"Oral sex is my type of sex", there are risks involved

★Lounge

Oral sex and its dangers

Boom! Here we go again with another exciting but very educational topic. It's a thing of concern because most of us often engage in this practice without thinking if there are any side effects or precautions to be taken. I would not say that oral sex is bad, as most people prefer their sex that way mostly to avoid pregnancy or sometimes just for pleasure but it's better to know the possible dangers of it to take precautions. 

Before we go deep into this article let's briefly define oral sex.

What is oral sex?

Oral sex can be defined as a situation in which one uses his/her mouth, tongue, and lips to stimulate one's partner's genitals or anus to get the person aroused for sex. Both men and women can give and receive oral sex. This is a practice most of us engage ourselves in.

We give it different names like; giving a head, giving a blow job, doing a 69, going down, and a host of others. Amidst, let me interest you by telling you that oral sex has official medical names too. Sounds interesting right? 

For instance, oral sex on women i.e on the clitoris, vulva, and anaagainn, is termed cunnilingus, while oral sex on men I.e on the penis, is termed fellatio. If oral sex has to do with the anus, it is called an anilingus. Learned something new right?

Before now oral sex was considered to be an abomination you would be considered to be the worst person on earth if found practicing that. Now,  it has come to be the most practiced sexual engagement, as most partners consider it as an ignition for very good sex 😋. It becomes very enjoyable when both partners agree and consent to it.

As much as oral sex is very pleasurable, it comes with its risks if n  practiced safely. Below are some of the dangers/risks associated with oral sex.

Dangers of oral sex

Most people consider oral sex to be safer sex than genital sex because you are mostly not likely to get pregnant as that is the case for genital sex especially when it is done without any protection. But you can contract some STIs which can be contracted through fluids, open sores/wounds, or sores in the private part. So it is very advisable to use protection (a condom) when engaging in it. Let's see some possible dangers of oral sex:

STI's 

Sexually transmitted diseases can be contracted through oral sex just like any other type of sex. It could be contacted when one partner is a victim and the other does not make use of protective measures. Here are some STIs that could be contacted :

• Pubic lice: these are tiny insects often found in the genital area. They live as parasites in humans and suck blood. They cause itching in the private parts. They can as well be transmitted during oral or genital sex.

• Syphilis: This is another type of STI that could be transmitted through oral sex through coming in contact with open sores or wounds in the mouth or genital organs. It usually begins with a sore, then a sore, and a rash, if not treated can cause organ damage or death.

• HIV: also known as human immunodeficiency virus, is another STI that can be contracted. However, results from experts have shown that the rate of contracting HIV through oral sex is low. Notwithstanding, a lot of people do engage in oral and genital sex at the same time, so you never can tell, especially when the victim has open wounds and sores in his/her mouth or genital organs.

• Hepatitis A: this is a kind of gut infection that spreads when a person comes in contact with feces. If oral sex with your partner involves licking his/her anus, you are possibly at risk of this disease. Other STIs include:

• Gonorrhea

• Hepatitis B

• Hepatitis C

• HPV (Human Papillomavirus)

• Herpes

Strain on relationship 

Oral sex can cause strains in a relationship in the sense that if one partner is excited about it and the other partner is not comfortable about it, it can bring a misunderstanding in the relationship. Some may feel that their partners are domineering over them and forcing them to engage in things against their will. This can make the individual feel so low about his/herself as he/she feels subdued. This can cause problems in relationships.  which sometimes finally leads to a breakup.

Reducing the risks of oral sex

You know for every problem there must always be a solution. As much as there are dangers to oral sex, there are ways to curb this danger.

Abstinence

The number one and the very best way of reducing the risk of oral sex is abstinence. Yes, you read it right. That is the best way to avoid its risk. Anyways, don't panic, there are other ways to reduce these risks of oral sex.

Use of protective materials 

Just like genital sex, oral sex requires protective measures to play it safe. For oral sex on a man, use a condom, I guess we all know what a condom looks like. For oral sex on a woman or when performing an anilingus I.e oral sex on the anus of a man or woman, use a dental dam. A dental dam is a latex or polythene sheet used between the mouth and the vagina or anus during oral sex.

You can order a dental dam online or you can as well create it by yourself using thin elastic materials like condoms or gloves.

Avoid oral sex if your partner is one of the following:

• Has STI

• Has unhealed piercings or inflammations on his/her mouth or genitals.

• Has sores and rashes on his/her mouth or genitals

• Is a woman on her period

• Has throat infection.

See your doctor if you have been engaging in unprotected oral or genital sex, change your partner and you're in a new relationship. Watch out for any possible STI symptoms if you notice any. Symptoms include sores and rashes on the mouth or private parts, genital discharge/fluid, painful urination, etc. See your doctor if you notice any of these.

Lastly, never forget to keep yourself protected. Play safe! Stay safe! You can drop your questions and comments in the comment box.