Introduction
A significant proportion of people are engaging in noncoital sexual activities that commonly include oral sex. Oral sex is a sexual activity involving the stimulation of the genitalia by using the mouth, tongue, teeth, or throat. Rimming is a type of oral sex where the partner's anus is stimulated with the tongue or lips. While people consider oral sex much safer than vaginal intercourse, this is a dangerous misconception. Although pregnancy is not an outcome of rimming, it may lead to STIs (Sexually transmitted infections). Rimming can lead to symptomatic and asymptomatic oral infections in both genders. It is important to understand that rimming is associated with the risk of contracting several STIs, such as herpes, syphilis, gonorrhea, HIV (human immunodeficiency virus), chlamydia, and HPV (Human papillomavirus).
What Is Rimming?
Rimming is an oral act that is an erotic stimulation of the anus. It may include giving or receiving kissing, sucking, or licking the anus area and perineum.
Can Rimming Cause STIs?
Yes, although the risk of STI transmission is far greater in anal and vaginal sex than during oral sex, such as rimming. There is an upsurge in the relative occurrence of oral sex to transmit genital pathogens. It can be because of low rates of usage of the barrier method, the increasing practice of oral sex, and a finding that suggests oral sex often occurs first before vaginal or anal sex.
What Are the STIs That Can Get Transmitted Through Rimming?
HIV, other STIs, and STDs (sexually transmitted diseases) can transmit through having oral sex with an infected person. These infections transmitted through rimming are as follows;
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Clinically evident lesions are present in acute HIV infection and the subsequent stage of immunodeficiency (opportunistic infections), in primary, secondary, and tertiary syphilis, as well as in herpes and HPV infections.
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Genital candidiasis may cause the typical symptoms of candidiasis in the oral cavity.
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Oropharyngeal infections such as gonorrhea or Chlamydia trachomatis lead to pharyngitis and tonsillitis, leading to a sore throat, but they can also be completely asymptomatic in most cases.
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Intestinal parasites.
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Hepatitis.
Asymptomatic infections are a significant but frequently ignored reservoir for spreading new infections.
What Are the Ways by Which Rimming Can Transmit STIs?
Oral-anus contact can transmit several STIs through contact with body fluids such as saliva, precum, semen, menstrual blood, and vaginal secretions, developing the risk of infection that can get transmitted through the orogenital route. The more body fluids a person is exposed to, the greater the risk of contracting an infection. The practice of rimming is highly prevalent among young people, regardless of previous engagement in penetrative intercourse.
Open sores, cuts, abrasions, and gum disease are the various channels in the oral cavity that serve as an entry of infection from the oral cavity to the bloodstream.
What Are the Symptoms of STIs Caused by Rimming?
Depending on the infective agent transmitted, inflammatory, ulcerative, or papillomatous lesions of the lips, tongue, mucosa, and pharynx (throat) occur.
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HIV Infection:
It is a life-threatening STD (Sexually transmitted disease). It harms the immune system and can lead to secondary and superinfections. There is no cure for HIV infection. Currently, only symptomatic management is available.
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Syphilis:
It is STD that presents as painless sores, warts, and rashes. If untreated, syphilis can lead to heart disease, brain damage, blindness, and death. Open sores and chancres of syphilis can further ease entry for HIV infections. Antibiotic coverage and regular check is the required management for syphilis.
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Chlamydia:
Infections from chlamydial bacteria infect women more than men. Common symptoms include pain during urination, penile discharge or a smelly vagina, and blood spotting after intercourse. The lesion can occur in the throat. In more severe cases, it can significantly damage women's reproductive system and may cause permanent infertility.
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Herpes:
It is the most common cause of genital ulcers. It represents painful and infectious sores and blisters, usually on the lips, anus, and genital area. Studies and research suggest that a person with genital herpes is at higher risk of HIV infection. Individuals with herpes infections usually have periodic outbreaks of herpes, which needs treatment for the relieving symptoms. However, there is no permanent cure for herpes.
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HPV-Genital Warts:
It is the most commonly occurring and harder-to-treat STD. Warts usually occur on the penis or the anus but may also appear in or around the mouth and lip. It spreads through skin-to-skin contact with the infected person. Generally, HPV infection causes genital warts, but in some cases, it may give rise to the throat and oral cancer.
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Hepatitis A and E:
Hepatitis A and E are contagious viral infections of the liver that can spread through rimming. Some common symptoms of hepatitis A and E are fever, diarrhea, dark urine vomiting, loss of appetite, jaundice, and abdominal pain. Vaccination is available for the prevention of hepatitis A and E.
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Hepatitis B:
It is not proven that hepatitis B can be transmitted through rimming, although the viral load is found to be present in blood and semen. It can cause weakness, jaundice, dark urine, and enlarged liver. Vaccination is available for prevention.
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Bowel Organisms and Worms:
Rimming can transmit bowel organisms such as salmonella, shigella, and campylobacter. It presents as abdominal pain and diarrhea.
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Intestinal Parasites:
These include giardia, amoeba, and cryptosporidia. They can give rise to symptoms such as diarrhea, bloating stomach cramps, increased gas, and nausea.
How to Prevent Getting STIs From Rimming?
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To avoid risks of infections during rimming, keep body fluids out of the mouth as earliest.
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Medical professionals advise using dental dams when performing or receiving rimming with a person whose STD status is unknown. A person can make a homemade dental dam by cutting open a condom. A real dental dam is more advocated as natural dental dams are larger, and the person may accidentally poke the homemade dental dam with the scissors during the cutting procedure.
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A person can also use plastic wrap as a barrier during rimming, but the thickness of the plastic wrap may dull the sensation.
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To reduce the risk of infection during unprotected rimming, limit exposure to bodily fluids and ensure no cuts or lesions are present in the anus and mouth. Good oral health, free from bleeding gums conditions, lip sores, cuts, and broken skin, enormously reduces the possibility of transmission of infection related to rimming.
Conclusion
Rimming comes with a risk of contracting and transmitting STIs, just like any other method of sexual activity with a partner. There are several ways to downsize the risks of getting STIs through rimming, especially physical barrier use during rimming can reduce it greatly. Moreover, A routine oral health check-up is mandatory for those frequently involved in rimming. The early recognition of infection and risk-elevating behavior is crucial for initiating appropriate screening tests and management.
