Young Teens See Oral Sex as Less Risky

Today’s teenagers not only view oral sex as physically, socially and emotionally safer than vaginal sex, they’re also more likely to engage in it, according to new research. A study conducted by researchers at the University of California in San Francisco found that more ninth-graders have engaged in oral sex – or intend to try it within the next six months – than vaginal sex.

The study, published in the April issue of Pediatrics, involved 580 ninth-graders, whose average age was about 14-1/2, at two California schools. The students completed questionnaires about their sexual experiences, attitudes and perceptions regarding oral sex versus vaginal sex among adolescents.

Among the study’s findings:

• More teens (19.6 percent) reported having had oral sex as opposed to vaginal sex (13.5 percent). In addition, 31.5 percent of the students said they intended to have oral sex in the next six months, compared to 26.3 percent who planned to have vaginal sex.

• The ninth-graders viewed oral sex as less likely to expose them to sexually transmitted diseases. For example, 53 percent noted that vaginal sex could bring a risk of Chlamydia, while only 38 percent perceived the same risk with oral sex.