Why Oral Sex Doesn’t Mean Safe Sex

Remember when you were younger and you used to stick random things in your mouth and your mom would instantly shout, “Don’t put that there! It has germs all over it!” Well, guess what, old rules apply in terms of oral sex. Unprotected oral sex has quite a few severe consequences itself, including the possible contraction of the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV).

Oral sex is often perceived as “safe sex” because there is no risk of pregnancy and the potential effects of unprotected oral sex are not as highly publicized. Out of a random survey of 68 University at Buffalo students, 47 UB undergrads admitted to “going downtown” without utilizing any kind of barrier method protection. Oral sex barrier methods are condoms for males and dental dams for females. The fact of the matter is that in the heat of the moment, having to say, “Hang on a second honey, I just need to find the saran wrap,” is just not so sexy. Without the risk of pregnancy looming, many people overlook the fact that sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are easily contracted in the oral orifice.

Take a second to think about your mouth. The hygienic brush their teeth at least an average of twice a day. Brushing your teeth often causes tiny little cuts to open in your mouth leaving you susceptible to allow a virus direct access to the bloodstream. In these wintry months, many experience chapped lips that easily split open without diligent application of lip balm. Flossing, especially, often results in seemingly harmless wounds until a virus such as Herpes is introduced into the oral cavity.

All it takes is the introduction of a virus into the mouth, by any means, for there to be a potential to contract an infection. Therefore, it doesn’t matter if you spit or swallow, nor how much you swish your mouth with Listerine post- fellatio, you’re still putting yourself at risk.

One of the most common STIs infecting the college population today is the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV). According to an article published on www.ivillage.com from Cosmopolitan, HPV, also known as genital warts, can get into your throat and mouth causing difficulty swallowing, sore throat, and visible wart-like growths. HPV, which has been linked to cervical cancer when it has gone undetected in infected females, can also lead to rare cases of oral cancer.

There are two different strains of the Herpes virus. WebMD.com examines the differences between the two strains explaining, “Herpes Simplex I (gingivostomatitis) causes cold sores and fever blisters around the mouth and is transmitted from person to person by saliva or direct contact. Herpes Simplex II is genital herpes.” Herpes Simplex I can also cause genital infection and is most often transmitted through oral sex. Therefore, when someone has a cold sore virus on their lips it can be passed to the partner’s genitals through oral sex. It is far less likely for genital herpes to be successfully passed from the genitals to the mouth than it is for herpes to be passed from the mouth to the genitals. Herpes is most often passed to the receiver when the giver is in the infectious stage of the virus. The sores themselves are not always visible during the infectious stage and it is possible for the virus to be spread without any telltale signs of an outbreak (i.e. cold sore, fever blister).

Although the recorded cases of HIV infection from oral sex are significantly less frequent than those documented from anal or vaginal intercourse, the risk is definitely still there. Columbia University’s Health Q&A information service emphasizes, “The virus that causes Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) is present in both the pre-ejaculate and ejaculate fluids. If the person performing oral sex has a canker sore in his or her mouth, there is a definite increased risk of contracting HIV from an infected partner.” Note: any type of lesion or laceration in the mucous membrane of the mouth makes the transmission of all infectious diseases more viable.

In addition to the viruses that can be contracted and that will stay with you for the rest of your life, there are bacterial infections to consider before you think about foregoing the condom or dental dam. The Cosmopolitan article entitled, “Oral Sex Risks” posted by www.ivillage.com lists yeast infections, gonorrhea, hepatitis B, syphilis, and Chlamydia as bacterial infections that may be passed from genitals to mouth.

Gonorrhea is the most common of orally transmitted bacterial infections. The symptoms are common to that of strep throat, producing a dry cough or sore throat.

WebMD.com explains that oral yeast infections, also known as thrush, result from the yeast that is spread by oral sex. Symptoms of thrush include white patches or scales on the inside of the mouth and tongue, a sore mouth, difficulty swallowing, loss of appetite, and even an inability to taste foods. Thrush is treated with a regimented course of antibiotics and can generally be cleared up after an unpleasant three to seven days.

Just like mom always said, beware of what you’re putting in your mouth. Oral sex does not equal safe sex. Caution should not be thrown to the wind simply because pregnancy is no longer a risk. You would probably think twice before licking your neighbor’s lollipop, so think twice before licking your partner’s…