Can People Pass STDs Through Oral Sex?
Yes, they can!
When you think STDs (sexually transmitted diseases) which ones do you think of? Syphilis, gonorrhea, chlamydia? All three of those can be passed through oral sex.
Same is true for viral STDs like herpes and HPV.
While we talk about oral sex being a possible way to spread HIV, there aren’t a lot of documented cases of this. This doesn’t mean you shouldn’t still take precautions to prevent the spread of HIV or other STDs.
STDs can be passed through not just vaginal and oral sex, but also through anal sex. Some STDs can also be spread through oral-anal contact.
So how do you protect yourself? By practicing safe sex.
But isn’t safe sex just about preventing pregnancy? No!
When we talk about safe sex in this country (or I should say if we talk about safe sex in this country), it’s often limited because the focus is often on penile-vaginal intercourse. This isn’t helpful if you’re engaging in a behavior where pregnancy isn’t possible.
You don’t have to worry about pregnancy from oral sex, anal sex, oral-anal contact or sex toy play, but you do need to worry about the possibility of passing STDs.
So what precautions should you take? Use a barrier method! What exactly does that mean? If you’re performing oral on a penis, put a condom on it.
If you’re using a sex toy, make sure you clean it, and clean it well. I also think you should be using condoms on your sex toys.
If you’re performing oral sex on a vulva or engaging in oral-anal contact then you can use a dental dam. Never heard of a dental dam? I’m not surprised. They’re not readily available, in fact most people just order them online rather than trying to find them in their local stores.
A dental dam is essentially a square piece of either latex or polyurethane. If you look around, you may be able to find some that are flavored.
Some important things to note about dental dams. First they aren’t reusable! Also, if you’re allergic or sensitive to latex make sure you have a polyurethane one, or use something else.
That something else could be a condom that you cut it open. The CDC has some directions on how to do this.
Same rules though – cut open condoms are not reusable. And a small hint, if you use a condom that has delay gel on it, your mouth will go numb.
Have fun and be safe!
Have a sex question you want answered? Submit it anonymously here https://milsteinhealthconsulting.com/heydrsue
