Cunnilingus: Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous editNext edit →
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
Line 36: Line 36:


==Health risks==
==Health risks==
===Sexually transmitted disease===
[[Chlamydia infection|Chlamydia]], [[human papillomavirus]] (HPV), [[gonorrhea]], [[Herpes simplex virus|herpes]], [[hepatitis]] (multiple strains), and other [[Sexually transmitted disease|sexually transmitted infections]] (STIs/STDs) &mdash; including [[HIV]] &mdash; can be transmitted through oral sex.<ref>{{cite web|title=Oral sex: looking after your sexual health|url=http://www.fpa.org.uk/helpandadvice/sexuallytransmittedinfectionsstis/oralsex|work=The Family Planning Association|publisher=The Family Planning Association|accessdate=7 July 2012}}</ref> The documented risk of HIV transmission through cunnilingus is considered to be extremely small, and far lower than that associated with [[fellatio]], [[vaginal sex|vaginal]], or [[anal sex]]. There have only ever been 2 documented cases of HIV transmission through cunnilingus.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.aidsmeds.com/articles/Transmission_9963.shtml |title=How is HIV Transmitted? : Specific Sexual Practices: What are the Risks? |publisher=Aidsmeds.com |date=2011-06-17 |accessdate=2012-07-02}}</ref><ref>http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/resources/Factsheets/pdf/oralsex.pdf</ref> If the receiving partner has wounds or open sores on her genitals, or if the giving partner has wounds or open sores on or in his or her mouth, or bleeding gums, this poses an increased risk of STI transmission. Brushing the teeth, flossing, undergoing dental work, or eating crunchy foods such as potato chips relatively soon before or after performing cunnilingus can also increase the risk of disease transmission, because all of these activities can cause small scratches in the lining of the mouth. These wounds, even when they are [[microscopic]], increase the chances of contracting STIs that can be transmitted orally under these conditions. Such contact can also lead to more mundane infections from common [[bacteria]] and [[viruses]] found in, around, and secreted from the genital regions.
[[Chlamydia infection|Chlamydia]], [[human papillomavirus]] (HPV), [[gonorrhea]], [[Herpes simplex virus|herpes]], [[hepatitis]] (multiple strains), and other [[Sexually transmitted disease|sexually transmitted infections]] (STIs/STDs) &mdash; including [[HIV]] &mdash; can be transmitted through oral sex.<ref>{{cite web|title=Oral sex: looking after your sexual health|url=http://www.fpa.org.uk/helpandadvice/sexuallytransmittedinfectionsstis/oralsex|work=The Family Planning Association|publisher=The Family Planning Association|accessdate=7 July 2012}}</ref> The documented risk of HIV transmission through cunnilingus is considered to be extremely small, and far lower than that associated with [[fellatio]], [[vaginal sex|vaginal]], or [[anal sex]]. There have only ever been 2 documented cases of HIV transmission through cunnilingus.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.aidsmeds.com/articles/Transmission_9963.shtml |title=How is HIV Transmitted? : Specific Sexual Practices: What are the Risks? |publisher=Aidsmeds.com |date=2011-06-17 |accessdate=2012-07-02}}</ref><ref>http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/resources/Factsheets/pdf/oralsex.pdf</ref> If the receiving partner has wounds or open sores on her genitals, or if the giving partner has wounds or open sores on or in his or her mouth, or bleeding gums, this poses an increased risk of STI transmission. Brushing the teeth, flossing, undergoing dental work, or eating crunchy foods such as potato chips relatively soon before or after performing cunnilingus can also increase the risk of disease transmission, because all of these activities can cause small scratches in the lining of the mouth. These wounds, even when they are [[microscopic]], increase the chances of contracting STIs that can be transmitted orally under these conditions. Such contact can also lead to more mundane infections from common [[bacteria]] and [[viruses]] found in, around, and secreted from the genital regions.


=== HPV and oral cancer ===
⚫
In 2005, a research study at the College of Malmö in [[Sweden]] suggested that performing unprotected [[oral sex]] on a person infected with [[HPV]] might increase the risk of [[oral cancer]]. The study found that 36% of the [[cancer patient]]s had HPV compared to only 1 percent of the healthy control group.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.medindia.net/news/view_news_main.asp?x=5822 |title=Oral Sex Linked To Mouth Cancer Risk |publisher=Medindia.net |date= |accessdate=2012-07-02}}</ref>
Links have been reported between oral sex and [[oral cancer]] with [[human papillomavirus]] (HPV)-infected people.<ref>{{cite web
⚫
| url=http://www.oralcancerfoundation.org/hpv/index.htm | title=The HPV Connection - The human papilloma virus related to Oral Cancer| work=| author= | date=2011- | accessdate=2011- }}</ref> In 2005, a research study at [[Malmö University]]'s Faculty of Odontology suggested that performing unprotected [[oral sex]] on a person infected with [[HPV]] might increase the risk of [[oral cancer]]. The study found that 36 percent of the [[cancer patient]]s had HPV compared to only 1 percent of the healthy control group.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.medindia.net/news/view_news_main.asp?x=5822 |title=Oral Sex Linked To Mouth Cancer Risk |publisher=MedIndia |date= |accessdate=2010-03-19}}</ref>


Another recent study in ''[[The New England Journal of Medicine]]'' suggests a [[correlation]] between oral sex and [[head and neck cancer|throat cancer]]. It is believed that this is due to the transmission of [[human papillomavirus]] (HPV) because this virus has been implicated in the majority of cervical cancers. The study concludes that people who had one to five oral sex partners in their lifetime had approximately a doubled risk of throat cancer compared with those who never engaged in this activity, and those with more than five oral-sex partners had a 250% increased risk.<ref>[http://www.newscientist.com/article.ns?id=dn11819&feedId=online-news_rss20 Oral sex can cause throat cancer - 09 May 2007 - ''[[New Scientist]]''<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
Another recent study in ''[[The New England Journal of Medicine]]'' suggests a [[correlation]] between oral sex and [[head and neck cancer|throat cancer]]. It is believed that this is due to the transmission of HPV, a virus that has been implicated in the majority of cervical cancers and which has been detected in throat cancer tissue in numerous studies. The study concludes that people who had one to five oral sex partners in their lifetime had approximately a doubled risk of throat cancer compared with those who never engaged in this activity and those with more than five oral sex partners had a 250 percent increased risk.<ref>{{cite journal |author=D'Souza G |title=Case-control study of human papillomavirus and oropharyngeal cancer |journal=N. Engl. J. Med. |volume=356 |issue=19 |pages=1944–1956 |year=2007 |pmid=17494927 |url=http://content.nejm.org/cgi/pmidlookup?view=short&pmid=17494927&promo=ONFLNS19 |doi=10.1056/NEJMoa065497 |author-separator=, |author2=Kreimer AR |author3=Viscidi R |display-authors=3 |last4=Pawlita |first4=Michael |last5=Fakhry |first5=Carole |last6=Koch |first6=Wayne M. |last7=Westra |first7=William H. |last8=Gillison |first8=Maura L.}}</ref><ref>Khamsi, Roxanne, [http://www.newscientist.com/article.ns?id=dn11819&feedId=online-news_rss20 "Oral sex can cause throat cancer"], ''New Scientist'', London, May 9, 2007.</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.newscientist.com/article.ns?id=dn11819&feedId=online-news_rss20 |title=New Scientist: "Oral sex can cause throat cancer" - 09 May 2007 |publisher=Newscientist.com |date= |accessdate=2010-03-19}}</ref>


==Cultural attitudes==
==Cultural attitudes==

Revision as of 10:01, 16 February 2013

"Eating pussy" redirects here. For For other uses see Eat Pussy, see Eating pussy (disambiguation).
Watercolor painting by Achille Devéria depicting cunnilingus

Cunnilingus is an oral sex act performed on a female. It involves the use by a sex partner of the mouth, lips, and tongue to stimulate the female's clitoris, vulva, or vagina. The clitoris is the most sexually sensitive erogenous zone for most women, the stimulation of which may result in the production of erotic sensations or sexual excitement. A female may receive cunnilingus as part of foreplay to produce sexual arousal. Sufficient oral clitoral stimulation can result in an orgasm.[1]

Though the person receiving cunnilingus must be female, her sex partner may be of either gender. Oral sex when the receiving partner is male is called fellatio. Laws of some jurisdictions regard cunnilingus as penetrative sex for sexual offense purposes, but no laws ban the practice itself, as in the case of anal sex or extramarital sex. Most people do not regard cunnilingus as affecting the virginity of either partner, and it cannot lead to pregnancy.

Technique

Woman performing cunnilingus in the missionary position

Author Shere Hite notes in The Hite Report that most women achieve orgasm easily from clitoral stimulation as part of cunnilingus or some other form of direct clitoral stimulation.[1]

Cunnilingus requires receiving female's passivity. The female receiving cunnilingus relies on her partner for her sexual satisfaction. The receiving female's partner may use fingers to open the vagina lips to enable the tongue to better stimulate the clitoris, or the female may separate the vagina lips for her partner. Separating the legs wide would also usually open the vagina sufficiently for the partner to orally reach the clitoris.

Some sex manuals recommend beginning with a gentler, less focused stimulation of the labia and the whole genital area. The tip, blade, or underside of the tongue may be used, as can the nose, chin, teeth and lips. Movements can be slow or fast, regular or erratic, firm or soft, according to the participants' preferences. The tongue can be inserted into the vagina, either stiffened or moving. The performing partner may also hum to produce vibration.

Cunnilingus may be accompanied by digital vaginal penetration or the use of a sex toy, which allows for the simultaneous stimulation of the g-spot, and/or into the anus.[2][3]

Positions

Édouard-Henri Avril's depiction of cunnilingus in the spreadeagle position

Any position which offers a sex partner oral access to a female's crotch area is suitable for cunnilingus, including:

  • Doggy style – the female crouches on all fours, while her partner performs oral sex from behind or from below.
  • Face-sitting – the female sits on or above the partner's face. In this position she has more control over her body movements and can guide her partner or auto-stimulate against the partner's face.
  • Missionary – the female lies on her back, with her legs spread, pulled up to her chest, on her partner or raised. The female can lay on any surface, such as a table, floor, etc.
  • Mutual stimulation – such as in the 69 position.
  • Sitting  – the female sits on a chair or uses some other support.
  • Spreadeagle – similar to the missionary position except that the arms and legs are spread wide, and that physical restraints may be used.
  • Standing – the female stands while her partner is either sitting or on the knees. However, in this position the clitoris is more difficult to reach and stimulate orally. The female may lean against a wall or hold onto some furniture for support.

Terminology

There are numerous slang terms for cunnilingus, including "drinking from the furry cup"[4] "carpet munching", and "muff-diving".[5] Several common slang terms used are "giving lip", "lip service", or "tipping the velvet", an expression that novelist Sarah Waters claims to have "plucked from the relative obscurity of Victorian porn".[6] Older erotic literature refers to it as "gamahuching", with some variation in the spelling.[citation needed]

A person who performs cunnilingus may be referred to as a "cunnilinguist".[7]

Etymology

The term is derived from the Neo-Latin words for the vulva (cunnus) and tongue (lingua).[8]

Health risks

Sexually transmitted disease

Chlamydia, human papillomavirus (HPV), gonorrhea, herpes, hepatitis (multiple strains), and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs/STDs) — including HIV — can be transmitted through oral sex.[9] The documented risk of HIV transmission through cunnilingus is considered to be extremely small, and far lower than that associated with fellatio, vaginal, or anal sex. There have only ever been 2 documented cases of HIV transmission through cunnilingus.[10][11] If the receiving partner has wounds or open sores on her genitals, or if the giving partner has wounds or open sores on or in his or her mouth, or bleeding gums, this poses an increased risk of STI transmission. Brushing the teeth, flossing, undergoing dental work, or eating crunchy foods such as potato chips relatively soon before or after performing cunnilingus can also increase the risk of disease transmission, because all of these activities can cause small scratches in the lining of the mouth. These wounds, even when they are microscopic, increase the chances of contracting STIs that can be transmitted orally under these conditions. Such contact can also lead to more mundane infections from common bacteria and viruses found in, around, and secreted from the genital regions.

HPV and oral cancer

Links have been reported between oral sex and oral cancer with human papillomavirus (HPV)-infected people.[12] In 2005, a research study at Malmö University's Faculty of Odontology suggested that performing unprotected oral sex on a person infected with HPV might increase the risk of oral cancer. The study found that 36 percent of the cancer patients had HPV compared to only 1 percent of the healthy control group.[13]

Another recent study in The New England Journal of Medicine suggests a correlation between oral sex and throat cancer. It is believed that this is due to the transmission of HPV, a virus that has been implicated in the majority of cervical cancers and which has been detected in throat cancer tissue in numerous studies. The study concludes that people who had one to five oral sex partners in their lifetime had approximately a doubled risk of throat cancer compared with those who never engaged in this activity and those with more than five oral sex partners had a 250 percent increased risk.[14][15][16]

Cultural attitudes

Oral sex is one of the most common fantasies

Cultural attitudes towards giving or receiving cunnilingus range from disgust to reverence. It has been considered taboo, or at least frowned upon, in many cultures and parts of the world.[17] In Chinese Taoism, cunnilingus is revered as a spiritually fulfilling practice that is believed to enhance longevity.[18] There is some anthropological evidence for cunnilingus as a widespread activity amongst Australian aboriginals.[19] In modern Western culture, oral sex is widely practiced among adolescents[20] and adults.

Despite the clitoris being a female's most sensitive erogenous zone and the primary source of her sexual pleasure, cunnilingus is not widely practiced. People give various reasons for their dislike or reluctance to perform cunnilingus, or having cunnilingus performed on them. Some regard cunnilingus unnatural because it does not lead to procreation.[21] Some cultures attach symbolism to different parts of the body, leading some people to believe that cunnilingus is ritually unclean or humiliating.[22] This has been more or less the case in Christian and Sub-Saharan African cultures and other modern religions. Some people view all or some sexual acts in terms of submission and control.

While commonly believed that lesbian sexual practices include cunnilingus, some lesbian or bisexual women dislike receiving it due to not liking the experience or due to psychological or social factors, such as finding it unclean.[23][24][25][26] Other lesbian or bisexual women believe that it is a necessity or largely defines lesbian sexual activity, attributing lesbian or bisexual women who dislike oral sex as a problem.[25][26] Often, lesbian couples are likely to define a woman's dislike of oral sex as a problem more than heterosexual couples are, and commonly seek therapy to overcome inhibitions regarding oral sex.[25]

Hinduism

The religious historian Mircea Eliade speaks of a similar desire to transcend old age and death, and achieve a state of nirvana, in the Hindu practice of Tantric yoga. In Tantric yoga, the same emphasis is placed on the retention and absorption of vital liquids and Sanskrit texts describe how the male semen must not be emitted if the yogi is to avoid falling under law of time and death.[27]

Taoism

Cunnilingus is accorded a revered place in Taoism. This is because the practice was believed to achieve longevity, and the loss of semen, vaginal, and other bodily liquids is believed to bring about a corresponding loss of vitality. Conversely, by either semen retention or ingesting the secretions from the vagina, a male or female can conserve and increase his/her ch'i, or original vital breath. In Taoism:

The Great Medicine of the Three Mountain Peaks is to be found in the body of the woman and is composed of three juices, or essences: one from the woman's mouth, another from her breasts, and the third, the most powerful, from the Grotto of the White Tiger, which is at the Peak of the Purple Mushroom (the mons veneris).

— Octavio Paz. Conjunctions and Disjunctions. trans. Helen R. Lane. 1975. (London: Wildwood House, 1969) p. 97.

According to Philip Rawson (in Paz, p. 97), these half-poetic, half-medicinal metaphors explain the popularity of cunnilingus among people: "The practice was an excellent method of imbibing the precious feminine fluid" (Paz, p. 97). But the Taoist ideal is not just about the male being enriched by female secretions; the female also benefits from her communion with the male, a feature that has led the sinologist, Kristofer Schipper, to denounce the ancient handbooks on the "Art of the Bedroom" as embracing a "kind of glorified male vampirism" that is not truly Taoist at all.[28] Ideally, by mingling the male and female liquids the Taoist aims to reconcile opposites and to recapture the mythical time that existed before the division of the sexes, the primordial time of the original ch'i.

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Cunnilingus.

Notes

  1. ^ a b Hite, Shere (2003). The Hite Report: A Nationwide Study of Female Sexuality. New York, NY: Seven Stories Press. pp. 512 pages. ISBN 1-58322-569-2, 9781583225691. Retrieved 2 March 2012. {{cite book}}: Check |isbn= value: invalid character (help)
  2. ^ Human Sexuality in a World of Diversity. Boston: Pearson Allyn and Bacon: Pearson Education. 2005. pp. 124, 226. ISBN 0-205-40615-7. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  3. ^ Masters, W.H. (1966). Human Sexual Response. Toronto; New York: Bantam Books. ISBN 0-553-20429-7.. {{cite book}}: Check |isbn= value: invalid character (help); Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  4. ^ "drinking from the furry cup - Dictionary of sexual terms". Sex-lexis.com. Retrieved 2 July 2012.
  5. ^ "muff_diving at Wiktionary". En.wiktionary.org. Retrieved 2 July 2012.
  6. ^ "Taking Velvet public: author Sarah Waters reflects on the sensation she started by writing Tipping the Velvet, the novel that became a smash UK miniseries that's now set to conquer America." The Advocate (The national gay & lesbian newsmagazine), 13 May 2003.
  7. ^ Morrison, Blake (10 November 2007). "The pleasure principle". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 19 October 2008.
  8. ^ "cunnilingus". Dictionary.com. Retrieved 7 October 2012.
  9. ^ "Oral sex: looking after your sexual health". The Family Planning Association. The Family Planning Association. Retrieved 7 July 2012.
  10. ^ "How is HIV Transmitted? : Specific Sexual Practices: What are the Risks?". Aidsmeds.com. 17 June 2011. Retrieved 2 July 2012.
  11. ^ http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/resources/Factsheets/pdf/oralsex.pdf
  12. ^ "The HPV Connection - The human papilloma virus related to Oral Cancer". 2011-. Retrieved 2011-. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= and |date= (help)
  13. ^ "Oral Sex Linked To Mouth Cancer Risk". MedIndia. Retrieved 19 March 2010.
  14. ^ D'Souza G; Kreimer AR; Viscidi R; et al. (2007). "Case-control study of human papillomavirus and oropharyngeal cancer". N. Engl. J. Med. 356 (19): 1944–1956. doi:10.1056/NEJMoa065497. PMID 17494927. {{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter |author-separator= ignored (help)
  15. ^ Khamsi, Roxanne, "Oral sex can cause throat cancer", New Scientist, London, May 9, 2007.
  16. ^ "New Scientist: "Oral sex can cause throat cancer" - 09 May 2007". Newscientist.com. Retrieved 19 March 2010.
  17. ^ "The History of Fellatio", Salon.com, May 22, 2000.
  18. ^ Octavio Paz (1969) Conjunctions and Disjunctions; trans. Helen R. Lane. London: Wildwood House; p. 97
  19. ^ Schidloff, B. (1935) "The Sexual Life of South Sea Natives"; in: R. Burton, ed. Venus Oceanica. New York: Oceanica Research Press; pp. 33–318; quoting p. 289"Cunnilingus is very wide-spread among all primitive peoples and from Kubary's reports on the Sonsolans, it can be seen that even the children are already prepared for this"
  20. ^ Lemonick, Michael D.,"A Teen Twist on Sex", Time, New York, September 19, 2005.
  21. ^ Buschmiller, Rev. Robert. "Oral Sex in Marriage". Presentation Ministries. Retrieved 24 July 2010.
  22. ^ Pina-Cabral, Joao de (1992). "Tamed Violence: Genital Symbolism is Portuguese popular culture". Man. N.S. 28 (1): 101–120. doi:10.2307/2804438. JSTOR 2804438.
  23. ^ Belge, Kathy. "Do All Lesbians Like Oral Sex?". About.com. Retrieved 3 June 2012.
  24. ^ Naomi B. McCormick (1994). Sexual Salvation: Affirming Women's Sexual Rights and Pleasures. Greenwood Publishing Group. p. 207. ISBN 0275943593, 9780275943592. Retrieved 18 April 2012. {{cite book}}: Check |isbn= value: invalid character (help)
  25. ^ a b c The New Our Right to Love: A Lesbian Resource Book. Simon and Schuster. 1996. p. 74. ISBN 0684806827, 9780684806822. Retrieved 18 April 2012. {{cite book}}: Check |isbn= value: invalid character (help); Cite uses deprecated parameter |authors= (help)
  26. ^ a b Handbook of LGBT-Affirmative Couple and Family Therapy. Routledge. 2012. p. 102. ISBN 1136340327, 9781136340321. Retrieved 18 April 2012. {{cite book}}: Check |isbn= value: invalid character (help); Cite uses deprecated parameter |authors= (help)
  27. ^ Eliade Mircea. [1954] 1973. Yoga, Immortality and Freedom. trans. Willard R. Trask. (Princeton: Princeton University Press). pp. 267–268
  28. ^ Kristofer Schipper. [1982] 1993. The Taoist Body. trans. Karen C. Duval. Berkeley; Los Angeles; (London: University of California Press). p. 148

Citation for the term "Gamahuche" (between footnotes 10 and 11): My Secret Life, Volume VII, Chapter 2, page 1309 "... A screaming gamahuche. ..." (c) 1966 Grove Press, Library of Congress Catalog Card Number 66-28355

References

External links

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Cunnilingus&oldid=538537667"