Oral sex is becoming a more common activity for young women – the giving not the receiving. University of Alberta researcher Brea Malacad says results from her study leave little doubt that oral sex is becoming a more common activity, but not as pervasive as parents might fear.
“From my study, all of the women who had engaged in sexual intercourse had also engaged in oral sex as well,” said Malacad, who published in European Journal of Contraception and Reproductive health Care. “This data tells us that oral sex is becoming very much a part of most young people’s sexual repertoire.”
Clearly, attitudes toward this sexual act is changing. About 50% of the respondents viewed oral sex as less intimate an activity than sexual intercourse, 41% said as intimate and the balance said more intimate. Still, the act has not become the “goodnight kiss” among young people as has been suggested in the media.
“Both intercourse and oral sex were associated with mostly positive emotions overall, which suggests that most young women are engaging in these activities because they enjoy them,” said Malacad. “Based on the results of my study, there is a percentage of women (just over 30%) who feel powerful when performing fellatio. Apparently some women find it empowering and believe that it can wield a lot of power.” Hmmm.
There is some reassuring news. Of the 181 participants in the study aged 18-25, many only had one sexual partner after becoming sexually active. And 25% of those hadn’t had sex at all.
Malacad is concerned about mixed messages from the media, expectations young women might feel to perform and a lack of concern for protection of sexually transmitted diseases acquired through oral sex. She is hopeful this study will help parents, doctors and the prophylactic industry catch up to trend.
Source: University of Alberta, ScienceDaily
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