Thinking of using saliva as a lubricant during sex? Wait till you hear this

Think of this scenario: you are with your partner, and as things heat up, you decide to have a steamy sesh. To your surprise, you aren’t so wet down there, and do not have a lube. At that moment, you just use your saliva, because hey, won’t it add moisture? Sounds pretty harmless, doesn’t it? Well, we all know saliva is a commonly used body fluid during sexual acts, be it during kissing or penetration. But just like any other fluid, it has the tendency to spread infection, says Dr Niveditha Manokaran or dr_nive_untaboos, as she is known on Instagram. 

Check it out now:

STIs can be transmitted through your saliva

Dr Manokaran also mentions that sexual infections can be transferred through your saliva. This means if your partner has an active infection, just in case, their spit could leave you with many more issues. Genital herpes is something that is most commonly contracted. Sometimes, it shows up in the form of blisters and sores, at other times, it could just be asymptomatic. But that’s not all — you could also end up with gonorrhea, chlamydia, HPV, syphilis, and trichomoniasis.

Oh, and did we tell you that you need to get tested for STIs, even if you are just having oral sex!

You could also get a vaginal infection

The bacteria in your saliva is very different from the bacteria in your vagina. So, when the saliva enters your vaginal area, they disturb the vaginal microbiome and make you highly prone to infections like bacterial vaginosis. So, although many people might believe that using saliva as a lube is a good idea, it really isn’t. Not that it anyway works! Plus, you really don’t want to kick up a storm in your vagina. Do you?

Can I use protection for oral sex?

“Yes, you can use condoms and dental dams during oral sex, to prevent transmission of infections,” says Dr Manokaran. 

It is better to be safe than sorry, so make sure to take all the precautions, and be informed about the decisions you take!