Oral sex is an activity in which the mouth and tongue are used to give or receive sexual stimulation.
It’s often performed as foreplay leading up to sexual intercourse, but not always.
Illustration by Julie Bang for Verywell Health
What Is Oral Sex?
Illustration by Julie Bang for Verywell Health
This common sexual activity involves oral stimulation of another person’s genitals or anus.
Usually, someone is performing oral sex while another person receives it.
There are several types of oral sex.
They include:
What Is Consent?
Consent means that both parties have clearly and verbally communicated that they want to engage in sexual activity.
That’s because oral sex can introduce new bacteria into the urethra and worsen an existing UTI.
People with female genitalia are especially prone to UTIs because they have a shorter urethra.
Likewise, someone with thrush might pass on a yeast infection if they perform oral sex on you.
The transmission of HIV by oral sex is considered rare but is theoretically possible.
External condoms, internal condoms, and dental dams can significantly reduce the risk of STIs through oral sex.
RAINN.What consent looks like.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.STD risk and oral sex - CDC fact sheet.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.STD risk and oral sex.
National Health Services.Sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Urinary tract infection.
Office on Women’s Health.Vaginal yeast infections.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Symptoms of candidiasis.
