It's a subject that most people don't openly or honestly talk about, say Drs. Laura and Jennifer Berman. For some, oral sex is considered taboo. For others, it's a critical part of a healthy sexual life.

The sisters report that 46 percent of those who responded to their poll on Discovery Health Online said they prefer vaginal sex, but 49 percent said they favored some type of oral sex — either giving or receiving it. And finally, 61 percent said they wanted oral sex more often.

That said, the sisters offer these 12 tips and strategies to help men and women with some of the most common oral-sex problems:

• Swallowing: Women, if you don't like to swallow semen, don't feel guilty. The majority of women don't enjoy this (it's estimated that only 25 percent of women swallow semen). Remember this: It's your mouth. If you don't like it, you don't have to. Instead, resort to intercourse just before your partner ejaculates. Your partner can still be fully satisfied if you don't swallow his semen.
• Gagging Reflex: Women, if you have a gagging reflex while peforming oral sex on your partner, breathing through your nose can help.
• Feedback: Men and women: Be sure to give your partner adequate feedback on his/her sexual performance. It's not good enough to say: "It was fine, or you're doing great." Be more specific so you can be sure to touch your partner in the way he or she likes to be touched.
• Stimulation: Experiment with different types of stimulation to determine which level of pressure makes your partner more aroused. Some women prefer a softer touch, while others like more intensity. The same is true for men.
• For the Neck: Men, consider resting your chin on your hand or a pillow so you don't exhaust your neck muscles while performing oral sex on your partner.
• Pubic Hair: If pubic hair is a problem, sweep across the top of your partner's hips with your hands so you can prevent loose hairs from getting into your mouth.
• Taste: If taste is an issue, consider eating foods that will lighten your partner's taste. Foods like pineapple, kiwi, celery and melon can "lighten" a person's taste. Beer and coffee, on the other hand, tend to make semen taste bitter, and the more protein a man eats, the thicker and gummier his semen. Vegetarians have the lightest taste of all.
• Genital Fluid: Don't worry about ingesting genital fluid. Realize that genital fluid is hygienic. In fact, it's cleaner than the saliva in your mouth unless, of course, one or both partners have an infection. In that case, flavored or unlubricated condoms should be used to prevent the passage of a sexually transmitted disease (STD).
• No Pushing Please!: Don't feel obliged to perform oral sex on a man if he pushes your head down toward his penis. Tell him that's not OK. You'll be doing yourself and other women (should they follow you) a favor. It's only OK if you willingly want to perform oral sex on him, and he wants it, too.
• Sex During Menses: It's perfectly safe to perform oral sex on a woman during her period. There is no risk of endangering your health, unless of course the woman has an infection or an STD.
• Deal Breakers: If there's an act that's central to your satisfaction and your partner isn't willing to perform it, recognize that it can be a relationship deal breaker. Be open to trying to troubleshoot issues with your partner to help him or her become more comfortable. "Your sex life is your sex life," says Laura Berman. "It's OK to have deal breakers."
• Your Prerogative: If neither you nor your partner like oral sex, don't be concerned. It doesn't mean your sex life isn't complete. Quite the contrary. Remember, oral sex is a prerogative.