Oral sex: the story on HearLore

Oral sex

In ancient Rome, the act of oral sex was not merely a private pleasure but a calculated instrument of social dominance and punishment. The Latin language itself encoded this power dynamic through two distinct verbs: irrumare, meaning to penetrate orally, and fellare, meaning to be penetrated orally. A man who performed fellatio on another was viewed as having been penetrated, and thus subjected to a humiliating loss of control, while the man who received it was the one exercising power. This cultural framework was so rigid that practitioners of fellatio were often deemed to have foul breath and were explicitly unwelcome as guests at dinner tables. The practice was so degrading that it was sometimes employed as a method of punishment, transforming the mouth into a site of violence rather than intimacy. This historical context reveals that the taboo surrounding oral sex is not a modern invention but a deep-seated cultural construct rooted in ancient hierarchies of submission and control.

The Science Of Survival

While history has often judged oral sex through the lens of morality, modern science has begun to uncover its surprising biological functions. Research from Malmö University's Faculty of Odontology in 2005 revealed a disturbing correlation between oral sex and oral cancer, finding that 36 percent of cancer patients had human papillomavirus compared to only 1 percent of the healthy control group. This link suggests that the transmission of HPV through oral sex can significantly increase the risk of throat cancer, with those having more than five oral sex partners facing a 250 percent increased risk. Yet, the biological narrative is not solely one of danger. Studies have also indicated that exposure to a partner's semen through oral sex may induce immunological tolerance in a woman, potentially reducing the risk of miscarriage. This process, known as paternal tolerance, suggests that the repeated exposure to semen proteins might establish the maternal immunological tolerance necessary for a safe and successful pregnancy, turning a sexual act into a potential mechanism for reproductive survival.

The Virginity Paradox

The concept of virginity has been redefined and reinterpreted across cultures and generations, often centering on the act of oral sex. In the United States, a 2005 report from the National Center for Health Statistics found that over half of the teenagers questioned had engaged in oral sex, leading to the phenomenon of technical virginity. This term describes individuals who maintain their virginity by avoiding penile-vaginal intercourse while engaging in other sexual acts, including oral sex. The definition of virginity loss varies wildly; heterosexuals often define it by penile-vaginal sex, while gay men may view penile-anal penetration as the loss of virginity, and lesbians may consider oral sex or fingering as the defining moment. This divergence creates a complex social landscape where the physical act of oral sex is simultaneously viewed as a way to preserve virginity and as a definitive sexual experience. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention noted in 2009 that oral sex is commonly practiced by sexually active couples of various ages, including adolescents, highlighting the disconnect between the physical reality and the social definitions of sexual purity.

Common questions

What was the social function of oral sex in ancient Rome?

In ancient Rome, oral sex served as a calculated instrument of social dominance and punishment rather than private pleasure. The Latin verbs irrumare and fellare encoded power dynamics where the receiver exercised control and the performer suffered humiliation. This practice was sometimes used as punishment and practitioners were often deemed to have foul breath and unwelcome at dinner tables.

What is the link between oral sex and oral cancer according to 2005 research?

Research from Malmö University's Faculty of Odontology in 2005 found that 36 percent of oral cancer patients had human papillomavirus compared to only 1 percent of the healthy control group. The transmission of HPV through oral sex can significantly increase the risk of throat cancer, with those having more than five oral sex partners facing a 250 percent increased risk.

How does oral sex relate to the concept of technical virginity in the United States?

A 2005 report from the National Center for Health Statistics found that over half of teenagers in the United States had engaged in oral sex, leading to the phenomenon of technical virginity. This term describes individuals who maintain their virginity by avoiding penile-vaginal intercourse while engaging in other sexual acts including oral sex.

Do animals practice oral sex and what is the evolutionary purpose?

Oral sex is observed across the animal kingdom including fruit bats and fish from the genus Corydoras. In fruit bats females lick males to extend copulation duration while some fish reproduce orally with sperm released into the female mouth to fertilize eggs.

What are the historical origins of slang terms for oral sex?

Slang terms such as plate emerged from the gay slang language of Polari in the 1960s while other terms like muff diving and carpet munching are common in lesbian culture. The term Egyptian rape dates back to the Crusades when Mamluks were alleged to force their Christian captives to perform oral sex.