Hey Dr Sue — Is It Healthy To Have Oral Sex?

I have to admit I’m a bit thrown off by the word healthy here. I’m not sure if you mean “healthy” like STI safe, or “healthy” like something positive for you and/or your relationship, so I’ll answer both of those questions and if I missed the mark feel free to submit another question!

Is oral sex a healthy behavior in terms of being positive for you? Maybe. The reason I don’t want to give a distinct yes or no is that so much of this depends on how you think and feel about oral sex. If you think of oral sex as being “dirty” or something you shouldn’t do, then doing it will probably not a positive experience for you. Some people don’t like oral sex because of past experiences, and some don’t like it because of what they were brought up to believe that it’s not “acceptable” behavior.

If you enjoy it then yes it can absolutely be a healthy behavior to engage in and a lot of people do! One study found that more than 82% of people had engaged in oral sex at some point in their lives, while another study found that the “average” person engages in oral sex 5 times a month.

So if you and your partner are comfortable with it, then absolutely it’s a healthy behavior!

Now if we’re talking about “healthy” in terms if STIs, then oral sex can be considered risky. All sorts of STIs can be passed during oral…