Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsTypesPossible RisksSafety TipsTalking About Oral Sex
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Types
Possible Risks
Safety Tips
Talking About Oral Sex
Oral sex is a sexual activity in which the mouth and tongue are used to give or receive sexual stimulation. Types of oral sex includefellatio(oral-penile sex, or a “blowjob”),cunnilingus(oral-vaginal sex), andanilingus(oral-anal sex, or “rimming”).
Many people enjoy oral sex. It can be used as a warm-up to sexual intercourse to arouse and lubricate the penis, vagina, or anus or be a satisfying sexual pleasure leading to orgasm on its own.
This article looks at the different types of oral sex that people engage in. It also explains some health risks associated with oral sex and ways to protect yourself and your partner when giving or receiving oral sex.
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Types of Oral Sex
Oral sex involves a person receiving oral sex (receptive partner) and a partner giving oral sex (insertive partner).
There are three types of oral sex:
When sexual partners perform oral sex on each other at the same time, the practice is commonly called “sixty-nining” or “doing 69.”
Oral stimulation of other body parts, such as the breasts and nipples, is not generally considered oral sex, but it can occur during oral sex.
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Potential Risks of Oral Sex
However, oral sex can place a person at risk of STIs including:
Oral sex can also spread non-sexually transmitted diseases like intestinal parasites and fecal-oral infections.
Some of these infections have long-term health consequences. For example, HPV is an STI that is closely linked to certain cancers.
An oral HPV infection can cause cell changes that lead to mouth or throat cancer. If the virus is passed to the vagina, penis, or anus, it can increase a person’s risk ofcervical,vulvar,vaginal,penile, oranal cancer.
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Other Health Concerns
Oral sex also carries other health concerns:
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Practicing Safer Oral Sex
Oral sex might be “safer” thancondomless sexual intercourse, but it still has risks. You’ll need to find ways to reduce your risk whether you are the receiving or giving partner.
While not having sex at all (abstinence) is the one way to avoid these risks, there are steps you can take to practice safer sex and reduce your risk:
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Discussing Oral Sex
Like other forms of sex and intimacy, talking about oral sex is important for healthy sexual relationships.
The first step is to talk with your partner about what you’re both comfortable with, what you enjoy, and what you might like to try. Once you feel like you are “on the same page” about expectations and boundaries, you can take steps to explore oral sex safely.
While these basic—but important—conversations about consent and comfort are necessary for all partners, you may need some different tools depending on the genitals of the person you are partnering with for oral sex.
For example, external condoms can be used on a penis and dental dams can be used for vaginas and around the anus. The techniques you may want to explore will also vary depending on your partner’s genitals, and what each of you is comfortable getting and receiving.
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Summary
Oral sex involves the use of your mouth and tongue for sex. This includes fellatio (“blowjobs”), cunnilingus (“eating someone out”), or anilingus (“rimming”).
Oral sex can be intimate and enjoyable but does carry certain health risks, including many sexually transmitted infections.
10 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Kumar T, Puri G, Aravinda K, Arora N, Patil D, Gupta R.Oral sex and oral health: an enigma in itself.Indian J Sex Transm Dis AIDS.2015;36(2):129–32. doi:10.4103/2589-0557.167133Saini R, Saini S, Sharma S.Oral sex, oral health and orogenital infections.J Glob Infect Dis.2010;2(1):57–62. doi:10.4103/0974-777X.59252Planned Parenthood.What is 69?Erickson BK, Alvarez RD, Huh WK.Human papillomavirus: what every provider should know.Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2013;208(3):169‐175. doi:10.1016/j.ajog.2012.09.007Muzny CA, Ribers CA, Parker CJ, Mena LA, Austin EL, Schwebke JR.Lack of evidence for sexual transmission of genital Candida species among women who have sex with women: a mixed methods study.Sex Transm Infect. 2014 Mar;90(2):165-70. doi:10.1136/sextrans-2013-051361Planned Parenthood.Is it safe to have oral sex when you have a yeast infection?Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Genital herpes.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.STD risk and oral sex.Grabovac I, Smith L, Yang L, et al.The relationship between chronic diseases and number of sexual partners: an exploratory analysis,BMJ Sex Reprod Health.2020;46:100-7. doi:10.1136/bmjsrh-2019-200352Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Screening recommendations and considerations referenced in treatment guidelines and original sources. In:Sexually Transmitted Infections Treatment Guidelines, 2021.Atlanta GA: CDC; 2021.
10 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Kumar T, Puri G, Aravinda K, Arora N, Patil D, Gupta R.Oral sex and oral health: an enigma in itself.Indian J Sex Transm Dis AIDS.2015;36(2):129–32. doi:10.4103/2589-0557.167133Saini R, Saini S, Sharma S.Oral sex, oral health and orogenital infections.J Glob Infect Dis.2010;2(1):57–62. doi:10.4103/0974-777X.59252Planned Parenthood.What is 69?Erickson BK, Alvarez RD, Huh WK.Human papillomavirus: what every provider should know.Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2013;208(3):169‐175. doi:10.1016/j.ajog.2012.09.007Muzny CA, Ribers CA, Parker CJ, Mena LA, Austin EL, Schwebke JR.Lack of evidence for sexual transmission of genital Candida species among women who have sex with women: a mixed methods study.Sex Transm Infect. 2014 Mar;90(2):165-70. doi:10.1136/sextrans-2013-051361Planned Parenthood.Is it safe to have oral sex when you have a yeast infection?Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Genital herpes.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.STD risk and oral sex.Grabovac I, Smith L, Yang L, et al.The relationship between chronic diseases and number of sexual partners: an exploratory analysis,BMJ Sex Reprod Health.2020;46:100-7. doi:10.1136/bmjsrh-2019-200352Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Screening recommendations and considerations referenced in treatment guidelines and original sources. In:Sexually Transmitted Infections Treatment Guidelines, 2021.Atlanta GA: CDC; 2021.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Kumar T, Puri G, Aravinda K, Arora N, Patil D, Gupta R.Oral sex and oral health: an enigma in itself.Indian J Sex Transm Dis AIDS.2015;36(2):129–32. doi:10.4103/2589-0557.167133Saini R, Saini S, Sharma S.Oral sex, oral health and orogenital infections.J Glob Infect Dis.2010;2(1):57–62. doi:10.4103/0974-777X.59252Planned Parenthood.What is 69?Erickson BK, Alvarez RD, Huh WK.Human papillomavirus: what every provider should know.Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2013;208(3):169‐175. doi:10.1016/j.ajog.2012.09.007Muzny CA, Ribers CA, Parker CJ, Mena LA, Austin EL, Schwebke JR.Lack of evidence for sexual transmission of genital Candida species among women who have sex with women: a mixed methods study.Sex Transm Infect. 2014 Mar;90(2):165-70. doi:10.1136/sextrans-2013-051361Planned Parenthood.Is it safe to have oral sex when you have a yeast infection?Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Genital herpes.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.STD risk and oral sex.Grabovac I, Smith L, Yang L, et al.The relationship between chronic diseases and number of sexual partners: an exploratory analysis,BMJ Sex Reprod Health.2020;46:100-7. doi:10.1136/bmjsrh-2019-200352Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Screening recommendations and considerations referenced in treatment guidelines and original sources. In:Sexually Transmitted Infections Treatment Guidelines, 2021.Atlanta GA: CDC; 2021.
Kumar T, Puri G, Aravinda K, Arora N, Patil D, Gupta R.Oral sex and oral health: an enigma in itself.Indian J Sex Transm Dis AIDS.2015;36(2):129–32. doi:10.4103/2589-0557.167133
Saini R, Saini S, Sharma S.Oral sex, oral health and orogenital infections.J Glob Infect Dis.2010;2(1):57–62. doi:10.4103/0974-777X.59252
Planned Parenthood.What is 69?
Erickson BK, Alvarez RD, Huh WK.Human papillomavirus: what every provider should know.Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2013;208(3):169‐175. doi:10.1016/j.ajog.2012.09.007
Muzny CA, Ribers CA, Parker CJ, Mena LA, Austin EL, Schwebke JR.Lack of evidence for sexual transmission of genital Candida species among women who have sex with women: a mixed methods study.Sex Transm Infect. 2014 Mar;90(2):165-70. doi:10.1136/sextrans-2013-051361
Planned Parenthood.Is it safe to have oral sex when you have a yeast infection?
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Genital herpes.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.STD risk and oral sex.
Grabovac I, Smith L, Yang L, et al.The relationship between chronic diseases and number of sexual partners: an exploratory analysis,BMJ Sex Reprod Health.2020;46:100-7. doi:10.1136/bmjsrh-2019-200352
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Screening recommendations and considerations referenced in treatment guidelines and original sources. In:Sexually Transmitted Infections Treatment Guidelines, 2021.Atlanta GA: CDC; 2021.
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