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10 Things to Know about Oral Sex and STI’s

Most people know that unprotected sexual intercourse can result in getting an STI. However, you might be surprised to learn that you can also get STIs through oral sex. The CDC technically defines oral sex as any activity that involves putting your mouth, lips, or tongue on the penis, vagina, or anus of a partner. You might be able to reduce your risk of pregnancy with oral sex, but unprotected oral sex is not the ideal way of avoiding STIs. Keep reading to find out ten things you need to know about oral sex and STIs.

1. It Can Be Tricky to Notice Oral STIs

The main issue with oral sex and STIs is that oral sex spreads STIs, but diagnosing them is difficult. When a person gets an STI in their mouth or throat, the symptoms are different from traditional STIs. Instead of developing noticeable problems on the genitals, a person might be completely asymptotic or just feel a light sore throat. Some types of infections can cause sores and rashes to develop, but when these are inside the mouth or throat, they are not immediately noticeable.