Arguments about oral sex - Essay Example

Argumentative Paper on Oral Sex Oral sex can be defined as those of activities which use the mouth or the tongue to stimulate external sexual organs. The common terms for oral sex include, going down on, or giving head to a person (Wikipedia 2006). In historical terms, perhaps the most famous case of oral sex came up between Ms. Monica Lewinsky and President Clinton. After that oral sex became a popular topic in the media and it was thought to be a safer alternative to regular sex. However, it can be conclusively shown that oral sex is no where as safe as some people might expect it to be.

The only thing oral sex can be considered safe for is if the couple wish to avoid pregnancy (incase the couple in question is heterosexual) because the transmission of disease is not stopped if partners engage in oral sex. Diseases like Chlamydia, HPV, gonorrhea, herpes, hepatitis, and HIV can all be transmitted through the unsafe practice of oral sex. For all practical purposes, if the objective is to avoid disease then oral sex is no safer than anal or vaginal sex. In fact, as reported by the University of Malmo in Sweden, unprotected oral sex with a person who is already infected with HPV increases the risk of oral cancer (Wikipedia 2006).

Additionally, health advisors recommend that oral sex should be totally avoided when either participant has any cuts or scrapes on the genitals or the mouth. Moreover, brushing teeth before oral sex may not be a good idea since it can cause small scratches on the lining of the mouth which may help the transmission of microscopic bacteria or viruses. Similarly, flossing, dental work or crunchy food can also make oral sex more unsafe that it already is for the same medically recorded reasons (Wikipedia 2006).

However, in spite of all the risks involved, there are simple ways in which oral sex can be made as safe as other sexual practices. The first and foremost recommendation for safe oral sex is to use a condom in case it is being performed on a man. There is little reason not to since there are flavored condoms available for those who say that they do not like the taste of regular condoms. If it is being performed on a woman then dental dams or plastic wrap can be used to prevent the spread of any disease or bacteria.

Despite the availability of these precautions, many people are not even aware of the dangers of unprotected oral sex. As reported by the National Centre for Health Statistics (NCHS) more than fifty percent of all teenagers in America have engaged in oral sex and the majority considered it safer than other forms of sex. This is a dangerous situation and all must be done to ensure that people know about the risks involved so they can prevent the spread of sexually transmitted disease. In conclusion, viewing oral sex as a safe alternative to other forms of sex is not only misguided, it is also dangerous and wrong.

While it can not be argued that it is a commonly performed act, it has to be said that without protection and precautions it is as more or less as unsafe as other unprotected sexual practices. Word Count: 562. Works Cited Wikipedia. 2006. Oral sex. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oral_sex (accessed February 17, 2006).