My Sex

Paying Lip Service to Oral Sex

What is oral sex?

Oral sex is the use of the mouth on the genitals. When performed on a man it is called 'fellatio'. When performed on a woman it is called 'cunnilingus'.

Is oral sex really sex?

Oral sex is a kind of sex that people can choose to engage in. Some people don't consider oral sex to be sex because there is no penis-vagina contact. There is nothing wrong with oral sex. It doesn't make you any less of a man or any less of a woman if you like to perform cunnilingus. Most couples engage in oral sex on a regular basis. In a Spring 2006 survey, 78.9% of KU students indicate having engaged in oral sex at some time and 48.7% have had oral sex in the past month but only 3% of those students said that they used a condom while having oral sex 1.

Can I get an STD from oral sex?

Yes, in fact you can. Some STDs are more easily transmittable than others during oral sex but all of the most common STDs can be transmitted and obtained through oral sex. STDs most easily obtained through oral sex are herpes, syphilis, gonorrhea and hepatitis B. It is possible to get chlamydia, HPV and HIV through oral sex but these are not nearly as likely.

How do I protect myself during oral sex?

Use a non-lubricated condom for oral sex on a man. There are many complaints from men and women alike about using a condom during oral sex. Men say that it reduces the sensations on the penis thereby reducing the pleasure of the experience. This can also lead to taking much longer to orgasm. Women often complain that there is too much of a rubbery taste when using a condom for oral sex. There are solutions to both of these problems. For men, sensation can be increased with a condom if you simply put a small amount of lubricant inside the condom before you put it on. Flavored condoms are available which can make the idea of using a condom more appealing to women.

For oral sex on a woman cover the genitals with a latex dam, a condom cut open to make a square, or plastic food wrap. Any barrier between your mouth and your partner's genitals is what you're looking for. Oral is a lower-risk sexual activity, but it is not risk free. Unless you are in a mutually monogamous relationship with a partner who has been tested and you know is uninfected, there is no way to be completely STD risk free 2 . Talk to your partner before having oral sex. Figure out if either or both of you have ever had an STD. If not, then have you both been tested for STDs. It comes down to trust and the relationship you have with that person. If you are committed to one another and you know that neither one of you have had an STD, then you are probably safe from catching one from your partner. However, this doesn't mean that you don't have to use protection. Bacterial infections can occur even if there are no STDs present in you or your partner. Being clean is the most important thing. After each sex act, oral or otherwise, completely clean off your genitals so that any bacteria left behind is washed away. Protection and cleanliness may not seem practical and it may seem like a lot of work, but it is far less work to prevent STDs than it is to treat them.

Refrences:

1. University of Kansas Student Health Services (2006). National College Health Assessment of University of Kansas students, Spring 2006. Baltimore, MD: American College Health Association.
2. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (February 2001). Primary HIV Infection Associated with Oral Transmission. Retrieved February 9, 2002 from http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/pubs/facts/oralsexqa.htm.