How to Perform Safer Oral Sex

Risks for HIV: There is some risk involved in having unprotected oral sex with a man or a woman. It is not as risky as unprotected anal or vaginal sex, but it is still possible to get HIV this way. There have been a few documented cases where HIV has been transmitted this way. HIV is found in blood, semen (cum), vaginal fluids, and breast milk. The virus can transmitted through cuts, openings, sores, and mucous membranes (mouth, anus, vagina) on your body. 

To avoid risks during oral sex it is important to:

• Keep semen and vaginal fluids out of your mouth.
• Make sure that your mouth is healthy and that you don't have bleeding gums, cuts, or mouth sores, because the presence of blood will increase your risk.

Oral Sex On a Woman

In order to keep vaginal fluids out of your mouth:

• Purchase a dental dam from Peer Health, or
• Use a a piece of plastic wrap (Saran Wrap) as a barrier between the mouth and the vagina, or
• Cut an unlubricated condom into a latex square (see left)

Oral Sex On a Man

In order to keep cum out of your mouth:

• Use an unlubricated, non-spermicidal condom
• Flavored condoms are available at Peer Health