Oral sex

Page semi-protected
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Painting of a man performing oral sex on a woman

Oral sex, sometimes referred to as oral intercourse, is

sexual activity involving the stimulation of the genitalia of a person by another person using the mouth (including the lips, tongue, or teeth). Cunnilingus is oral sex performed on the vulva while fellatio is oral sex performed on the penis.[1][2] Anilingus, another form of oral sex, is oral stimulation of the anus.[1]

Oral sex may be performed as

sexually transmitted infections (STIs). However, the transmission risk for oral sex, especially HIV transmission, is significantly lower than for vaginal or anal sex.[4][5][6]

Oral sex is often regarded as taboo,[1] but most countries do not have laws which ban the practice. Commonly, people do not think of oral sex as affecting the virginity of either partner, though opinions on the matter vary.[7][8][9][10] People may also have negative feelings or sexual inhibitions about giving or receiving oral sex, or may flatly refuse to engage in the practice.[1]

Practice

Woman performing fellatio

Oral sex may be practiced by people of any sexual orientation.

Forms

Oral sex is sexual stimulation of another person's genitals by using the mouth, and may take various forms. During facesitting, the receiver sits on the giver's face and pushes into it with their genitals. Oral sex can also be performed by both partners at the same time in the so-called "sixty-nine" position. Irrumatio is a forced form of fellatio where one actively forces their penis into the partner's mouth. In regards to masturbation, there is autofellatio, a possible but rare variant, and autocunnilingus, which may be possible for women with extremely flexible spines.[11]

An act of

gokkun
may also involve oral sex.

Preserving virginity

A 17th century sculpture depicting a woman performing oral sex on two men. From the wall of the Uma Maheshwor Temple at Kirtipur.

Oral sex may be practised to preserve

technical virginity (which may include anal sex, manual sex, and other non-penetrative sex acts, but excludes penile-vaginal sex).[7][8][9][12] The concept of "technical virginity" or sexual abstinence through oral sex is popular among teenagers.[13][14]

Gay men who regard oral sex as a way of maintaining their virginities view penile-anal penetration as resulting in virginity loss, while other gay males may define oral sex as their main form of sexual activity.[7][15] By contrast, lesbian pairings commonly view oral sex or fingering as resulting in virginity loss, though definitions of virginity loss vary among lesbians as well.[7][10][16]

Contraception and safe sex

Oral sex alone does not result in pregnancy and heterosexual couples may engage in oral sex for

ejaculate finding its way onto fingers, hands, or other body parts, which then comes in contact with the vaginal area.[citation needed
]

Oral sex is not necessarily an effective method of preventing

sexually transmitted infections (STIs), although some forms of STIs are believed to be less commonly spread in this way, and oral sex has been recommended as a form of safe sex.[19][20][21] In the United States, no barrier methods for use during oral sex have been evaluated as effective by the Food and Drug Administration.[22] However, a barrier protection like a condom for fellatio or dental dam for cunnilingus can offer some protection from contact when practicing oral sex.[14]

Oral sex should be limited to the protected areas. A makeshift dental dam can be made out of a condom

kinds of plastic wrap are manufactured to be microwaveable and are designed to have pores that open when heated, but there also exists no scientific research on what effect, if any, this has on disease transmission when used during oral sex.[25]
Some people complain that the thickness of the plastic dulls sensation.

Prevalence

A report issued by the National Center for Health Statistics in 2005 was the basis of an article in the 26 September 2005 issue of Time magazine. The report comes from the results of a computer-administered survey of over 12,000 Americans between the ages of 15 and 44, and states that over half the teenagers questioned have had oral sex. While some headlines have interpreted this as evidence that oral sex among teenagers is "on the rise", this was the first comprehensive study of its kind to examine the matter.[26] The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) stated in 2009: "Studies indicate that oral sex is commonly practiced by sexually active male-female and same-gender couples of various ages, including adolescents."[14] Research also indicates that "males are more likely than females to have received oral sex, whereas equal proportions of men and women have given oral sex."[1]

Health risks and other studies

Sexually transmitted infections

Some sexually transmitted infections (STIs), such as

human papillomavirus (HPV), can be transmitted through oral sex.[4][5][27][28] Any sexual exchange of bodily fluids with a person infected with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, poses a risk of infection. Risk of STI infection, however, is generally considered significantly lower for oral sex than for vaginal or anal sex, with HIV transmission considered the lowest risk with regard to oral sex.[5][6][29][30]

There is an increased risk of STI transmission if the receiving partner has wounds on their genitals, or if the giving partner has wounds or open sores on or in their mouth, or bleeding gums.[5][6][14] Brushing the teeth, flossing, undergoing dental work soon before or after performing oral sex can also increase the risk of transmission, because all of these activities can cause small scratches in the lining of the mouth.[5][6] These wounds, even when they are microscopic, increase the chances of contracting STIs that can be transmitted orally under these conditions.[5][6] Such contact can also lead to more mundane infections from common bacteria and viruses found in, around and secreted from the genital regions. Because of the aforementioned factors, medical sources advise the use of condoms or other effective barrier methods when performing or receiving oral sex with a partner whose STI status is unknown.[4][5][6][27]

HPV and oral cancer link

Links have been reported between oral sex and oral cancer with human papillomavirus (HPV)-infected people. In 2005, a research study at Malmö University's Faculty of Odontology suggested that performing unprotected oral sex on a person infected with HPV might increase the risk of oral cancer. The study found that 36 percent of the cancer patients had HPV compared to only 1 percent of the healthy control group.

Another study in

correlation between oral sex and throat cancer. It is believed that this is due to the transmission of HPV, a virus that has been implicated in the majority of cervical cancers and which has been detected in throat cancer tissue in numerous studies. The study concludes that people who had one to five oral sex partners in their lifetime had approximately a doubled risk of throat cancer compared with those who never engaged in this activity and those with more than five oral sex partners had a 250 percent increased risk.[31][32]

Miscarriage reduction

Fellatio may reduce the risk of

paternal tolerance. While any exposure to a partner's semen appears to decrease a woman's chances for the various immunological disorders that can occur during pregnancy, immunological tolerance could be most quickly established through the oral introduction and gastrointestinal absorption of semen.[33][34][35] Recognizing that some of the studies potentially included the presence of confounding factors, such as the possibility that women who regularly perform fellatio and swallow semen also engage in more frequent intercourse, the researchers also noted that, either way, "the data still overwhelmingly supports the main theory" behind all their studies—that repeated exposure to semen establishes the maternal immunological tolerance necessary for a safe and successful pregnancy.[35][36]

Cultural views

A 19th-century depiction of cunnilingus
See also: Cunnilingus and Fellatio

Cultural views on oral sex range from aversion to high regard.[1] It, especially fellatio,[37] has been deemed taboo, or at least discouraged, in many cultures and parts of the world.[1] Laws of some jurisdictions consider oral sex to be penetrative sex for the purposes of sexual offenses with regard to the act, but most countries do not have laws which ban the practice itself, in contrast to anal sex or extramarital sex.

In

virile.[39] Irrumatio was so degrading in Roman society in fact that it was often used as a method of punishment.[39]

In contrast to historical views on fellatio, cunnilingus is revered as a spiritually fulfilling practice in Chinese Taoism, which regards it as having the ability to enhance longevity.[40] In modern Western culture, oral sex is widely practiced among adolescents[26] and adults.[1]

People give various reasons for their dislike of oral sex.[1] Some state that since it does not result in reproduction, it is therefore unnatural.[41] Others find it less intimate because it is not a face-to-face practice,[1] or believe that it is a humiliating or unclean practice;[1][42] that it is humiliating or unclean are opinions that are, at least in some cases, connected with the symbolism attached to different parts of the body.[42] Opposite these views, people also believe that oral sex "is one of the most intimate behaviors that a couple can engage in because it requires total trust and vulnerability."[1]

While commonly believed that

lesbian sexual practices involve cunnilingus for all women who have sex with women (WSW), some have an aversion to cunnilingus due to not liking the experience or psychological or social factors, such as finding it unclean.[43][44][45][46] Other WSW believe that it is a necessity or largely defines lesbian sexual activity.[45][46] Lesbian couples are more likely to consider a woman's dislike of cunnilingus as a problem than heterosexual couples are, and it is common for them to seek therapy to overcome inhibitions regarding it.[45]

Terminology and slang

There are many words which refer to oral sex, including euphemisms and sexual slang. Like all aspects of sexuality, there exists a large number of variations on a theme, a few common ones being:

  • Giving head – A common American slang term for giving oral sex to either a man or woman is giving head, from the term head job (in contrast to
    hand job
    , manual stimulation). A play on the slang term head resulted in the slang term brains, or brain salad surgery, domes or getting domes.
  • Plate – A once common British rhyming slang for fellate that arose in the gay slang language of Polari that spread in the 1960s. The term is less common today.[47]
  • Cunnilingus is also sometimes referred to as muff diving, eating out or poon-job, a slang term and a cunnilingus variant of
    blow job
    , where poon is short for poontang or punani.
  • Additionally, in lesbian culture, several common slang terms used are carpet munching, giving lip, lip service or tipping the velvet (a faux-Victorian expression invented by novelist Sarah Waters).

Other slang terms for oral sex include going down on (male or female), licking out and muff diving (female), blow job (male), dome (male or female), sucking off (male), playing the skin flute (male recipient), rolling cigars (male recipient), lolly-gagging (gay male-on-male), gaining knowledge (male recipient) and bust down (male). Forced fellatio is often called Egyptian rape or simply Egyptian; this goes back to the time of the Crusades when Mamluks were alleged to force their Christian captives to do this.[48]

Other animals

Main article: Non-reproductive sexual behavior in animals § Oral sex
Female bats perform fellatio to increase copulation time.

Oral sex

Cynopterus sphinx); it has been observed when the bats are mating. These bat pairs spend more time copulating if the female licks the male than if she does not.[52][53]

Unlike many other animals, fish from the genus Corydoras reproduce orally. The male faces perpendicularly to the female so that she may be able to attach to his reproductive apparatus. He then releases sperm into the mouth of the female, crossing her digestive system and fertilising her eggs.[54]

See also

References

Explanatory notes

  1. ^ However, this has happened in bizarre circumstances Archived August 18, 2021, at the Wayback Machine involving a stabbing.

Citations

  1. ^
    ISBN 978-0-495-60274-3
    . Retrieved August 29, 2013.
  2. ^
    ISBN 978-0-495-55339-7
    . Retrieved February 26, 2011.
  3. NHS Choices. NHS. January 15, 2009. Archived from the original
    on October 1, 2010.
  4. ^ a b c "Global strategy for the prevention and control of sexually transmitted infections: 2006–2015. Breaking the chain of transmission" (PDF). World Health Organization. 2007. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 23, 2014. Retrieved November 26, 2011.
  5. ^
    ISBN 978-0-495-39192-0
    . Retrieved August 29, 2013.
  6. ^
    ISBN 978-1-4496-8375-7. Archived
    from the original on July 15, 2014. Retrieved August 29, 2013.
  7. ^
    ISBN 978-0-8147-1652-6. Archived
    from the original on April 28, 2021. Retrieved October 9, 2011.
  8. ^
    ISBN 978-0-534-62425-5
    . Retrieved October 8, 2011. Most people agree that we maintain virginity as long as we refrain from sexual (vaginal) intercourse. But occasionally we hear people speak of 'technical virginity' [...] Data indicate that 'a very significant proportion of teens ha[ve] had experience with oral sex, even if they haven't had sexual intercourse, and may think of themselves as virgins' [...] Other research, especially research looking into virginity loss, reports that 35% of virgins, defined as people who have never engaged in vaginal intercourse, have nonetheless engaged in one or more other forms of heterosexual sexual activity (e.g., oral sex, anal sex, or mutual masturbation).
  9. ^
    S2CID 17998160
    .
  10. ^
    ISBN 978-1-59691-011-9
    . Retrieved October 8, 2011.
  11. ISBN 978-8-86292-023-0
    . Retrieved October 19, 2023.(in Italian)
  12. ISBN 978-1-134-92242-0. Archived
    from the original on January 12, 2016. Retrieved August 24, 2013. The social construction of 'sex' as vaginal intercourse affects how other forms of sexual activity are evaluated as sexually satisfying or arousing; in some cases whether an activity is seen as a sexual act at all. For example, unless a woman has been penetrated by a man's penis she is still technically a virgin even if she has had lots of sexual experience.
  13. ^ Jayson, Sharon (October 19, 2005). "'Technical virginity' becomes part of teens' equation". USA Today. Archived from the original on April 28, 2011. Retrieved August 7, 2009.
  14. ^ a b c d "Oral Sex and HIV Risk" (PDF). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). June 2009. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 10, 2013. Retrieved August 30, 2013.
  15. ^ Joseph Gross, Michael (2003). Like a Virgin. Here Publishing. pp. 44–45. 0001-8996. Archived from the original on May 3, 2021. Retrieved March 13, 2011. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
  16. ISBN 978-0-943233-93-2. Archived
    from the original on June 2, 2021. Retrieved August 5, 2020.
  17. ISBN 978-0-495-81294-4. Archived
    from the original on March 10, 2021. Retrieved August 30, 2012. Noncoital forms of sexual intimacy, which have been called outercourse, can be a viable form of birth control. Outercourse includes all avenues of sexual intimacy other than penile–vaginal intercourse, including kissing, touching, mutual masturbation, and oral and anal sex.
  18. S2CID 29206790
    .
  19. ^ Geffen Testing Center's HIV, Syphilis, and Hepatitis C Information Sheet. Accessed November 4, 2006. Archived October 19, 2006, at the Wayback Machine
  20. ^ University Health Center, University of Georgia, Oral Sex Archived October 10, 2007, at the Wayback Machine. Accessed November 4, 2006.
  21. ISBN 978-0-89793-407-7
    . teabagging.
  22. ^ "HIV/AIDS among Women Who Have Sex With Women". Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. October 17, 2006. Archived from the original on September 6, 2009. Retrieved September 20, 2009.
  23. ^ "How to Make a Dental Dam Using a Condom" Archived August 9, 2017, at the Wayback Machine, UCSB SexInfoOnline, February 7, 2008.
  24. ^ "How to Make Your Own Dental Dam From a Condom". Archived from the original on January 5, 2016. Retrieved October 8, 2011.
  25. ^ "Plastic Wrap and Oral Sex". Archived from the original on December 27, 2016. Retrieved October 8, 2011.
  26. ^ a b Lemonick, Michael D., "A Teen Twist on Sex", Time, New York, September 19, 2005.
  27. ^ a b "Sexually Transmitted Disease Surveillance" (PDF). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). 2008. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 2, 2018. Retrieved December 6, 2011. Also see Fact Sheet Archived October 2, 2018, at the Wayback Machine
  28. PMID 25702043
    .
  29. ISBN 978-0-340-70639-8. Archived
    from the original on July 31, 2020. Retrieved August 21, 2013.
  30. ISBN 978-0-7614-7906-2. Archived
    from the original on July 31, 2020. Retrieved August 29, 2013.
  31. PMID 17494927
    .
  32. ^ "New Scientist: "Oral sex can cause throat cancer" - 09 May 2007". Newscientist.com. Archived from the original on September 30, 2007. Retrieved March 19, 2010.
  33. S2CID 109419024
    .
  34. PMID 10706945
    .
  35. ^ a b Fox, Douglas (February 9, 2002). "Gentle Persuasion". New Scientist. Archived from the original on December 19, 2007. Retrieved June 17, 2007.
  36. PMID 12896827
    .
  37. ^ "The History of Fellatio" Archived May 24, 2006, at the Wayback Machine, Salon.com, May 22, 2000.
  38. ^ a b "Irrumation". Sacred-texts.com. Archived from the original on May 14, 2011. Retrieved April 3, 2011.
  39. ^
    JSTOR
    269544.
  40. ^ Octavio Paz (1969) Conjunctions and Disjunctions; trans. Helen R. Lane. London: Wildwood House; p. 97
  41. ^ Buschmiller, Rev. Robert. "Oral Sex in Marriage". Presentation Ministries. Archived from the original on February 6, 2017. Retrieved November 22, 2018.
  42. ^
    JSTOR 2804438
    .
  43. About.com. Archived
    from the original on February 9, 2012. Retrieved June 3, 2012.
  44. ISBN 978-0-275-94359-2. Archived
    from the original on January 25, 2022. Retrieved April 18, 2012.
  45. ^
    ISBN 978-0-684-80682-2. Archived
    from the original on January 25, 2022. Retrieved April 18, 2012.
  46. ^
    ISBN 978-1-136-34032-1
    . Retrieved April 18, 2012.
  47. ^ Polari Archived April 22, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
  48. ^ Edwardes, Allen; Masters, Robert E. L. The cradle of erotica, New York: Julian Press, 1963.
  49. ^ Woods, Stacey Grenrock (October 1, 2004). "Do animals have oral sex?". Esquire. Archived from the original on April 10, 2014. Retrieved July 24, 2010.
  50. PMID 19862320
    .
  51. ^ Brooks, Cassandra (October 30, 2009). "A Little Fellatio Goes a long way". ScienceNOW. Archived from the original on April 17, 2010. Retrieved July 24, 2010. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  52. PMID 19862320
    .
  53. ^ "Fellatio keeps male fruit bats keen - life - 29 October 2009 - New Scientist". www.newscientist.com. Archived from the original on April 26, 2015. Retrieved October 31, 2009.
  54. doi:10.1111/j.1095-8649.2006.01300.x
    .

Bibliography

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Oral sex.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Oral_sex&oldid=1217722832"