Sexual Health STIs Fecal-Oral Route for Transmission of Infection and Sex By Elizabeth Boskey, PhD Elizabeth Boskey, PhD Facebook LinkedIn Twitter Elizabeth Boskey, PhD, MPH, CHES, is a social worker, adjunct lecturer, and expert writer in the field of sexually transmitted diseases. Learn about our editorial process Updated on August 24, 2022 Medically reviewed by Jamin Brahmbhatt, MD Medically reviewed by Jamin Brahmbhatt, MD Facebook LinkedIn Jamin Brahmbhatt, MD, is a board-certified urologist and Chief of Surgery at Orlando Health South Lake Hospital. Learn about our Medical Expert Board Print Fecal-oral transmission occurs when infectious particles (pathogens) from feces are ingested through the mouth. These pathogens can be bacteria, viruses, or parasites. Ruth Jenkinson / Getty Images What the Fecal Oral Route Has to Do With Sex The fecal-oral route has been linked to the passing of certain sexually transmitted infections (STIs, formerly referred to as sexually transmitted diseases, or STDs). This risk is mostly through rimming and oral sex. Rimming is also known as analingus or anilingus. Rimming is the practice of oral stimulation of the anus. It is considered to be a sexual behavior that can pose some risks to health. This is, in part, because rimming may expose people to the transmission of infections that move via the fecal-oral route. The risk of disease transmission by the fecal-oral route is one reason why it's important to use barriers for oral-anal contact. Some infections that can be transmitted by the fecal-oral route include: Hepatitis A and heapatitis E Herpes Gonorrhea HPV (human papillomavirus) Many other parasitic and bacterial diseases Fecal-oral route disease transmission is classically associated with contamination of water by human or animal waste. Food poisoning due to food contamination or the use of contaminated water (for drinking, cooking, or cleaning) is a common reason that the fecal-oral route is an infectious disease risk. Fecal-oral infection transmission can also occur when people involved in food preparation do not thoroughly wash their hands after going to the bathroom. Another cause is when people do not wash their hands before eating. However, sexual exposure can also expose individuals to these same diseases that cause food poisoning. These risks can be reduced by using dental dams or other barriers. The Importance of Safe Oral-Anal Contact STIs aren't the only infections for which rimming puts partners at risk. There is also a real, serious risk of passing on gastrointestinal infections (GI). This risk may also be present during other kinds of oral sex. The oral sex risk associated with GI disease transmission depends on a number of factors. Among other things, it's related to personal hygiene practices. And oral contact with unclean hands could also potentially cause problems. A Word From Verywell All types of sexual contact have risks. Oral-anal contact is no different. However, that doesn't mean you have to stop doing the things you enjoy. Instead, also consider what you can do to protect your health. Remember that there are ways to make just about any sexual contact safer. That's as true for rimming as it is for other behaviors. In particular, good personal hygiene makes a big difference in safety. So does consistent use of barriers, such as condoms and dental dams. It's also important to remember that hygiene isn't important only before and after sex. It's also a really good idea to pay attention to proper handwashing at all times since GI infections can be passed thisway as well as through sexual contact. 3 Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Go Ask Alice. Does a good washing before anilingus remove bacteria?. Columbia University. De graaf M, Beck R, Caccio SM, et al. Sustained fecal-oral human-to-human transmission following a zoonotic event. Curr Opin Virol. 2017;22:1-6. doi:10.1016/j.coviro.2016.11.001 Bavoil PM, Marques PX, Brotman R, Ravel J. Does active oral sex contribute to female infertility?. J Infect Dis. 2017;216(8):932-935. doi:10.1093/infdis/jix419 Additional Reading Boston Public Health Commission. Enteric diseases and sexual health. By Elizabeth Boskey, PhD Elizabeth Boskey, PhD, MPH, CHES, is a social worker, adjunct lecturer, and expert writer in the field of sexually transmitted diseases. See Our Editorial Process Meet Our Medical Expert Board Share Feedback Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! What is your feedback? Other Helpful Report an Error Submit