Oral sex involves stimulating your partner's genitals with your mouth, lips, or tongue. This could involve sucking or licking their penis (also called fellatio), vagina, vulva or clitoris (cunnilingus) or anus (anilingus).
Is it common to have oral sex?
Many people have oral sex before or instead of sex.
If you're going to have oral sex with your partner, try different techniques until you know what you both like.
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Is oral sex safe?
There is no risk of getting pregnant by mouth. But you can get or pass some sexually transmitted infections (STIs) through having oral sex.
The most common STIs that can be transmitted by mouth include:
Other STIs that are transmitted by mouth less frequently include:
The risk is usually higher if you give rather than receive oral sex. This is because you are more likely to be exposed to genital fluids.
The risk is also higher if you have cuts, sores or ulcers in your mouth. Avoid brushing your teeth or flossing right before giving a fellatio, as this can cause bleeding gums. If you want to refresh your mouth first, you can try mouthwash or mints.
If you think you have an STI, see a general practitioner or go to the nearest sexual health or genitourinary medicine (GUM) clinic.
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How can you make oral sex safer?
For oral sex on a man, use a condom to reduce the risk of getting an STI. Try a flavored one if you don't like the taste of regular condoms.
For oral sex on a woman, or during anilingus, use a rubber dam. It is a small, thin square of latex or plastic that acts as a barrier between the vagina or anus and the mouth, preventing the spread of STIs.
Barriers are available at some sexual health clinics and online, or pharmacies can order them for you.
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