It’s nothing new that people think oral sex is safer than vaginal or anal sex, but the truth is that any unprotected act is risky. The risk of contracting sexually transmitted diseases is particularly high if proper precautions are not taken.
What are the risks of oral sex without a condom or other protection?
HIV
The risk of contracting HIV during blowjob is relatively low, especially compared to vaginal or anal sex. However, the risk of infection remains for the person who is given oral sex. Despite this, the risk of infection during one contact is small – about 0.04 percent. This means that one in 2,500 acts of oral sex can be infected with HIV.
Herpes virus
Oral herpes (cold sores) is usually caused by herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) and genital herpes by herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2). However, during oral sex, it is possible to get genital herpes from a mouth ulcer and vice versa.
According to a study published in the journal ‘BMC Medicine’, the HSV-1 virus causes more than half of all new cases of genital herpes. The virus can be transmitted through skin-to-skin contact, even if there are no outward symptoms of the disease. Although condoms can reduce the risk, people who use them regularly still have a 30% chance of getting genital herpes.
Human papilloma virus
Human papillomavirus (HPV) can be transmitted through oral sex. In fact, HPV, which is transmitted through oral sex, is considered a major risk factor for mouth and throat cancer. There is also evidence that HPV can be transmitted from mother to child during childbirth, when the child passes through the birth canal. HPV can also be transmitted by touching infected genital tissue and then putting those fingers in the mouth. As with herpes, condoms can help reduce the risk of HPV, but they do not prevent it. That’s because HPV, like herpes, is spread through skin-to-skin contact, not bodily fluids.