Oral sex: varied behaviors and perceptions in a college population

Journal of Sex Research, Feb, 2007 by Wendy C. Chambers

For sexual knowledge, both genders were more likely to endorse the right answer than the wrong one, though the greatest difference emerged in favor of women: significantly more women (72.8%, n = 853) than men (64.4%, n = 466) were likely to endorse the correct answer, yes, for whether one could get gonorrhea from oral sex, [chi square] (2, N = 1,895) = 15.515, p = .000. Although significantly more women (79.0%, n = 925) than men (74.6%, n = 541) correctly answered positively that one could get genital warts from oral sex, [chi square] (1, N = 1,896) = 6.642, p = .036, the difference is small enough to question the practical significance (Chow, 1998). That is, although statistically significant because of the large sample size, the use of such findings to influence policy might be questionable. Men and women did not significantly differ in their knowledge of Chlamydia. For knowledge on protection during oral sex, significant differences emerged between the genders. Although the genders did not differ in how often they protected themselves during oral sex (over 80.0% of both genders did not engage in protection), significantly more men (34.6%, n = 254) than women (22.9%, n = 273) correctly chose Saran[TM] wrap as a means to protect themselves during oral sex, [chi square] (1, N = 1,928) = 31.546, p = .000. No significant differences emerged for endorsing male condoms--90.0% of both genders correctly endorsed this. Dental dams, which a correct answer because this can be used on women when they are receiving oral sex, slightly over 30.0% of each sex endorsed this option. No differences of practical significance emerged for the patch (5.0% or less endorsed this incorrect option), but significantly more women (43.6%, n = 521) than men (36.1%, n = 265) thought that female condoms could protect them during oral sex, [chi square] (1, N = 1,928) = 10.677, p = .001. Overall, men presented themselves as slightly more knowledgeable than women about oral sex protection, though no one gender presented as very knowledgeable about oral sex protection. Far less than half of the men or the women understood that dental dams or Saran[TM] wrap could be used as protection during oral sex.

Discussion

Summary of Findings

That students have different perceptions of sexual terms and acts was evident from the beginning of this survey: A minority of participants considered themselves virgins even though they had had intercourse, whereas an even smaller number did not consider themselves virgins even though they had not had intercourse. Differences in perceptions and behaviors emerged between virgins and nonvirgins and between women and men, though the justification is left largely unknown because of the limitations of this survey. Differences between any of these groups cannot be solely attributed to differences in sexual history, however, as the majority of men and women had only one or no partners in the past year or lifetime.

Regarding participation in oral sex activities, participants were more likely to engage in oral sex than in intercourse, though virgins were statistically much less likely to engage in oral sex than were nonvirgins. The sizeable minority of virgins that did engage in oral sex (~30%) shared many similar views with nonvirgins. Although the majority of all participants perceived intercourse as intimate, significantly more virgins than nonvirgins perceived intercourse as not intimate. Men and women did not significantly differ in their perceptions of intercourse. Only slightly more than half of all virgins/nonvirgins, men and women, perceived oral sex as intimate. Of those who did not perceive oral sex as intimate, men were significantly more likely than women to be neutral toward oral sex, whereas women were significantly more likely than men to perceive oral sex as not intimate. Virgins and nonvirgins did not significantly differ in their perceptions of oral sex.