FAQ

What Is Sex? What Types Of Sex Are There?

FAQ

What Is Sex? What Types Of Sex Are There?

There are many different types of sex! A lot of the time when people talk about sex, they’re talking about an erect penis going in and out of a vagina. But, sex can be a lot of other things!

Sex can be anything you do that uses genitals like your clitoris, anus, strapless, vagina, penis, or front hole. Even saying sexy things over the phone can be sex! Sometimes, sex leads to an orgasm. That’s a very strong feeling of pleasure that can feel like a release. Everyone thinks sex is different things. So, it’s up to you to decide what it is!

What types of sex are there?

Sex is different for everyone. Everyone likes different things when it comes to sex acts. But, there are some common things people like to do:

  • Oral sex: using lips, tongue or mouth on someone’s genitals
  • Vaginal or front hole sex: moving a penis or sex toy in and out of a vagina or front hole.
  • Fingering: putting fingers in someone’s vagina, front hole, or anus
  • Anal sex: moving a penis or sex toy in and out of someone’s anus
  • Masturbating: giving yourself pleasure by touching your body in a way that feels good. You can masturbate alone or with someone.
  • Phone sex: texting or talking on the phone and saying sexy things to each other.
  • Dry humping: rubbing genitals while fully clothed
  • Reading or watching porn
  • Kissing

Some people think all or none of these things are sex. It all depends on how they feel about them. Some people think your genitals have to be part of sex. But other people like sex that doesn’t involve their genitals. Sometimes people think that sex needs to lead to an orgasm. But not everyone feels this way. Some people don’t care about orgasms at all. You can decide for yourself what things have to happen for something to be sex.

Why do people have sex?

There are lots of reasons someone might have sex. They might feel aroused (sexually excited), attracted to someone, want to have children, relax, feel good or show love to their partner. They might also be curious or want to have fun!

There’s all sorts of reasons, even more than we listed! People have sex for different reasons, at different times. You might find that some, none, or all these apply to you.

Is sex good for you?

Sex can be good for both your body and your emotions! Sex can help you make a close connection with another person. Sexual pleasure and orgasms also have a lot of health benefits. When you have an orgasm your body releases something called endorphins. These are hormones that block pain and make you feel good.

Other benefits of sexual pleasure are:

  • Better sleep
  • More self esteem
  • Better fitness
  • Less stress
  • A longer life
  • Better health in general

Sex can be good for you in lots of ways. It can help make an emotional connection with someone, or just feel good.

How do I figure out what sex means to me?

It can be hard to figure what sex means to you. Your friends, family, and the media might all tell you different things. But, only you can decide how you feel about sex.

For some people sex is a really big deal. But for other people, it’s not a big deal at all. Some people might not even ever want to have sex. All these things are really common.

If you want to figure out how to feel about sex, it can help to think about these questions:

  • Is sex important in my life?
  • Do I want to have sex? What types of sex do I want to have?
  • Which body parts need to be involved for something to be sex?
  • What needs to happen for something to be sex?

You don’t have to know how you feel about sex right away. Some people’s feelings change over time. Their definitions of sex can change too. If you decide something now, it’s completely okay to change your mind later. Remember, there’s no one way to think about or have sex. Everyone thinks about it differently. Whatever feels right to you is totally okay!

More info

Basics of Sexual Satisfaction

Sexualityandu.ca article talking about achieving sexual satisfaction. Emphasizes the different kinds of sexual satisfactions one can achieve that includes, but is not limited to, intercourse.…

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