Safer Oral Sex Practices

Oral Sex and STIs

STIs are caused by viruses or bacteria that live in warm, soft, moist places such as your mouth and genital area (penis, vulva, vagina, anus, area between penis and anus, and area between vulva and anus).

STIs can spread from the genital area to the mouth and from the mouth to the genital area. They’re generally passed between people via body fluids or direct contact with skin or sores.

Although there seems to be less risk of getting an STI through oral sex than from vaginal or anal sex, the risk still exists. Bacterial or viral infections you can get in your mouth or throat from oral sex include:

• Chlamydia
• Genital warts (rarely)
• Herpes
• Gonorrhea
• HIV
• Syphilis

The only 100 percent effective way to avoid an STI is not to have oral, vaginal or anal sex at all.

If you’re planning to have oral sex, know how to make it safer by avoiding the exchange of bodily fluids and other risky contact.

Communication is essential. Before you have oral sex:

• Talk to your partner about sexual history, history of STIs and protection.
• Do not have oral sex if either you or your partner is on treatment for a STI or has symptoms (such as herpes).
• Decide on a barrier method to prevent direct contact between one partner’s mouth and the other partner’s genitals or anus. This is the best way to reduce your chance of getting or giving an STI.

Barrier Methods for Protection: Oral Sex on the Vulva and Anus

If you are giving oral sex from mouth-to-vulva (outside of vagina) or from mouth-to-anus, you can protect yourself with these methods:

Plastic Wrap (such as Saran or Cling Wrap)

Pros:

• Inexpensive and easy to find in any grocery or drugstore.
• Covers a larger area.
• Can be used with oil- or water-based lubricants.
• Allows heat to be felt through the wrap.

Cons:

• Can rip. Use caution with fingernails.

Directions:

• Cover the vulva area with the plastic wrap. You can either cut a piece of the wrap and hold it in place or wrap the pelvic area.
• To increase sensitivity, place lubricant on the side facing the vulva.
• Once you’re done, throw the plastic wrap away.
• If you are rimming, follow these directions but place the wrap over the anal area.

Dental Dams, Licks and Other Latex Square Barriers

Pros:

• Provides a stronger latex barrier.
• Some, such as Glide Dams, come in flavors such as grape and vanilla.

Cons:

• May not be easy to find, although some teen-friendly clinics (such as Planned Parenthood) and dental supply stores carry them.
• May be less sensation of warmth and feeling.
• Covers a small area and fluids may seep past the dam (use caution).
• Only protects what it covers.
• Some require that you hold the latex in place for protection.
• Cannot be used with oil-based lubricants, which break down the latex.

Directions:

• Hold the latex square over the vulva area. Some will stay in place (like Glide Dams), while others must be held in place for protection. You can also try using a garter belt to hold it.
• To increase sensitivity, place lubricant on the side facing the vulva. Be sure to only use water-based lubricant (not Vaseline or oils).
• Dental dams can only be used once, so after you are done, throw it away.
• If you are rimming, follow these directions but place the dam over the anal area.

Cutting a Condom Into a Rectangle

Pros:

• Easy to get. Look for a non-lubricated condom, flavored lubricated condom or flavored non-lubricated condom.

Cons:

• Provides a small area of protection and requires care to ensure that fluids don’t seep past the condom into the mouth or the anus/vulva area.
• Must use both hands to hold the cut condom in place.
• Can use only water-based lubricant (not Vaseline or oils).
• Only protects what it covers

Directions:

• Unroll the condom and cut off the very tip and the very end of the condom.
• Cut lengthwise to make a rectangle.
• Hold the latex square over the vulva area. To increase sensitivity, place lubricant on the side facing the vulva.
• Be sure to use only water-based lubricant (not Vaseline or oils).
• Once you are done, throw away the condom.
• If you are rimming, follow these directions but place the condom over the anal area.

Barrier Methods for Protection: Oral Sex on a Penis

If you are giving oral sex from mouth-to-penis (fellatio), you can protect yourself with barrier methods such as the following:

Non-Lubricated Condom

Pros:

• Easy to find in drugstores.

Cons:

• Some say it’s dry or don’t like the taste.
• Only protects what it covers

Directions:

• If available, place some water-based lubricant (not Vaseline or oils) in the tip of the condom.
• Put the condom on the penis.
• After you’re done, throw away the condom.

Flavored Lubricated Condoms

Pros:

• Sometimes can be found in drugstores.
• Some teen-friendly clinics carry different varieties.

Cons:

• Some say that the lubrication feels or tastes more like Chapstick.
• Only protects what it covers.

Directions:

• If available, place some water-based lubricant (not Vaseline or oils) in the tip of the condom.
• Put the condom on the penis.
• After you’re done, throw away the condom.

Kiss of Mint Condoms

Pros:

• Many find mint a more favorable flavor.
• Condom is not lubricated.

Cons:

• Hard to find. Generally, only adult stores open to people over 18 carry this product. You may want to try teen-friendly clinics as well.
• Only protects what it covers.

Directions:

• If available, place some water-based lubricant (not Vaseline or oils) in the tip of the condom.
• Put the condom on the penis.
• After you’re done, throw away the condom.

Last reviewed: September 2019