What Sex Ed Didn’t Teach You
In our opinion, the majority of adults are incredibly misinformed about the human body, sexuality and sexual preferences, and the myriad of ways in which sex happens.
Below we address some of the most common myths about sex, providing you with the facts that we hope you’ll share with someone else.
The Difference Between Sex and Gender
Before we begin, we’d like to make a distinction between the terms “sex” and “gender”. Despite study after study, the dominating narrative in today’s world is that the sexual organs a person is born with determine not only their sex, but also their gender. The fact is, sexual identity and gender are completely independent of one another.
Sex refers to the human anatomy of an individual while gender is a social construct that is deeply psychological and at the core of a person’s identity.
The more that science uncovers about how human bodies operate and interact with one another, the more complex these concepts become. For this reason, this article avoids binary discussions of reproductive systems.
How Much Do You Really Know About Sex?
Test your sex IQ! Are the statements below true or false?
+Sperm and semen are the same thing
FALSE.
The purpose of sperm is to locate ova (eggs) inside another human. Both sperm and ova are called gametes. As sperm needs a conduit in which to travel, its affiliated organs create a fluid through which it can move. This mix of sperm and fluid is called semen.
+Only gay men enjoy receiving anal
FALSE.
One’s sexual behavior does not create their sexual identity and many individuals blur lines across those labels. People of any orientation can - and do - enjoy anal play, and in fact more “straight men” enjoy prostate stimulation than you might think.
+Vaginal orgasms are rare
TRUE.
In actuality, less than a third of women experience vaginal orgasms via penetration. Don’t be afraid to practice other forms of pleasure, especially clitoral stimulation, which is far more likely to result in an orgasm. Good sex is based on communication.
+It’s impossible to get pregnant when you’re on your period.
FALSE.
It’s pretty unlikely that you’ll get pregnant, but it’s not failsafe. Every human body has its unique qualities, and this includes variations in the ovulation cycle. As sperm can survive in the reproductive tract for up to five days, it’s quite possible that they’ll survive long enough to fertilize an egg after menstruation ends.
+Can precum get someone pregnant?
YES.
It’s not likely to happen, but it absolutely can. Pre-ejaculate occurs as the body creates the fluid mentioned above. Whilst this fluid can pick up live sperm cells on its travel out of the body, the chance of pre-ejaculate getting someone pregnant hovers just around 17%, or approximately 1 in 5.
+Does pee come out of the vagina?
NO.
The urethra is part of the urinary tract that rests just below the clitoris. Perhaps it’s the urethra’s proximity to the vagina (along with poor education about the human anatomy) that has perpetuated this common myth.
+Is the ‘tightness’ of a vagina dependent upon how many times that person has had sex?
NO.
The concept of a “tight” vagina is fairly common and completely untrue. The vagina is a muscle, and muscles contract and expand. The muscular walls will instinctively lengthen when that person is aroused, which aids in penetration. But those muscles will typically return to their natural state, which is not loosened by repeated sexual acts. That being said, there are instances where the muscle is not able to contract as tightly as it should, or becomes unable to expand or relax. Pelvic floor exercise and kegels can strengthen these muscles over time.
How did you do? Don’t be embarrassed if any of this was news to you; learning is part of the journey and understanding your body is an important aspect of being a well-rounded kinkster.
If you ever have questions about your body, don’t be afraid to speak up, especially to your doctor.
