30 Interesting and Weird Facts About Sex You Don’t Know

 Sex. Nookie. Banging. Shagging. Whatever you want to call it, it’s a key — and enjoyable — element in many of our lives.

But there’s a lot more to it than just tangled limbs and sweat-drenched sheets. Whether you’re indulging with a partner or on a solo excursion, the physical and mental health connections run deep.

So, to uncover a little more about our top physical activity, let’s get it on with 30 Interesting and Weird Facts About Sex You Don’t Know

1-    Nearly 10 percent of all dreams include sex

Sex dreams aren’t just the territory of horny teenage boys. In fact, nearly one in ten dreams contain some R-rated sexual content—and that’s true for both men and women, according to a study published by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine. There were some gender differences though: Women were more likely to have sex dreams about politicians, celebrities, or their exes while men were more likely to dream about having sex with multiple partners at once. 

2-   Women get erections too

Women actually get erections in their genitals and even though they’re smaller than the male counterpart, they are just as important. The clitoris is made up of the same spongy erectile tissue as the penis, which expands and engorges with blood when aroused. “You can observe this—just look at your clitoris or touch it when you’re aroused and it will be bigger.

3-   A headache may actually make you more in the mood

Contrary to the popular cliché, “Not tonight, I have a headache,” one study found that not all headache sufferers avoid sexual activity. In fact, migraine sufferers reported higher levels of sexual desire according to the research done by the Wake Forest University School of Medicine and colleagues. Why? “Our study suggests that sexual desire and migraine headaches may be influenced by the same brain chemical.

4-   Want an orgasm? Leave your socks on

Forget lingerie, if you want to increase your chance of having an orgasm, keep your socks on during sex, says research done by The University of Groningen. No one is sure exactly why this works but one theory is that in order to orgasm, you need to be totally relaxed and anxiety-free, and cold feet can interfere with the ability to really get into sex, especially for women.

5-   A big penis won’t “stretch out” or ruin a vagina

A weirdly popular myth circulating on the Internet these days is that having too much sex or having sex with a large partner or toy can stretch out a woman’s vagina and/or labia, resulting in ugly “roast beef flaps.” Ridiculous. “The vaginal canal is a muscle and does not permanently stretch from having accommodated a large penis or toy. “The vagina is incredibly resilient and bounces back quickly.” Also, the shape and size of the labia are unique to each woman and are not indicative of her sexual status or history.

6-   We’re talking about sex more but having it less

Sex is mentioned in the media more than ever before but that’s not translating to more sexy times. Americans in relationships reported having sex 16 fewer times per year from 2010 to 2014 compared to 2000 to 2004, according to a 2017 study. It gets worse: Folks in the 2000 to 2004 group were already having sex about nine fewer times per year in 2010 to 2014 compared to 1995 to 1999. “In a previous study, we found that the happiness of adults over age 30 declined between 2000 and 2014. With less sex and less happiness, it’s no wonder that American adults seem deeply dissatisfied these days.

7-   The average person’s sexual peak is the same age they can rent a car

OK, so that’s definitely a correlation, not a causation, but the average American will have the most sex around age 25, according to the study. They found that people in their 20s have sex more than 80 times per year, declining to 60 times per year by age 45, and 20 times per year by age 65. Each year after the peak of sexual frequency at 25, sexual frequency declines 3.2 percent.

8-   3 percent of people have no sexual fantasies at all

Think you’re a freak for thinking about freaky stuff? Nope! Even though most people don’t talk about it, fully 97 percent of us have sexual fantasies. The vast majority say they fantasize somewhere between several times per week and several times per day. Really, the surprising part is that there are some people who report zero sexual fantasies.

9-   Men can orgasm without ejaculating

Surprise! Orgasm and ejaculation are two distinct physiological responses in men. “While ejaculation generally does coincide with an orgasm, the two actually occur in rapid succession with orgasm coming slightly before ejaculation and tapering off during ejaculation. “Men can learn to differentiate between the two and to have orgasms without ejaculating.”

10- Want to do better at work? Have more sex at home.

Having sex might get you your next promotion—and no, we’re not talking about sleeping with your boss. It turns out that having a happy sex life was linked with improved job satisfaction and greater engagement at work, both of which can help advance your career.

11-  Men suffer from low libido as much as women do

Men are always up for sex, anytime, anywhere, and with anyone, right? Not only is this myth flat out wrong, but it’s also incredibly damaging to both men and women. “The fact is that in practice, the number of couples complaining of low sexual desire in the male partner is about equal. “Couples need to accept that it is perfectly normal to have mismatched desires and to work out both sexual frequency and ways of initiating sex that works for them.

12- Orgasms: Use it or lose it?

File this under scary sex facts: It’s rare but it’s possible to lose your sexual sensation if you go for long periods without sex. “There is a medical condition known as clitoral atrophy, which occurs when the clitoris doesn’t receive enough blood flow, causing it to retract into the body. Penile atrophy can also occur although it’s less likely to do with lack of sex and more often caused by aging or injury.

13- Fantasies rarely get acted out in real life

Most people seem content to keep their sexual fantasies as strictly that—imaginary. Less than one-third of participants in the study reported having ever acted out their most prominent fantasy. So it appears that all that locker room talk really is just talk. Remember that the next time you’re tempted to compare your sex life to a friend’s!

14- Vibrators were first developed as a medical device

The vibrator was invented in 1869 as a treatment for “hysteria” or mysterious “female disorders. Whenever a woman reported being mentally or emotionally upset (which was quite common, unsurprisingly), it was considered an illness. The cure? Using a large, steam-powered massager (yikes!) to massage the genitals with the goal of inducing “hysterical paroxysm,” the Victorian term for orgasm. But hey, at least the ladies felt better?

15- 75 percent of women don’t orgasm from “regular” sex

A lot of people worry there’s something terribly wrong if the female partner can’t orgasm during “normal” penis-in-vagina sex. But not only is that totally normal, but it’s also true for the vast majority of women. Three-quarters of women need direct clitoral stimulation—either from a hand, a toy, or special position—to orgasm. To better your chances, wait: Science says the best time to have sex is right before bed.

16- Breakup sex isn’t always a bad idea

The conventional wisdom says that hooking up with your ex is a terrible idea. But a new study, published in The Archives of Sexual Behavior, finds that not only does breakup sex not interfere with the process of ending the relationship but it may help the process of moving on. It turns out that in some cases breakup sex may be exactly the closure you need.

17- Just because you’ve completed intercourse doesn’t mean you’ve had sex

When it comes to a successful sexual experience, you know what a home run is but do you know all four bases? “I tell people to make sure they make it to each base before heading for the home run. “The ‘bases’ are the 4 Fs: French (kissing), Feeling, Fingering, and we know the last one. A good baseball player would never skip first through third base before sliding home and neither should you.

18- Older people have some of the best sex

Too many people assume that retirement age means retiring from more than just your job, giving up hope of having an active sex life. This does not need to be true, not even when you’re talking about menopause. In fact, having a lot of sexual experience can mean your sex life is more fulfilling than younger people’s. Following a healthy lifestyle by exercising, eating right, and managing stress are the key to a healthy bedroom.

19- Sex toys are unregulated

You’d think that something that’s designed to be put in such an intimate area would have some federal or business oversight to ensure safety and quality standards but sex toys aren’t considered medical devices and as such, they are completely unregulated. “There are items on the market today made from materials that are prohibited from use in children’s toys,” she says. “Be very wary of the secondary market or third-party sellers on platforms like Amazon and eBay. Buy only from trusted stores that are committed to selling only body safe and non-toxic sex toys and lubricants.”

20-                Too many solo encounters can make sex with a partner more difficult

Many men suffer from ‘delayed ejaculation,’ a term used for men who struggle to have orgasms in conventional ways, but it’s very seldom discussed. One reason for this is an “idiosyncratic masturbation style” which means they’ve become accustomed to a certain kind of pressure and speed from manually masturbating and now find that difficult to replicate with a partner vaginally or orally—making for a less than satisfying experience for both partners.

21- The penis and vagina account for less than 10 percent of erogenous zones

“The entire body is capable of arousal, pleasure, and stimulation so making sex-focused solely on genitals can lead to ‘performance pressure. So instead of honing in straight for genitals, spend time getting the whole body aroused by stimulating everywhere including the limbs and torso. “Going straight for the genitals doesn’t always feel good and in many cases is the cause of unsatisfying sex in long-term relationships

22-Sex doesn’t have to include an orgasm

“The idea that sex must lead to orgasm can be a very damaging thought for people of all genders and sexualities as it puts undue pressure on them and can cause anxiety—the two enemies of sexual pleasure. “Sex is meant to be pleasurable but there are many ways to find pleasure in sexual contact without orgasm.” Taking the pressure off yourself to always climax can lead to a more relaxed and positive experience.

23-                1 in 6 women have never had an orgasm

About 15 percent of women report having never experienced an orgasm—if that’s you, rest assured you’re not “broken” and there is hope.. Focusing on the “rule” that one must be orgasmic to enjoy sex distracts from the actual pleasure that they can get from a healthy sex life. But know that an orgasm it is not a requirement in order to enjoy your sexuality.

24-                The most effective sex toy is…your voice

Think if your partner really loved you, they’d know how to please you in bed? Think again. “American culture has long shamed women that take charge of their sexual pleasure so I encourage partners to take the guesswork out and speak up, verbally or through touch. It’s perfectly OK to ask for what you desire.

25-                You can break a penis

Getting a penile fracture is a real thing that can and does happen, says. It’s relatively rare but it’s worth talking about as there are things you can do to protect against this injury. “The highest risk of fractures to the penis occurs when the couple changes position while the erect penis is still inside the vagina. “If you are interested in changing position I advise you to fully withdraw the penis from the vagina first.” Extremely aggressive pumping can also sometimes lead to a penis fracture, so take it easy there, cowboy.

26-                80 percent of women will experience chronic painful sex

Sex shouldn’t hurt and yet the truth is that it certainly does sometimes. In fact, the vast majority of women at some point in their lives will have a condition that causes painful intercourse. “If this happens to you, don’t be ashamed. “Don’t let a doctor tell you that your physical pain is ‘in your head’ or simply put you on a medication or antidepressant, which they try to do frequently. That is not an answer. Know that there are many resources they can turn to for help and information and new treatments that can help.

27-                Fantasy sex isn’t that sexy in real life

When it comes to porn, life should not imitate art. Movies are a concoction of fantasy and special effects only loosely tied to reality, yet many people feel that a “good” sexual experience should be like what they see on the screen. “Keep expectations realistic and be open to changing the ‘script. “It’s important to realize that great sex is usually achieved through the simplest acts and a meaningful connection to one’s partner.

28-                The secret to mind-blowing sex? Lube.

Using a good personal lubricant can make all the difference between “meh” and “amazing. “Put a drop or two inside a condom before you put it on—you’ll wonder why you never did this before.

29-                Sex is powerful medicine

Having a happy, regular sex life isn’t just good for your mood but studies have shown it can also improve your heart health, boost immunity, and lower your risk of some cancer—just a few of the many unexpected health benefits of sex. Researchers say it’s because good sex lowers your stress levels, improves hormone balance, and even counts as a little exercise. Best workout ever?

30-               A cucumber is not a sex toy

Silicone, steel, Pyrex, glass, or specially laminated wood are the only materials that are actually safe for use inside your body, according to a Yale review. (Pyrex, not just for casserole dishes anymore?) Toys made with vinyl, latex or a combination of these with other plastics (for example, a silicone-jelly mix) are not considered to be safe for skin contact and should only be used with a condom, researchers added.