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By Cory Silverberg
Article Category: Health Issues
Added on: 03/18/07 16:43
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Is Oral Sex Safe Sex?
From Cory Silverberg,
Your Guide to Sexuality.
STD risks and transmission methods for oral sex
It's hard for researchers to determine how risky oral sex is since
most people who engage in oral sex also engage in other sexual
behaviors, making it impossible to know the way that an STD was
transmitted.
That said, there are several STDs that can be transmitted via oral
sex, including:
• Chlamydia
• Gonorrhea
• Herpes
• HIV
• Human Papilloma Virus (HPV)
• Nongonococcal urethritis (NGU)
• Syphilis
• Yeast infections
Chlamydia and oral sex
Oral sex is not considered a common cause of Chlamydia infection, but
it is a possibility. If the vagina, cervix, anus, penis or mouth come
in contact with infected secretions or fluids, then transmission is
possible.
Gonorrhea and oral sex
Gonorrhea can be passed during oral sex (either giving or receiving).
Ejaculation does not have to occur for gonorrhea to be transmitted or
acquired. Gonorrhea survives well in the throat, and gonorrhea throat
infections from oral sex are relatively common.
Herpes and oral sex
Herpes can be transmitted via skin to skin contact, so the risks
during oral sex are clear. It's important to remember that
transmission can occur even if there are no visible sores, and you or
your partner may be infected with herpes and not know it. Some people
are not aware that cold sores are a form of herpes.
HIV and oral sex
While the risk is considered to be low, there have been documented
cases of HIV transmission where the most likely way it was transmitted
was through oral sex via semen, vaginal secretions or blood. HIV is
not transmitted via saliva, and deep kissing is considered a safe
sexual behavior. There have been cases of oral sex transmission during
fellatio (performing oral sex on a man) and cunnilingus (performing
oral sex on a woman).
HPV and oral sex
Oral sex is considered a less common cause of HPV infection, although
it has been documented. HPV virus is shed from the surface of warts
and any form of direct physical contact may result in transmission.
NGU and oral sex
Most of the germs that cause NGU can be passed during oral sex, even
if the penis or tongue doesn't go all the way into the vagina, mouth,
or rectum, and even if body fluids are not exchanged. A recent
Australian study provided further evidence for oral sex as a
transmission route for NGU.
Syphilis and oral sex
Oral sex is considered an efficient way to transmit syphilis, with one
CDC study reporting that over 13% of syphilis cases in a geographic
area were attributed to oral sex. Transmission usually occurs during
vaginal, anal or oral sex when syphilitic sores or patches come into
contact with slightly abraded skin or mucous membranes.
Yeast infections and oral sex
There is evidence to suggest that women who have recurrent yeast
infections may be infected by receiving oral sex. In one study
receiving oral sex had an association with increased risk of recurrent
yeast infections at a three times higher rate. Oral sex with someone
who has a yeast infection can lead to thrush, which is a yeast
infection in your throat. Oral contact with yeast will not give you a
yeast infection in your vagina, because the yeast will be killed in
your digestive system.
Tips on making oral sex safer
Safer Oral Sex Tips
Using barrier methods, including condoms and dental dams, is the best
way to make oral sex safer. A lot of people who are worried about
dealing with bodily fluids find that flavored condoms and dams also
reduce their inhibitions and make them better at going down on their
partners.
If a man ejaculates during oral sex in or around the mouth of his
partner, or if any ejaculate gets in his partners eyes it greatly
increases the risk of STD infection (if he is infected with an STD).
In many cases a STD can be transmitted even if the penis or tongue
doesn't go all the way into the vagina, mouth, or rectum, and even if
it isn't obvious that body fluids are exchanged.
Some educators suggest you avoid brushing your teeth prior to
performing oral sex as you can cause small cuts or abrasions that
could increase the risk of fluid transmission.
Sources:
1. Preventing the Sexual Transmission of HIV, the Virus that Causes
AIDS: What You Should Know about Oral Sex. Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention.
2. American Social Health Association.
3. Hook EW III, Handsfield HH. Gonococcal infections in the adult. In:
Holmes KK, Mardh PA, Sparling PF, et al., eds. Sexually Transmitted
Diseases. 3rd ed. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill; 1999:456.
4. Prevention of Genital Human Papillomavirus Infection. Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention.
5. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
6. Reed, B.D., Zazove, P., Pierson, C.L., et al. Candida Transmission
and Sexual Behaviors as Risks for a Repeat Episode of Candida
Vulvovaginitis Journal of Women's Health 12(10) 2003.
Published March 28, 2006.
This post has been edited by Dr_Marco: Feb 23 2007, 06:38 PM
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