Teens Unclear of Definition of Safe Sex

American teenagers may be having less sexual intercourse, but that does not mean they are abstaining from unsafe sex. According to the CDC, sexual activity among teens has declined 14 percent since 1995. Health experts note that although this survey did not ask about oral sex, many teens are turning to the activity in the misguided belief that oral sex is not "real sex."

A recent survey by Ansell Healthcare, manufacturer of LifeStyles condoms, found that one-third of teenage girls said oral sex is not sex. Twenty percent of teens had oral sex by age 15, half by age 17. In some circles, say health officials, oral sex is almost obligatory, like a goodnight kiss. According to a survey by the Henry J. Kaiser Foundation, 20 percent of 12- to 17-year-olds believe that oral sex is safe sex. Even more -- 36 percent -- of 15- to 17-year-olds thought so.

"Unprotected oral sex is not safe sex," said Cathy Novak, director of education for the San Antonio AIDS Foundation. "It can lead to sexually transmitted diseases of the mouth and throat."

Observers blame this misunderstanding on everything from Bill Clinton's oral-sex-isn't-sex defense during the Monica Lewinsky scandal to abstinence-only sex education programs that leave students with more questions than answers. "It's important to promote abstinence and to help young people delay the onset of sexual activity. But abstinence-only programs limit what they're taught," said Dr. Jan Realini, coordinator of the Metropolitan Health District's Project WORTH (Work on Real Teen Health).

For example, Realini said, abstinence-only programs often emphasize that condoms are not foolproof. "So if they do choose to be sexually active, there's a feeling that it's hopeless to try and protect themselves. So they're more likely to have unprotected sex," she said. This increases the risk of STDs such as chlamydia, herpes, gonorrhea and HIV. For many young people, the terms "safe sex" and "safer sex" are taken to mean a reduction in the risk of pregnancy, according to Julia Davis, senior program officer with the Kaiser Foundation.

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