Oral Intercourse Can Be Dangerous, Too

19.03.2010 | By: S. M.

Many people wrongly assume that oral intercourse makes them safe from sexually transmitted diseases. Is there anything you can do to protect yourself?

Your health should always come first.

In the beginning, let us just list the most common and most dangerous sexually transmitted diseases with which you can be infected during unprotected oral intercourse: hepatitis, syphilis, gonorrhea and genital herpes. When indulging in oral intercourse, you can also be infected with the HIV virus that causes the incurable disease AIDS. It's true that the probability is more remote than in penetration, but it does exist. Let's begin with the infection with HIV, which is probably the most frightening possibility.

Transmission of the virus HIV

The HIV virus may be present in a man’s sperm that comes with ejaculation as well as in pre-ejaculatory fluid, but you probably already know that. However, the highest concentration of the HIV virus is in blood (that's why the risk of infection with the HIV virus for a heterosexual man increases when a woman with whom he has sexual intercourse has her period).

Closely inspect your lover's genitals before you tackle them with your mouth. (jlp)

The transmission of the HIV virus is less likely in oral intercourse than in unprotected anal or vaginal intercourse. However, a small percentage of individuals still get infected in this way. The possibility of infection is slimmer if the person who offers oral intercourse has healthy and undamaged lips, gums and mouth cavity. On the other hand, the possibility of infection significantly increases if a man ejaculates into the woman’s mouth or if he licks the genitals of the woman when she's in her period.

Learn more about sexual health in Lover's Guide!

Herpes and oral intercourse

Herpes can be easily transmitted from the genitals to the mouth, particularly in oral intercourse, of course. There are basically two variants of the virus: herpes simplex virus 1 and herpes simplex virus 2. The former usually appears on the mouth and the latter on the genitals. Herpes can be very deceptive, because it is also transmitted by a person who doesn't show any external signs of having it. However, the possibility of transmission is smaller when the herpes of the infected person is outside the most contagious stage of its development.

Don't brush your teeth at least an hour before oral intercourse.

You aren't likely to be infected with gonorrhea or syphilis during oral intercourse. Besides, the good news about these diseases is that in general they can be effectively treated with antibiotics, while herpes can chronically appear throughout your life and is very difficult to get rid of.

What can we do to protect ourselves?

Some experts recommend that you don't wash your teeth at least an hour prior to having oral intercourse, because you can cause mild bleeding of the gums by rubbing them. One of the ways to protect yourself is also to closely examine and inspect the genitals of your sexual partner before your oral intercourse. Although it sounds impractical, such a measure can save you from very unpleasant problems, in particular if the person with whom you intend to have sexual intercourse isn't your steady partner. In the end, health comes first.