Views on Oral Genital Sex and Contact

From my perspective, our views on oral-genital sex (fellatio and/or cunnilingus) have shifted from a conservative to a liberal stance. In many societies during the past there have been very conservative views on sexual behavior in general. It seems that views in the United States, at least, are becoming less strict, especially when it comes to oral sex. We see campaigns which have started mainly to reduce issues with HIV/AIDS, other STDs, an unplanned/teenage pregnancy; but they do not focus so much on oral sex. Young people have more focus on pleasure than intimacy when it comes to oral sex. One study found that adults tend to consider oral sex as more intimate than intercourse, while teens considered oral sex to be less intimate. Another study found that women born before 1950 rarely had engaged in oral sex before marriage; but 55% today’s teens reported having experienced oral sex, which was 5% more than those who reported having intercourse (Referenced in Crooks & Baur, 2010).

As a result of oral-genital sex being taken less seriously as a sexual behavior, its role has shifted from being an extremely intimate expression of affection to more of a hedonistic pleasure with no basis of mutual affection as a motivation. Our society’s views are shifting because we are looking at oral sex as being less serious. Perhaps this could be related to a trend in lack of prominence of those who are religious (particularly conservative protestants) or strictly adhere to values imposed by religious institutions.

Risk of HIV and STDs with Oral-Genital Sex

Can you get HIV or other STDs from oral-genital sex? As with intercourse, there is a risk of contracting STD’s when having oral sex. Once can become afflicted with the HIV virus through oral sex. The chance is reportedly “low” (Crooks & Baur, 2010), however there is potential for the virus to enter through breaks in the skin. A wide variety of other STD’s can be contracted in a similar fashion through oral-genital sex. This is the primary health risk; a positive aspect of oral sex is you do not have to worry about pregnancy. This is another driving factor in the increasing validity of oral-genital sex especially amongst younger people, they do not have to worry about pregnancy but are still able to achieve pleasure.

References:

Crooks, R. L., & Baur, K. (2010). Our Sexuality (11th). Belmont: Wadsworth.