|
Don't know how to use a dental dam? Don't even know what one is?
No worries. There's always another form of protection.
"Condoms can also be used for different types of oral sex," says Eye
Weekly's sex columnist Sasha "I get a lot of letters from young people who want to practise safe oral sex."
John Maxwell, director of communications at the AIDS Committee of Toronto (ACT),
also says there are options.
"We know that a latex barrier is best, but you can reduce your risk by using a piece of Saran Wrap as a barrier."
Dental dams, condoms cut lengthwise or
plastic wrap can all be used by both men and women to provide a barrier between the mouth and vagina or penis.
All reduce risk but do not guarantee safety.
A dental dam is just what it sounds
like. Dentists have been using rubber dams for decades to isolate a tooth from other teeth and different parts of the mouth during restorative procedures.
However, in recent years, dental dams began
to be used, largely by the gay community, as barriers during oral sex. Dams are rectangular pieces of rubber that are placed over the genital areas, anus or mouth while performing oral sex.
Today, a variety of dams are marketed specifically for safe sex. Instructions for these safe sex dams are included on most packages. Most dental dams cost between $2 and $3, and can be purchased at stores that sell safer-sex products.
Though oral sex is considered a low risk' activity for HIV, according to the Canadian AIDS Society Safer Sex Guideline, young people should be as safe as possible. According to the guidelines,
'We suggest washing before and after any oral sex. And for women, they should go to the washroom (to urinate) after oral sex has been performed on them to wash out any possible bacteria"
When
talking about oral sex we need to bring up "rimming" as well. This is the stimulation of the outer anus with either a tongue or finger.
"I get tons of questions about rimming,"
Sasha says. "I've noticed recently I'm getting a lot of questions from people who are 23 years old. I usually suggest an enema beforehand just to make sure everything is clean, and either a cut
condom or dental dam can be used for rimming to provide a safe barrier."
While there is a negligible risk of HIV transmission from rimming, there's -a higher chance of transmitting Hepatitis A or
B, viruses that attack the liver.
Many STDs can still be spread through open sores, cuts, or even the exchange of other body fluids. Again, the best safety measure is to make sure there is a
barrier, even if it's Saran Wrap
|
