While everybody knows at least one slang term to describe the act of sexual stimulation of the clitoris and vagina with the mouth and tongue, not many people are familiar with the term cunnilingus, while others have no idea why fellatio is not the same thing as cunnilingus and which is which. Cunnilingus is a form of oral sex featuring mouth contact with the vagina.

The term itself comes from two Latin words: cunnus, which means female genitals, and lingus, which means "to lick". The basic technique focuses on gently licking, kissing or sucking on the labia, the clitoris and the vaginal area. Of course, this is the theory. In practice, it is up to the man to decide how to please the lady, although he is supposed to take the lady's suggestions into account.

Oral sex is not different from intercourse or anal sex, which means that there is a huge number of variations depending on the individual preferences and moods of the two partners. The best way to go about it is to experiment with the lips and tongue, while analyzing your partner's response. If she likes what you're doing, keep doing it. If she is uncomfortable or not any closer to orgasm, change tactics.

Many men are thinking about cunnilingus in ways learnt from pornographic movies and stories. A movie director does not usually have the time to let the actors stage a proper cunnilingus and so the male star usually dives right into the woman. This is not a good idea. The clitoris is a very sensitive organ and should not be approached directly, especially if the woman is not fully aroused.

Most times, it's by far preferable to begin with a gentle and less focused stimulation of the entire genital area. Don't be afraid to put your fingers or sex toys to good use. You could insert a finger in the vagina or the anus while stimulating the clitoris with your tongue. These kind of erotic games have a great effect on the ladies and can easily be incorporated into the sex life of any couple, regardless of sexual orientation.

Many people tend to think that oral sex is the exclusive property of the gay community, but this is not the case. Any couple can use oral sex as foreplay or even as the main course of the night. Not all women find it easy to reach orgasm through intercourse and direct stimulation of the clitoris is far better for them.

Cunnilingus has the big advantage of being a sexual act that does not lead to pregnancies and it's also considered safer than both vaginal and anal intercourse. Many people worry about diseases or germs which could be passed on from the vagina to the mouth, but the risk is actually very low.

Any germ or disease picked up during oral sex would have been picked up through intercourse anyway. However, you might want to avoid oral sex if you have open wounds or sores in your mouth, or if the partner has them in the genital area. An open wound increases the chances of getting an STD manifold.