Definitions of sexual intercourse among college-aged students: Implications for beliefs and practices

Introduction:

Individuals' perceptions of what sexual activities constitute sexual intercourse vary. The purpose of this study is to examine the types of sexual activity engaged in by college students who self-reported having not engaged in sexual intercourse and to explore beliefs and practices related to self-reported abstinence.

Methods:

We surveyed 404 college students at a Southeastern university using an anonymous questionnaire related to sexual behaviors.

Results:

The average age of participants was 20.5 years and the majority were female (68.7%) and white (78.9%). 114 (28.4%) reported not having had sexual intercourse. Of those, none had participated in vaginal intercourse. However, 31% had participated in anal or oral intercourse; of those, 86.1% reported giving oral sex, 97.2% reported receiving oral sex, and 2.8% reported having anal sex. Most (77.1%) believed that oral sex is less risky than vaginal sex, with those who had not given or received oral sex being more likely to report oral sex was risky (OR=4.64, OR=4.9). Finally, of those who reported not having vaginal intercourse, but who had another form, 97.1% reported they had not been tested for sexually transmitted infections.

Discussion:

Many students who report that they have not had sexual intercourse are engaging in oral sex. These students do not view oral sex as risky and thus forgo testing for sexually transmitted infections, putting them at risk for complications. Interventions are needed to educate college students about the risks of oral sex, how to protect themselves, and the importance of screening for sexually transmitted infections.