My boyfriend and I have recently started to have oral sex. We have not yet had vaginal sex. Is it possible for me to get pregnant?
– Anita*

No, it's not possible to get pregnant from oral sex alone. Sperm must get into the vagina — and eventually up through the cervix into the uterus. If a couple has vaginal sex while hooking up, the girl could get pregnant.

Although getting pregnant isn't a possibility with oral sex, getting a sexually transmitted disease (STD) — such as gonorrhea, chlamydia, syphilis, warts, herpes, or HIV — is.

To avoid pregnancy and STDs, always remember to use a condom every time you have sex — including oral, vaginal, or anal sex. Whenever oral sex is being performed on a girl, a dental dam should be used. A guy receiving oral sex should wear a latex condom — or, if he or his partner is allergic to latex, a polyurethane condom.

If the taste of latex isn't your thing, there are flavored condoms made specifically for oral sex.

*Names have been changed to protect user privacy.