I may be going out on a limb here, but I’d like to make a case for oral sex. It gives us another avenue to intimacy and pleasure, and as such, is an important component of a lusty love life. It’s a skill that couples should try to develop. Or at least keep an open mind toward.
Here’s why.
First, most women (70 percent. Did you get that number?) don’t climax with vaginal penetration alone. In my practice, postmenopausal women commonly tell me that the only way they can orgasm is through clitoral stimulation or oral sex.
For all women, no matter the age, the most dependable orgasm is clitoral—which, as we’ve said before, is a powerful organ with twice as many nerve endings as the penis.
Sure, the clitoris (and the penis) can be stimulated in many creative ways, but the mouth and tongue are darned effective.
Second, I know I sound like a broken record, but we lose sensitivity and the ability to lubricate vaginally as we age. And our partner’s ability to maintain an erection will eventually wane as well, despite the little blue pill. As the old penis-in-vagina sex becomes less dependable, it’s helpful to have other tricks up our sleeve.
Oral sex is one way to keep sexual pleasure alive as a couple. No less venerable an institution than the AARP says so. It makes sense to give ourselves alternatives and room for compensation, so that when one capability diminishes, another can fill in the gap.
Now, I’m not for a minute suggesting that you haven’t tried oral sex. Sex coach Kathleen Baldwin says that “It’s somewhat rare in my experience to find a woman over 40 who doesn’t enjoy oral sex.” She thinks that mature women are less influenced by cultural norms and are more familiar with how their bodies function, including their lady parts.
For many women, however, the “yuck” factor presents an impediment. Some women consider their genitalia “gross.” They worry about cleanliness or odor. They worry that it will take them too long to climax.
Funny thing is, most men really like oral sex—both giving and receiving it. I ran across an article by a man on the topic, who writes:
It’s an amazing feeling to satisfy a woman, and cunnilingus is the most foolproof way to do it.
It also minimizes our own performance phobia. Women can’t see what we’re doing, our tongues will never need Viagra and we’ve all got a similarly sized piece of equipment. But most of all, [cunnilingus] is a five-sense experience that places us up close and personal in a way that no other act can. …most vaginas smell and taste pleasantly mild…
The pleasure you can give your partner (and ultimately yourself) may be worth getting over any squeamishness. And you can always address the cleanliness issue by showering (or a bath!) before sex.
Oral sex, whether cunnilingus (oral sex to a woman’s genitalia) or fellatio (oral sex to a man’s genitalia) works best with some technique, and like any other skill, practice makes perfect. The most direct path to improvement is communication. You have to let your partner know what feels good.
One final consideration: if you aren’t sure about your partner’s status with regard to sexually transmitted disease (STDs): you can still transmit them with oral sex. Chances of infection are lower, but Chlamydia, gonorrhea, herpes, human papyllomavirus (HPV), even HIV can still be “caught” through oral sex. For example, one woman I know caught genital herpes from a cold sore on her husband’s mouth!
So, if you’re with a new partner and you aren’t completely knowledgeable about his or her sexual history, you need to use protection—a dental dam (piece of latex placed over the vulva) condom, or femidom (female condom).
Kind of takes away the sexy, but it sure beats the alternative.
Oral sex is just another way of expressing intimacy and sharing pleasure. And it’s a particularly nice option if more traditional forms of lovemaking become problematic. Well, heck. It’s a nice option any time.