Changing definition of sex
So, does oral sex count as sex?That's the question University of Kentucky researchers asked nearly 500 college students in 2007. Only 20 percent of them said oral sex was sex -- which is a steep drop from the 40 percent in similar studies in 1991 and 1999-2001.
The study was of 477 college undergraduates (328 women, 149 men) enrolled in a human sexuality course at a large state university. The question on the survey was: "Would you say you 'had sex' with someone if the most intimate behavior you engaged in was..." then listed 11 behaviors. Students could answer "yes" or "no" (and couldn't skip any).
The behaviors included vaginal intercourse (98 percent say it's sex),