Oral Sex Myths

Oral sex is common: More than eighty-five percent of sexually active adults between the ages of 18 and 44 report having had oral sex at least once with a partner of the opposite sex. But there are still some misconceptions around it:

Myth: Oral sex is not sex. Studies of teenagers and college students in the past decades show that many don’t consider oral sex to be real sex. Instead, they see it as a pleasurable activity that is lower-risk and allows them to preserve their virginity. Reports also show that many teens and young adults try oral sex before they engage in genital intercourse.

However, while oral pleasure is distinctly different from sexual intercourse, it is still considered a sexual act. Oral sex involves genital contact and is an intimate act. It can be just as pleasurable as sexual intercourse, and also has some of the same risks involved, too.

Myth: Eating specific foods changes the taste of your body fluids. It’s true that some groups of foods can change how acidic your body fluids are, which might make them smell stronger. But there are no published studies proving that one food in particular can make them taste better or worse. Most of the information around this topic comes from anecdotal descriptions.

Myth: You cannot get STDs from oral sex. Many STDs and infections can be spread through oral sex.

The chances of getting an STD depend on the type of disease and what sexual activities are involved, but using condoms or dental dams during oral sex can help prevent them.

Myth: Everybody loves giving and receiving oral sex. Everyone has different preferences when it comes to sex. Some people like oral sex, while others might not enjoy it or feel uncomfortable with it for various reasons. It’s important to respect people’s desires and boundaries when it comes to all types of sexual activities.

How to Try Oral Sex Safely

Oral sex can be given or received by people of all genders and sexualities. It’s important to ensure that both partners are consenting.

Communicate openly

The first step is to communicate your desires and boundaries around oral sex with your partner. One study shows that heterosexual women may be more hesitant to ask their male partner for oral sex. However, the same study showed that men wanted to perform oral sex more often with their partners.

Oral stimulation can be an intimate act, so it’s a good idea to talk to your partner about how you can pleasure each other. Try starting slowly by kissing and touching the genital area. Then you can gradually move on to using your mouth on your partner in a way that they like.

Use protection

Using protection lowers your chances of getting an STD during oral sex. If you’re having oral sex with someone who has a penis, cover the penis with a nonlubricated condom before you start. For oral sex on the vagina or anus, use a dental dam as a barrier between your mouth and a person’s genitals. If you don’t have any dental dams on hand, you can make one by cutting off the tip and base of a condom, and then cutting it down the side so that it becomes a flat square sheet.

Clean up before and after oral sex

If you’re worried about hygiene, washing your genitals with mild soap and water before you have oral sex might make you feel more comfortable — especially when it comes to anal oral sex. It’s also a good idea to shower afterward, as this can help stop the spread of bacteria that may cause an infection.

STDs spread more easily if you have cuts or sores in or around your mouth. So, try not to brush or floss your teeth before having oral sex, as it can cause tiny cuts that make your gums bleed.

Regular screening

Along with using protection, getting tested regularly is the best way to protect yourself from STDs, especially when you have sex with a new person. Knowing your STD status can make both you and your partner feel more comfortable during oral sex.

Possible Risks of Oral Sex

While it’s true the chances of getting an STD through oral sex are a bit lower than with genital sex, the risk is still there. Some common STDs that can be passed orally are:

Herpes. Herpes can spread through contact between an infected area and a cut or break in the skin around your mouth or genitals. You can also pass it on even if you don’t have any symptoms. If you or your partner has herpes symptoms, it’s best to avoid oral sex and kissing until they’re gone.

Gonorrhea and chlamydia. Both of these STDs are bacterial infections that can spread through semen, blood, or vaginal discharge. The infection can enter your body when your genitals, lips, mouth, or throat come in contact with infected fluids.

HIV. The chances of getting HIV from unprotected oral sex are very low, but it can still happen. As with other sexually transmitted infections, you can get HIV through oral sex if the virus enters your body through a sore or a cut.

Syphilis. Syphilis is most contagious when there’s a visible sore or rash on the genitals, anus, lips, or in the rectum or mouth. You can get syphilis if you come into direct contact with these sores.

Human Papillomavirus (HPV). It spreads through skin-to-skin contact and often has no symptoms, so it’s easy to pass it on without knowing. It’s common and most cases are harmless, but you can still lower your chances of getting it by using protection.

Genital infections

During oral sex, your mouth can introduce bacteria to the urethra and vagina, which can lead to problems like urinary tract infections or bacterial vaginosis. Both infections can usually be treated by your doctor with antibiotics. If one partner has a yeast infection, it’s possible to pass it on through oral sex. The same candida fungus that causes infections in the vagina can also grow inside of your mouth.

Intestinal infections

You can get a bowel infection if you get infected poop in your mouth during anal oral sex. When bacteria from the bowel end up in your digestive tract, it can cause stomach pain and diarrhea. It’s also possible to pass on intestinal parasites during anal oral sex.

Cold sores

Cold sores are caused by a strain of the herpes simplex virus called HSV-1. Even though this virus is different from the one that causes genital herpes, if someone has a cold sore, they can still spread it to the genitals through kissing or skin contact.

Hepatitis A and B

Hepatitis A, an infection that affects the liver, spreads through contact with infected poop. You can get it during oral sex if you touch or lick your partner’s anus, or if you don’t wash your hands after touching the anus.

While hepatitis B spreads through sex, it’s unlikely that you’ll get it from oral sex unless you come into contact with blood.

Can you get pregnant from oral sex?

You can’t get pregnant from oral sex alone. Pregnancy happens when sperm fertilizes an egg, and the only way to access those eggs is through the vagina.

Oral Sex and Cancer

Oral sex doesn’t directly cause cancer, but it can raise your odds of getting HPV, which may lead to cancer. HPV is the most common sexually transmitted infection in the U.S. The types of HPV doctors find in your mouth are usually sexually transmitted, which means they’re likely caused by oral sex.

Oral Sex and Consent

Like with any sexual activity, oral sex requires ongoing consent to make sure both partners feel comfortable doing it. It’s important that the experience is enjoyable for both you and your partner, so make sure to communicate when something feels good and when it doesn’t. You should never give or receive oral sex if you feel pressured into it. Someone who is unable to act because of drugs or alcohol cannot consent to oral sex.

Takeaways

Anyone can enjoy oral sex, regardless of their age, gender, or sexuality. The safety and pleasure of both partners should always come first. Make sure to use protection and maintain good hygiene to lower your chances of getting an STD. And communicate to make sure everyone is enjoying the experience.

 

 

Medically Reviewed by Zilpah Sheikh, MD on June 04, 2024Written by Nicole Schmidt -WebMD