How to Avoid Potential Risks Associated with Oral Sex?

Oral sex is considered as a low-risk and a great substitute for penetrative sex. But do you think it is hygienic? Many people call oral sex, safer sex because there are no chances of getting pregnant. Let’s know more about oral sex and whether it is safe or not.

Oral sex is a natural and pleasurable part of sex between partners if both of them enjoy it and consent to it.  Oral sex, as the name suggests involves using the mouth, tongue, or lips to stimulate your partner’s genitals or anus. Oral sex has many names such as a blow job, a 69, going down, rimming, and many others. However, the official medical names for oral sex are:

• > Oral sex on a man (the penis) is known as fellatio
• > Oral sex on a Woman (the vagina, vulva, and clitoris) is known as      cunnilingus
• > Oral sex that involves the anus is known as anilingus

It is now clear that both men and women can give their partner oral sex. However, oral sex does come with some risks, if you don’t follow proper precautions.

According to many experts, oral sex is not safe sex. Several types of risks are associated with oral sex. Some of the major risks are:

If you do not take proper care of your oral and genital hygiene, the risk of infection becomes higher. Also, oral sex without using a condom also carries the significant risk of catching or passing on Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs). The risk is higher because oral sex generally involves licking or sucking your partner’s genitals or anus. The person who is giving oral sex is likely to come into contact with genital fluids or faeces which might put him/her at risk of various STIs. Besides, coming in contact with saliva, semen, pre-cum, vaginal secretions, and menstrual blood also increases the chances of catching an STI.

Some of the most common types of STIs include:

• > Syphilis
• > Gonorrhea
• > Herpes
• > HIV
• > Chlamydia
• > HPV

A person is at a higher risk of catching an STI from oral sex if:

• > He/she gives oral sex than receiving it because they are more likely to  be exposed to genital fluids
• > If he/she has sores or ulcers, or any cuts in the mouth
• > If no protection (condom) is used

Other than catching an STI, oral sex also contains the risk of stress in your relationship. How? Well, if one of the partners doesn’t enjoy oral sex or has concerned about it, it may lead to the development of stress. The anxiety about oral sexual performance or what the other partner will think may make the whole experience less pleasurable and boring.

Besides catching an STI and putting strain on a relationship, oral sex also involves a risk of passing on genital, oral, and respiratory pathogens. These pathogens can lead to a host of diseases. Since a person’s mouth is a breeding ground for all kinds of bacteria including the bad bacteria, the risk of catching a disease increases. For instance, unsafe anilingus can result in the transmission of intestinal organisms, intestinal parasites, and worms.

Let’s look at some of the key tips that may help you to protect yourself from all kinds of imminent dangers associated with oral sex.

Always make sure to maintain good hygiene of your genital area to prevent the chances of catching any kind of infection. Also, before having oral sex, clean your genital area properly with clean water or some good quality product (designed specifically for cleaning the genital area).

One important thing to keep in mind is that if you have ulcers, sores, abrasions, or cuts in your mouth, avoid engaging in oral sex activities. Also, do not practice oral sex if you are dealing with long-term oral health issues like periodontitis or gingivitis. When fluids come in contact with open wounds, pathogens can use them to enter the bloodstream, which can further lead to an infection or disease.

Minimize direct oral-genital contact

By reducing the direct contact between the mouth and the genitals, oral sex can be made safe and low-risk for both partners. There are various options available that act as a barrier between the mouth and the genitals and helps to eliminate the chances of risks associated with oral sex. Some of these options include:

> Dental dams: Dental dams are the best option for cunnilingus or anilingus oral sex. It is a thin, flexible piece of latex, designed exclusively for oral sex. However, this product is difficult to find and is quite expensive as well. Another method is to use a condom cut and place it over a vulva or anus to reduce direct contact.
> Condoms: For fellatio oral sex, condoms are the perfect choice to avoid direct contact. There are numerous types of condoms available in the market these days like lubricated, non-lubricated, flavored, non-flavored, etc. You can choose the one according to your interest.

Conclusion:

To wrap up, being informed is the best way to keep yourself protected from the potential risks involved in oral sex. With the right knowledge and precautions, oral sex can be made enjoyable for both partners.

Wonderize is a leading manufacturer and supplier of women’s hygiene products like sanitary napkins, period panties, panty liners, and others. It works with an intent to educate and encourage women regarding their personal hygiene and safety.