There was an article in the newspaper here just a few months ago about the huge rise in the number of cases among teens of STDs acquired via oral sex. Why? Because so many teens don't consider having oral sex as having sex. They have gotten the message loud and clear that they may catch STDs if they have vaginal or anal sex, but they are not understanding that they can acquire STDs via oral sex as well. And going along with that, they understand that they must use condoms to cut down on STDs if they have intercourse, but they don't realize that they need to use similar protection if they have oral sex, too.

My daughter agreed whole heartedly with the article; she said it sounded like most of her classmates. She said she can't get over how many kids don't even know what a dental dam is or that you can buy condoms that are made especially for oral sex.

I really don't think it is so much a matter that kids don't think they are "ready" for sex (in other words, intercourse) but is more that they think they're being safer by having oral sex instead.

Another scarey side note of this is that there has been an increase in the number of cases of oropharyngeal (mouth/throat) cancer due to the spread of HPV (human papillomavirus, or genital warts) in which people are getting HPV in their throats from performing unprotected oral sex on their partners. This wasn't referring to teens, though, but to all sexually active age groups.

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Communication is the key.