Oral sex is defined by the use of the tongue, mouth, or lips to stimulate the penis (fellatio), anus (anilingus or rimming), or vagina (cunnilingus) of a sex partner. Oral sex is a very common practice that those who are sexually active often engage in. However, many people use oral sex as a “safe” alternative to vaginal or anal sex. Just how safe is oral sex really?
Sexually transmitted infections/diseases (STI/STDs) can be passed on via people who are givers as well as receivers of oral sex. These diseases include chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, herpes, HPV, HIV and trichomoniasis. Chlamydia and gonorrhea may both have little or no symptoms in the throat other than some soreness. The infection can be spread from the throat to and from the genitals, urinary tract and rectum in addition to through genital sex. An infection of syphilis can be spread through a sore or rash on the lips, mouth, throat, genitals, anus, and rectum. Infection also depends on how long the individual has been infected. Herpes can spread through the lips, mouth, throat, genital area, anus, rectum, and buttocks. There is no cure for herpes and, even with treatment, it can be spread to others even when there are no symptoms present. HPV (human papillomavirus) infection can be found in the mouth, throat, genital area, vagina, cervix, anus, and/or rectum. Although not all types of HPV cause warts, several of the wartless types may actually develop into cancer which can be found in any of the areas of infection. Trichomoniasis has been found in the vagina and penis, but there are only few reports of actual spread from oral sex. Although getting HIV through oral sex is less likely than vaginal or anal sex, the risk is still real. Infection depends heavily on the viral load of the individual as well. Although the infection in the throat isn’t severe with chlamydia or gonorrhea, these throat infections increases the risk of getting HIV. It is also important to understand that an infection in the throat is harder to treat than one in the genital, rectal or urinary area.
Some things that can be done to reduce the chances of giving or getting STIs during sex is by practicing good oral hygiene, avoiding oral sex when sores or rashes are present in the mouth or genitals, and most importantly by using condoms, dental dams or other barrier methods of protection.
Stay beautiful and stay healthy!
For more information and references please visit http://www.cdc.gov/std/healthcomm/stdfact-stdriskandoralsex.htm
