Jamaican, Dr. Adam Warren, (standing), director of OrthoJamaica and orthopaedics resident at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), addresses orthopaedic residents at the University Hospital of the West Indies (UHWI); Dr. Kenneth Vaughn, chief of the Orthopaedic Department (left) and Professor Archie McDonald, CEO of UHWI; (right, front row). Dr. Warren outlined the opportunities facilitated by OrthoJamaica, a San Francisco-based non-profit organisation comprised of Jamaican and U.S. doctors committed to improving health care in Jamaica by facilitating orthopaedic residents' exchange of education and training between medical institutions in the two countries and supplying surgical equipment. The discussion followed a presentation to the UHWI residents of surgical equipment donated by OrthoJamaica, recently. - Contributed

Dear Counsellor:

I like giving and receiving oral sex. How do I make it safer?

Lover Girl

Dear Lover Girl:

Using a barrier during oral sex protects the person who is licking and sucking from getting anything from the vagina, penis or anus into the mouth. It also protects the person being licked from getting any diseases from the person doing the licking. It also protects the person being licked from getting any STIs from the person doing the licking. Sexually transmitted infections such as herpes can be passed from the mouth to the genitals if you don't use a barrier.

Plastic wrap is great for mouth-on the vagina sex because you can see through it and you can cut a large piece. Dental dams are small squares of latex, usually coloured, that were originally used by dentists. Remember; always use a different dental dam or piece of plastic wrap each time. If you have mouth-on-the-anus sex (rimming) be careful not to wipe the germs from the anus to the vagina. This can cause or spread infections. Using a large enough piece of latex can prevent this from happening. For mouth-on-the-penis sex, use a condom that is not lubricated. Lubricated condoms taste bad. Also, it's much safer if a man doesn't come in your mouth.

Oral sex can be extra risky if there is any cut, sore or blister in the mouth, which can make for a potential route of infection for sexually transmitted infections including HIV the virus that causes AIDS.

Watch out for:

Kingston.