U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES 

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 

National Center for Health Statistics 

Number 56 n August 16, 2012

Prevalence and Timing of Oral Sex with
 

Opposite-sex Partners Among Females and Males
 

Aged 15–24 Years: United States, 2007–2010
 by Casey E. Copen, Ph.D.; Anjani Chandra, Ph.D.; and Gladys Martinez, Ph.D., Division of Vital Statistics

Abstract

Objective—This report presents data on the prevalence of oral sex with

opposite-sex partners and the timing of first oral sex relative to first vaginal

intercourse among females and males aged 15–24 based on the National Survey

of Family Growth (NSFG) data from 2007–2010. The question on timing, added

to the NSFG in 2007, asked females and males whether first oral sex occurred

before, after, or on the same occasion as their first vaginal intercourse.

Methods—Descriptive tables of numbers and percentages are presented and

discussed. The current report is based on a nationally representative subsample of

6,346 interviews conducted from July 2007 to June 2010—3,242 with women

and 3,104 with men aged 15–24 years. The measures presented in this report

were collected using audio computer-assisted self-interviewing, in which the

respondent enters his or her own answers into the computer without telling them

to an interviewer. The overall response rate for the 2006–2010 NSFG was 77%,

78% for women aged 15–44 years, and 75% for men aged 15–44 years.

Results—About two-thirds of females (66%) and males (65%) aged 15–24

years in 2007–2010 had ever had oral sex. Among females aged 15–24 years,

26% had first oral sex before first vaginal intercourse; 27% had oral sex after

intercourse; 7.4% had oral sex on the same occasion as first intercourse; and

5.1% had oral sex, but no vaginal intercourse. Among males aged 15–24 years,

24% had first oral sex before first intercourse; 24% had oral sex after first

intercourse; 12% had oral sex on the same occasion as first intercourse; and

6.5% had oral sex, but no vaginal intercourse.

Keywords: noncoital • sexual intercourse • adolescents • National Survey of

Family Growth

Introduction

Noncoital sexual activities, such as

oral sex, are common among teenagers

and young adults. Based on the National

Survey of Family Growth (NSFG) data

from 2006–2008, 45% of females and

48% of males aged 15–19 years had

ever had oral sex with members of the

opposite sex, and among 20–24

year-olds, these percentages were about

81% of females and 80% of males (1).

The risk of sexually transmitted

infections (STIs), including Human

Immunodeficiency Virus or HIV, the

virus that causes AIDS, is lower for oral

sex than for vaginal intercourse or anal

sex (2,3). However, several studies have

documented that oral sex can transmit

certain STIs, including chlamydia,

genital herpes, gonorrhea, and

syphilis (4–6). Teenagers and young

adults engaging in sexual activity are at

increased risk of STIs or HIV due to a

combination of behavioral and

physiological factors (7–17).

In the 20-year period from 1988 to

2006–2010, the percentage of female

and male teenagers who ever had sexual

intercourse declined from 51% in 1988

to 43% in 2006–2010 (18). During the

same period, significant increases in

condom use at first vaginal intercourse

occurred for both female and male
Page 2 National Health Statistics Reports n Number 56 n August 16, 2012

teenagers (18). Despite the decline in the

percentage of teenagers who ever had

vaginal intercourse and increases in

condom use, the rate of STIs has not

decreased, particularly among teenagers

15–19 and young adults aged 20–24

years (19). In 2010, about one-half of all

new STIs occurred among people aged

15–24 (19).

Some adolescents who have oral

sex prior to first vaginal intercourse

delay intercourse to maintain their

virginity, and to avoid the risk of

pregnancy and STIs (20,21). Other

adolescents who have oral sex move

more rapidly to first intercourse,

suggesting that the timing of these

behaviors for some adolescents occur in

close proximity (8,22,23). Research

suggests that adolescents perceive fewer

health-related risks for oral sex

compared with vaginal intercourse (24).

However, young people, particularly

those who have oral sex before their

first vaginal intercourse, may still be

placing themselves at risk of STIs or

HIV before they are ever at risk of

pregnancy. Untreated or recurrent STIs

can lead to serious reproductive and

other health problems, including

infertility (19). Given the higher rates of

STIs among some groups of young

people, it is important to understand the

prevalence and correlates of various

types of sexual behaviors, coital and

noncoital, in this age group.

The 2002 NSFG showed that 22%

of females and 24% of males aged

15–19 years who had never had vaginal

intercourse reported having had oral

sex (25). However, these data were not

able to provide information on the

relative timing of oral sex and vaginal

intercourse among females and males

who have had both types of sexual

activity. In 2007, a question was added

to the NSFG for all persons aged 15–24

years who have had both oral sex and

vaginal intercourse to determine which

behavior occurred first. This report

describes the prevalence of all types of

sex with opposite-sex partners among

females and males aged 15–24 years in

the United States by key demographic

characteristics. The timing of first oral

sex relative to first vaginal intercourse

for females and males is also examined

by these characteristics.

Methods

Data source

The NSFG, has been conducted

seven times by the Centers for Disease

Control and Prevention’s National

Center for Health Statistics (NCHS): In

1973 and 1976 with samples of married

and formerly married women; in 1982,

1988, and 1995 with samples of women

of all marital status categories; and in

2002 and 2006–2010 with national

samples of both women and men aged

15–44 years. Each time, the interviews

have been conducted in person by

trained female interviewers in the

selected persons’ homes.

The 2006–2010 NSFG sample is a

nationally representative multistage area

probability sample drawn from 110

areas, or primary sampling units (PSUs)

across the country. The sample is

designed to produce national, not state,

estimates. Large areas (counties and

cities) were selected first; then within

each large area or PSU, groups of

adjacent blocks, called segments, were

selected at random. In each segment, all

addresses were listed, and some of the

listed addresses were selected at

random. The sampled addresses were

visited in person, and a short screener

interview was conducted to determine

whether anyone aged 15–44 years and

eligible for the survey lived there. To

protect the respondent’s privacy, only

one person in each selected household

was chosen at random and invited to

participate. In 2006–2010, as well as in

2002, Hispanic persons, black persons,

and teenagers were oversampled, to

produce more reliable estimates for

these groups. Men and women living on

military bases or in institutions were not

included in the survey. The sample did

include persons temporarily living away

from the household in a college

dormitory, sorority, or fraternity (26).

All respondents were given written

and oral information about the survey

and informed that participation was

voluntary. Adult respondents aged 18–44

years were asked to sign a consent form

but were not required to do so. For

minors aged 15–17 years, signed

consent was required first from a parent

or guardian, and then signed assent was

required from the minor; if either the

parent or the minor declined to give

written consent, the minor did not

participate in the survey. The response

rate for the 2006–2010 NSFG was 77%

overall, 78% for women aged 15–44 and

75% for men aged 15–44. The female

interview averaged about 80 minutes,

and the male interview averaged about

60 minutes. More detailed information

about the methods and procedures of the

NSFG and its sample design, weighting,

imputation, and variance estimation has

been published (26,27). National

estimates have been published on sexual

behavior, attraction, and identity using

the 2006–2008 NSFG, as well as HIV

risk-related behaviors among men and

women aged 15–44 years using the

2006–2010 NSFG (1,28).

The 2006–2010 NSFG was based

on 22,682 interviews—12,279 with

women and 10,403 with men aged

15–44 years in the U.S. household

population. Given that the question on

relative timing of oral sex and vaginal

intercourse was added to the survey

beginning in July 2007, the current

report is based on 6,346 interviews

conducted from July 2007 to June

2010—3,242 with women and 3,104

with men aged 15–24 years. This

subsample of NSFG interviews from

2007–2010 also provides nationally

representative estimates.

Use of audio computerassisted self interviewing

(ACASI)

Most of the data in the survey were

collected by computer-assisted personal

interviewing (CAPI), in which the

questions were asked by an interviewer

using a laptop on which the survey

questionnaire was stored. Data on the

occurrence and timing of oral sex

described in this report were collected

using audio computer-assisted selfinterviewing (ACASI). In ACASI, the

respondent listens to the questions

through headphones, reads them on the

screen, or both. He or she then enters
National Health Statistics Reports n Number 56 n August 16, 2012	 Page 3

the response directly and privately into

the computer. ACASI improves the

reporting of sensitive behaviors on

sexual and drug behavior related to HIV

and other STIs (29). The focus of the

current report is limited to oral sex and

vaginal intercourse with opposite-sex

partners.

Sexual behavior variables

used in this report

Vaginal intercourse with an

opposite-sex partner was asked about in

the CAPI portion of the NSFG

interview. Respondents were only asked

about vaginal intercourse again in

ACASI if they had never been married

or cohabited with an opposite-sex

partner, and if they had never been

pregnant or fathered a pregnancy. Oral

sex with an opposite-sex partner was

only asked about in ACASI, and all

respondents aged 15–44 years answered

two questions on oral sex—whether they

ever gave oral sex and whether they

ever received oral sex. More detailed

information about the questions on

vaginal intercourse and oral sex used in

this report can be found in the report on

sexual behavior using the 2006–2008

NSFG (1).

Beginning in July 2007, the

question on the relative timing of oral

sex and vaginal intercourse was asked in

ACASI, but only for females and males

aged 15–24 years who reported having

both oral sex and vaginal intercourse.

For females, this ‘‘TIMING’’ question

reads:

‘‘Thinking back to when you had

oral sex with a male for the first

time, was it before, after, or on the

same occasion as your first vaginal

intercourse with a male?’’

An analogous question was asked of

males about sex with females. The

respondent could choose one of the

following responses:

Before first vaginal intercourse.

After first vaginal intercourse.

Same occasion.

Demographic variables

used in this report

Data on the timing of oral sex

relative to first vaginal intercourse are

shown with respect to several key

demographic characteristics including

age at interview, Hispanic origin and

race, mother’s education, family

structure at age 14, and age at first

vaginal intercourse. Mother’s education

and family structure at age 14 are

included as proxy measures of the

respondent’s socioeconomic status.

Socioeconomic status, particularly

during childhood and adolescence, has

been shown to influence the timing of

sexual behaviors (9,10). For example,

adolescents from low-income

households, or who experience family

disruption may be more likely to

become sexually experienced at earlier

ages than other youth (12–14).

Tables 2–5 show age at first vaginal

intercourse. Prior research has found

that early age at first intercourse is

associated with other behaviors that put

adolescents at risk of HIV and other

STIs, such as an increased number of

lifetime sexual partners and the

inconsistent use of contraceptive

methods (30,31). In addition, previous

research has shown that early age at

first intercourse leads to other types of

sexual contact at earlier ages, such as

oral sex, which may heighten the risk

for STIs (32).

The definitions of Hispanic origin

and race used in this report take into

account the reporting of more than one

race, in accordance with 1997 guidelines

from the Office of Management and

Budget (33). For purposes of this report,

only single race categories are shown.

For convenience in writing, the short

term ‘‘non-Hispanic black’’ will be used

instead of the full phrase, ‘‘non-Hispanic

black or African American, single race.’’

Similarly, the term ‘‘non-Hispanic

white’’ will be used instead of the full

phrase, ‘‘non-Hispanic white, single

race.’’ The full forms of these category

labels are shown in the tables. Further

technical details and definition of

terms can be found in earlier NSFG

reports (1,18).

Strengths and limitations of

the data

The data presented in this report are

drawn from the 2006–2010 NSFG,

which has a number of strengths for

studying sexual behavior in the U.S.

population:

+	 NSFG has a rigorous probability

sampling design, so the estimates can

be generalized to the national

population. In 2006–2010, the

response rate was 77% overall for

men and women aged 15–44 years

and 77% for male and female

teenagers 15–19 years (18).

+	 The ACASI mode of interviewing has

been found to yield more complete

reporting of sensitive behaviors, such

as sexual behavior, than other types

of questionnaires (29). ACASI may

also make it possible for persons with

lower literacy to complete the

self-interview by listening to the

questions instead of having to read

them on screen (29).

The data included in this report also

have some limitations:

+	 The ‘‘TIMING’’ question relies on a

retrospective report of the timing of

oral and first vaginal intercourse; thus

these estimates are subject to

reporting error, particularly among

respondents in their twenties whose

first sexual experiences may have

occurred long before the interview.

+	 NSFG does not contain information

on the ages or dates of noncoital

sexual activities, so the time that

elapsed between first oral sex and

first vaginal intercourse cannot be

determined.

This report provides basic descriptive

statistics on types of sexual behavior

among adolescents and young adults,

and does not address the myriad

factors that influence the timing and

sequencing of these sexual experiences

for this population.
SOURCES: CDC/NCHS, National Survey of Family Growth, 2006–2010. Table 1 in this report. Percent 

68 

59 

66 

69 74 

63 

0 

20 

40 

60 

80 

100 

Vaginal intercourse Any oral sex 

Hispanic Non-Hispanic white Non-Hispanic black 

Figure 1. Percentage reporting specific types of sexual contact with an opposite-sex

partner among females aged 15–24 years, by Hispanic origin and race: United States,

2007–2010

Page 4 National Health Statistics Reports n Number 56 n August 16, 2012

Statistical analysis

All estimates in this report were

weighted to reflect the approximately

20.9 million females and 21.2 million

males aged 15–24 years in the

household population of the United

States. Since this report uses NSFG

data only from 2007–2010, the weight

used is based only on respondents

interviewed in these years—specifically

WGTQ5Q16 reflecting quarters 5–16 of

the 2006–2010 NSFG. Statistics for this

report were produced using SAS software,

Version 9.2 (http://www.sas.com).

PROC SURVEYFREQ was used to

produce weighted cross tabulations that

took into account the complex sampling

design of the NSFG in calculating

estimates of standard errors. Each table

in this report includes standard errors as

a measure of the precision of each point

estimate.

Significance of differences among

subgroups was determined by standard

two-tailed t-tests using point estimates

and their standard errors. The 95%

confidence intervals around each

percentage can be constructed by

multiplying the standard error by 1.96,

and adding it to, and subtracting it from,

the percentage. For example, Table 1

indicates that the percentage of females

aged 15–24 years who had any sexual

contact was 72.4%, and the standard

error of that percentage was 1.22%.

That means that the 95% confidence

interval of that percentage is 72.4 plus

or minus 2.39 (1.22 times 1.96)—that is,

70.0 to 74.8. Confidence intervals for

the estimates in this report are presented

in Figures 1 through 4.

No adjustments were made for

multiple comparisons. Terms such as

‘‘greater than’’ and ‘‘less than’’ indicate

that a statistically significant difference

was found. Terms such as ‘‘similar’’ or

‘‘no difference’’ indicate that the

statistics being compared were not

significantly different. Lack of comment

regarding any comparison does not

mean that the significance was tested

and ruled out.

In the description of the results

below, when the percentage being cited

is below 10%, the text will cite the

exact percentage to one decimal point.

To make reading easier, and to remind

the reader that the results are based on

samples and subject to sampling error,

percentages above 10% will generally

be shown rounded to the nearest whole

percentage. In this report, percentages

are not shown if the sample

denominator is less than 100 cases, or

the numerator is less than 5 cases. When

a percentage or other statistic is not

shown for this reason, the table contains

an asterisk (*) signifying that the

‘‘statistic does not meet standards of

reliability or precision.’’ For most

statistics presented in this report, the

numerators and denominators are much

larger. The results presented in this

report are descriptive and do not

attempt to demonstrate multivariate

relationships.

Results

Types of sexual contact with

opposite-sex partners for

persons aged 15–24 years

Percentages of females and males

aged 15–24 years who ever had the

specified types of sexual contact with an

opposite-sex partner are presented in

Table 1. Among females aged 15–24

years, 72% had any sexual contact, 67%

had vaginal intercourse, and 66% had

any oral sex. Among 15–19 year-olds,

55% of girls ever had any type of

sexual contact with an opposite-sex

partner. The percentage of girls aged

15–19 years who had vaginal

intercourse was about the same as the

percentage who had any oral sex with

an opposite-sex partner (47% and 48%,

respectively). About the same percentage

of girls aged 15–19 years reported

giving or receiving oral sex (41% and

43%, respectively). Among 20–24

year-olds, 87% of girls had vaginal

intercourse and 85% had any oral sex.

Among males aged 15–24 years,

73% had any sexual contact, 64% had

vaginal intercourse, and 65% had any

oral sex. Among boys aged 15–19 years,

58% ever had any type of sexual contact

with an opposite-sex partner. A higher

percentage of boys aged 15–19 years

had oral sex (49%) than had vaginal

intercourse (44%). A higher percentage

of boys aged 15–19 years reported

receiving oral sex (47%) than giving

oral sex (35%). By age 20–24 years,

85% of boys had vaginal intercourse

and 82% had any oral sex.
National Health Statistics Reports n Number 56 n August 16, 2012 Page 5 Percent 

8.1 

5.8 

3.1 

12.5 

6.9 

2.8 

0 

5 

10 

15 

15–17 18–19 20–24 

Female Male 

Age in years
 

SOURCES: CDC/NCHS, National Survey of Family Growth, 2006–2010. Tables 2 and 3 in this report.
 

Figure 2. Percentage of females and males who had oral sex, but no vaginal intercourse

with an opposite-sex partner, by age: United States, 2007–2010

Non-Hispanic black females aged

15–24 years had the highest percentage

who ever had vaginal intercourse (74%),

followed by Hispanic females (68%),

and non-Hispanic white females (66%)

aged 15–24 years (Figure 1). NonHispanic white females reported any

oral sex with an opposite-sex partner

(69%) more often than non-Hispanic

black females (63%), or Hispanic

females (59%) aged 15–24 years.

Non-Hispanic black males (71%) and

Hispanic males (69%) aged 15–24 years

had a higher percentage who had

vaginal intercourse compared with

non-Hispanic white males aged 15–24

years (63%). There were no differences

by Hispanic origin and race in the

percentage of males aged 15–24 years

who reported ever having had any oral

sex. However, non-Hispanic black males

(44%) aged 15–24 years had a lower

percentage who reported giving oral sex

to an opposite-sex partner, compared

with Hispanic males (51%) and

non-Hispanic white males aged 15–24

years (60%).

Types of sexual contact with

opposite-sex partners

among persons aged 15–24

years with a focus on the

timing of oral sex relative to

first vaginal intercourse

Next, the percent distribution of the

type of sexual contact they have had

with an opposite-sex partner is shown

for females and males aged 15–24 years,

with a focus on the timing of oral sex

relative to first vaginal intercourse

(Tables 2 and 3). From left to right, the

columns show persons who had vaginal

intercourse but no oral sex; oral sex but

no vaginal intercourse; those who have

had both oral sex and vaginal

intercourse; and those who had no

opposite-sex sexual contact of any kind.

For those who have had both oral sex

and vaginal intercourse, these tables use

the ‘‘TIMING’’ question to distinguish

those whose first oral sex occurred

before first vaginal intercourse, after

first vaginal intercourse, or on the same

occasion as vaginal intercourse.

These tables show that 5.1% of

females and 6.5% of males aged 15–24

years had oral sex, but no vaginal

intercourse in 2007–2010. The

percentage of females aged 15–17 years

who had oral sex, but no vaginal

intercourse was lower (8.1%) than males

aged 15–17 years (13%) (Figure 2).

About the same percentage of

females aged 15–24 years had first oral

sex before or after first vaginal

intercourse (26% and 27%,

respectively), and 7.4% of females had

first oral sex on the same occasion as

first vaginal intercourse (Table 2).

Among non-Hispanic black females

aged 15–24 years, a higher percentage

had their first oral sex after first

intercourse (35%), compared with those

who had first oral sex before first

vaginal intercourse (16%), or on the

same occasion as first vaginal

intercourse (8.2%). Among Hispanic

females aged 15–24 years, a higher

percentage had first oral sex after first

vaginal intercourse (27%), compared

with before first vaginal intercourse

(20%), or on the same occasion as first

vaginal intercourse (7.6%). In contrast,

among non-Hispanic white females aged

15–24 years, a lower percentage (25%)

had first oral sex after first vaginal

intercourse, compared with 31% who

had first oral sex before first vaginal

intercourse, and 7.0% who had first oral

sex on the same occasion as first

intercourse.

Younger age at first vaginal

intercourse was associated with a higher

percentage of females having had first

oral sex after first vaginal intercourse.

Among females who had first vaginal

intercourse under age 15, 56% had first

oral sex after first intercourse, compared

with 26% who had first oral sex before

first vaginal intercourse, and 11% who

had first oral sex on the same occasion

as first intercourse. There was no

difference between those who had oral

sex before first vaginal (41%) or after

first vaginal intercourse (40%) among

females who had vaginal intercourse

between the ages of 15–17 years.

Among females who had vaginal

intercourse at age 18 years and over,

34% had first oral sex after first vaginal
Page 6 National Health Statistics Reports n Number 56 n August 16, 2012

NOTE: Percentages may not add to 100 due to rounding. 

SOURCE: CDC/NCHS, National Survey of Family Growth, 2006–2010. Percent 

37 

49 

27 

14 11 14 

50 

40 

59 

0 

10 

20 

30 

40 

50 

60 

70 

Hispanic Non-Hispanic white Non-Hispanic black 

Oral sex occurred 

before first vaginal 

intercourse 

Oral sex occurred on 

the same occasion as 

first vaginal intercourse 

Oral sex occurred 

after first vaginal 

intercourse 

Figure 3. Percentage reporting oral sex occurred before, on the same occasion, or after

first vaginal intercourse among females aged 15–24 years who have had both oral sex

and vaginal intercourse, by Hispanic origin and race: United States, 2007–2010

intercourse, compared with 46% who

had first oral sex before first vaginal

intercourse, and 10% who had first oral

sex on the same occasion as first

vaginal intercourse.

The last column in Table 2 shows

that 28% of females aged 15–24 years

had no sexual contact of any kind with

an opposite-sex partner. Among those

aged 15–19 years, 46% had no sexual

contact with an opposite-sex partner,

compared with 10% of 20–24 year-olds.

A higher percentage of females aged

15–24 years whose mothers had some

college or higher had no opposite-sex

sexual contact (30%) compared with

females aged 15–24 whose mothers had

no high school diploma or General

Educational Development high school

equivalency diploma (GED) (23%).

Similarly, a higher percentage of

females aged 15–24 who lived with both

biological parents at age 14 had no

opposite-sex sexual contact (33%),

compared with females aged 15–24 who

had other living arrangements at age

14 (20%).

The next table presents a similar

percent distribution by sexual contact

with an opposite-sex partner among

males aged 15–24 years (Table 3). The

same percentage of males aged 15–24

years had first oral sex before and after

first vaginal intercourse (both 24%), and

12% had first oral sex on the same

occasion as first vaginal intercourse.

Among non-Hispanic black males aged

15–24 years, a higher percentage had

first oral sex after first vaginal

intercourse (33%) compared with 18%

who had first oral sex before first

vaginal intercourse, and 10% who had

first oral sex on the same occasion as

first vaginal intercourse. Similarly, for

Hispanic males aged 15–24 years, a

higher percentage had first oral sex after

first vaginal intercourse (29%) compared

with before first vaginal intercourse

(19%), or on the same occasion as first

vaginal intercourse (14%). Among

non-Hispanic white males aged 15–24

years, a lower percentage had first oral

sex after first vaginal intercourse (22%)

compared with before first vaginal

intercourse (27%), and 12% had oral sex

on the same occasion as first vaginal

intercourse. This was the same pattern

as seen for non-Hispanic white females.

There was no association between

younger age at first vaginal intercourse

and whether males had first oral sex

before, after, or on the same occasion as

first vaginal intercourse.

The last column in Table 3 shows

that 29% of males aged 15–24 years had

no sexual contact of any kind with an

opposite-sex partner. Among those aged

15–19 years, 44% had no sexual contact

with an opposite-sex partner, compared

with 13% of those aged 20–24 years. A

higher percentage of males aged 15–24

years who lived with both biological

parents at age 14 had no sexual contact

with an opposite-sex partner (34%)

compared with males aged 15–24 years

who had other living arrangements at

age 14 (20%).

Hispanic origin and race

differences in the timing of

oral sex relative to first

vaginal intercourse among

persons aged 15–24 years

who have had both oral sex

and vaginal intercourse

Figures 3 and 4 show the percent

distribution for ‘‘TIMING’’ among

females and males aged 15–24 years

who have had both oral sex and vaginal

intercourse. A higher percentage of

non-Hispanic white females (49%) aged

15–24 years had first oral sex before

first vaginal intercourse compared with

Hispanic females (37%) and nonHispanic black females (27%) aged

15–24 years. The same pattern can be

seen for males: A higher percentage of

non-Hispanic white males aged 15–24

years had first oral sex before first

vaginal intercourse (44%) compared

with Hispanic males (31%) and

non-Hispanic black males aged 15–24

years (30%). Almost 60% of nonHispanic black females and 50% of

Hispanic females aged 15–24 years had

first oral sex after first vaginal

intercourse. Comparatively, 54% of

non-Hispanic black males and 47% of

Hispanic males aged 15–24 years had

first oral sex after first vaginal

intercourse. A higher percentage of

Hispanic (22%) males and non-Hispanic

white (20%) males aged 15–24 years

had first oral sex on the same occasion

as first vaginal intercourse compared
National Health Statistics Reports n Number 56 n August 16, 2012 Page 7

NOTE: Percentages may not add to 100 due to rounding. 

SOURCE: CDC/NCHS, National Survey of Family Growth, 2006–2010. Percent 

0 

10 

20 

30 

40 

50 

60 

70 

Hispanic Non-Hispanic white Non-Hispanic black 

31 

44 

30 

22 20 

16 

47 

36 

54 

Oral sex occurred 

before first vaginal 

intercourse 

Oral sex occurred on 

the same occasion as 

first vaginal intercourse 

Oral sex occurred 

after first vaginal 

intercourse 

Figure 4. Percentage reporting oral sex occurred before, on the same occasion, or after

first vaginal intercourse among males aged 15–24 years who have had both oral sex and

vaginal intercourse by Hispanic origin and race: United States, 2007–2010

with Hispanic (14%) females and

non-Hispanic white (11%) females aged

15–24 years.

Demographic characteristics

of four subgroups of

persons aged 15–24 years

by their timing of oral sex

relative to first vaginal

intercourse

To provide another perspective on

the ‘‘TIMING’’ data, Table 4 (for

females) and Table 5 (for males)

describe the demographic composition

of four distinct groups of persons aged

15–24 years:

+ Those who have had oral sex, but

have not yet had vaginal intercourse

+ Those who have had both oral sex

and vaginal intercourse, and oral sex

occurred first

+ Those who have had both oral sex

and vaginal intercourse, and vaginal

intercourse occurred first

+ Those who have had both oral sex

and vaginal intercourse on the same

occasion

Among both females and males

aged 15–24 years, those who have had

oral sex, but have not yet had vaginal

intercourse (shown in the first columns

of Tables 4 and 5), are younger than

those in the three groups who have had

both oral sex and vaginal intercourse

(the latter three columns of Tables 4 and

5). For example, 69% of females and

79% of males were aged 15–19 years,

compared with 30%–46% of females

and 32%–38% of males in the other

three groups. A higher percentage of

females and males (both 68%) who had

oral sex, but not yet had vaginal

intercourse, had mothers who had some

college education or higher, compared

with females (52%–56%) and males

(51%–53%) who had both oral sex and

vaginal intercourse. Also, females who

had oral sex, but not yet had vaginal

intercourse, were more likely to report

living with two biological parents at age

14 (79%), compared with females who

had both oral sex and vaginal

intercourse (52%–62%).

Shifting the focus to the three

groups of females and males aged

15–24 years who had both oral sex and

vaginal intercourse, those for whom oral

sex occurred first were more likely to be

non-Hispanic white than those for whom

oral sex occurred after or on the same

occasion as first vaginal intercourse. For

example, 70% of females who had first

oral sex before first vaginal intercourse

were non-Hispanic white, compared

with 54% of females whose first oral

sex occurred after vaginal intercourse

and 56% of females whose first oral sex

and vaginal intercourse occurred on the

same occasion. Among males who had

first oral sex before first vaginal

intercourse, 68% were non-Hispanic

white compared with 55% whose first

oral sex occurred after vaginal

intercourse.

Among the three groups who have

had both oral sex and vaginal

intercourse, there were significant

differences in age at first vaginal

intercourse. A higher percentage of

females aged 15–24 years whose first

oral sex occurred after first vaginal

intercourse were under age 15 years at

first vaginal intercourse (27%),

compared with females whose first oral

sex occurred before first vaginal

intercourse (13%). Among males aged

15–24 years, a different pattern was

seen. Those who had first oral sex on

the same occasion as first vaginal

intercourse were more likely to have

had first vaginal intercourse under age

15 years (38%) than those whose first

oral sex occurred before first vaginal

intercourse (21%), or after first vaginal

intercourse (25%).

No difference in mother’s education

was seen across the three groups of

females and males aged 15–24 years

who had both oral sex and vaginal

intercourse. Similarly, no difference was

seen in parental living situation at age

14 for males across the three groups.

However, females whose first oral sex

occurred before vaginal intercourse

were more likely to have lived with

both biological parents at age 14

(62%), compared with females who

had oral sex after first vaginal

intercourse (52%).
Page 8	 National Health Statistics Reports n Number 56 n August 16, 2012

Conclusion

This report provides basic statistics

on the prevalence of oral sex among

opposite-sex partners and the timing of

first oral sex relative to first vaginal

intercourse among adolescents and

young adults aged 15–24 years using a

question added in 2007 to the 2006–

2010 NSFG. Among females and males

aged 15–24 years, about two-thirds had

ever had vaginal intercourse and about

the same proportion had ever had oral

sex. About 28% of females and 29% of

males aged 15–24 years had never had

any type of sexual contact.

There is variation in the timing of

first oral sex among females and males

aged 15–24 years by key demographic

characteristics, such as age at interview,

Hispanic origin and race, family

structure at age 14, and age at first

vaginal intercourse. A lower percentage

of non-Hispanic white females and

males had oral sex after their first

vaginal intercourse compared with those

who were Hispanic and non-Hispanic

black. Similarly, younger age at first

vaginal intercourse among females was

associated with a higher percentage

having had first oral sex after first

vaginal intercourse. In contrast, a higher

percentage of males who were under

age 15 years when they first had

intercourse had oral sex on the same

occasion as vaginal intercourse. The sex

differences in the relative timing of

these two behaviors support other

research which shows that adolescent

males, on average, are more likely to

initiate oral sex and vaginal intercourse

on the same occasion compared with

adolescent females (23).

Other household surveys, such as

the National Longitudinal Study of

Adolescent Health (AddHealth), follow

respondents from adolescence to young

adulthood, and provide information on

ages of initiation of vaginal intercourse

and other types of sex. Using

AddHealth, a recent study showed that

engaging in oral sex among young

persons increased the likelihood of

initiating vaginal intercourse (23). The

cross-sectional design of the NSFG does

not permit a direct corroboration of this

finding from AddHealth. However, the

new question on the timing of first oral

sex relative to first vaginal intercourse

in the NSFG provides useful

information that can be used in further

research on the timing and sequencing

of these two sexual behaviors and their

consequences for the sexual and

reproductive health of this population.

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Page 10 National Health Statistics Reports n Number 56 n August 16, 2012

Table 1. Percentage reporting specific types of sexual contact with an opposite-sex partner among females and males aged 15–24 years,

by selected characteristics: United States, 2007–2010

Opposite-sex sexual contact

Oral sex

Number Any

in sexual Vaginal Any Gave Received Anal

Characteristic thousands contact1 intercourse oral sex oral sex oral sex sex

Percent (standard error)

All females aged 15–24 years2 .............. 20,895 72.4 (1.2) 67.2 (1.4) 66.0 (1.4) 59.6 (1.4) 62.2 (1.5) 22.2 (1.1)

Age

15–19 years .......................... 10,443 54.5 (1.6) 47.4 (1.7) 47.5 (1.6) 40.6 (1.6) 43.2 (1.6) 13.2 (1.0)

15–17 years......................... 5,740 39.6 (2.3) 31.4 (2.1) 32.6 (2.2) 27.4 (2.0) 28.3 (2.2) 8.4 (1.1)

18–19 years......................... 4,702 72.7 (2.1) 66.7 (2.4) 65.6 (2.3) 56.6 (2.5) 61.3 (2.4) 19.0 (1.8)

20–24 years .......................... 10,453 90.2 (1.2) 87.1 (1.5) 84.5 (1.4) 78.6 (1.6) 81.3 (1.6) 31.3 (1.7)

20–21 years......................... 3,985 87.5 (2.3) 83.6 (2.7) 80.7 (2.6) 75.7 (2.7) 77.9 (2.9) 26.2 (2.5)

22–24 years......................... 6,468 91.9 (1.3) 89.3 (1.5) 86.8 (1.6) 80.3 (2.1) 83.4 (1.7) 34.5 (2.2)

Hispanic origin and race

Hispanic or Latina ...................... 3,728 71.0 (2.8) 67.8 (2.6) 59.0 (2.4) 51.6 (2.4) 52.9 (2.7) 18.6 (1.8)

15–19 years......................... 1,949 52.2 (3.7) 47.8 (3.4) 41.8 (3.4) 32.6 (3.5) 37.3 (3.4) 12.9 (2.3)

20–24 years......................... 1,780 92.0 (1.7) 90.0 (2.1) 78.4 (2.8) 73.0 (2.8) 70.6 (3.2) 24.9 (3.0)

Not Hispanic or Latina:

White, single race ..................... 12,129 71.9 (1.9) 65.9 (2.1) 69.4 (1.8) 65.1 (1.8) 65.6 (2.0) 23.9 (1.4)

15–19 years ....................... 5,939 53.9 (2.3) 45.2 (2.4) 51.1 (2.3) 46.6 (2.3) 46.1 (2.3) 13.6 (1.4)

20–24 years ....................... 6,190 89.0 (1.9) 85.7 (2.2) 86.9 (1.9) 82.9 (2.2) 84.4 (2.0) 33.9 (2.3)

Black or African American, single race ........ 3,088 77.7 (1.5) 73.8 (1.8) 63.3 (2.0) 48.7 (2.7) 61.3 (1.9) 19.5 (2.2)

15–19 years ....................... 1,552 62.1 (2.8) 54.9 (2.9) 43.4 (2.9) 29.3 (2.7) 40.4 (2.9) 10.1 (2.4)

20–24 years ....................... 1,537 93.2 (1.8) 92.8 (1.9) 83.0 (2.8) 68.1 (4.4) 81.9 (2.9) 28.8 (3.2)

All males aged 15–24 years2

................ 21,204 72.5 (1.2) 63.9 (1.2) 65.2 (1.4) 53.9 (1.5) 62.9 (1.3) 23.0 (1.1)

Age

15–19 years .......................... 10,729 58.0 (1.5) 43.7 (1.5) 48.6 (1.7) 35.1 (1.6) 46.7 (1.7) 11.1 (1.0)

15–17 years......................... 6,536 47.3 (2.0) 30.2 (1.9) 37.5 (1.8) 24.2 (1.9) 35.1 (1.8) 5.2 (0.8)

18–19 years......................... 4,194 74.6 (2.2) 64.7 (2.5) 65.9 (2.8) 52.1 (2.9) 64.9 (2.7) 20.3 (2.1)

20–24 years .......................... 10,475 87.2 (1.4) 84.5 (1.7) 82.3 (1.6) 73.2 (1.8) 79.6 (1.7) 35.3 (2.2)

20–21 years......................... 4,380 85.9 (2.2) 82.3 (2.5) 80.4 (2.5) 70.2 (3.1) 77.9 (2.5) 28.8 (2.8)

22–24 years......................... 6,095 88.2 (2.2) 86.0 (2.2) 83.6 (2.1) 75.4 (2.3) 80.8 (2.3) 39.9 (2.6)

Hispanic origin and race

Hispanic or Latino ...................... 3,914 75.2 (1.8) 69.1 (2.1) 65.5 (1.8) 51.2 (3.4) 62.3 (1.7) 28.0 (2.2)

15–19 years......................... 2,052 59.3 (3.1) 48.2 (3.3) 51.1 (2.8) 36.4 (3.2) 47.9 (2.8) 13.8 (2.2)

20–24 years......................... 1,862 92.4 (1.8) 92.0 (1.9) 81.7 (3.1) 67.9 (4.2) 78.5 (3.4) 44.0 (3.4)

Not Hispanic or Latino:

White, single race ..................... 12,589 73.1 (1.7) 63.0 (1.8) 67.8 (1.8) 59.6 (2.0) 65.4 (1.9) 24.0 (1.6)

15–19 years ....................... 6,202 57.3 (2.2) 40.9 (2.4) 50.0 (2.4) 38.6 (2.3) 48.2 (2.4) 11.1 (1.5)

20–24 years ....................... 6,387 88.4 (2.0) 84.4 (2.4) 85.3 (2.3) 80.1 (2.6) 82.5 (2.4) 36.5 (3.0)

Black or African American, single race ........ 2,977 77.0 (2.8) 71.4 (2.7) 63.4 (3.3) 44.0 (2.7) 62.0 (3.2) 19.3 (2.5)

15–19 years ....................... 1,596 66.7 (3.9) 56.8 (3.6) 46.7 (3.8) 27.3 (2.8) 45.6 (3.8) 9.9 (2.1)

20–24 years ....................... 1,381 88.8 (2.7) 88.1 (2.7) 82.4 (3.3) 63.0 (3.7) 80.5 (3.4) 30.1 (4.4)

1Includes vaginal, oral, or anal sex.
 2Includes those of other or multiple-race and origin groups, not shown separately.
 

NOTE: Percentages reporting specified types of sex may add to more than the percentage reporting ‘‘any’’ because a respondent could report more than one type of sexual contact.
 

SOURCE: CDC/NCHS, National Survey of Family Growth, 2006–2010. The current report is based on a subsample of interviews from July 2007 to June 2010.
 
National Health Statistics Reports n Number 56 n August 16, 2012 Page 11

Table 2. Percent distribution of specific types of sexual contact with an opposite-sex partner and timing of oral sex relative to first

vaginal intercourse among females aged 15–24 years, by selected characteristics: United States, 2007–2010

Had both oral sex and vaginal intercourse

Oral sex

occurred

Oral sex Oral sex on the No sex of

Vaginal Oral sex, occurred occurred same any kind

Number intercourse, but no before after occasion as with an

Characteristic

in

thousands Total

but no

oral sex

vaginal

intercourse

vaginal

intercourse

vaginal

intercourse

vaginal

intercourse

opposite-sex

partner1

Percent distribution (standard error)

All females aged 15–24 years2.......... 20,895 100.0 6.3 (0.7) 5.1 (0.6) 26.0 (1.2) 27.3 (1.3) 7.4 (0.6) 27.8 (1.2)

Age

15–19 years ..................... 10,443 100.0 7.0 (0.9) 7.1 (0.9) 15.8 (1.2) 17.5 (1.2) 6.9 (0.8) 45.8 (1.6)

15–17 years .................... 5,740 100.0 6.8 (1.1) 8.1 (1.2) 9.8 (1.1) 11.1 (1.4) 3.3 (0.8) 60.8 (2.3)

18–19 years .................... 4,702 100.0 7.2 (1.4) 5.8 (1.3) 23.2 (2.2) 25.3 (2.5) 11.2 (1.7) 27.5 (2.1)

20–24 years ..................... 10,453 100.0 5.7 (0.8) 3.1 (0.8) 36.2 (1.8) 37.2 (1.9) 8.0 (0.9) 9.9 (1.3)

20–21 years .................... 3,985 100.0 6.7 (1.3) 3.9 (1.1) 32.3 (2.6) 35.3 (3.1) 9.2 (1.5) 12.6 (2.4)

22–24 years .................... 6,468 100.0 5.1 (1.0) 2.7 (0.9) 38.6 (2.5) 38.3 (2.1) 7.2 (1.1) 8.2 (1.3)

Hispanic origin and race

Hispanic or Latina.................. 3,728 100.0 12.0 (1.4) 3.4 (0.9) 20.3 (2.4) 27.4 (2.3) 7.6 (1.5) 29.4 (2.8)

15–19 years .................... 1,949 100.0 10.4 (2.5) 4.5 (1.5) 13.0 (2.3) 17.9 (2.4) 6.2 (2.2) 48.1 (3.7)

20–24 years .................... 1,780 100.0 13.8 (2.4) 2.1 (1.1) 28.6 (4.0) 38.1 (3.6) 9.2 (2.2) 8.2 (1.7)

Not Hispanic or Latina:

White, single race ................ 12,129 100.0 2.5 (0.6) 5.9 (0.9) 31.2 (1.7) 25.2 (1.6) 7.0 (1.0) 28.2 (1.9)

15–19 years .................. 5,939 100.0 2.8 (0.8) 8.6 (1.3) 19.0 (1.8) 17.0 (1.7) 6.4 (1.1) 46.2 (2.3)

20–24 years .................. 6,190 100.0 2.1 (0.9) 3.3 (1.0) 42.8 (2.3) 33.2 (2.2) 7.6 (1.4) 11.0 (1.9)

Black or African American, single race.... 3,088 100.0 14.4 (2.0) 3.5 (1.1) 15.8 (1.8) 35.3 (2.6) 8.2 (1.1) 22.8 (1.5)

15–19 years .................. 1,552 100.0 18.5 (2.8) 6.7 (2.2) 12.1 (2.5) 17.2 (2.3) 6.4 (1.5) 39.0 (3.0)

20–24 years .................. 1,537 100.0 10.3 (2.2) 0.4 (0.2) 19.5 (2.7) 53.0 (3.8) 10.0 (2.0) 6.8 (1.9)

Age at first vaginal intercourse

Under 15 years ................... 2,653 100.0 6.4 (1.7) - - ­ 25.9 (2.9) 56.3 (3.3) 11.4 (2.1) - - ­

15–17 years ..................... 7,178 100.0 7.7 (1.1) - - ­ 40.5 (2.1) 40.3 (1.9) 11.6 (1.3) - - ­

18 and older ..................... 3,474 100.0 9.7 (2.0) - - ­ 45.5 (3.4) 34.4 (3.0) 10.3 (1.8) - - ­

Mother’s education

No high school diploma or GED ......... 3,485 100.0 11.6 (1.4) 3.7 (1.1) 21.4 (2.7) 31.3 (2.9) 9.5 (1.7) 22.5 (2.2)

High school diploma or GED ........... 5,950 100.0 6.5 (1.1) 3.6 (0.8) 27.8 (2.2) 27.7 (2.4) 6.9 (1.3) 27.5 (2.3)

Some college or higher .............. 11,384 100.0 4.7 (0.8) 6.3 (0.9) 26.6 (1.7) 25.8 (1.5) 7.0 (0.9) 29.5 (1.6)

Family structure at age 14 years

Both biological or adoptive parents ....... 12,881 100.0 5.2 (0.7) 6.6 (0.9) 26.1 (1.7) 22.9 (1.4) 6.4 (0.7) 32.9 (1.9)

Other3 ......................... 8,014 100.0 8.1 (1.1) 2.7 (0.5) 26.0 (2.0) 34.5 (2.3) 9.0 (1.0) 19.6 (1.4)

- - - Category not applicable.
 1Includes those who have not had vaginal, oral, or anal sexual intercourse.
 2Includes those of other or multiple-race and origin groups, not shown separately.
 3Refers to anything other than two biological or adoptive parents, including single parent, stepparent, and no parents.
 

NOTES: There were no females aged 15–24 years who had anal sex, but did not also have oral sex or vaginal intercourse. Percentages may not add to 100 due to rounding. GED is General
 

Educational Development high school equivalency diploma.
 

SOURCE: CDC/NCHS, National Survey of Family Growth, 2006–2010. The current report is based on a subsample of interviews from July 2007 to June 2010.
 
Page 12 National Health Statistics Reports n Number 56 n August 16, 2012

Table 3. Percentage reporting specific types of sexual contact with an opposite-sex partner and timing of oral sex relative to first vaginal

intercourse among males aged 15–24 years, by selected characteristics: United States, 2007–2010

Had both oral sex and vaginal intercourse

Oral sex

occurred

Oral sex Oral sex on the No sex of

Vaginal Oral sex, occurred occurred same any kind

Number intercourse, but no before after occasion as with an

Characteristic

in

thousands Total

but no

oral sex

vaginal

intercourse

vaginal

intercourse

vaginal

intercourse

vaginal

intercourse

opposite-sex

partner1

Percent distribution (standard error)

All males aged 15–24 years2 ........... 21,204 100.0 5.0 (0.8) 6.5 (0.7) 23.6 (1.4) 24.2 (1.2) 12.2 (0.9) 28.5 (1.2)

Age

15–19 years ..................... 10,729 100.0 5.1 (1.0) 10.3 (1.0) 15.4 (1.3) 15.7 (1.0) 9.3 (1.0) 44.2 (1.6)

15–17 years .................... 6,536 100.0 4.7 (1.1) 12.5 (1.4) 10.3 (1.3) 8.4 (1.2) 8.2 (1.2) 56.0 (2.0)

18–19 years .................... 4,194 100.0 5.7 (1.3) 6.9 (1.3) 23.1 (2.4) 26.8 (2.4) 11.1 (1.8) 26.4 (2.3)

20–24 years ..................... 10,475 100.0 4.8 (1.1) 2.8 (0.7) 31.7 (2.1) 32.5 (1.9) 15.1 (1.3) 13.0 (1.4)

20–21 years .................... 4,380 100.0 5.3 (1.4) 3.6 (1.2) 28.8 (2.9) 31.6 (2.4) 16.3 (2.5) 14.4 (2.2)

22–24 years .................... 6,095 100.0 4.5 (1.3) 2.1 (0.6) 33.7 (2.7) 33.3 (3.0) 14.3 (1.8) 12.1 (2.2)

Hispanic origin and race

Hispanic or Latino.................. 3,914 100.0 7.6 (1.4) 4.3 (1.0) 19.0 (1.9) 29.2 (2.1) 13.9 (1.7) 25.9 (1.9)

15–19 years .................... 2,052 100.0 4.9 (1.4) 7.9 (1.8) 13.5 (2.5) 19.8 (2.3) 11.8 (2.1) 42.1 (3.1)

20–24 years .................... 1,862 100.0 10.6 (2.5) * 25.1 (3.2) 39.6 (4.2) 16.3 (2.6) 8.0 (1.9)

Not Hispanic or Latino:

White, single race ................ 12,589 100.0 2.8 (0.8) 7.9 (1.0) 26.9 (1.9) 22.3 (1.4) 12.4 (1.3) 27.8 (1.7)

15–19 years .................. 6,202 100.0 2.4 (0.8) 12.1 (1.5) 17.6 (1.8) 14.1 (1.5) 8.7 (1.4) 45.1 (2.4)

20–24 years .................. 6,387 100.0 3.1 (1.3) 4.1 (1.2) 35.4 (2.9) 29.9 (2.2) 15.8 (2.0) 11.7 (2.0)

Black or African American, single race.... 2,977 100.0 11.9 (2.2) 3.6 (1.0) 17.8 (2.4) 32.7 (2.7) 9.9 (1.5) 24.0 (2.9)

15–19 years .................. 1,596 100.0 16.7 (3.6) 6.3 (1.8) 13.1 (2.7) 20.6 (2.6) 8.3 (2.0) 35.1 (3.9)

20–24 years .................. 1,381 100.0 6.5 (2.2) * 23.2 (3.4) 46.2 (3.9) 11.8 (2.4) 11.6 (2.7)

Age at first vaginal intercourse

Under 15 years ................... 3,369 100.0 7.5 (1.7) - - ­ 29.9 (3.0) 35.9 (3.5) 26.7 (3.0) - - ­

15–17 years ..................... 6,674 100.0 6.7 (1.3) - - ­ 36.5 (2.9) 40.4 (2.6) 16.4 (1.6) - - ­

18 and older ..................... 2,885 100.0 9.5 (2.4) - - ­ 44.0 (3.3) 32.9 (3.3) 13.6 (2.7) - - ­

Mother’s education

No high school diploma or GED ......... 3,079 100.0 8.2 (1.7) 3.1 (1.1) 25.5 (2.6) 24.4 (2.8) 13.7 (2.0) 25.1 (2.5)

High school diploma or GED ........... 6,479 100.0 4.8 (1.1) 5.3 (0.9) 23.2 (2.3) 24.3 (2.2) 12.8 (1.5) 29.6 (2.3)

Some college or higher .............. 11,502 100.0 4.2 (0.9) 8.1 (1.0) 23.1 (1.7) 23.8 (1.6) 11.7 (1.1) 29.1 (1.5)

Family structure at age 14 years

Both biological or adoptive parents ....... 13,636 100.0 4.8 (0.9) 6.4 (0.9) 22.4 (1.6) 22.8 (1.5) 10.1 (0.9) 33.5 (1.6)

Other3 ........................ 7,568 100.0 5.3 (1.1) 6.6 (0.9) 25.7 (2.0) 26.6 (1.7) 16.0 (1.6) 19.7 (1.8)

* Figure does not meet standards of reliability or precision.
 

- - - Category not applicable.
 1Includes those who have not had vaginal, oral, or anal sexual intercourse.
 2Includes those of other or multiple-race and origin groups, not shown separately.
 3Refers to anything other than two biological or adoptive parents, including single parent, stepparent, and no parents.
 

NOTES: There were no males aged 15–24 years who had anal sex but did not also have oral sex or vaginal intercourse. Percentages may not add to 100 due to rounding. GED is General

Educational Development high school equivalency diploma.

SOURCE: CDC/NCHS, National Survey of Family Growth, 2006–2010. The current report is based on a subsample of interviews from July 2007 to June 2010.
National Health Statistics Reports n Number 56 n August 16, 2012 Page 13

Table 4. Characteristics of females aged 15–24 years, according to the type of sexual contact and timing of oral sex relative to first

vaginal intercourse: United States, 2007–2010

Had both oral sex and vaginal intercourse

Oral sex

Oral sex Oral sex occurred

Oral sex, occurred occurred on the same

but no before after occasion as

vaginal vaginal vaginal vaginal

Characteristic intercourse intercourse intercourse intercourse

Number in thousands

Total ........................................ 1,050 5,366 5,635 1,529

Percent distribution (standard error)

Total ........................................ 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0

Age

15–19 years.................................... 69.3 (6.3) 30.4 (2.0) 32.0 (1.9) 46.3 (3.8)

15–17 years .................................. 43.8 (6.1) 10.4 (1.3) 11.2 (1.4) 12.2 (3.0)

18–19 years .................................. 25.5 (4.8) 20.1 (1.9) 20.8 (2.0) 34.0 (3.7)

20–24 years.................................... 30.7 (6.3) 69.6 (2.0) 68.0 (1.9) 53.7 (3.8)

20–21 years .................................. 14.5 (3.8) 23.8 (2.6) 24.7 (2.6) 23.7 (3.5)

22–24 years .................................. 16.2 (4.7) 45.8 (2.7) 43.3 (2.7) 30.1 (3.2)

Hispanic origin and race1

Hispanic or Latina ................................ 11.6 (3.4) 13.6 (1.8) 17.5 (2.5) 17.9 (4.3)

Not Hispanic or Latina:

White, single race. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67.7 (5.2) 70.3 (2.5) 54.2 (3.0) 55.5 (4.5)

Black or African American, single race .................. 10.1 (3.3) 8.9 (1.2) 18.8 (2.0) 16.2 (3.0)

Age at first vaginal intercourse

Under 15 years.................................. --­ 13.3 (1.4) 26.8 (2.0) 20.3 (3.9)

15–17 years.................................... --­ 56.1 (2.9) 51.8 (2.1) 55.7 (4.2)

18 and older ................................... --­ 30.6 (2.6) 21.4 (2.0) 24.0 (4.5)

Mother’s education

No high school diploma or GED ....................... 11.9 (3.6) 13.6 (1.9) 19.0 (2.3) 21.2 (4.4)

High school diploma or GED ......................... 20.4 (4.1) 30.5 (2.5) 29.1 (2.6) 26.9 (3.9)

Some college or higher............................. 67.7 (4.8) 55.9 (3.1) 51.9 (3.1) 52.0 (5.1)

Family structure at age 14 years

Both biological or adoptive parents...................... 79.4 (3.6) 61.7 (2.8) 51.6 (2.5) 53.3 (3.9)

Other2 ....................................... 20.6 (3.6) 38.3 (2.8) 48.4 (2.5) 46.7 (3.9)

- - - Category not applicable.
 1Includes those of other or multiple-race and origin groups, not shown separately.
 2Refers to anything other than two biological or adoptive parents, including single parent, stepparent, and no parents.
 

NOTES: Percentages may not add to 100 due to rounding. GED is General Educational Development high school equivalency diploma.
 

SOURCE: CDC/NCHS, National Survey of Family Growth, 2006–2010. The current report is based on a subsample of interviews from July 2007 to June 2010.
 
Page 14 National Health Statistics Reports n Number 56 n August 16, 2012

Table 5. Characteristics of males aged 15–24 years, according to the type of sexual contact and timing of oral sex relative to first vaginal

intercourse: United States, 2007–2010

Had both oral sex and vaginal intercourse

Oral sex

Oral sex Oral sex occurred

Oral sex, occurred occurred on the same

but no before after occasion as

vaginal vaginal vaginal vaginal

Characteristic intercourse intercourse intercourse intercourse

Number in thousands

Total ........................................ 1,321 4,802 4,921 2,493

Percent distribution (standard error)

Total ........................................ 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0

Age

15–19 years.................................... 78.5 (4.8) 32.4 (2.6) 32.3 (2.2) 37.9 (3.2)

15–17 years .................................. 57.5 (5.0) 13.0 (1.7) 10.3 (1.4) 19.9 (2.7)

18–19 years .................................. 21.0 (3.8) 19.4 (1.9) 21.9 (2.1) 17.9 (2.8)

20–24 years.................................... 21.5 (4.8) 67.6 (2.6) 67.7 (2.2) 62.1 (3.2)

20–21 years .................................. 11.8 (3.8) 25.7 (3.1) 27.5 (2.6) 28.0 (4.2)

22–24 years .................................. 9.7 (2.4) 41.9 (3.1) 40.3 (2.7) 34.1 (3.8)

Hispanic origin and race1

Hispanic or Latina ................................ 12.2 (3.5) 14.8 (2.3) 22.1 (3.0) 20.8 (3.7)

Not Hispanic or Latina:

White, single race. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72.9 (4.8) 67.8 (2.9) 54.9 (3.2) 60.2 (4.0)

Black or African American, single race .................. 7.8 (1.9) 10.5 (1.6) 18.8 (2.1) 11.3 (1.9)

Age at first vaginal intercourse

Under 15 years.................................. --­ 21.4 (2.3) 24.9 (2.2) 37.7 (4.3)

15–17 years.................................... --­ 51.7 (2.8) 55.5 (2.9) 45.9 (4.0)

18 and older ................................... --­ 26.9 (2.8) 19.6 (2.3) 16.4 (3.2)

Mother’s education

No high school diploma or GED ....................... 7.0 (2.8) 16.1 (2.2) 15.0 (2.0) 16.4 (2.8)

High school diploma or GED ......................... 25.4 (3.6) 30.7 (2.6) 31.5 (2.9) 32.4 (3.4)

Some college or higher............................. 67.6 (4.1) 53.2 (3.0) 53.4 (3.4) 51.2 (4.0)

Family structure at age 14 years

Both biological or adoptive parents...................... 63.1 (4.4) 60.7 (3.0) 60.3 (2.8) 52.9 (3.3)

Other2 ....................................... 36.9 (4.4) 39.3 (3.0) 39.7 (2.8) 47.1 (3.3)

- - - Category not applicable.
 1Includes those of other or multiple-race and origin groups, not shown separately.
 2Refers to anything other than two biological or adoptive parents, including single parent, stepparent, and no parents.
 

NOTES: Percentages may not add to 100 due to rounding. GED is General Educational Development high school equivalency diploma.
 

SOURCE: CDC/NCHS, National Survey of Family Growth, 2006–2010. The current report is based on a subsample of interviews from July 2007 to June 2010.
 

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National Health Statistics Reports n Number 56 n August 16, 2012

Acknowledgments

The 2006–2010 National Survey of Family Growth (NSFG) was conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s(CDC) National

Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) with the support and assistance of a number of other organizations and individuals. Interviewing and other

tasks were carried out by the University of Michigan’s Survey Research Center, Institute for Social Research, under a contract with NCHS. The

2006–2010 NSFG was jointly planned and funded by the following programs and agencies of the U.S. Departments of Health and Human

Services:

• Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute for Child Health and Human Development

• Office of Population Affairs

• National Center for Health Statistics (CDC)

• Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention (CDC)

• Division of Sexually Transmitted Disease Prevention (CDC)

• Division of Reproductive Health (CDC)

• Children’s Bureau of the Administration for Children and Families

• The Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation

NCHS gratefully acknowledges the contributions of these programs and agencies and all others who assisted in designing and carrying out the
 

2006–2010 NSFG.
 

This report was prepared under the general direction of Charles J. Rothwell, Director of NCHS’ Division of Vital Statistics (DVS), and
 

Stephanie J. Ventura, Chief of the Reproductive Statistics Branch of DVS. The authors are also grateful for the valuable comments provided by
 

Stephanie Ventura; Julia Holmes, DVS Associate Director for Science; and Jennifer Madans, NCHS Associate Director for Science. The authors
 

would also like to thank Yashodhara Patel for her helpful contributions to the preparation of this report. This report was typeset by Zung T. Le,
 

graphics produced by Sarah Hinkle, and edited by editor vendor.
 

Suggested citation

Copen CE, Chandra A, Martinez G.

Prevalence and timing of oral sex with

opposite-sex partners among females and

males aged 15–24 years: United States,

2007–2010. National health statistics reports;

no 56. Hyattsville, MD: National Center for

Health Statistics. 2012.

Copyright information

All material appearing in this report is in the

public domain and may be reproduced or

copied without permission; citation as to

source, however, is appreciated.

National Center for Health Statistics

Edward J. Sondik, Ph.D., Director
 

Jennifer H. Madans, Ph.D., Associate Director
 

for Science
 

Division of Vital Statistics

Charles J. Rothwell, M.S., Director

For e-mail updates on NCHS publication releases, subscribe online at: http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/govdelivery.htm.
 

For questions or general information about NCHS: Tel: 1–800–232–4636 • E-mail: cdcinfo@cdc.gov • Internet: http://www.cdc.gov/nchs
 

DHHS Publication No. (PHS) 2012–1250 • CS232582