Is oral sex a safe way from contacting STIs and HIV?

Oral sex is when you stimulate your partner’s genitals through sucking or licking their penis, vagina, vulva, clitoris and anus using your mouth, lips or tongue. It is estimated that, over 85% of sexually active youths and adults between the ages of 15 - 44 years are reported to having an oral sex with their partners at least once.

A lot of young people think that oral sex is completely safe but is Oral sex really safe? Research has shown that you can still contact or pass some STIs when having oral sex. Bleeding gums, gum disease and sores in the mouth or on the genitals may lead to infection of STIs. Some of the diseases or infections transmitted through oral sex include gonorrhea, chlamydia, syphilis, HIV and herpes.