One type of oral sex is cunnilingus, which involves the vagina and vulva the outer genitals of a person with a vagina. Cunnilingus helps the receptive partner have an orgasm.
Risks associated with this type of oral sex include the spread of sexually transmitted infections STIs. Sexually active adults commonly practice oral sex, including cunnilingus. Read on to learn more about cunnilingus, including how to practice it safely. Cunnilingus is a form of oral sex in which a person's lips and tongue stimulate their partner's vagina and vulva, especially the clitoris. The clitoris is the pleasure center of the vulva. The goal of cunnilingus is to help the receptive partner reach orgasm or experience pleasure.
It's also referred to as "going down" on someone. There's a chance of developing STIs with cunnilingus. The risk of getting an STI or spreading one to others through oral sex depends on several things, including the:. Chlamydia and gonorrheaβtwo STIs that often appear togetherβmay be transmitted during cunnilingus, but more research is needed. The receptive partner can even catch HSV-1 the usual cause of cold sores or HSV-2 in the genital area because of oral sex. It's also possible to contract syphilis or HPV from cunnilingus.
The risk of infection is thought to be very low. There's more to learn about the risk of contracting an STI from giving or receiving cunnilingus. There are few studies available that have looked at the STI risk from giving oral sex on the vagina or anus. Most people who have oral sex also have vaginal or anal sex , so pinpointing when the STI would have been picked up is hard.
Barrier methods, such as condoms or dental dams, are believed to be effective at reducing STI risk. It's important to use these protective measures every time you engage in sexual activity.
