Counselors need to make clients aware that a significant and increasing number of cases of oral sex transmission are being reported and that having oral sex can put clients at risk for infection. Oral sex may be dangerous regardless of whether individuals are insertive or receptive, or whether they stop the activity before ejaculation. Clients are likely to have various ideas about the risks of specific oral sex practices, such as highly physical forms of oral sex or swallowing semen. Increased conversation about oral sex may allow clients to feel comfortable discussing specific behaviors and the levels of risk associated with various behaviors. For instance, among individuals who have oral sex with men, some believe it is safe to engage in oral sex to the point when pre- ejaculate is released, while others incorrectly consider it safe to continue oral sex beyond ejaculation as long as they do not swallow semen.
Counselors can offer specific guidance based on clients' knowledge, attitudes and practices.
For all clients who practice oral sex, counselors can stress the importance of not taking semen into the mouth, regardless of whether it is swallowed. Counselors can strongly suggest that clients use condoms during oral sex. While many clients may resist using condoms, counselors may be able to lessen this hesitation by determining the reasons for resistance. The client may simply have never considered using a condom during oral sex. While condom use during oral sex is not yet widely popular and it still meets with resistance, counselors can suggest that many people have accepted condoms during oral sex after using them regularly.