How Safe Is Oral Sex?

Believe it or not, sexually transmitted infections spread through oral sex as well. Take a look at a list of possible infections.

 

Oral sex is not as safe as you might have thought.

 

If you think that oral sex is a safer form of intercourse compared to other sexual practices, you are greatly mistaken. In some cases, sexually transmitted diseases can spread from the genitals to the mouth and vice versa.

HIV

 

You are more likely to contract HIV in unprotected vaginal and anal sex than in oral sex. Nevertheless, it's good to use protection in oral intercourse, especially if the person is a stranger or somebody who has a very active sex life. It is advisable to use latex condoms, female condoms or an ordinary aluminium foil usually used in the kitchen with which you cover the penis or vagina. If you don't use any protection in oral sex, there is a high risk of HIV infection. The smallest wound in your mouth can be fatal, and a direct ejaculation into the mouth also poses a great risk. The person who performs fellatio or cunnilingus is in greater danger. The person on whom fellatio is performed is less likely to be infected by the person who performs it, unless the latter has deep wounds in the mouth (for instance, after a major dental operation).

The smallest wound and direct ejaculation into the mouth can be fatal. (jlp)

Herpes

 

Although genital herpes and mouth herpes are caused by different types of viruses (genital herpes by HSV1 and mouth herpes by HSV2), they can also combine and then spread further. You can therefore contract herpes by having oral sex. Herpes is transmitted even if symptoms do not appear. There are certain drugs which can reduce the risk of an infection, but they are not 100 per cent effective. If you decide to use a condom during oral sex, the protection is still not 100 per cent safe - the virus can spread from skin to skin.

Gonorrhoea

 

In the recent years, the international media have often been reporting news about teenagers with infected throats as a result of gonorrhoea. The figure is much higher in performing oral sex on the penis than the vagina. The reason is that in women the area of infection is harder to reach with the tongue. The affected area in women is the cervix which lies dee inside the vagina. Treatment of an infected throat is very difficult. The most appropriate protection against gonorrhoea in oral sex is the use of condom or transparent kitchen foil.

Gonorrhoea can cause a severe inflammation of the throat which is very difficult to treat. (jlp)

Chlamydia

 

Chlamydia is easily transmitted in oral sex performed on a man. Both partners are at risk, the person performing fellatio as well as the person receiving it. Infections contracted in performing fellatio on a woman are rare. With chlamydia, chances of an infection are the same as in case of gonorrhoea.

Syphilis

 

Syphilis is easily transmitted in oral sex. According to empirical statistics (data available for the USA), 15 per cent of syphilis infections are passed on during unprotected oral sex. Although syphilis is transmitted only if the symptoms develop, the primary and secondary signs are very difficult to detect.

 

Oral sex causes 15 per cent of syphilis infections.

Hepatitis B

 

There are no reliable data which would show that hepatitis B is contracted through oral sex. On the other hand, hepatitis A is easily transmitted in the so-called anilingus or oral-anal sex. Both types of hepatitis can be prevented with vaccination.

 

Therefore, oral sex is not as safe as people generally believe. When you have it, it is very important to know your partner well, and it is always a good idea to see your physician to examine you from time to time.

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