A Look at Teens and Their Decisions About Oral Sex

How far am I willing to go? This is the question that young teenagers all over the country are forced to ask themselves throughout their adolescence. In this case, I'm talking about sex. It's a hot topic right now across America, especially during the hot summer nights when parents fear their teens are out looking for some "summer lovin." But are teenagers really as sexually active as their parents fear? Or are parents not scared enough for the purity of their children?

The curriculum of most public school health programs includes a strong emphasis on abstinence and safe sex, a fact that all kids can attest to. Beginning in seventh grade and not ceasing until twelfth grade, teens in public schools are regularly lectured on the risks of sex, both physical and emotional. However, they don't seem to be getting the hint. According to the National Center for Health Statistics, more than half of high school students admit to engaging in sexual intercourse. About one out of every four who have not had vaginal or anal sex have engaged in oral sex, which teens seem to think is more acceptable than other forms of sex. "I think that it [oral sex] is commonly done and not thought of as a huge deal," remarked one sexually active teen. The fact is that there is a lesser risk of contracting an STD through oral sex, and there is virtually no risk of pregnancy. However, it can be just as emotionally straining, if not more emotionally straining, than intercourse.

"I do think oral sex is commonly done, but if it occurs as a random hook up, I think it is just as trashy as having vaginal sex," said one teen. Oral sex, especially when performed in the heat of the moment and without attachment, can make teens feel objectified. "When you're in the heat of the moment and the person you're with wants you to give him oral sex, you feel stupid saying no because he doesn't make it seem like a big deal."