Oral Sex Risks

What are oral sex risks? Anyone who is sexually active should be aware of the risks that come with oral sex. Oral sex has become a common practice in both heterosexual and homosexual couples. This sexual practice has some very positive aspects: it can be very effective at helping women to climax, it can help men who have some difficulty getting an erection, and it will not get you pregnant. Despite the positive aspects of oral sex, there are some very negative ones as well. There is a common belief among many individuals that oral sex carries little to no risk. But the truth is, oral sex can cause you to contract a sexually transmitted disease (STD). Keep reading to learn more.

Oral sex and the risk of STD transmission. Though this does not occur often, HIV can be transmitted through oral sex. If your partner is unaware that he/she has HIV, is not monogamous, or injects drugs and/or share needles and syringes you can contract HIV through having oral sex with him/her. There are several other co-factors that can increase the risk of HIV transmission through oral sex. These co-factors include: oral ulcers, bleeding gums, genital sores, and the presence of other sexually transmitted diseases. Not only HIV can be transmitted through oral sex, other STDs can also be transmitted as well. In addition to HIV, herpes, syphilis, gonorrhea, chlamydia, genital warts (HPV), intestinal parasites (amebiasis), and hepatitis A, B, and C can be contracted by having oral sex.