Fellatio
Fellatio is a type of oral sex in which there is mouth contact
with the penis. The term fellatio comes from the Latin word
fellare, which means to suck.
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 Oral Sex 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.
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