According to a study carried out by the National Center for Health Statistics, there seems to be a shift taking place in the sexual practices of American teenagers. Many see oral sex as a safer alternative to full sexual intercourse.

American teens are being told to take measures to reduce the risk of contracting a STD (sexually transmitted disease) and teenage pregnancy. Could this ‘safer alternative' be a response to this campaign?

Even though many STDs can be transmitted during oral sex, less than one tenth of teens use a condom during oral sex. Oral sex can increase the risk of contracting:
-- Syphilis
-- Genital Herpers
-- Gonorrhea
-- Human Papillomavirus

Could it be that teens (and adults) feel more comfortable talking about their sexual experiences? Perhaps, in the past, people may not have admitted to things they would happily confess to today.

12,571 people were interviewed in their homes for this study. All respondents were told they would remain anonymous.

Here is a list of highlights from the report:

Teens

Age 15-19
-- 12% boys, 10% Girls were virgins but had experienced heterosexual oral sex.

Adults-heterosexual activity

Men, age 24-44
-- 97% were not virgins (heterosexual)
-- 90% had had oral sex with a female
-- 40% had had anal sex with a female
Among females, the proportions who have had sexual contact with a male partner were similar.

Number of sexual partners of the opposite sex in their lifetime

Men, age 30-44
-- Average of 6-8 female sexual partners

Women, age 30-44
-- Average of 4 male sexual partners

Homosexual Sexual Activity

Men, age 15-44
-- 3% had had anal or oral sex with another man (during the last 12 months)
-- 6% had had anal or oral sex with another man (in their lifetime)

Women, age 15-44
-- 4% had had a sexual experience with another woman (during the last 12 months)
-- 11% had had a sexual experience with another woman (in their lifetime)

1% of men and 3% of women 15-44 years of age have had both male and female sexual partners in the last 12 months.

Sexual orientation
When asked the question: ‘Do you think of yourself as heterosexual, homosexual, bisexual, or something else?'

-- 90% of men aged 18-44 said ‘heterosexual”
-- 2.3% of men aged 18-44 said ‘homosexual'
-- 3.9% of men aged 18-44 said ‘bisexual'
-- 1.8% of men aged 18-44 did not answer
Percentages for women were nearly identical