Moisture, heat, softness, suction. The mouth is a highly erotic organ, so it is not surprising that oral stimulation is such a popular practice. However, have you thought about where you put your mouth?
Enjoy with caution
It’s true: if we wanted sexual relations to be totally safe, we would have to carry them out with an astronaut suit and few people would be willing to do so.
But it is also true that sometimes sexual desire makes us lose sight of very important details. And, depending on the area of your partner’s body where you decide to use your mouth, there could be some risks to your health.
We clarify that the diseases we mention are not exclusive to contact with the mouth, but it is possible to acquire them in this way.
- Mouth: Kisses on the mouth are one of the most frequent expressions of love and desire. Not to crash the party, but keep in mind that some diseases are transmitted through saliva, so kissing exposes you to them. In addition to conditions such as the flu, chicken pox or mumps, kisses can bring you the cold sore virus, which has no cure, but can be controlled with medication. And there is another infection known as “the kissing disease”. It is mononucleosis, which is caused by the Epstein-Barr virus and causes fatigue, fever, rash, and swollen tonsils, among other symptoms. Fortunately, this infection clears up on its own after a while.
- Hands: Some people find it erotic to lick your partner’s hands or fingers. But, have you thought about the amount of microorganisms that you can find there? Unclean hands, or even dirty nails, can harbor all kinds of germs, from bacteria from commonly used surfaces to tiny eggs of intestinal parasites. Don’t be alarmed, the solution is very easy and we have been putting it into practice in recent years: wash your hands for at least 30 seconds, including the back, the corners under the nails and between the fingers.
- Genitals: This area of the body is the first that comes to mind when talking about oral stimulation. You may know more about the risks of putting your mouth on your partner’s genitals, but let’s review: syphilis, gonorrhea, genital herpes, candidiasis, chlamydia, human papillomavirus… All of these are specifically considered sexually transmitted infections (STIs), and to avoid them you have a reliable ally: latex. If you are going to stimulate a penis, put on an external condom, while if you are going to stimulate a vulva, you can make a barrier by cutting the condom lengthwise and forming a rectangle on which you can continue your sexual activity.
- Anus: This part is well integrated into the sexual activity of many people. Stimulating it orally is just one of the practices that are carried out there, but for obvious reasons certain care must be taken to avoid diseases. In that area you can acquire, on the one hand, STIs like most of those mentioned above, and on the other, germs such as bacteria (for example, salmonella), ameba and viruses such as hepatitis A and B. But just like other parts of the body, hygiene with soap and water can minimize these risks, and if you add to this the use of a latex barrier like the one you can make from a condom, you won’t have much reason to worry.
And HIV?
In general, the mouth is not a route of entry (or exit) for this virus. If, under normal conditions, a person stimulates his partner’s genitals or anus with his mouth, or if he kisses him on the mouth for a long time, he is not likely to acquire or transmit HIV. Even if you happen to swallow that person’s sexual fluids (pre-ejaculatory fluid, semen, or vaginal fluids), the chance of HIV surviving saliva and/or stomach acids is extremely low.
However, the risk increases if the person performing oral sex has bleeding gums, mouth ulcers, or periodontitis (a disease that inflames the gums). There is also a higher risk of transmission if the person receiving oral sex has ulcers or wounds on the genitals, which can be caused by other STIs or can even occur at the time.
Knowing is protecting yourself
Whatever area you like to visit with your mouth, now you know how to prevent disease. And remember that, to put a stop to STIs, the condom is the best ally to protect yourself during this and other sexual practices. At AHF Latin America and the Caribbean we have free condoms and free HIV tests for you. Locate our closest office to you and get to know us.
