Can anyone share experiences or info on why oral sex is harmful for health? - #21348

So, I've been thinking a lot about this topic — like, oral sex is harmful for health? I've heard it mentioned a few times, but what does it really mean? I mean, I recently started dating someone, and you know how it goes. Things got steamy, and before I knew it, we were doing some stuff, including oral sex. At first, it was all fun and games, but I've gotta admit that now I'm kind of freaked out. Like, last week, I started experiencing some weird symptoms. Nothing too crazy, just like a little sore throat and some slight discomfort in my mouth. I can’t help but think, could it be that oral sex is harmful for health? I also have this one friend who says that they read somewhere that it could lead to STDs even if everything seems peachy and no one feels sick. I've honestly never heard about this until a few days ago, and now I'm worried, ya know? I went online trying to find some solid info, but everything is kinda all over the place. Some articles say, "oh it's fine if you take precautions,” while others are just outright like, "keep your mouth away from ‘you know what’ to avoid issues." I don’t even know what to believe anymore. Also, I had a physical exam recently, and everything came back normal, but still, I can't shake the thought that oral sex is harmful for health. Should I be seeing a doctor? Long story short, I'm worried. Should I be acting differently in my relationship? Like, should I bring it up with my partner? They're super chill, but still, the thought of being like, 'hey, I read that oral sex is harmful for health,' is kinda nerve-wracking. Also, if I have to stop, how do I even bring that into the conversation without it sounding awkward or leading to a fight? Ugh, I’m really feeling anxious about this whole thing. Has anyone else gone through a similiar situation? Do these thoughts even make sense? Also, if anyone has any info or tips on safer practices, I would be soooo grateful. I just wish it could be more simple. So many things to worry about, right? Can we just enjoy ourselves without having to check every box on the safety list? Anyway, thanks for listening. Any thoughts or advice are welcome!