Is Oral Sex Safe???

Sex gives us a feeling of Fulfillment, Joy, Satisfaction and Excitement. The act of Kissing scintillates the most sensuous parts of the body -Lips and Tongue, which are considered Erogenous when used for kissing and other acts of Intimacy.
Goats, Chimpanzees and Sheep also have oral sex. So we are not the only species to enjoy this.
But sex is not always safe; excitement associated with sex can run into Fear, Tension, and Sufferings due to deadly STDs.
Oral Sex is one of the essential sexual acts of satisfaction in foreplay. So what all Oral Sex includes:-

1.     Mouth to Mouth contact through Kissing.

2.     Penis to Mouth contact through Blow Job.

3.     Sucking off Vagina by Mouth.

4.      Anal Sex -Mouth to Anal Contacts.

Most of the people think that Oral Sex is a safe activity that it will not result in any transmission of diseases. But the fact is it can be a major reason of spreading STDs in Polygamous or Multiple Relationships.
Usually the participating partner is not aware of the other partner’s sexual activities. So even a disease contracted by vaginal sex can be transmitted to another unaware partner through Oral Sex.

Although Oral Sex is a relatively low-risk activity, particularly when compared to Vaginal or Anal Sex.

Now the question is, how much of a risk are you actually taking if you choose to practice Unprotected Oral Sex? What sexually transmitted diseases can be transferred from genitals to mouth, and vice versa?

 HIV

HIV is an infection with the human immunodeficiency virus. HIV interferes with your body's ability to effectively fight off viruses, bacteria and fungi that cause disease and it can lead to AIDS, a Chronic, Life-Threatening disease.

It is possible to transmit HIV through oral sex. If you don't choose to use protection for oral sex, you should know that the risk of HIV transmission increases if the person performing the act has cuts or sores in his/her mouth, if ejaculation takes place in the mouth, and if the individual receiving oral sex has any other sexually transmitted diseases. The risk is primarily for the person performing the oral sex.

Using latex or polyurethane Condoms, Female condoms, or Dental dams is an effective way to reduce your chances of contracting the virus when engaging in oral sex.

HIV symptoms

When first infected with HIV, you may have no symptoms at all. Some people develop a flu-like illness, usually two to six weeks after being infected.

Early HIV signs and symptoms may include:

·         Fever

·         Headache

·         Sore throat

·         Swollen lymph glands

·         Rash

·         Fatigue

These early signs and symptoms usually disappear within a week to a month and are often mistaken for those of another viral infection. During this period, you are very infectious. More-persistent or -severe symptoms of HIV infection may not appear for 10 years or more after the initial infection.

As the virus continues to multiply and destroy immune cells, you may develop mild infections or chronic signs and symptoms such as:

·         Swollen lymph nodes — often one of the first signs of HIV infection

·         Diarrhea

·         Weight loss

·         Fever

·         Cough and shortness of breath

Later stage HIV infection
Signs and symptoms of later stage HIV infection include:

·         Persistent, unexplained fatigue

·         Soaking night sweats

·         Shaking chills or fever higher than 100.4 F (38 C) for several weeks

·         Swelling of lymph nodes for more than three months

·         Chronic diarrhea

·         Persistent headaches

·         Unusual, opportunistic infections

Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) and Genital Wards- HPV is the most common STD and at least 50%  of sexually active people will get it at some time in their lives. It is possible to spread HPV through oral sex, and it is believed that HPV acquired while performing oral sex is a major risk factor for oral and throat cancers. HPV can also appear in the oral cavity through vertical transmission (transmission from mother to child during birth). The use of condoms or dental dams during oral sex should reduce the risk of infection, but they will not necessarily eliminate it entirely since HPV spreads via skin-to-skin contact not through bodily fluids. This virus lives in skin not in blood; even with the condom protection you can have it because that could not cover all (i.e. balls). So you can use Female condoms to reduce the entire risk.

HPV symptoms

·         Small, flesh-colored or gray swellings in your genital area

·         Several warts close together that take on a cauliflower shape

·         Itching or discomfort in your genital area

·         Bleeding with intercourse

Often, however, genital warts cause no symptoms. Genital warts may be as small as 1 millimeter in diameter or may multiply into large clusters.

In women, genital warts can grow on the vulva, the walls of the vagina, the area between the external genitals and the anus, and the cervix. In men, they may occur on the tip or shaft of the penis, the scrotum, or the anus. Genital warts can also develop in the mouth or throat of a person who has had oral sex with an infected person.

Herpes

Although genital herpes and oral herpes are usually caused by different strains of the herpes virus, HSV-2 and HSV-1 respectively, it is possible for either virus to infect either site. Therefore, it is possible to transmit herpes during oral sex, and the virus can spread from either partner. Herpes is contagious even when symptoms are not present. Even though prophylactic medications, such as Zovirax (acyclovir), can reduce the likelihood of both outbreaks and transmitting the herpes virus to your partner, they cannot eliminate the risk entirely.

HERPES signs and symptoms may include:

·         Small, red bumps, blisters (vesicles) or open sores (ulcers) in the genital, anal and nearby areas

·         Pain or itching around the genital area, buttocks and inner thighs

The initial symptom of genital herpes usually is pain or itching, beginning within a few weeks after exposure to an infected sexual partner. After several days, small, red bumps may appear. They then rupture, becoming ulcers that ooze or bleed. Eventually, scabs form and the ulcers heal.

In women, sores can erupt in the vaginal area, external genitals, buttocks, anus or cervix. In men, sores can appear on the penis, scrotum, buttocks, anus or thighs, or inside the urethra, the tube from the bladder through the penis.

While you have ulcers, it may be painful to urinate. You may also experience pain and tenderness in your genital area until the infection clears. During an initial episode, you may have flu-like signs and symptoms, such as headache, muscle aches and fever, as well as swollen lymph nodes in your groin.

In some cases, the infection can be active and contagious even when sores aren't present.

Gonorrhea

In recent years, teenagers with throat infections caused by gonorrhea have often been in the news. Gonorrhea can be transmitted in both directions when oral sex is performed on a man, and throat infections with gonorrhea are notoriously difficult to treat. There is limited research to suggest that it may be possible for someone to acquire a gonorrheal throat infection while performing oral sex on a woman, but transmission in the other direction is relatively unlikely since the site of infection is the cervix -- a part of the female anatomy not reached during cunnilingus. Condoms and dental dams should be extremely effective in preventing transmission of gonorrhea during oral sex.

Gonorrhea symptoms

Gonorrhea is a bacterial infection of your genital tract. The first gonorrhea symptoms generally appear within two to 10 days after exposure. However, some people may be infected for months before signs or symptoms occur. Signs and symptoms of gonorrhea may include:

·         Thick, cloudy or bloody discharge from the penis or vagina

·         Pain or burning sensation when urinating

·         Abnormal menstrual bleeding

·         Painful, swollen testicles

·         Painful bowel movements

·         Anal Itching

Chlamydia

Chlamydia is a very small parasitic bacterium which, like a virus, requires the   biochemical mechanisms of another cell in order to reproduce. Bacteria of this type cause various diseases including trachoma, psittacosis, and non-specific urethritis.

Most people with Chlamydia don’t have any symptoms, but those who do might have unusual genital discharge and/or pain and burning when urinating. Women may also have lower back or abdominal pain, nausea, pain during sex, or bleeding after sex and/or between periods.

Treatment

Chlamydia is treated with antibiotics. Some antibiotics can cure it in just one dose, while others may need to be used for seven days. If you've been treated, your partner(s) should get tested and/or treated, too. And you should wait seven days or until you and your partner(s) finish the antibiotics (whichever is longer) before having sex again. This is to make sure you don’t spread the infection.

Trichomoniasis symptoms

Trichomoniasis is a common STI caused by a microscopic, one-celled parasite called Trichomonas vaginalis. This organism spreads during sexual intercourse with someone who already has the infection. The organism usually infects the urinary tract in men, but often causes no symptoms in men. Trichomoniasis typically infects the vagina in women. When trichomoniasis causes symptoms, they may range from mild irritation to severe inflammation. Signs and symptoms may include:

•         Clear, white, greenish or yellowish vaginal discharge

•         Discharge from the penis

•         Strong vaginal odor

•         Vaginal itching or irritation

•         Itching or irritation inside the penis

•         Pain during sexual intercourse

•         Painful urination

Hepatitis

There are several kinds of Hepatitis, but Hepatitis B is the one most likely to be transmitted sexually.The research is inconclusive as to whether or not hepatitis B can be transmitted via oral sex. Oral-anal contact, however, is definitely a risk factor for hepatitis A infection, and it may also be a risk factor for hepatitis B. Fortunately both hepatitis A and B can be prevented by vaccines. If you practice rimming, you should talk with your doctor about getting vaccinated. Vaccination is a good idea in any case, and the hepatitis B vaccine is currently recommended for all children and many groups of adults.

Hepatitis symptoms

Some people never develop signs or symptoms. But for those who do, signs and symptoms may occur after several weeks and may include:

•         Fatigue

•         Nausea and vomiting

•         Abdominal pain or discomfort, especially in the area of your liver on your right side beneath your lower ribs

•         Loss of appetite

•         Fever

•         Dark urine

•         Muscle or joint pain

•         Itching

•         Yellowing of your skin and the whites of your eyes (jaundice)

SpyHilis

If caught early, syphilis can be treated and cured easily with a round of antibiotics.

Syphilis symptoms

Syphilis is a bacterial infection. The disease affects your genitals, skin and mucous membranes, but it may also involve many other parts of your body, including your brain and your heart.

The signs and symptoms of syphilis may occur in four stages — primary, secondary, latent and tertiary. There's also a condition known as congenital syphilis, which occurs when a pregnant woman with syphilis passes the disease to her unborn infant. Congenital syphilis can be disabling, even life-threatening, so it's important for a pregnant woman with syphilis to be treated.

Primary

These signs may occur from 10 days to three months after exposure:

·        A small, painless sore (chancre) on the part of your body where the infection was transmitted, usually your genitals, rectum, tongue or lips. A single chancre is typical, but there may be multiple sores.

·        Enlarged lymph  nodes. 

      Summary:-  Unprotected oral sex puts you at risk for numerous sexually transmitted diseases. If you perform unprotected oral sex on your sexual partners, you should mention it to your physician. She may want to check your throat when she is screening you for other STDs.