Oral sex is when individuals engage in sexual acts using their mouth and the genital areas of their spouse. While oral sex is quick popular with males and females, there are several risks associated with oral sex.

Here are some of the common problems with oral sex:

Chlamydia and Gonorrhea
If your partner has a sexually transmitted disease known as Chlamydia or Gonorrhea, you are at risk for getting a throat infection. Usually the partner with Chlamydia or Gonorrhea will have discharge coming from their urethra. If your mouth touches this area, the discharge will get into your mouth and you will become infected. Some people don't even have any symptoms of Chlamydia or Gonorrhea or they assume that they have been cured. Since the discharge tends to be clear, it is hard to pinpoint if you still have the infection. It is important to seek medical attention immediately if you find out that you performed oral sex on someone that has Chlamydia or Gonorrhea. You will need to receive antibiotics and possibly use mouthwash to kill the bacteria that is causing the infection.

HIV
Many people assume that oral sex is safe to perform on a person that is infected with HIV. This is not the case, just because your genitals are not touching one another does not mean you are risk-free. You are still exchanging body fluids with the person that has HIV so you automatically increase your risk of catching HIV. Even if you withdrawal your mouth from the penis or vagina before the individual reaches climax, small amounts of semen and natural fluids inside the vagina will leak out before they climax so you are still exposed to the virus.

Cancer
Oral sex also increases your risk of developing mouth and throat cancer. The risk is normally minimal, but it can happen if your partner has HPV.

Herpes
Many people contract herpes from receiving oral sex. This typically happens if the person performing oral sex has an open wound like a cold sore. Genital herpes can become quite painful and cause you to refrain from sexual intercourse for several weeks until the condition is healed.

Other Non-Medical Issues

Besides the medical conditions that cause problems with oral sex, there are other things that may be interfering with your sex life. Here are some common oral sex problems and tips on how you can get through them:

• Swallowing. Perhaps one of the biggest problems men and women have with oral sex is swallowing the semen of vaginal lubrication. Only 25 percent of women actually swallow the semen of their partner. It is up to personal preference if you want to swallow the semen or not. Talk to your partner about their needs and discuss some alternate ways for you both to enjoy oral sex without swallowing.
  
• Stimulation. Many males are unable to stimulate women when they perform oral sex on them. The clitoris is sensitive and it can take some men time to learn how to properly stimulate it in order to help their partner reach climax. It is important to spend time communicating your needs with your partner so you both can have proper stimulation.
  
• Gagging Reflex. A common problem both males and females face with oral sex is having a gagging reflex. Since you are in control of performing oral sex, make sure the male does not push your head onto his penis; this can cause you to have a gagging reflex. It also helps to breathe through your nose versus your mouth. If you cannot get a lot of his penis into your mouth, try stimulating the tip with your mouth and use your hand to stroke the shaft.
  
• Pubic Hair. Many couples have frustrations with pubic hair when they perform oral sex. To make it easier on your partner, trim or shave your pubic hair. If you are performing oral sex, use your hand to quickly make a sweep over this region to remove any loose hairs.
  
• Taste. The taste of genital fluids can often be a problem with oral sex for many people. To help with this, bring some foods into the bedroom with you like fruits. Pineapple is a great fruit to help reduce the bitter taste of semen or vaginal fluids.

Oral sex is not for everyone. It is important to communicate with your partner to let them know what you like and what things you are willing to try and experiment with. This is a great way to keep your sex life healthy and active.