Yes. Although the chance of getting or giving a sexually transmitted disease (STD) during oral sex is slimmer than during vaginal or anal sex, it is still risky to have unprotected oral sex. Here's why.

Many STDs want to infect warm, wet places, like your mouth, urethra, vulva, vagina, penis, and/or anus. This means that many STDs can be passed from your mouth to genitals and vice versa.

 
The STDs that can be passed during oral sex are herpes, gonorrhea, hepatitis B, and syphilis. There is a very small risk for getting and giving HIV through oral sex, too.

 
This doesn't mean that you can't enjoy oral sex. But it does mean that you need to plan ahead, talk to your partner, and use protection.

 
One way to make oral sex safer is to get tested regularly for STDs, and to pay attention to any potential symptoms of STDs, and get them checked out by a health care provider right away.

 
Typical symptoms include burning sensations during sex or when you pee, unusually strong smells from your genitals, or bumps on your genitals, anus, and/or mouth and lips. But remember: Most STDs have NO symptoms, so it is still really important to get tested regularly. (To find a clinic near you, click here.)

 
If you do not abstain from oral sex, using a latex barrier is your best chance of avoiding most STDs.

 
When a guy is receiving oral sex, he can use a latex condom to protect himself and his partner. Many condom brands now have flavored condoms to make using one during oral sex taste better.

 
When a girl is receiving oral sex, she can use the Sheer Glyde Dam to protect herself or her partner. She can also cut a condom length-wise to make a latex barrier between her vulva and her partner's mouth. Her partner can use a flavored lube on the outside of the dam to make it taste better.

 
For info about latex condoms and Sheer Glyde Dams, and how to use them, check out our story "An A to Z of Contraception" written by Claire Marchetta, 17, Staff Writer.

Got a question about STDs? Call the CDC's National STD Hotline at 1-800-227-8922, open 24/7.