Oral sex or oral-genital sex means both mouth contact with the vagina, which is called cunnilingus, and mouth contact with the penis, which is called fellatio.
Cunnilingus
Cunnilingus is a form of oral sex involving mouth contact with the
vagina. The term cunnilingus comes from an alternative Latin word for
vulva (external female genitals), cunnus, and from the Latin word for
licking, lingere.
In cunnilingus, the labia, the clitoris and/or
the vaginal area are licked, kissed or gently sucked. The feeling of the
mouth and tongue on the genitals can be very pleasurable for some
people.Cunnilingus can be a part of couples' foreplay, meant to
heighten sexual arousal, or it can be the sole activity. Some women also
experience orgasm by means of cunnilingus.
Though cunnilingus is
common among heterosexual and homosexual couples, not everyone engages
in it. Some people, men and women, simply do not feel comfortable with
it. Most reservations tend to center around three issues: first, that
cunnilingus in unhygienic; second, that it is taboo; third, that
cunnilingus is not a true expression of femininity or masculinity.
- Hygiene: Women sometimes worry that their genitals will have an unpleasant odor or that there may be germs on their genitals which would be passed on to their partners. Genital odor can be taken care of by routine washing and many people find natural genital scents stimulating. As far as transmission of germs or disease, cunnilingus between healthy, disease-free people is entirely safe and clean. No disease is passed by cunnilingus that wouldn't be transmitted by any other kind of sexual contact.
- Taboo: Historically and currently, oral sex, including cunnilingus, has been frowned upon in some cultures and by some religions. It is prohibited in some cultures and even illegal. Underlying the social disapproval and legal strictures are powerful age-old religious prohibitions against oral-genital contact. Centuries of religious scholars have believed and preached that oral sex is unnatural and against divine law. Whether because genital-mouth contact was not a procreative act or because it was erroneously believed to be strictly a lesbian activity, cunnilingus was officially prohibited. In our culture the non-procreative aspect is the most pertinent in that it is the procreative potential of sex that has traditionally transformed it from bad to good in the eyes of many religions. The weight of religious teachings throughout history has had a strong influence on legal and social rules. Many states in the United States still have laws about what are termed "unnatural acts" which include prohibitions on mouth-genital contact. Technically these laws still remain on the books in some states, but are rarely enforced. As the influences of religion on government have diminished, society's experiences with sexual practices have shown that these prohibitions were unnecessary and that cunnilingus is a safe and natural sexual practice between consenting adults.
- Femininity and Masculinity: Some heterosexual people believe that the only real and proper way to express their sexuality is by having intercourse with the penis in the vagina. Others feel threatened by the age-old myth associating oral sex and homosexuality and fear participation in mouth-genital contact may be a sign of their deep-seated homosexuality. There is, of course, no evidence that those who practice oral sexual acts are inclined toward homosexuality.
Fellatio
Fellatio is a type of oral sex in which there is mouth contact with the penis. In fellatio the head and shaft of the penis are licked, kissed and sucked. The mucous membrane inside the mouth is similar to the lining of the vagina. The moist slippery feel of the mouth and tongue on the penis can be extremely pleasurable.
Fellatio can be incorporated as part of a couple's foreplay, meant to heighten sexual arousal, or it can be the main activity, meant to bring the man to orgasm. Fellatio is common among both heterosexual and homosexual couples, yet not everyone engages in it. Some women, and to a far lesser extent some men, simply do not feel comfortable with this type of oral sex.
Attitudes Toward Fellatio Have Changed
The historic Kinsey reports published in 1948 provided the first real evidence of how many people were having fellatio. (Kinsey's report on female oral sex was published in 1953). Comparing Kinsey's data collected in the 1930's and 1940's to later (1970's) studies including the Hunt Report, the Hite Report, the Spada Report, the Redbook Report and the Bell and Weinberg study entitled Homosexualities, shows that attitudes toward oral sex have changed over the years, indicating an increase in the practice of oral sex, fellatio and cunnilingus.
It is difficult to identify precisely which factors have led to a greater acceptance of oral sex, but some likely contributors include the following:
- Scientific and medical evidence has helped dispel the myths about harmful health effects of oral sex and made it clear that fellatio between disease-free people does not in and of itself lead to disease
- The major religions have relaxed their historical prohibitions about fellatio being sinful and unnatural
- Modern hygiene practices have resulted in both men and women bathing far more often than was true in earlier times, thus reducing offensive body odors and tastes that may be associated with oral sex
- Since the 1960s couples seem to be more willing to experiment and openly explore sexual practices and issues, just as society as a whole has shown an increasing acceptance of sexual expression.
Common Concerns About Fellatio
Even if a couple includes fellatio in their sexual relationship, anxieties about performing fellatio on a man may still exist. The person performing fellatio may have concerns that the partner's penis may be too large for her or his mouth or that it may cause gagging. Another common worry is that the man will urinate during fellatio, or if ejaculation occurs, that the taste or feel of semen in the mouth will be unpleasant.Although an erect penis may be too large to fit entirely in one's mouth, some form of mouth contact can usually be made on the penis regardless of size. How deep into the mouth a penis penetrates can be controlled by either the man or his partner placing their hand around the shaft of the penis. This technique allows the hand to act as a stopper to control the depth the penis enters the mouth, thereby reducing the risk of gagging due to deep penetration. A thick penis that may stretch the lips and mouth can be licked up and down the shaft and around the glans without trying to take the penis fully into the mouth.
With regard to urinating during fellatio, it is extremely unlikely that any man is going to urinate in his partner's mouth by accident. Men cannot ejaculate and urinate at the same time. During ejaculation there is a reflex action that contracts a muscle in the neck of the bladder which leads to the penis preventing the flow of urine.
If a person giving fellatio is hesitant to have the man ejaculate into her or his mouth, the partner can signal when he is about to ejaculate and his penis can be removed from the mouth. For some, the slightly salty and chlorine-like taste of semen (which can intermingle with certain tastes from a partner's recent meal) can create an unpleasant taste; others may find this unique taste part of the erotic experience of lovemaking. If couples feel comfortable incorporating fellatio into their sexual relationship, communication about their concerns and preferences, along with experimentation with different techniques can allow for a pleasurable experience for both partners.- Source (Discovery Health)
