Findings now suggest a shift in sexual practices, in which females are using oral and lesbian sex "as a safer alternative than [vaginal] sex with men."
Epidemiologist William D. Mosher of the National Center for Health Statistics, the study's lead author says, "If it is seen as a safer alternative, it is an interesting response to the campaigns to reduce teen pregnancy and to reduce sexually transmitted diseases and HIV."
However, only 9% of the teens reported using condoms during oral sex.
Dr. Claire Brindis of UC San Francisco says, "They have not been given a strong enough message about the health risks of oral sex."
James Wagoner, president of Advocates for Youth, a reproductive health organization in Washington, D.C. tells the LA Times the study showed society was undergoing a social transition, with women and girls becoming more sexually confident.
He says, "It calls into question the stereotype of boys as hunters and girls as prey. Something going on here is creating more balance between the sexes than we have seen before."
