@UUNJ advice is sound but not new to me, I'm in healthcare and there is a huge disconnect between best practice and actual compliance.Do you always use barriers or exchange current STI panels prior to sex? Almost no one gets tested for HPV and few for HSV2, both very transmissible via oral to genital contact.

@Buttercup HPV is so prevalent thru skin to skin contact that prevention is a challenge. And men can’t be screened for it anyway. At least the vaccine available now will help decrease cancer risk from some strains of it. Internal (aka female) condoms afford more protection from herpes (both types) but they are expensive unless a provider writes a script. And there is an even greater hurdle because it’s unfamiliar. So yes, there is a disconnect between recommendations and practice, but it behooves everyone to know their health status, communicate it to partners, and make risk-aware decisions. It would be unethical to toss up our hands and say “It’s hopeless.” Much depends on how the education is delivered, too. I ask people to consider non-latex gloves and lube to be sexual pleasure aids that also decrease exposure to STIs.

I'm pretty good on theory, not practice and my partners(small sample admittedly) agree. Our precautions get very lax when it comes to oral. Porn too, I am confident I've never seen a dental dam ever.

@Buttercup Porn performers are paid more if they don’t use barriers. They are also STI tested weekly. They do a lot of things in porn that wouldn’t be safe or pleasurable in real life, but that’s OK because it’s adult entertainment, not education.