No, the newest Kylie Cosmetics lip kit shade isn’t a rainbow kiss. It’s also not the title of the most recent My Little Pony film. And it’s certainly not the name of Jojo Siwa’s Target apparel brand. It’s a sex act that involves menstrual blood and semen, and it’s usually done by consenting adults who have a penchant for bodily fluids. Consider it a spin on snowballing—swapping semen from one partner’s mouth to another’s. According to Dr. Wendasha Jenkins Hall, PhD, an Atlanta-based sex educator and founder of The Sensible Sexpert, the rainbow kiss, which usually begins in the 69 positions, emerged from good ol’ period sex. “You’ve heard the term ‘running the red light?'” she asks, referring to penetrative or oral sex while a partner is on her period. “This is the next step up.” While a rainbow kiss isn’t the most frequent sex act, Hall claims that it’s simply one of a variety of sexual activities that people with varied bodily fluid quirks and fetishes might enjoy.
Is it, however, truly safe to exchange biological fluids such as blood and sperm between partners? And what should you know before you give your partner a rainbow kiss? Continue reading for solutions to these and other questions. A rainbow kiss occurs when a man with a penis kisses a woman with a uterus while they are both having oral sex during their period. It’s basically 69-ing while one of you is menstruating. The couple kisses after both partners have ejaculated in each other’s mouths, combining menstrual blood with semen and therefore the rainbow part of the rainbow kiss. And voilà!
“A rainbow kiss is a fantastic way for everyone to enjoy the few moments of cathartic ecstasy that follow your orgasm. Consider it the goal,” says Velvet Co. co-founder Danyell Fima. Rainbow kisses, according to Hall, are part of a larger spectrum of kinks involving bodily fluids: some persons enjoy playing with pee, spit, feces, semen, and/or blood.
“A rainbow kiss is presumably an amplified version of fluid play, or similar paraphilias,” she says.
Are rainbow kisses safe?
Apart from the fact that rainbow kisses may make you sick if blood and/or sperm aren’t your thing, any sexual act involving the exchange of bodily fluids has major health hazards if not handled properly. While one doctor simply urges on Twitter, “Pls, don’t ever do it,” there are ways to properly indulge in a rainbow kiss. The first and most critical step is STI testing.
According to ob-gyn Heather Irobunda, MD, “semen and menstrual blood can carry a variety of dangerous particles, including HIV, syphilis, and hepatitis.” “You should not be sharing rainbow kisses if you are unclear of your partner’s STD status.”
If you’re constantly indulging in sex practices like rainbow kisses, Hall says it’s not enough to obtain one or infrequent STI testing.
“When I say tested,” she clarifies, “I don’t mean just once, but every three to six months.” “But if all partners are actively testing and they understand the boundaries and offer their consent, then it’s typically safe.” Every sex act requires consent, but one involving the exchange of body fluids necessitates a higher level of knowledge, she argues. “[Rainbow kisses are primarily done between couples who take these safety precautions—they’re not done with strangers or people on apps.” “It’s not like a one-night stand,” Hall clarifies. “Because of the disease and illness elements, there has to be some permission surrounding what’s going on, there have to be safe language, constraints, and hard boundaries.”
