Is Oral Sex Safe?

A lot of teens see oral sex as pretty much risk-free. They know they can’t get pregnant. They also think oral sex is disease-free (THAT’S WRONG!). Still others don’t see oral sex as “real sex”, so they are more likely to do it then they would if it were intercourse.

The truth is that all sex acts, including oral sex and whether you think it is “real sex” or not, can put you at risk of getting an STI (sexually transmitted infection). Many STIs, including HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, can be passed from one person to another during oral sex. That’s true whether you’re performing oral sex on a guy or girl. It’s also true with oral sex where no one has an orgasm. Chlamydia, herpes, gonorrhea and the human papilloma virus (HPV) are other common STIs that can be passed through oral sex.

Another sexual activity that can have very dangerous consequences is anal sex. When it comes to STIs, anal sex is much riskier than other types of sex, including oral and vaginal. The skin inside the anus is very delicate and sensitive and tears easily during intercourse, making it more likely that STIs will be passed on. Tiny tears in the lining of the anus provide an easy entry for viruses and bacteria into your body and they lead to infection.

The only 100 percent sure way to protect yourself from STIs is to abstain from sex, oral and anal included. The second best way is to use latex. For guys, that means condoms. For girls, it means dental dams — latex that fits over the vulva and vagina. Or you can cut a condom open to make a square piece of latex. To be safe, you have to use latex every single time you have oral or anal sex. Condoms are not foolproof because they don’t cover all the skin that is exposed. Some STIs can be transmitted through skin-to-skin contact. But a condom is better than not using anything at all.

Another way to protect yourself is not to be intimate with someone who you know has had multiple partners. Even if you think you’re both “clean”, there are lots of STIs that don’t show symptoms and you may not even know you have one – so don’t rely on how well you and your partner know each other.

Lastly, never ever have any kind of sex when you’re drunk or on drugs! These substances may interfere with your ability to make decisions that are right for you and put you at risk of contracting a STI. While some STIs can be cured if they are detected at an early stage (chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis), others are viral and stay in your body for a long time, sometimes even forever (HIV, herpes, HPV). It’s important to keep in mind that your sexual health is a huge part of your overall well being.

There are many sexual activities that two people can engage in that do not involve penis-vagina intercourse. Are those acts still called “sex”? Well, if you consider that you can get all the same STIs through oral and anal sex as through vaginal intercourse then the answer is YES. Always remember, all sex acts, including oral and anal sex, require mature decision making and protection from STIs.