Oral sex consists of all the sexual activities that involve the use of the mouth, tongue, etc., to stimulate genitalia. It may be used as foreplay before intercourse, or as climax of a sexual act, which may also include the ingestion of semen and vaginal fluids. Ingestion of these fluids alone, without physical mouth-to-genital contact, is not considered to be oral sex. Common slang terms for oral sex, regardless of gender or sexual orientation, include to "go down on", "give head to" or "give a blowjob to" a partner.
Oral sex is often used as the principal form of sexual expression or as part of foreplay. Not only are the sexual organs sensitive and well supplied with nerve endings, the same is true of the mouth, tongue and lips, so enjoyment of oral sex is not always limited to the person on the receiving end.
In heterosexual relationships, oral sex can be a method of contraception (birth control) since pregnancy is impossible unless semen enters the vagina. Many heterosexuals choose oral or anal sex as an alternative to intercourse for this reason (although anal sex does not necessarily prevent semen from entering the vagina). It is important to note that these activities are not effective methods of preventing sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).
A report issued in September 2005 by the National Center for Health Statistics was the basis of an article in the September 26, 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 teens is "on the rise", it should be noted that this was the first comprehensive study of its kind to examine the matter.
In male homosexual relationships, oral sex is one common alternative for those uncomfortable with anal sex, in addition to being widely enjoyed in its own right. Some contend that homosexual partners can have an enhanced ability to perform oral sex on members of the same gender because they are already familiar with their own body's sensations and responses.
Among dedicated virgins, oral sex is also common, as to many it is perceived as not counting as full sex, and thus engaging in the practice does not entail the loss of virginity.
Techniques
Fellatio
Fellatio describes the oral stimulation of the penis. A common technique of fellatio is to take the glans of the erect penis in the mouth while rhythmically caressing the rest of the penis with the hands; the testes and the shaft of the penis can also be licked with the tongue. Suction is often used to increase the pressure and friction exerted on the penis.
Depending on the preference of the participants, this stimulation may produce an orgasm and ejaculation of semen. If the semen is accepted into the mouth it may or may not be swallowed (hence the slang phrase spit or swallow). It should be noted that sexual arousal of the penis will often produce a small quantity of pre-ejaculatory fluid from the urethra at the tip of the penis prior to ejaculation. This fluid is produced by the Cowper's glands and is not semen (and has been demonstrated to contain far lower quantities of sperm than true semen). Its purpose is to cleanse the urethra and make the conditions of the urethra more suitable for ejaculation because the alkaline secretion will neutralise the acidic residual urine that might be still in the urethra and prepare it for the ejaculation of semen that may soon follow, as well as to provide lubrication for the foreskin and glans during foreplay and intercourse.
While the use of the mouth to stimulate the penis, especially the glans, is a central feature of fellatio, often the partner simultaneously stimulates the shaft of the penis with his/her hand to provide the man with the feeling of the penis being enclosed. Some authorities (such as Franklin, The Ultimate Kiss, p. 62) recommend this as the preferred and most satisfying method of providing oral sex to a man. Another very efficient technique is to have the penis's head go in and out of the mouth very quickly (without going down to the shaft). This gives the receiver extreme stimulation and can lead to ejaculation in less than a minute. Fellatio contests take place in some countries.
Some males regard the reception of oral sex as an ego boost, believing that such an act is a form of dominance over their sexual partner. Also, for some males, when their partner swallows their ejaculate, it sends a subconscious message that their partner accepts them. However, if the partner is unwilling to swallow or allow the semen (stay) into their mouth (or spit it back out), a common variant consists of the fellatee ejaculating over the fellator's face or neck (often called a pearl necklace) or chest (this is often called "cum on body", "cum on boobs" (COB) hence the shortcut "BBBJCOB" (bare back blow job cum on body).
One form of fellatio is known as deep throating, after the 1972 pornographic film Deep Throat. This technique involves repressing the gag reflex and taking the entire erect penis in the mouth, the shaft bending slightly to allow the head of the penis to slide partially down the throat of the fellator/fellatrix.
The common slang term blow-job is a misnomer, as blowing is not normally part of fellatio. In fact, blowing air into a partner's penis is an unhealthy practice. It is most commonly thought to be a facetious use of "blow" as the opposite of "suck". It has been suggested to be a corruption of "below-job", allegedly an old Victorian slang term that was commonly used to describe the act. However, there is a third school of thought that believes the word "blow" in "blow-job" indicates the climax of the penis (compare to blowing of a volcano). The phrase "blow-job" originated in the 1940's.
Cunnilingus
Cunnilingus is the act of using the mouth and tongue to stimulate the female genitals, especially the clitoris. The term comes from an alternative Latin word for the vulva (cunnus) and from the Latin word for licking (lingere). Some 33% of women report never or seldom achieving orgasm during intercourse, and cunnilingus may be a way for women to achieve orgasm with a partner.
As in all human sexual behaviour, the variety of techniques in cunnilingus and individual responses to them are almost endless. As always, communication, experimentation and practice are the best way to learn how to please a particular partner.
The clitoris is the most sensitive part for almost all women, but may be too sensitive to stimulate directly at times, especially in early stages of arousal, and it is often best to begin with more gentle and less focused stimulation of the labia and the whole genital area.
Tongue tip, blade or underside can be used, as can the nose, lips and teeth (with caution). Movements can be slow or fast, regular or erratic, firm or soft, as the moment requires.
The tongue can be inserted into the vagina, either stiffened or moving. Humming to cause vibration while performing cunnilingus is often considered to be especially arousing, with certain pitches, rhythms or tunes thought to be particularly effective by different people.
Cunnilingus is easily accompanied by the insertion of finger[s] or a sex toy into the vagina, which allows for the simultaneous stimulation of the g-spot, which many women find produces very intense sensations. Many other activities can accompany cunnilingus to enhance overall pleasure, of course, limited only by preference, physics, anatomy and multitasking ability.
A popular slang term for cunnilingus is eating out, which is a misnomer because nothing is "consumed," except perhaps bodily fluids if protection is not used. There are several emerging slang terms as well. Some people also refer to cunnilingus as a Poon-job, a slang term and a cunnilingus variant of "blow-job" (see the section of Fellatio above), where "poon" is short for punani. Additionally, in homosexual culture a common slang term used is giving lip or lip service.
Health issues
Semen contains water, small amounts of salt, protein, zinc and fructose sugar. It is slightly alkaline which causes some to find the taste bitter or brackish, but neither male nor female sexual bodily fluids are in themselves harmful to a sexual partner, apart from concerns of STDs (separately discussed below).
Urban legend sometimes describes semen as nutritious and a good source of protein. However, this is at best minimally true. Semen contains only a small amount of protein and in any case is typically only available in small quantities during oral sex.
Partners should be careful not to bite or scratch the genitalia with the teeth harder than desired. It is also possible for the inside of the mouth to be bruised by the penis if oral sex is too rough, although this can be lessened if the person giving fellatio tilts their head back (as in looking up) instead of keeping the head level. People with mouth ulcers and Temporomandibular Joint Disorder may find that giving oral sex is uncomfortable, to say the least.
Sexually Transmitted Diseases
Contrary to popular belief, oral sex is not a safe alternative to vaginal or anal sex. Chlamydia, human papillomavirus (HPV), gonorrhea, herpes, hepatitis (multiple strains), and other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) — including HIV — can be transmitted through oral sex. Any kind of direct contact with body fluids of a person infected with HIV (the virus that causes AIDS) should be avoided. In 2005, a research study at the College of Malmö in Sweden suggested that performing unprotected oral sex on a person infected with HPV might increase the risk of oral cancer. Although the risk from most of these types of infection is generally considered far lower than that associated with vaginal or anal sex.
Furthermore, oral sex should be avoided when either partner has wounds or open sores on the genitals or mouth, or bleeding gums in the mouth, or has recently brushed, flossed, undergone dental work, or eaten crunchy foods such as potato chips, all of which can cause small scratches in the lining of the mouth. These wounds, even when they are microscopic, increase the chances of contracting STDs that can be transmitted orally under these conditions. 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 this, many medical professionals advise the use of condoms in the performance of fellatio (flavoured condoms are available for this purpose) and the use of plastic or latex sheets (dental dams or ordinary plastic wrap) for cunnilingus, although the latter has failed to achieve the same level of widespread use as condoms.
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