**The Big Myth About Oral Sex**

[chrissy2cute]

It's all very well and good to say that oral sex is not safe sex, but how much of a risk are you actually taking if you choose to practice unprotected sex? What sexually transmitted diseases can be transferred from genitals to mouth, and Vice Versa?

Chlamydia- It is possible to transmit chlamydia during oral sex, and both the recipient and the person performing the act are at risk. There has been little research on whether it is possible to transmit chlamydia during oral sex.

Gonorrhea- Gonorrhea can be transmitted in both directions when oral sex is performed on a man, and throat infections with gonorrhea are notoriously difficult to treat. Here is limited research to suggest that it may be possible for someone to acquire a gonorrheal throat infection while performing oral sex on a woman, but transmission in the other direction is relatively unlikely since the site of infection is the cervix . Condoms and dental dams should be extremely effective in preventing transmission of gonorrhea during oral sex.

Herpes-Although genital herpes and oral herpes are usually caused by different strains of the herpes virus, HSV-2 and HSV-1 respectively, it is possible for either virus to infect either site. Therefore, it is possible to transmit herpes during oral sex, and the virus can spread from either partner. Herpes is contagious even when symptoms are not present.Condoms are also not completely effective in preventing transmission of herpes during oral sex, since the virus can spread from skin to skin.


HIV- Although oral sex is a relatively low-risk activity, particularly when compared to vaginal or anal sex, it is possible to transmit HIV through oral sex. Using Latex condoms, female condoms or dental dam is an effective way to reduce your chances of contracting the virus when engaging in oral sex. If you don't choose to use protection for oral sex, you should know that the risk of HIV transmission increases if the person performing the act has cuts or sores in his/her mouth, if ejaculation takes place in the mouth, and if the individual receiving oral sex has any other STD's. The risk is primarily for the person performing the oral sex. Oral sex is unlikely to expose the receptive partner to HIV.


Syphilis- Syphilis is extremely easy to transmit via oral sex. In fact, in some areas of the United States, oral sex has been shown to be responsible for as many as 15% of syphilis cases. Although syphilis can only be transmitted in the presence of symptoms, during the primary and secondary stages of the disease, the painless sores it causes are easy to miss.

Trichomoniasis- It is very possible to pass "Trich" to your partner during oral sex, having "Trich" increases a women's risk of getting HIV if she is exposed to the virus. Dental Dam will decrease you chances of contracting "Trich".

HPV- It is possible to spread HPV through oral sex, and it is in fact thought that HPV acquired while performing oral sex is a major risk factor for throat cancer. HPV can also appear in the oral cavity through vertical transmission (transmission from mother to child during birth). As with herpes, it seems likely that the use of condoms or dental dams during oral sex should reduce the risk of infection, but they will not necessarily eliminate it entirely since HPV spreads via skin-to-skin contact.

[Slidell]

I think it's absolutely fair and important to talk about the risks of oral sex and STDs. Just so people don't freak out, maybe we should point out that oral cancer is rare, probably only half or fewer are related to HPV, and that most of the "high risk" HPV types don't actually lead to cancer. Just some perspective!

Thanks for this.

[chrissy2cute]

Thanks Junior Member I'll keep that in mind, on my next post.