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Geneseo Sex[Ed]Geneseo Sex[Ed]Lauren Smith, FNP-C, is a nurse practitioner working at the Center for Sexual Health and Wellness at the Livingston County Department of Health. She’s here to answer YOUR health questions – feel free to send them to sexed@geneseo.edu! Anonymized questions and answers will be posted here on a regular basis.
Q: My partner and I tried to use a dental dam last night, and it was kind of awkward. Do you have any suggestions about how to make it easier? Or are there alternatives?
A: A dental dam is a thin latex sheath that is used to prevent STIs during oral sex. The dental dam is placed on the vagina or anus of the person receiving oral sex. One way to make this easier is to use a lubricant between the genitals and the dental dam to prevent it from moving or tearing. It also may help to hold the dental dam in place during use. There are no alternatives to a dental dam for oral sex, but it is always smart to use a condom during any sort of penetrative sex.