Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Question
Published: February 11, 2004
Dear TeenHealthFX,
I am an 18-year-old male who is going to perform oral sex on a 32-year-old male. I have braces. What is the risk of me getting a STD if I swallow his cum? He will also be performing anal sex on me.
Signed: Risk Of STD Performing Oral With Braces?
Dear Risk Of STD Performing Oral With Braces?,
There's a small chance that braces can affect your chances of getting an STD from performing oral sex on a man if you are using a condom and the braces tear it. You will also want to be cautious - teeth can be painful during oral sex, and braces might make them even more so!
Braces or not, there are some STDs that you can catch through oral sex. While your risk of catching HIV is low, it is possible. In addition, herpes is easily transmissible from mouth to genitals and vice-versa.
We recommend that you use a condom while performing oral sex. They make them in flavors just for this purpose. In addition, while a condom should always fit snugly when it's being used for vaginal or anal sex, for oral sex you can use one that is a little too big and put some lube inside, as long as you use your hand to make sure it doesn't come off. This may make it more pleasurable for your partner.
Anal sex is much riskier than oral sex. If your partner is HIV positive there is a good chance he can infect you, and there are other STDs you can contract as well. Again, we strongly recommend you use a condom (in this case it should fit like a glove) and some lubricant.
It might not hurt to have a talk with this person beforehand. At the age of 32, chances are he has some previous sexual experience. If you feel you can have a frank discussion about his history and how recently he has been tested, we suggest you do so. In addition, while you usually can't tell if someone has an STD by looking, if you do see any signs of a health problem, such as open sores or any unusual looking bumps around his penis, we suggest you stop whatever you're doing. Condoms are a great way to prevent most STDs, but they aren't foolproof.
One other thing: We are a little bit concerned about the difference in age between you and this man. At 18, you are an adult, and neither of you is doing anything illegal. However, a relationship with someone twice your age can be complicated.
Look at it this way: when you are the age he is now, you'll have experienced many more relationships than you have at present, and you'll have matured a great deal. Think about whether or not you'd be interested in an intimate relationship with someone who is 18 at that time. You and that person would be in very different stages in life. We simply urge you to be cautious and exercise your best judgment.
Signed: TeenHealthFX
Crash risk is particularly high during the first year that teenagers are eligible to drive.
