Wellness Sexual Health Cunnilingus 101: Definition, Risks, and Safe Practice Tips By Nick Burns Nick Burns Nick Burns is a writer, author, journalist and multimedia producer with over 10 years of editorial experience. He covers topics on health, grooming, fashion and style. His work appears in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, GQ, Esquire, Details, New York Magazine, ELLE Accessories, Health, among other publications. Nick is also the co-author of The Bearded Gentleman: The Style Guide to Shaving Face. health's editorial guidelines Updated on July 21, 2024 Medically reviewed by Soma Mandal, MD Medically reviewed by Soma Mandal, MD Soma Mandal, MD, is a board-certified internal medicine physician with a specialty in women’s health. learn more Close Design by Health One type of oral sex is cunnilingus, which involves the vagina and vulva (the outer genitals of a person with a vagina). Cunnilingus helps the receptive partner have an orgasm. Risks associated with this type of oral sex include the spread of sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Sexually active adults commonly practice oral sex, including cunnilingus. More than 85% of adults aged 18 to 44 who are sexually active report having oral sex at least once with a partner of the opposite sex. Read on to learn more about cunnilingus, including how to practice it safely. Is It Safe To Use Coconut Oil as Lube? What Is Cunnilingus? Cunnilingus is a form of oral sex in which a person's lips and tongue stimulate their partner's vagina and vulva, especially the clitoris. The clitoris is the pleasure center of the vulva. The goal of cunnilingus is to help the receptive partner reach orgasm or experience pleasure. It's also referred to as "going down" on someone. Risks There's a chance of developing STIs with cunnilingus. Anyone exposed to a partner who has an STI can get an STI in the mouth, throat, genitals, or rectum. The risk of getting an STI or spreading one to others through oral sex depends on several things, including the: Number of sex acts being performed Particular STI Protective measures that are taken, like barrier methods Type of sex Chlamydia and gonorrhea—two STIs that often appear together—may be transmitted during cunnilingus, but more research is needed. The receptive partner can even catch HSV-1 (the usual cause of cold sores) or HSV-2 in the genital area because of oral sex. It's also possible to contract syphilis or HPV from cunnilingus. Engaging in oral sex on the vagina of a partner with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) may cause HIV. The risk of infection is thought to be very low. There's more to learn about the risk of contracting an STI from giving or receiving cunnilingus. There are few studies available that have looked at the STI risk from giving oral sex on the vagina or anus. Most people who have oral sex also have vaginal or anal sex, so pinpointing when the STI would have been picked up is hard. How To Perform Cunnilingus Safely Barrier methods, such as condoms or dental dams, are believed to be effective at reducing STI risk. It's important to use these protective measures every time you engage in sexual activity. Poor oral health and sores in the mouth or on the genitals may increase a person's chances of getting HIV or other STIs during oral sex if exposed to a partner with an STI. Ensure that your mouth is in good health, and avoid oral sex if you have the following in or around your mouth or lips: Bleeding gumsCutsOpen sores It's also important to avoid oral sex if the receptive partner has genital lesions or otherwise knows they are positive for an STI. Talk with a healthcare provider about STI testing if you're sexually active. People may not know that they have an STI because the infections may not present with any symptoms. Getting tested and knowing if you have an STI can help prevent the transmission of STIs. What Are Wet Dreams (Nocturnal Emissions)? A Quick Review Cunnilingus is oral sex in which one partner uses their mouth to stimulate their partner's vagina or vulva. The transmission of STIs is the main risk of cunnilingus. There are ways to reduce that risk, such as using barrier methods like condoms or refraining from oral sex. It's a good idea to speak with a healthcare provider if you have questions about sexual activity or STIs. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit 5 Sources Health.com uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. About STI risk and oral sex. Pakpahan C, Darmadi D, Agustinus A, et al. Framing and understanding the whole aspect of oral sex from social and health perspectives: A narrative review. F1000Res. 2022;11:177. doi:10.12688/f1000research.108675.3 HIVinfo.NIH.gov. HIV and gay and bisexual men. Gutierrez D, Tan A, Strome A, et al. Dental dams in dermatology: An underutilized barrier method of protection. Int J Womens Dermatol. 2022;8(1):e008. doi:10.1097/JW9.0000000000000008 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. How to prevent STIs.