What defines sexual activity: Intercourse vs. “Outer-course”? What are the risks?
Heterosexual intercourse is any penetration of the vagina by a penis. But often sexual relationships are expressed in different ways, so that the couple perceives that he/she technically retain “virginity.” Couples may consider oral penetration (“blow jobs”) or rectal penetration to maintain the perception of virginity.
Outer-course is any kind of “rub-a-dub” stimulation. Manual manipulation (“hand jobs”), manual rubbing and/or penetration (“fingering”), and male/female genital rubbing without penile-vaginal penetration are examples of outer-course.
Although intercourse has the highest risk of pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections, outer-course is not without risk. Some risks are listed:
- Herpes can be transmitted by oral-genital contact.
- Herpes can be transmitted by mutual manual manipulation (“fingering and hand jobs”).
- HPV (Human Papilloma Virus) can be transmitted by touching and by manual manipulation. Some strains of HPV cause genital warts and other strains of HPV may lead to cervical and/or rectal cancer.
- Pregnancy can occur during coitus interruptus (vaginal penetration without ejaculation), as well as by ejaculating close to the opening of the vagina. Sperm are motile and can swim from the outside to inside the vagina.
- HIV is commonly transmitted by rectal penetration.
- Chlamydia and Gonorrhea are commonly transmitted by rectal penetration.
- Gonorrhea of the throat (often mis-diagnosed as Strep throat) may occur by oral penetration (“blow jobs”).
Summary: Intercourse has many risks, but Outer-course is a form of sexual activity that is not without risk. For more information contact your healthcare provider.
Information about HPV can be obtained at: http://www.tell-someone.com