About Fellatio

Fellatio, coming from the Latin word meaning "to suck," is oral sex performed on the penis. Fellatio can be performed by either women or men, and is considered a highly intimate and pleasurable sexual act by those who engage in it. Not only gratifying for the receiver, performers of fellatio enjoy the feeling of control, of the passionate response they evoke, and the pride and satisfaction in their ability to bring their lover to a state of ecstacy.

History

No one knows for sure when the practice of fellatio began; however, evidence from ancient cultures supports the fact that it has been enjoyed and joked about by humans for millennia. It can be found in artwork and mythology of the ancient Egyptians, in classical Greek poetry, ancient Hindi texts such as the Kama Sutra, and even in statuary of the uncovered ruins of Pompeii, the city destroyed by Mount Vesuvius in the first century BCE (Before Common Era).

Function

Fellatio can be used to enhance the sexual experience by significantly arousing the penis, or used as an alternative to vaginal or anal sex, to bring a man to sexual orgasm. Some couples expecting a child find fellatio a more pleasurable means of intimacy when vaginal sex is not recommended by a doctor, or when it becomes uncomfortable for the woman.

Types

Fellatio can fall into three categories. Regular fellatio is performing oral sex on a male partner in which the giver is active, and the receiver is passive. Irrumatio refers to the act of fellatio when the giver is passive, and the receiver is active, thrusting while penetrating his partner's mouth. The final type is known as auto-fellatio, in which a male is flexible enough to perform fellatio on his own penis.

Misconceptions

Some women worry about the possibility of becoming pregnant from performing fellatio. This is especially a concern of the sexually inexperienced or uneducated, such as adolescents who are newly sexually active, or are considering becoming active. There is simply no cause for such concern. Even if ejaculation takes place in the mouth and a significant amount of semen is swallowed, sperm cannot go from a woman's digestive tract into her reproductive organs, where fertilization would take place.

Warning

Oral sex has been connected to sexually transmitted diseases such as gonorrhea, herpes, syphilis and, to a lesser extent, HIV. The person performing fellatio is more at risk than the person receiving it, even if ejaculation does not take place in the mouth. A condom may reduce the risk of contracting a sexually transmitted disease, and performing fellatio should be avoided when there are sores in the mouth or bleeding gums.

Resources

• How to Perform Fellatio