Every month, STD Hero compiles actual STI testing results from swinger-focused labs across the U.S. Normally, the numbers shift slightly from month to month and that’s about it. But November 2025 produced a big jump, specifically for oral gonorrhea, so I wanted to dig into it properly and share some insight

This isn’t about fear or drama. It’s about understanding the data we do have, discussing the data we don’t have, and talking honestly about why oral STIs continue to be massively under-detected in sexually active communities, especially swingers and ENM folks.

If you enjoy deep-dive STI content, you might also like my article on Trichomoniasis in swingers and ENM communities.

The November Spike: Oral Gonorrhea Hit 4.65%

Here are the real-world swinger testing numbers reported by STD Hero (positivity rates)

• Oral Gonorrhea:
  • October: 1.28%
  • November: 4.65%
  • YTD: 3.75%
• Other notable November results:
  • Rectal Gonorrhea: 2.33%
  • Mycoplasma genitalium (Mgen): 3.43%
  • Genital Chlamydia: 2.71%

Going from 1.28% → 4.65% is roughly a 263% increase in a single month among swingers who were tested. Now, that spike doesn’t mean “everyone suddenly caught gonorrhea.” These are percentages based on the people who actually got full-site testing.

And here’s the catch: Most swingers still only get urine and blood tests, which won’t detect oral or rectal infections at all.

So if only a subset gets swabs, any increase in swab positivity is meaningful insight into what’s circulating, even if the raw numbers are small.

Why Oral Gonorrhea Is So Often Missed

Oral STIs, especially gonorrhea, are incredibly easy to miss because:

• Most people have no symptoms.
  A 2023 review found fewer than 20% of people with oral gonorrhea have any noticeable symptoms.
  Source: https://www.euti.org/journal/view.php?doi=10.14777/uti.2023.18.1.20
• Even when treated, cure rates for oral gonorrhea are under 90%.
  That means it can persist without follow-up testing.
• Standard “STI panels” often don’t include oral swabs.
  Pee cups and blood draws simply do not detect throat infections.

So it’s not surprising that the moment people do include oral swabs, hidden infections start appearing.

The Global Backdrop: Drug-Resistant Gonorrhea Is Rising

This spike also lands at the same time the World Health Organization released a November 2025 report warning that drug-resistant gonorrhea is spreading across multiple countries

Yes, the WHO data was mostly collected in African and Asian regions, but resistant strains don’t stay contained to one geographic area. Countries like the U.S. and Australia, where antibiotics are easier to access, are just as vulnerable.

A bacteria that already hides well in the throat + an increasing rate of drug resistance = a pretty important trend to watch.

Why Did Oral Gonorrhea Spike in November?

There are a few plausible reasons, and they aren’t mutually exclusive

1. More swingers got oral swabs? Maybe!
   Increased testing always increases detection, the math is mathin
2. Event clusters
   Halloween parties, lifestyle gatherings, or travel could create temporary spikes
3. Sample-size effects
   Smaller datasets produce bigger swings
4. Persistent or resistant strains
   If even a few cases didn’t clear on first treatment, they can carry forward

So this spike isn’t “the end of the world,” but it is a useful snapshot of what testing is uncovering right now.

How Common Is Oral Gonorrhea in the General Population?

Here’s the wild part:
There is no national U.S. data on the prevalence of oral gonorrhea in the general population.

Most official statistics only track genital infections. One often-cited 2016 summary from DTAP Clinic estimated throat gonorrhea rates as:

• 30% in straight women
• 15.5% in straight men
• 17% in gay men

These numbers don’t reflect the entire population, but they show just how under-diagnosed oral infections can be when testing is limited to urine-only panels.

Comparing Swingers to Sex Workers: Waiting for TTS Data

I like comparing swinger positivity rates to sex-worker data because both groups test regularly and provide unique insight. Talent Testing Service (TTS), which focuses on professional performers, hasn’t released their November report yet. You can check for updates here

In October, TTS reported under 1% positivity for gonorrhea, lower than STD Hero’s swinger numbers, which makes November’s spike even more interesting. I’m curious whether the adult industry will show anything similar.

What This Means for Swingers, ENM Folks, and Anyone Sexually Active

This isn’t about scaring people into testing more, it’s about awareness and making informed decisions. A few practical takeaways:

• If you’re doing oral or anal play, swabs are essential
  Urine tests alone are not “full STI testing.”
• Don’t rely on symptoms
  Oral infections are mostly silent.
• Test regularly according to your level of activity
• After treatment, ask whether a test-of-cure is recommended, especially for oral gonorrhea where cure rates are lower
• Talk openly with partners
  More honesty = safer fun

Final Thoughts

November’s oral gonorrhea spike from 1.28% to 4.65% might end up being a one-off cluster, or it could be an early sign of a trend. Either way, it’s a valuable reminder that if you’re not getting swabs, you’re not getting the full picture.

Oral, rectal, and genital testing together offer the clearest snapshot of sexual health, especially in communities where overlapping partners and frequent play are common.

As more data comes in including the next TTS report I’ll continue sharing updates. Because whether it’s swingers, sex workers, or the general population, staying informed helps all of us play smarter and safer.

References & Sources

World Health Organization (WHO). More countries report rising levels of drug-resistant gonorrhoea.
https://www.who.int/news/item/19-11-2025-more-countries-report-rising-levels-of-drug-resistant-gonorrhoea–warns-who

World Health Organization (WHO). Gonorrhoea – Fact Sheet.
https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/gonorrhoea-(neisseria-gonorrhoeae-infection)

UTI Journal (2023). Oral Gonorrhea: Symptoms, Testing, and Treatment Challenges.
https://www.euti.org/journal/view.php?doi=10.14777/uti.2023.18.1.20

DTAP Clinic. Oral (Throat) Gonorrhoea – What You Need To Know.
https://www.dtapclinic.com/articles/oral-gonorrhea-throat-gonorrhea-what-do-you-need-to-know/

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). STI Screening Recommendations – Gonorrhea.
https://www.cdc.gov/std/treatment-guidelines/gonorrhea.htm

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Gonorrhea – About the Infection.
https://www.cdc.gov/std/gonorrhea/stdfact-gonorrhea.htm

Clinical Infectious Diseases. Pharyngeal Gonorrhea Study and Epidemiology.
https://academic.oup.com/cid/article/43/10/1284/515690

Talent Testing Service (TTS). Monthly Test Reports – Adult Industry.
https://www.talenttestingservice.com/news.asp