# When did oral sex become a common part of sex? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 13, 2018, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-oral-sex-become-a-common-part-of-sex/822902 "2018-10-13T14:08:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 9
**Author:** ![Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slow_moving_vehicle/32/291_2.png) [@Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slow_Moving_Vehicle)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2018, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-oral-sex-become-a-common-part-of-sex/822902/161 "2018-10-18T00:52:00Z")
> [@CarnalK](#): > > So you are providing anecdotal evidence that our ancestors probably had sex despite a lack of showers? No, I’m providing anecdotal evidence that the urge to get your freak on can outweigh a distaste for B.O. and less-than-pristine hygiene, even among modern Americans imbued with our cleanliness-is-next-to-godliness sensibilities. And that even “primitive” cultures, lacking access to Wet Wipes and Quilted Northern Two-Ply, are nevertheless able to clean their nether regions adequately. ---
**Author:** ![DPRK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4491bb/32.png) [@DPRK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DPRK)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2018, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-oral-sex-become-a-common-part-of-sex/822902/162 "2018-10-18T02:55:17Z")
It is “modern” man, not “primitive” man, who knows that so-called clean skin is far from sterile and actually laced with bacteria, yet people continue to enjoy all sorts of sex including the type described in this thread. ---
**Author:** ![raventhief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/raventhief/32/4_2.png) [@raventhief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/raventhief)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2018, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-oral-sex-become-a-common-part-of-sex/822902/163 "2018-10-18T03:26:38Z")
This book seems to put forth the idea that oral sex had been a part of the human sex life a long, long time. > **[A Brief History of Oral Sex](https://books.google.com/books?id=kFwnDwAAQBAJ&pg=PT19&lpg=PT19&dq=cave%2Bpaintings%2Boral%2Bsex&source=bl&ots=2o58qdmyTF&sig=i43SKHW57qUVkA4NcOJXGTqiuDc&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiQwYu_6I3eAhXSUt8KHXgdBlcQ6AEwBHoECAAQAQ#v=onepage&q=cave%20paintings%20oral%20sex&f=false)** > > The ancient Greeks and Romans considered it degrading to both parties yet depicted it prolifically in art and literature. The Early Christian Church called it "the worst evil," punishable by seven years of penance and fasting (murder was one year).... ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2018, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-oral-sex-become-a-common-part-of-sex/822902/164 "2018-10-18T03:33:29Z")
[So established _before_ humanity, and even in non-primates.](http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20140613-do-animals-have-sex-for-fun) In ancient India (Kama Sutra), likely prehistoric times, China, discussed [in Talmud](http://utj.org/viewpoints/responsa/is-oral-sex-permitted/) … So it seems that it has always been a fairly common part of sex with some fairly brief periods of certain cultures officially discouraging it. Is it more popular or more frequent now than say in the '40s? Maybe. [This](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3901667/) is from 2014. > [@](#): > > 60–69 year olds (yo) were less likely than 45–59 or 30–44 (yo) to have performed oral sex (72.7%, 84.8%, and 90.3%, p\<0.001) But not a new thing. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2018, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-oral-sex-become-a-common-part-of-sex/822902/165 "2018-10-18T04:16:44Z")
My understanding is sex was a bit of male grunting in the dark for maybe ten minutes. Clothes might not be entirely removed. Bedrooms were often unheated. Homes were much smaller in the 18th and 19th centuries. Extended family members might be in a loft space just above you. It was almost communal living. Think about the homes described in Laura Ingalls Wilder’s books. It’s hard to get freaky with Grandma snoring a few feet away. My grandparents slept in separate beds (same room) the last thirty years of their marriage. He chewed tobacco and she dipped snuff. Not a good combination for oral sex. ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2018, 5:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-oral-sex-become-a-common-part-of-sex/822902/166 "2018-10-18T05:18:47Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > My understanding is sex was a bit of male grunting in the dark for maybe ten minutes. Clothes might not be entirely removed. Bedrooms were often unheated. Exactly. It’s my understanding that my father in law was a 3 pump chump but I guess a lifelong tradesman is a poorer lover than a caveman. Nice. Classism is alive and well. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2018, 5:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-oral-sex-become-a-common-part-of-sex/822902/167 "2018-10-18T05:21:02Z")
In Kathmandu, I saw at least one ancient building covered with carvings of all sorts of sexual acts including oral. There is also a decent sex museum in Shanghai that, IIRC, makes it clear oral sex is nothing new. I suspect it just feels new in the US due to long-standing Puritan sensibilities in some areas. ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2018, 5:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-oral-sex-become-a-common-part-of-sex/822902/168 "2018-10-18T05:37:30Z")
Nm ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2018, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-oral-sex-become-a-common-part-of-sex/822902/169 "2018-10-20T14:14:00Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > One data point. In high school (1970s) I wasn’t ready to have sex with my girlfriend (she would have seen it as the equivalent to a marriage proposal) we had oral sex. It wasn’t _good_ oral sex, but it was oral sex. (A minute to learn, a lifetime to master.) thanks. Not my experience, so i appreciate hearing yours. > [@CarnalK](#): > > You forgot about our big fat poo encrusted bums that is central to my hypothesis you requested. That’s a pretty unique feature among apes. I’m going to address this directly, although colibri covered it before. If your bum is encrusted with poo, you are doing something wrong. Maybe you should address your diet. Maybe you have colitits, I dunno. But if you spread your cheeks when you defecate, and if you have healthy, well-formed turds, very little poop sticks to your bum. Or maybe I should say that very little poop sticks to my bum, and I doubt I’m unusual in that regard. And as others have mentioned, smooth stones, leaves, snow, or even fingers can remove troublesome residue when things don’t work quite right. ---
**Author:** ![race\_to\_the\_bottom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c4cdca/32.png) [@race\_to\_the\_bottom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/race_to_the_bottom)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2018, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-oral-sex-become-a-common-part-of-sex/822902/170 "2018-10-21T18:48:59Z")
> [@mixdenny](#): > > I don’t think this is a factor at all. Nice soft hair cushioning the cheeks is a great part of cunny. > > Dennis That’s why it was called muff diving. Perhaps some of the younger generation do not know of the existence of muffs. ---
**Author:** ![WernhamHogg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a587f6/32.png) [@WernhamHogg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WernhamHogg)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2018, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-oral-sex-become-a-common-part-of-sex/822902/171 "2018-10-21T21:32:38Z")
> [@race\_to\_the\_bottom](#): > > That’s why it was called muff diving. Perhaps some of the younger generation do not know of the existence of muffs. Username/thread title win. ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2018, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-oral-sex-become-a-common-part-of-sex/822902/172 "2018-10-22T00:03:24Z")
> [@puzzlegal](#): > > And as others have mentioned, smooth stones, leaves, snow, or even fingers can remove troublesome residue when things don’t work quite right. I hadn’t noticed the smooth stone example. That makes a lot of sense. Hearing it I’m rather shocked that no wise company hasn’t started selling those as a Green alternative to toilet paper and showers. Probably catch a few of the Paleo diet crowd too. Probably hard to get under the price of fingers though. ---
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2018, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-oral-sex-become-a-common-part-of-sex/822902/173 "2018-10-22T00:31:51Z")
> [@rat\_avatar](#): > > Pre-historic “ice age batons” AKA dildos are known and show that sex toys were in use [28,000 years ago](http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/4713323.stm) “In addition to being a symbolic representation of male genitalia, it was also at times used for knapping flints" That’s silly, a sex tool for two different uses? That would be like using, oh I don’t know, a hairbrush to masturbate with! ---
**Author:** ![Scylla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a5b964/32.png) [@Scylla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scylla)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2018, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-oral-sex-become-a-common-part-of-sex/822902/174 "2018-10-22T19:32:31Z")
Justin Timberlake brought it back. ---
**Author:** ![md2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/73ab20/32.png) [@md2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/md2000)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2018, 5:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-oral-sex-become-a-common-part-of-sex/822902/175 "2018-10-23T05:31:40Z")
Depending on how often they needed smooth flat rocks… What was the line attributed to one health nut discussing healthy bowel movements in the movie “Road to Wellville” which was a parody of the nuts like Dr. Kellogg pushing a meat-free grain diet - “I eat nothing but whole grains, and my stools have the consistency and odor of a warm muffin…” ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2018, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-oral-sex-become-a-common-part-of-sex/822902/176 "2018-10-23T17:58:50Z")
> [@Mangosteen](#): > > Didn’t notice any depictions when I visited Khajuraho. Did I just miss them? [Yes](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khajuraho_Group_of_Monuments#Arts_and_sculpture). See left panel. ---
**Author:** ![coffeecat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/coffeecat/32/3405_2.png) [@coffeecat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/coffeecat)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2018, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-oral-sex-become-a-common-part-of-sex/822902/177 "2018-10-23T19:16:18Z")
> [@Lucas\_Jackson](#): > > “In addition to being a symbolic representation of male genitalia, it was also at times used for knapping flints" > > That’s silly, a sex tool for two different uses? That would be like using, oh I don’t know, a hairbrush to masturbate with! Flint chips in the girly parts? Ow, ow, OW! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-oral-sex-become-a-common-part-of-sex/822902.md?page=8)