Oral Dams, can be used for safer oral sex. Just as condoms are promoted for safe intercourse, the oral dams are used for oral sex. The oral dam is placed against the vagina during oral-vaginal sex or can be placed against the anus during oral-anal sex. Made of a think polyurethane material, they are thick enough to bodily fluids from being transmitted between sex partners, but thin enough to feel pleasure.

Dental dams were introduced and highly encouraged during the early days of AIDS education as the safest, and perhaps only, way to prevent STD transmission when participating in sexual activities where your mouth touched another’s mucous membranes.

Sexually transmitted diseases, or STDs, can be transferred from an infected person’s vaginal lips or anus to the mouth during oral sex. It’s especially risky to perform oral sex on a woman when she has her period or a vaginal infection. Remember there is no method that has been clinically tested to prevent STD transmission during cunnilingus or oral-anal sex. However, a barrier is still recommended by most health professionals.

Spread the dam over the entire vaginal opening and the clitoris, or for oral-anal contact, cover your partner’s anus. Hold the edge of the dam with your hands. Use a new dam each time you have oral sex, and use only one side.

Remember, to be effective, any type of barrier must be used from start to finish during sexual activity. It also must be used correctly every time you have sex.