Rainbow Kiss: Meaning, Risks, & Cultural Perspectives

Explore the meaning, context, and considerations around the rainbow kiss, with insights on safety and consent.

Rainbow kiss meaning
Couple kissing during sex photo with artistic blur // GettyImages

The rainbow kiss meaning is something that has intrigued the internet in recent years. If you have never seen it before, you might be very surprised. This post about the rainbow kiss might contain explicit text and visual illustrations, and thus intended for adults only.

The rainbow kiss is one of the most ambiguous sexual or intimacy practices you may have heard of. While you may be thinking it’s probably a kiss under a rainbow or something related to a rainbow, the rainbow kiss meaning is nothing close to that.

Due to its nature, the rainbow kiss has aroused many questions over the internet since it was first popularised. In this post, you will learn more about what the rainbow kiss is, the risks, cultural perspectives, and sexual health consequences of the practice of rainbow kiss.

What is a Rainbow Kiss?

A rainbow kiss is used to describe a sexual practice where a man goes down on a woman during her period in the act of oral sex, possibly in the “69” position, involving both partners taking semen and menstrual blood in their mouth, respectively, and then simultaneously mix both contents in their mouth during a kiss referred to as the rainbow kiss.

While the end product of the practice, which is the mixture of semen and menstrual blood in the mouth, is referred to as the rainbow kiss, the entire act of oral sex up to the mixture of these body fluids in the mouth is collectively referred to as the rainbow kiss.

Due to its nature, many have expressed disbelief about the existence of this act. And since it is quite difficult for those supposedly practicing it to publicly talk about it, little is known about the specific challenges with the rainbow kiss. However, sex experts and health specialists have weighed in on the matter of the rainbow kiss, exploring its practice, risks, safety, and sexual health implications of this practice.

The Origin of the Rainbow Kiss

While an early mention of the rainbow kiss traces back to Simon Farquhar’s play in London many years ago, the origin of the rainbow kiss as a sexual practice is not clear. However, this terminology recently gained internet popularity on TikTok where users were prompted by posts saying “Do not Google rainbow kiss if you don’t want to be disgusted”.

People who jumped in the search for what a rainbow kiss means are often surprised by the disgusting meaning of this controversial sex act. And if you are one of them, I’m sure you are getting the answers you have been looking for.

It doesn’t matter if you are from TikTok or elsewhere but furthermore, you will be learning more about the practice of the rainbow kiss, safety concerns, sexual health implications, and its associated risks.

The Practice of Rainbow Kiss

Wendasha Jenkins Hall, PhD, an Atlanta-based sex educator and founder of The Sensible Sexpert, described that the rainbow kiss, which typically starts in the “69” position, may have likely evolved from the old-fashioned period sex. Hall also added that even though not so talked about, the rainbow kiss could be one activity in a spectrum of sexual practices and fetishes involving bodily fluids that people enjoy.

Sexual fetishes are a type of sexual behavior involving a strong and persistent attraction to and arousal from a specific object, body part, or situation that is not typically considered sexually arousing or satisfying by the general populace. While they are referred to as paraphilias or viewed as signs of mental illness by some, people may be practicing them as a means of deriving sexual pleasure.[1]Sexual Fetishism – Knowledge and References – Taylor & Francis

However, sex experts have offered that a rainbow kiss may be an acceptable intimacy practice that couples and sexual partners could try. For example;

Sadie Allison, the founder of TickleKitty said in an interview with CosmopolitanLike the hundreds of other fetishes out there, this ‘unique’ activity (referring to the rainbow kiss) is perfectly okay to do so long as it’s agreed upon by two consenting adults.”

Danyell Fima, co-founder of Velvet Co., added, “A rainbow kiss is a great way for everyone to enjoy the few minutes of cathartic bliss right after you both orgasm. Consider that the goal.”

Wendasha Jenkins Hall (PhD), is also of the opinion that the rainbow kiss could offer therapeutic effects on the woman’s menstrual cramps when she said, “Orgasms can actually help relieve menstrual cramps, so rainbow kisses may not be a bad idea for those who are adventurous and kinky”.

Safety Concerns of the Rainbow Kiss

When asked about the safety of the rainbow kiss, sex experts and health practitioners have offered their professional views on this matter.

The sex expert, Wendasha Jenkins Hall, has purported that the rainbow kiss may carry a higher risk of sexually transmitted infections and recommended frequent STI testing to partners or couples who are practicing the rainbow kiss. In her words, When I say tested, I mean not just one time, but continually tested—every three to six months.

Hall ascribes that with active screening for STIs and understanding the boundaries after mutual consent has been offered, the rainbow kiss can typically be seen as a safe practice due to the reduction in risks of STI transmission and prevention of psychological trauma in a partner who is not ready to try such an act.

Dr. Heather Irobunda, MD, MD, (Ob-gyn) has also added that Semen and period blood can carry lots of different infectious particles, such as HIV, syphilis-causing bacteria, Hepatitis, etc”. She says If you are unsure of your partner’s STD status, you should not be sharing rainbow kisses.”

Another medical doctor called Dr Harvey Olufunmilayo who goes by the handle OurFavOnlineDoc on X has posted about the health consequences of the rainbow kiss as shown in the screenshots below.

All of these point to one thing, the rainbow kiss may not be a very safe sexual practice. As Dr Harvey advised, people should not engage in the rainbow kiss in the name of trying new things or adventure, noting its health consequences listed above.

Just like for every sexual contact, having a faithful partner and regular screening can make the rainbow kiss relatively safe, noting that, unlike other sexual preferences, the rainbow kiss primarily involves direct contact with highly infectious bodily fluids (sperm and menstrual blood) which carries a very high risk of transmitting infections.

Sexual Health Implications of the Rainbow Kiss

The idea of the rainbow kiss can upset anyone who is not psychologically prepared for it. Another important consideration is that even after engaging in the practice, it can have a post-encounter effect on one’s mind. Therefore, adequate consent must be obtained before engaging in this act with your partner.

We also already explored the risks of disease transmission associated with the rainbow kiss. Tiny injuries in the mouth and lips can serve as points of introduction of disease-causing micro-organisms from such bodily fluids of an infected person to an uninfected partner.

Summarily, below are the overall sexual health implications of the rainbow kiss.

  • Transmission of STIs
  • Bacterial infection in the bloodstream
  • Psychological trauma to an unprepared partner
  • Hygiene concerns

Cultural Perspectives of the Rainbow Kiss

The rainbow kiss is generally seen as a taboo practice and not openly discussed. People from every culture who are new to the concept of a rainbow kiss often get shocked and overwhelmed that such a thing exists.

The shock people experience when they first come in contact with the term is because the rainbow kiss is strange to all human cultures today, and will never be fully accepted by any. It is viewed as an experimental sexual practice rather than a conventional or acceptable practice.

Due to this, it can be viewed as practically impossible for the rainbow kiss to be accepted into the mainstream in recent years. While we cannot say whether it will be accepted in the future, the risks and challenges associated with it should deter anyone from practicing such an act in the name of adventure or experimentation.

How to Reduce the Risks Associated with the Rainbow Kiss

  1. Partners should get adequate knowledge about the rainbow kiss before trying it out.
  2. Regular screening for STIs for regular partners.
  3. Mutual consent from partners to prevent emotional trauma following the sexual practice.
  4. Consulting a health specialist before trying it out.

Most importantly, there are many other sexual practices besides the rainbow kiss you can try out. You don’t have to try this one out in the name of being creative or adventurous.

In my opinion as a medical doctor, one should think it through carefully before engaging in this act, exploring other healthier ways to enjoy sex with your partner. This has been supported by health specialists throughout this post. Getting adequate health information about the rainbow kiss will enable you to make informed decisions and avoid risks that may compromise your sexual and general health both now and in the long run.

Final Words

Assuming you simply want to know what this widely popular concept of the rainbow kiss is, this post may have been very insightful and informative. After all has been said, I hope the rainbow kiss is another internet sensation you can surprise your friends with.

Whether or not people are practicing the rainbow kiss is something we cannot confirm. But if there are, it is important to get the right knowledge concerning the rainbow kiss, its risks, and cultural perspectives.

Sex experts have also cautioned against stigmatizing people who practice sexual acts like the rainbow kiss because that may discourage them from seeking medical counsel for adequate knowledge or going for screening as recommended above.[2]Jenkins Hall – Rainbow Kiss Definition

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Prosper Yole is a medical doctor, a seasoned writer and passionate blogger. He is the founder of Knowseeker.com. With many years of trials, failure, and near successes in areas of relationship, health, business & entrepreneurship, personal development, and content writing, he creates quality content that resonates well with his audience across the entire internet.

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