# Oral sex: Swallowing **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 11, 2006, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oral-sex-swallowing/360304 "2006-06-11T15:22:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2006, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oral-sex-swallowing/360304/1 "2006-06-11T15:22:28Z")
As a straight male, I’m not going to be swallowing semen; so maybe this is a double-standard. But why do so many women not want to swallow? My ex-fiancée thought it was unhygenic. Others simply said no. Receiving fellatio, but knowing it won’t be to completion is a bit of a turn-off. The alternatives are to use a condom, or to make a bit of a mess. Slightly related: Do you mind if the guy makes suggestions about how to fellate better? ---
**Author:** ![Misnomer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/misnomer/32/14897_2.png) [@Misnomer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Misnomer)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2006, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oral-sex-swallowing/360304/2 "2006-06-11T15:53:40Z")
Gotta love the occasional themes around here! I’ve always been a swallower, so I have no insight into why a woman might refuse. I’ve heard that semen is very high in calories, so maybe stop dating supermodels? 😃 Quite frankly, a claim that swallowing is “unhygienic” sounds kind of hypocritical and/or ignorant to me (unless she also made you wear a condom during blowjobs). How could something from inside the body be any more or less hygienic than a penis? I don’ geddit. I don’t mind suggestions about my technique, in fact I usually solicit them. Different guys like different things, and I definitely want to make sure I’m doing what works for the dick that’s in my mouth. Plus, the sooner he gets off the better it is for my jaw. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Menocchio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de053/32.png) [@Menocchio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Menocchio)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2006, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oral-sex-swallowing/360304/3 "2006-06-11T16:08:36Z")
I’m a straight guy, but I can totally understand why someone wouldn’t want a viscous wad of hot semen shot into their throats. Because it’s a bodily fluid, and they don’t liek the taste or texture. I’m sure, at least some of the time, there’s some sexual politics at play here. Refusing to swallow is asserting some control and boundaries over the relationship. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2006, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oral-sex-swallowing/360304/4 "2006-06-11T16:16:38Z")
I don’t like the taste of it. It’s hot and VERY salty. For me, it burns my throat (maybe because I’m a smoker, or have my tonsils still?) I’m not a fan of salty foods or hot drinks so… If you’re wondering what it tastes like…I’ve always thought it tasted like that salty soup you get at Chinese restaurants. Miso? I love getting instruction on how to perform better. When I’m doing it, my main goal is to get the guy off. It’s a control thing. I also can’t do it for very long stretches because I have TMJ (bad jaw) so I mix in a lot of hand action too, and every guy wants something different. So it’s best to tell me. I don’t know why I am so readily sharing all of this on a message board. heh. ---
**Author:** ![Cyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a88e4f/32.png) [@Cyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cyn)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2006, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oral-sex-swallowing/360304/5 "2006-06-11T16:19:01Z")
I swallow, and I find instruction in how to better please my partner helpful. Sometime I want things slower/faster/harder/moretotheleft, and I appreciate my input being taken under consideration. I don’t consider semen unhygenic anymore than I feel my own secretions are unhygenic. ---
**Author:** ![Telperien](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/65b543/32.png) [@Telperien](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telperien)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2006, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oral-sex-swallowing/360304/6 "2006-06-11T16:20:21Z")
It doesn’t bother me a bit to swallow. I kind of like it. The times I’ve swallowed, though, it didn’t have that much of a taste, though, due to the diet or body chemistry of the guys involved, I guess. Other people have told me that they don’t like the taste or that they just plain find the idea gross. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2006, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oral-sex-swallowing/360304/7 "2006-06-11T16:22:34Z")
OT > [@Cyn](#): > > **Talk nerdy to me** I have that on my bumper. With a Mac apple next to it. ---
**Author:** ![stuyguy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ec9cab/32.png) [@stuyguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stuyguy)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2006, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oral-sex-swallowing/360304/8 "2006-06-11T16:26:31Z")
Gotta mention that when I read this thread just now the big headline (_head_line?)in the banner ad at the bottom read, “MAKE YOUR DONATION NOW.” (It was for hurricane relief, but still…) ---
**Author:** ![Telperien](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/65b543/32.png) [@Telperien](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telperien)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2006, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oral-sex-swallowing/360304/9 "2006-06-11T16:26:54Z")
I forgot the second bit of the OP. As far as that goes, I welcome it. I’ve not performed fellatio that often, due to lack of opportunity (on people I’d actually want to blow–plenty of creeps seem to want it from me, though) and I still don’t really feel like I know what I’m doing. It’s a great help if the receiver lets me know what he wants, as long as he’s polite. I’d do the same if I were the receiver. ---
**Author:** ![Dunderman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecb155/32.png) [@Dunderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dunderman)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2006, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oral-sex-swallowing/360304/10 "2006-06-11T16:32:45Z")
> [@Menocchio](#): > > I’m a straight guy, but I can totally understand why someone wouldn’t want a viscous wad of hot semen shot into their throats. Same here. What I _don’t_ understand, however, is why it seems to matter to so many men. ---
**Author:** ![Misnomer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/misnomer/32/14897_2.png) [@Misnomer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Misnomer)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2006, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oral-sex-swallowing/360304/11 "2006-06-11T16:47:58Z")
> [@Menocchio](#): > > I’m a straight guy, but I can totally understand why someone wouldn’t want a viscous wad of hot semen shot into their throats. You make it sound much more disgusting than it actually is – not to mention that the entire act of swallowing only takes 1-2 seconds. 🙂 Your statement actually reminds me a little of some of the women in the “[Ladies, do you like reciving oral sex? (TMI)](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=375159)” thread who don’t or haven’t liked it because they think their vaginas are “gross.” > [@ZipperJJ](#): > > I don’t like the taste of it. I’ve heard that from other women, but forgot about it. :smack: It’s definitely not a treat for the taste buds, but I’ve never found it so bad that I wouldn’t swallow. Though it is true that what a guy eats/drinks can affect the taste. ---
**Author:** ![Susie\_Derkins](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e47774/32.png) [@Susie\_Derkins](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Susie_Derkins)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2006, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oral-sex-swallowing/360304/12 "2006-06-11T16:52:03Z")
My first boyfriend’s semen had a horrible taste. I don’t know if it was because of all the beer he drank or what, but I rarely swallowed for him because I always feared I might gag. Very acidic, kind of…skunky? After him, any other guy tasted like ice cream topping, especially my last boyfriend. Healthy eater, lots of fruits. Sweet. I kind of understand why it’s a big deal for some guys, because I love receiving just as much as giving and if a man got me right up to the edge, took his mouth off of me, and diddled me with his finger to finish me off I would feel a little let down. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Dunderman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecb155/32.png) [@Dunderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dunderman)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2006, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oral-sex-swallowing/360304/13 "2006-06-11T16:56:57Z")
> [@Susie Derkins](#): > > I kind of understand why it’s a big deal for some guys, because I love receiving just as much as giving and if a man got me right up to the edge, took his mouth off of me, and diddled me with his finger to finish me off I would feel a little let down. 😉 I was talking about swallowing, not oral sex to completion. You can perform oral sex to completion without swallowing. ---
**Author:** ![FilmGeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b19c9b/32.png) [@FilmGeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FilmGeek)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2006, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oral-sex-swallowing/360304/14 "2006-06-11T17:03:03Z")
I don’t like to swallow because it makes my throat hurt. Plus, it’s not a pleasant taste, to me. ---
**Author:** ![DianaG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7ab992/32.png) [@DianaG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DianaG)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2006, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oral-sex-swallowing/360304/15 "2006-06-11T17:07:21Z")
I can understand why you might not want someone to come in your mouth, but once it’s there, you might as well swallow. If you find it unpleasant tasting, why keep it in there until you get to the bathroom, or grab a big enough wad of tissue to spit it out? ---
**Author:** ![Alice\_The\_Goon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ed8c4c/32.png) [@Alice\_The\_Goon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alice_The_Goon)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2006, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oral-sex-swallowing/360304/16 "2006-06-11T17:13:19Z")
I don’t swallow simply because I’m a gagger, and I’m a super-taster. I don’t like the taste of it, and I know that I’d start gagging the second it hit my mouth. I know I would. Not a control issue at all; simply a desire to not upchuck during an intimate moment. ---
**Author:** ![Susie\_Derkins](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e47774/32.png) [@Susie\_Derkins](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Susie_Derkins)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2006, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oral-sex-swallowing/360304/17 "2006-06-11T17:25:24Z")
> [@Priceguy](#): > > I was talking about swallowing, not oral sex to completion. You can perform oral sex to completion without swallowing. Sorry, do you mean spitting it out? To me that’s just all of the flavor with twice the insult. ---
**Author:** ![Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e480ec/32.png) [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Least_Original_User_Name_Ever)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2006, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oral-sex-swallowing/360304/18 "2006-06-11T17:49:50Z")
Um. **Susie Derkins** , stop replying. The more you send replies into the sex threads, the more crushes you’re going to develop. My sperm count is so high… [RIGHT]How high is it??[/RIGHT] It’s so high, my girlfriend has to chew before swallowing! (rimshot) ---
**Author:** ![Seren](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e19adc/32.png) [@Seren](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Seren)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2006, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oral-sex-swallowing/360304/19 "2006-06-11T18:04:33Z")
Well, there are a couple choices for me, assuming oral to completion: 1. Swallow and gag, complete with eyes tearing up or 2. Spit quietly and in another room where the guy can’t hear Personally, the second one seems way less offensive and so that’s what I do. I’ve just never been able to swallow without choking, hacking, gagging, eyes turning red and tearing up, nose running, etc. Oh, and I shudder, like I’ve had a strong drink or really disgusting cough syrup. Semen just has such an awful texture. ---
**Author:** ![Indygrrl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/58f4c7/32.png) [@Indygrrl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Indygrrl)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2006, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oral-sex-swallowing/360304/20 "2006-06-11T18:09:04Z")
I don’t spit or swallow. He can either shoot it across the room or not get a blow job at all. If it gets in my mouth, I’ll throw up. It’s really that simple. I’d rather keep him hard and have him get off during actual sex. Tons of women will say they love doing blow jobs, but I’m not one of them. Maybe on his birthday and Xmas or something, but not as a part of my daily repetoire. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oral-sex-swallowing/360304.md?page=2)