Sexpert Q&A: Oral Sex Dangers
Dear Yvonne,
What are the dangers of oral sex without using a condom?
—Sissie
Dear Sissie,
As discussed in my first book, The Hot Guide to Safer Sex, unprotected oral sex is a high-risk sexual behavior. You can get sexually transmitted infections like gonorrhea, syphilis, chlamydia, or HIV, from performing oral sex on a man or woman. Another thing to keep in mind is that when someone has the common cold sore (a.k.a. oral herpes — HSV-1) and goes down on you, you could contract genital herpes, or HSV-2.
To protect yourself, use a dental dam, which is a rectangular latex barrier that is placed over the vulva (or anus) during cunnilingus (oral sex on a female), or a non-lubricated, non-spermicidal condom during fellatio (oral sex on a male). You can also use a sheet of non-microwavable Saran Wrap if a dental dam is not available, or cut a condom lengthwise for a square.
Dr. Yvonne Kristín Fulbright is a sex educator, relationship expert, columnist and founder of Sexuality Source Inc. She is the author of several books including, “Touch Me There! A Hands-On Guide to Your Orgasmic Hot Spots.”
Tags: chlamydia, condoms, cunnilingus, dental dam, Dr. Yvonne Fulbright, fellatio, genital herpes, gonorrhea, Herpes, high-risk sexual behaviors, HIV, HSV-1, HSV-2, oral herpes, oral sex, STDs, syphilis
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Dr. Fulbright, you failed to mention the relatively new research linking oral sex to throat cancer due to contraction of oral HPV. Worth mentioning, no? Cancer is a pretty serious side effect from unprotected oral sex… unless I’m mistaken?
Another thing to keep in mind is that when someone has the common cold sore (a.k.a. oral herpes — HSV-1) and goes down on you, you could contract genital herpes, or HSV-2.
Wrong. HSV-1 and HSV-2 are two different viruses, which are about 50% identical to one another. If you have HSV-1 and “go down” on your partner, they won’t get HSV-2, they’ll get (if they get anything at all) HSV-1. It is possible to get HSV-1 below the belt, and HSV-2 above it, and while it’s uncommon, it’s not impossible.
People must be aware that unsafe sex can cause various Sexually Transmitted Diseases including Gonorrhea.
I have made a blog about Gonorrhea information and treatment to assist all my friends who want to live a healthy life.
why can we all understand that today ,all or energy requires that it all have to be spiritual.
Engaging in any acts of promiscuity attaches itself to incalcuable dangers
Anyone who can find happiness in the spirit can live longer
Sex is overated
TomJoe,
Come on, aren’t you splitting hairs here? They are both Herpes Simplex Viruses. That’s like making a big deal about which of the multitude of influenza strains a person has contracted. Does it matter? You’re still sick. Whether you contract HSV-1 or HSV-2, it’s still inconvenient, embarrassing, and a little gross. The only herpes virus that should be of any serious concern is Herpes-B, which is fatal to humans. So listen up, everyone, don’t engage in oral sex with a monkey.
my niece received cold sores at 6 months old. my brother and his girlfriend were tested clean. cold sores don’t run in the family and she has multiple sores from her bottom lip to her chin. are there any environmental causes or should I gather suspects for foul play?
No, I’m not splitting hairs. They are two different viruses, and one doesn’t magically turn into the other, and no great (or short) distance to someones waistline is going to change that fact. Besides, when you re-examine the answer in that light, you can see that if someone has a cold sore, there really is no reason to forgo oral sex (which is what Dr. Fulbright’s answer would lead to). So, no … doesn’t look like splitting hairs to me at all.