01:13 AM CST on Thursday, December 1, 2005

By MACIE JEPSON / WFAA-TV

The federal government said more than half of kids 15 through 19-years-old engage in oral sex, an act once reserved for the most intimate relationships.

It may not lead to pregnancies, but News 8 talked with experts who said the emotional and physical consequences are far reaching.

Sex is on television, the internet and now the first federal study of the sex lives of teens finds it is also in the lives of children.

"We see it's alright to have sex," said one male teen. "It feels good, whatever. So, teenagers are saying well, let's go for it [and] see how it is."

Oral sex is what many young kids seemingly see as the safe alternative.

"If you a virgin and you have oral sex, then you're still considered a virgin," said a young female. "That can't get you pregnant, so it's not sex."

But consequences are far-reaching according to adolescent psychiatrist Dr. Todd Clements who is counseling more kids who he said are emotionally void.

"They're totally separating emotions from sexual activity," Dr. Clements said.

Many kids are actually becoming physically ill from the sexual activity.

"The largest sexual disease among teenage girls today is gonorrhea of the throat," Dr. Clements said.

Furthermore, he said brain scans of boys who watch pornography are troubling. The largest viewers of internet pornography are high school boys age 12 through 17.

"What we'll see is a release pattern almost the same of that somebody using cocaine," Dr. Clements said. "So, that tells us that viewing pornography is something that becomes addictive."

Experts said kids today are missing harsh and frank truths about sex.

Minister Dr. Sheron Patterson mentors young girls she said she believes are most hurt by this trend.

"Ultimately, your self esteem will ask yourself why did you do this, what did you get out of it and the answer will be nothing," she said.

However, many kids said oral sex is sometimes used as a way to increase their popularity status.

"Nobody putting pressure on them, most just do it because they want the rep," said one young girl. "They do it to get popular."

While times seem to be changing what sex will do to a kids reputation, experts believe parents can help regain childhood innocence.

"The silence of the parents is the license for the rappers and MTVers and BETers to step in and take over," Dr. Patterson said.

E-mail mjepson@wfaa.com