newborn Center
- Sports Medicine Center
- Summer Safety Center
- Diseases & Conditions
- Doctors & Hospitals
- Emotions & Behavior
- First Aid & Safety
- General Health
- Growth & Development
- Infections
- Personal Stories
- Q&A
- Recipes
- School & Family Life
- Special Needs
- Videos
- A to Z Symptoms
- Educators
- Para Padres
- Home
- Kids Home
- Asthma Center
- Cancer Center
- Diabetes Center
- Heart Center
- Homework Help Center
- Nutrition & Fitness Center
- Relax & Unwind Center
- Stay Safe Center
- Feelings
- Health Problems
- Health Problems of Grown-Ups
- How the Body Works
- Illnesses & Injuries
- Kids' Medical Dictionary
- Movies & More
- Getting Help
- Personal Questions
- Puberty & Growing Up
- Q&A
- Recipes & Cooking
- Staying Healthy
- Videos
- My Body
- Staying Safe
- Para Niños
- Home
- Teens Home
- Asthma Center
- Be Your Best Self Center
- Cancer Center
- Concussion Center
- Diabetes Center
- Flu Center
- Homework Help Center
- Managing Your Medical Care
- Managing Your Weight
- Nutrition & Fitness Center
- Stress & Coping Center
- Sports Center
- Diseases & Conditions
- Drugs & Alcohol
- Infections
- Personal Stories
- Q&A
- Recipes
- School & Jobs
- Sexual Health
- Staying Safe
- Videos
- Your Body
- Your Mind
- Para Adolescentes
Health Information

Can You Get an Infection From Fingering or Oral Sex?
I'm 14 and still a virgin, but my boyfriend fingers me and gives me oral sex. For a couple of weeks, my vagina has been itchy and red, and it hurts when I touch it. I don't feel comfortable talking to my mom about this. What should I do?
– Ellie*
Friction and pressure from fingering or oral sex can cause irritation in the sensitive genital area. But itching and redness that lasts for a couple of weeks also could be a sign of an infection that could get worse if it isn't treated. So you should get checked out by a doctor or nurse practitioner.
Don't want to get into details with your mom? Just tell her you're having itching and discomfort "down there" and would like to get checked out. Girls can have vaginal infections for all sorts of reasons that have nothing to do with sexual contact — such as stress, for example.
Even if you're not having intercourse, fingering and oral sex can lead to infection. Ask your boyfriend to wash his hands before touching your genitals. And if either of you has a cold sore, don't have oral sex. The virus that causes cold sores can transfer to the genitals and become genital herpes.
Because other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) also can be passed by oral sex, use a when a girl is receiving oral sex or a condom when a guy is receiving oral sex to protect against infection.
*Names have been changed to protect user privacy.
Note: All information is for educational purposes only. For specific medical advice, diagnoses, and treatment, consult your doctor.
© 1995- KidsHealth® All rights reserved.
Images provided by The Nemours Foundation, iStock, Getty Images, Veer, Shutterstock, and Clipart.com.