Kaitlyn
Question
Should a condom be used when giving a blow job?
Absolutely!
Oral sex (sex: Different things people choose to do to actively express or enact sexuality and sexual feelings; often this involves genitals, but not always. ) poses the potential for STI transmission for both the giver and the receiver. So it’s wise to make sure you’re using a condom (condom: A thin sheath or tube of latex or another material, worn over the penis during sex to prevent or reduce the risk of pregnancy and/or sexually transmitted infections.) (or a dental dam (dental dam: A barrier used for safer sex during cunnilingus or analingus, usually a thin sheet of latex. Dental dams can also be self-made by altering a condom or latex glove with scissors.) for oral sex (oral sex: Use of the mouth, lips or tongue for sexual stimulation. Cunnilingus (“going down on”), fellatio (“blowjobs”) and analingus (“rimming”) are some common kinds of oral sex.) on a woman) each time. One of my favorite examples of the risks associated with this is that of herpes. Many many many people have oral herpes. It’s fairly common and is often picked up during childhood from contact with others or things as simple as a kiss from your granny (assuming she has oral herpes). So let’s say you preform unprotected oral sex on a partner (partner: In a sexual context, a person with whom someone is having some kind of sex. The term “partner” can be used for all kinds of relationships, not just serious ones. “Partner” can also mean the person someone is with in a romantic or familial partnership.) when you’re just starting to get a herpes outbreak. You could very easily give your partner herpes on their genitals (genitals: Body parts that are generally, culturally, scientifically or personally considered to be external sexual or reproductive organs.) ! Now, of course, condoms don’t provide 100% protection against herpes (since they don’t cover all of the contact area sometimes), but they’re a lot better than nothing at all (in other words, they do reduce the risk). Other STIs can also be transmitted by unprotected oral sex. So your best bet is to wrap it up!
Check out (out: Short for ‘out of the closet’. When someone’s LGBTQ+ identity is known to other people.) these pages for more information:
