What is oral sex?

Oral sex is stimulating your partner’s genitals with your mouth and tongue. 

Is it common to have oral sex?

Oral sex is extremely common, and many people partake in oral sex before having sexual intercourse.

There are many different techniques that you can use and try with your partner to make oral sex even more enjoyable. You can also improve oral sex by using sex toys alongside your mouth and tongue.

Is oral safe?

You cannot get pregnant from partaking in oral sex, however, you can contract sexually transmitted infections through oral sex.

The most common infections that can be passed through oral sex are:

• herpes
• gonorrhoea
• syphilis
• chlamydia
• genital warts
• hep A, B and C
• HIV
• pubic lice

If you are giving oral sex then you are usually more likely to get an STI, this is because you are exposed to more genital fluids.

Risks will also be higher if you have any sores, cuts or ulcers in your mouth. If you are about to give oral sex, try to not brush your teeth or use dental floss beforehand. This is because it could cause your gums to bleed.

If you think that you may have a sexually transmitted infection then it is very important that you go to a sexual health clinic immediately to get checked out.

Can I make oral sex safer?

You can make oral sex safer by either getting your partner to wear a condom, or using a dental dam. Both are available in the UK for free from sexual health clinics.