Trouble with oral sex: Check your levels

Receiving oral sex can be fantastic, but for many women it can end with a painful yeast infection. I know this is a taboo subject that people dislike talking about, yet it’s an issue for a lot of women.

After receiving oral sex they develop a yeast infection

This is something I’ve spoken to many women about, as well as medical professionals. It’s frustrating because there’s a lot of inconsistent information. I suspect part of this is that we really don’t know what makes one person more prone to a yeast infection than another. The only connection between oral sex specifically and yeast infections, according to WebMD.com and shepherdexpress.com, is potential issues with the saliva and pH balance.

Even with that, there are still questions as to whether the saliva is causing the higher amount of yeast (as in spreading from the giver’s mouth) or if the saliva is causing the natural yeast inside the woman to suddenly grow out of control. The biggest issue seems to be the pH balance of the vagina being thrown off during oral sex. Rephresh.com explains what a woman should be when balanced compared to what she is during sex, her period, and so on. No matter what the specific cause is, there are things that were suggested to me that seem to help.

If you are giving oral sex to a woman, brush your teeth first

Hygiene is important and if you’ve had a buildup of food on your teeth and you go down on a woman, it’s likely that the pH in your mouth could throw off her vaginal pH. There are also dental dams that can be used, but those are often times made of latex and I know many women that respond poorly to latex as well. They do, however, work for some folks. The dental dam also protects from tooth decay bacteria. If you have a higher amount of tooth decay, the bacteria that reside in your mouth might be throwing off her balance as well. 

If dental dams and teeth brushing don’t improve the situation, products designed to restore a woman’s natural pH are helpful. The products work differently, as would be suspected, and some may work better than others. A bit of testing may be in order here. Some that I feel work well are RepHresh, Vagisil pH Balance Wash, and Summer’s Eve Cleansing Wash. There are other products too and the key is trying different ones until you find what works for you.

If you don’t want to use product, simply washing off after receiving oral can also help with the pH imbalance that might have been caused. Washing with a gentle soap or simply rinsing would seem the best option. It’s also important to remember that if you already have the infection, these methods won’t get rid of it. They are for prevention, not treatment.

There are many things that can throw off the delicate pH of the vagina

If you’re unsure of the best course of action, I suggest asking your doctor. The benefit of this approach is that your doctor should have other medical details about you that might affect which products or methods you use. The bottom line is this… Women should be able to enjoy oral sex without having to deal with the painful aftermath. So do what needs doing and enjoy that tongue once again!

Sienna Saint-Cyr writes erotica and blogs about kink, poly, body image, and most things relating. Follow her at siennasaintcyr.wordpress.com or on Twitter @siennasaintcyr.