Is oral sex real sex?
Yes. Oral sex is defined as using your mouth to stimulate your partner's genitals. Many people see oral sex as a safer, acceptable alternative to vaginal or anal intercourse - especially those who want to prevent pregnancy. It is important to discuss with your partner whether or not you are comfortable giving or receiving oral sex, as well as each other's sexual history before making any decisions about oral sex. Like sexual affair, oral sex does have risks that can affect your health.
Risks of Oral Sex
The primary risk of oral sex involves coming in direct contact with vaginal or seminal fluids that can transmit HIV or sexually transmitted infections. While not as risky as unprotected anal or vaginal sex, it is still possible to get STIs from having unprotected oral sex. The risk to contract HIV and other STIs is much lower for the receiver than the person performing the act. For the person performing the act, the risk of transmission is much lower if gums are healthy and if semen or vaginal fluids do not enter the mouth. However, such preventative measures aren't always enough to prevent infection since you may have cuts or ulcers in your mouth that you may not be aware of. There is no pregnancy risk associated with oral sex - women cannot get pregnant by swallowing semen.
How to Make Oral Sex Safer
- Using effective barrier methods such as condoms or latex dental dams. In the absence of barrier methods, men should avoid ejaculating in their partners' mouths.
- Being aware of sores, discharge, or unpleasant odors from your partner's genitals - signs to avoid oral sex.
- Not flossing and brushing teeth before oral sex. It might give you better breath, but it may also tear the lining of the mouth, increasing the exposure to viruses.
- Avoiding aggressive and deep thrusting in oral sex, which can damage throat tissues and increase susceptibility for throat-based gonorrhea, herpes and abrasions.
