Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Oral vs. Vaginal Sex Experiences and Consequences Among First-Year College Students

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Archives of Sexual Behavior Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

To fully understand late adolescents’ experiences of oral sex, we must consider both risk and normative developmental perspectives. Sexual experiences include a range of behaviors, but research on sexual behaviors and consequences focuses primarily on vaginal sex. Oral sex occurs at rates similar to vaginal sex, and carries some, though less, risk than vaginal sex. The current study examined the event-level prevalence and consequences of oral sex compared to vaginal sex with other-sex partners in first-year college students. Daily data were from recently sexually active first-year college students (N = 253 people, 834 days; M age, 18.4 years; SD = 0.4; 56 % female; 31 % Hispanic/Latino; 17 % African American, 14 % Asian American/Pacific Islander, 25 % European American, 12 % multiracial) who reported on sexual behaviors and consequences. Both positive (intimacy, physical satisfaction) and negative (worrying about health, guilt) consequences were less common for oral than vaginal sex. Gender differences suggested that female adolescents may find vaginal sex more rewarding than oral sex, whereas male adolescents may find them equally rewarding.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Subscribe and save

Springer+ Basic
$34.99 /Month
  • Get 10 units per month
  • Download Article/Chapter or eBook
  • 1 Unit = 1 Article or 1 Chapter
  • Cancel anytime
Subscribe now

Buy Now

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • American College Health Association. (2008). American College Health Association-National college health assessment: Reference group executive summary: Spring 2008. Baltimore, MD: American College Health Association. Retrieved from www.acha.org.

  • Bay-Cheng, L. Y., & Fava, N. M. (2011). Young women’s experiences and perceptions of cunnilingus during adolescence. Journal of Sex Research, 48, 531–542. doi:10.1080/00224499.2010.535221.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bolger, N., Davis, A., & Rafaeli, E. (2003). Diary methods: Capturing life as it is lived. Annual Review of Psychology, 54, 579–616. doi:10.1146/annurev.psych.54.101601.145030.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bordini, G. S., & Sperb, T. M. (2012). Sexual double standard: A review of the literature between 2001 and 2010. Sexuality and Culture, 17, 686–704. doi:10.1007/s12119-012-9163-0.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brady, S. S., & Halpern-Felsher, B. L. (2007). Adolescents’ reported consequences of having oral sex versus vaginal sex. Pediatrics, 119, 229–236. doi:10.1542/peds.2006-1727.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Burchell, A. N., Winer, R. L., de Sanjosé, S., & Franco, E. L. (2006). Epidemiology and transmission dynamics of genital HPV infection. Vaccine, 24, S52–S61.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Byers, E. S., Henderson, J., & Hobson, K. M. (2009). University students’ definitions of sexual abstinence and having sex. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 38, 665–674. doi:10.1007/s10508-007-9289-6.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2013). Tobacco product use among middle and high school students—United States, 2011 and 2012. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, 62, 893–897.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chambers, W. C. (2007). Oral sex: Varied behaviors and perceptions in a college population. Journal of Sex Research, 44, 28–42.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Chandra, A., Mosher, W. D., & Copen, C. (2011). Sexual behavior, sexual attraction, and sexual identity in the United States: Data from the 2006–2008 National Survey of Family Growth. US Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics.

  • Cooper, M. L., Shapiro, C. M., & Powers, A. M. (1998). Motivations for sex and risky sexual behavior among adolescents and young adults: A functional perspective. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 75, 1528–1558. doi:10.1037/0022-3514.75.6.1528.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Cornell, J. L., & Halpern-Felsher, B. L. (2006). Adolescents tell us why teens have oral sex. Journal of Adolescent Health, 38, 299–301. doi:10.1016/j.jadohealth.2005.04.015.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Crawford, M., & Popp, D. (2003). Sexual double standards: A review and methodological critique of two decades of research. Journal of Sex Research, 40, 13–26. doi:10.1080/00224490309552163.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Cummings, T., Auerswald, C. L., & Ott, M. A. (2014). Factors influencing abstinence, anticipation, and delay of sex among adolescent boys in high-sexually transmitted infection prevalence communities. Journal of Adolescent Health, 54, 593–598. doi:10.1016/j.jadohealth.2013.10.011.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Curran, P. J., & Bauer, D. J. (2011). The disaggregation of within-person and between-person effects in longitudinal models of change. Annual Review of Psychology, 62, 583–619. doi:10.1146/annurev.psych.093008.100356.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Dalton, A. L., & Galambos, N. L. (2009). Affect and sexual behavior in the transition to university. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 38, 675–687. doi:10.1007/s10508-008-9401-6.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Downing-Matibag, T. M., & Geisinger, B. (2009). Hooking up and sexual risk taking among college students: A health belief model perspective. Qualitative Health Research, 19, 1196–1209. doi:10.1177/1049732309344206.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Eshbaugh, E. M., & Gute, G. (2008). Hookups and sexual regret among college women. Journal of Social Psychology, 148, 77–90. doi:10.3200/SOCP.148.1.77-90.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Fielder, R. L., & Carey, M. P. (2010a). Predictors and consequences of sexual “hookups” among college students: A short-term prospective study. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 39, 1105–1119. doi:10.1007/s10508-008-9448-4.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Fielder, R. L., & Carey, M. P. (2010b). Prevalence and characteristics of sexual hookups among first-semester female college students. Journal of Sex and Marital Therapy, 36, 346–359. doi:10.1080/0092623X.2010.488118.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Fortenberry, J. D., Temkit, M. H., Tu, W., Graham, C. A., Katz, B. P., & Orr, D. P. (2005). Daily mood, partner support, sexual interest, and sexual activity among adolescent women. Health Psychology, 24, 252–257. doi:10.1037/0278-6133.24.3.252.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Galinsky, A. M., & Sonenstein, F. L. (2011). The association between developmental assets and sexual enjoyment among emerging adults. Journal of Adolescent Health, 48, 610–615. doi:10.1016/j.jadohealth.2010.09.008.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Halpern-Felsher, B. L., Cornell, J. L., Kropp, R. Y., & Tschann, J. M. (2005). Oral versus vaginal sex among adolescents: Perceptions, attitudes, and behavior. Pediatrics, 115, 845–851. doi:10.1542/peds.2004-2108.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hensel, D. J., Fortenberry, J. D., & Orr, D. P. (2008). Variations in coital and noncoital sexual repertoire among adolescent women. Journal of Adolescent Health, 42, 170–176. doi:10.1016/j.jadohealth.2007.07.009.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Higgins, J. A., Trussell, J., Moore, N. B., & Davidson, J. K. (2010). Virginity lost, satisfaction gained? Physiological and psychological sexual satisfaction at heterosexual debut. Journal of Sex Research, 47, 384–394.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Hines, D., Saris, R. N., & Throckmorton-Belzer, L. (2002). Pluralistic ignorance and health risk behaviors: Do college students misperceive social approval for risky behaviors on campus and in media? Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 32, 2621–2640. doi:10.1111/j.1559-1816.2002.tb02760.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Holmes, K. K., Levine, R., & Weaver, M. (2004). Effectiveness of condoms in preventing sexually transmitted infections. Bulletin of the World Health Organization, 82, 454–461. doi:10.1590/S0042-96862004000600012.

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Horne, S., & Zimmer-Gembeck, M. L. (2005). Female sexual subjectivity and well-being: Comparing late adolescents with different sexual experiences. Sexuality Research & Social Policy, 2(3), 25–40.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kashdan, T. B., Adams, L. M., Farmer, A. S., Ferssizidis, P., McKnight, P. E., & Nezleck, J. B. (2014). Sexual healing: Daily diary investigation of the benefits of intimate and pleasurable sexual activity in socially anxious adults. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 43, 1417–1429.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lam, T. H., Shi, H. J., Ho, L. M., Stewart, S. M., & Fan, S. (2002). Timing of pubertal maturation and heterosexual behavior among Hong Kong Chinese adolescents. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 31, 359–366.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lewis, M. A., Granato, H., Blayney, J. A., Lostutter, T. W., & Kilmer, J. R. (2012). Predictors of hooking up sexual behaviors and emotional reactions among U.S. college students. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 41, 1219–1229. doi:10.1007/s10508-011-9817-2.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Lindberg, L. D., Jones, R., & Santelli, J. S. (2008). Noncoital sexual activities among adolescents. Journal of Adolescent Health, 43, 231–238. doi:10.1016/j.jadohealth.2007.12.010.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Meier, A. M. (2007). Adolescent first sex and subsequent mental health. American Journal of Sociology, 112, 1811–1847.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Morgan, E. M. (2014). Outcomes of sexual behaviors among sexual minority youth. In E. S. Lefkowitz & S. A. Vasilenko (Eds.), New directions for child and adolescent development: Positive and negative outcomes of sexual behaviors (Vol. 144, pp. 21–36). San Francisco: Jossey-Bass. doi:10.1002/cad.20058.

    Google Scholar 

  • O’Sullivan, L. F., & Hearn, K. D. (2008). Predicting first intercourse among urban early adolescent girls: The role of emotions. Cognition and Emotion, 22, 168–179. doi:10.1080/02699930701298465.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Owen, J., Fincham, F. D., & Moore, J. (2011). Short-term prospective study of hooking up among college students. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 40, 331–341. doi:10.1007/s10508-010-9697.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Patrick, M. E., & Maggs, J. L. (2009). Does drinking lead to sex? Daily alcohol—sex behaviors and expectancies among college students. Psychology of Addictive Behaviors, 23, 472–481. doi:10.1037/a0016097.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Patrick, M. E., & Maggs, J. L. (2014). Energy drinks and alcohol: Links to alcohol behaviors and consequences across 56 days. Journal of Adolescent Health, 54, 454–459. doi:10.1016/j.jadohealth.2013.09.013.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Patrick, M. E., Maggs, J. L., Cooper, M. L., & Lee, C. M. (2010). Measurement of motivations for and against sexual behavior. Assessment, 39, 1320–1332. doi:10.1177/1073191110372298.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pinkerton, S., Cecil, H., Bogart, L., & Abramson, P. (2003). The pleasures of sex: An empirical investigation. Cognition and Emotion, 17, 341–353. doi:10.1080/02699930302291.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Richters, J., de Visser, R., Rissel, C., & Smith, A. (2006). Sexual practices at last heterosexual encounter and occurrence of orgasm in a national survey. Journal of Sex Research, 43, 217–226. doi:10.1258/095646206778145730.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Santelli, J., Ott, M. A., Lyon, M., Rogers, J., Summers, D., & Schleifer, R. (2006). Abstinence and abstinence-only education: A review of US policies and programs. Journal of Adolescent Health, 38, 72–81. doi:10.1016/j.jadohealth.2005.10.006.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Shrier, L. A., Shih, M. C., Hacker, L., & de Moor, C. (2007). A momentary sampling study of the affective experience following coital events in adolescents. Journal of Adolescent Health, 40, 357-e1–357-e8. doi:10.1016/j.jadohealth.2006.10.014.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Smiler, A. P., Ward, L. M., Caruthers, A., & Merriwether, A. (2005). Pleasure, empowerment, and love: Factors associated with a positive first coitus. Sexuality Research & Social Policy, 2(3), 41–55. doi:10.1525/srsp.2005.2.3.41.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Smith, C. V., & Shaffer, M. J. (2013). Gone but not forgotten: Virginity loss and current sexual satisfaction. Journal of Sex and Marital Therapy, 39, 96–111. doi:10.1080/0092623X.2012.675023.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Song, A. V., & Halpern-Felsher, B. L. (2011). Predictive relationship between adolescent oral and vaginal sex: Results from a prospective, longitudinal study. Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, 165, 243–249. doi:10.1001/archpediatrics.2010.214.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sprecher, S. (2014). Evidence of change in men’s versus women’s emotional reactions to first sexual intercourse: A 23-year study in a human sexuality course at a midwestern university. Journal of Sex Research, 51, 466–472.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sprecher, S., & Regan, P. C. (1996). College virgins: How men and women perceive their sexual status. Journal of Sex Research, 33, 1085–1096. doi:10.1080/00224499609551810.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Spriggs, A. L., & Halpern, C. T. (2008). Sexual debut timing and depressive symptoms in emerging adulthood. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 37, 1085–1096.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Tolman, D. L., & McClelland, S. I. (2011). Normative sexuality development in adolescence: A decade in review, 2000–2009. Journal of Research on Adolescence, 21, 242–255.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tsui, L., & Nicoladis, E. (2004). Losing it: Similarities and differences in first intercourse experiences of men and women. Canadian Journal of Human Sexuality, 13, 95–106.

    Google Scholar 

  • Vannier, S. A., & Byers, E. S. (2013). A qualitative study of university students’ perceptions of oral sex, intercourse, and intimacy. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 42, 1573–1581. doi:10.1007/s10508-013-0130-0.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Vasilenko, S. A., Lefkowitz, E. S., & Maggs, J. L. (2012). Short-term positive and negative consequences of sex based on daily reports among college students. Journal of Sex Research, 49, 558–569. doi:10.1080/00224499.2011.589101.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Vasilenko, S. A., Lefkowitz, E. S., & Welsh, D. P. (2014). Is sexual behavior healthy for adolescents? A conceptual framework for research on adolescent sexual behavior and physical, mental, and social health. In E. S. Lefkowitz & S. A. Vasilenko (Eds.), New directions for child and adolescent development: Positive and negative outcomes of sexual behaviors (Vol. 144, pp. 3–19). San Francisco: Jossey-Bass. doi:10.1002/cad.20058.

    Google Scholar 

  • Vasilenko, S. A., Maas, M. K., & Lefkowitz, E. S. (2015). “It felt good but weird at the same time”: Emerging adults’ first experiences of six different sexual behaviors. Journal of Adolescent Research, 30, 586–606.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Welsh, D. P., Rostosky, S. S., & Kawaguchi, C. M. (2000). A normative perspective of adolescent girls’ developing sexuality. In C. B. Travis & J. W. White (Eds.), Sexuality, society, and feminism (pp. 111–140). Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Wight, D., Parkes, A., Strange, V., Allen, E., Bonell, C., & Henderson, M. (2008). The quality of young people’s heterosexual relationships: A longitudinal analysis of characteristics shaping subjective experience. Perspectives on Sexual and Reproductive Health, 40, 226–237. doi:10.1363/4022608.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the National Institutes of Health grant R01AA016016 awarded to Jennifer Maggs. We would like to thank Jennifer Maggs, Nicole Morgan, Meg Small, and the rest of the University Life Study team for their help with study design, data collection, and data management.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Human Development and Family Studies, Pennsylvania State University, 119 Health and Human Development Building, University Park, PA, 16802, USA

    Eva S. Lefkowitz & Chelom E. Leavitt

  2. Methodology Center, Pennsylvania State University, State College, PA, USA

    Sara A. Vasilenko

Authors
  1. Eva S. Lefkowitz
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Sara A. Vasilenko
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Chelom E. Leavitt
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Eva S. Lefkowitz.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Lefkowitz, E.S., Vasilenko, S.A. & Leavitt, C.E. Oral vs. Vaginal Sex Experiences and Consequences Among First-Year College Students. Arch Sex Behav 45, 329–337 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-015-0654-6

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-015-0654-6

Keywords

Search

Navigation