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Is Oral Sex Safe Sex?

Tips on making oral sex safer

By Cory Silverberg, About.com

Updated: April 15, 2008

About.com Health's Disease and Condition content is reviewed by the Medical Review Board

Safer Oral Sex Tips

Using barrier methods, including condoms and dental dams, is the best way to make oral sex safer. A lot of people who are worried about dealing with bodily fluids find that flavored condoms and dams also reduce their inhibitions and make them better at going down on their partners.

If a man ejaculates during oral sex in or around the mouth of his partner, or if any ejaculate gets in his partners eyes it greatly increases the risk of STD infection (if he is infected with an STD).

In many cases a STD can be transmitted even if the penis or tongue doesn’t go all the way into the vagina, mouth, or rectum, and even if it isn’t obvious that body fluids are exchanged.

Some educators suggest you avoid brushing your teeth prior to performing oral sex as you can cause small cuts or abrasions that could increase the risk of fluid transmission.

Learn more about:

Sources:

  1. Preventing the Sexual Transmission of HIV, the Virus that Causes AIDS: What You Should Know about Oral Sex. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
  2. American Social Health Association.
  3. Hook EW III, Handsfield HH. Gonococcal infections in the adult. In: Holmes KK, Mardh PA, Sparling PF, et al., eds. Sexually Transmitted Diseases. 3rd ed. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill; 1999:456.
  4. Prevention of Genital Human Papillomavirus Infection. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
  5. Transmission of Primary and Secondary Syphilis by Oral Sex. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
  6. Reed, B.D., Zazove, P., Pierson, C.L., et al. Candida Transmission and Sexual Behaviors as Risks for a Repeat Episode of Candida Vulvovaginitis Journal of Women's Health 12(10) 2003.

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