Episode 442: Can Safer Sex Still Be Sexy?
October 21, 2025 by Justin Lehmiller
When it comes to sex, we often think about safety and pleasure as being at odds with one another. But it doesn’t have to be this way. In this episode, we’re talking about some new Kinsey Institute research looking at people’s experiences with Lorals for Protection, a product designed to offer both protection and pleasure during oral sex.
I am joined by Dr. Cynthia Graham, a senior scientist at the Kinsey Institute. She is editor-in-chief of the Journal of Sex Research and conducts research on a number of important sexual health topics.
Some of the specific areas we explore in this show include:
- Why do discussions about safer sex almost always leave oral sex out of the equation?
- Oral sex is often thought of as a low- or no-risk activity, but is that really the case?
- How come dental dams never really caught on?
- How does Lorals offer something different compared to other barrier methods?
- How can we help people to maximize both pleasure and safety during sexual activity?
The Kinsey Institute is where the world turns to understand sex and relationships. Now, you can help continue its expert-led research. This month, the Match Group is offering an incredible 2:1 match for all gifts to the Kinsey Institute Research Fund. Learn more and make a donation here: https://knsy.in/giftmatch
Got a sex question? Send me a podcast voicemail to have it answered on a future episode at speakpipe.com/sexandpsychology.
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Credits: Precision Podcasting (Podcast editing) and Shutterstock/Florian (Music). Image created with Canva; photos used with permission of guest.
Dr. Justin Lehmiller
Founder & Owner of Sex and PsychologyDr. Justin Lehmiller is a social psychologist and Research Fellow at The Kinsey Institute. He runs the Sex and Psychology blog and podcast and is author of the popular book Tell Me What You Want. Dr. Lehmiller is an award-winning educator, and a prolific researcher who has published more than 50 academic works.
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