Myths and Stereotypes About Sex

A lack of education even in such a delicate subject as sex creates many problems. An unwillingness to learn about the process can mislead people and spoil some of life's pleasures.

Let's look at some of the most common myths about sex and examine them with facts and logic.

Men want sex more than women

And therefore women are supposedly always looking only for serious relationships and love.

That is not always true.

Sex drive is far from constant. Add temperament and hormonal fluctuations, and gender may not be the most important factor at all. Men and women can both respond to sexual films, erotic stories and audio with sexual sounds. The myth that men want sex more than women was probably shaped largely by old cultural norms in which a man was expected to be the “male” and provider, and sexual desire was considered normal for him, while women were discouraged from even talking about sex, let alone openly wanting it. Culture and religion often imposed the idea that women should have little sexual interest. Society is slowly moving away from that view, which allows research into men's and women's attitudes toward sex to gather more realistic information.

Masturbation is bad for your health

Almost everyone does it. If someone does not, they may simply not want to, may not know how, or may have grown up with warnings and scare stories from parents, grandparents or society.

It is worth remembering that masturbation itself is a normal physiological behavior for adults. As with anything, problems can arise from poor-quality toys, injury or poor hygiene. One major benefit of self-stimulation for pleasure is that a person learns about their own body. Many people discover masturbation before their first partnered sex. It can also be a way to relieve tension, improve mood and relax before sleep. And despite old frightening myths, your hands will not grow hair and you certainly will not go blind.

Longer means better

The original article cites research giving an average intercourse duration of about 5.4 minutes and notes that geography does not seem to make a dramatic difference. Yet long sex is often treated as a sign of quality, without asking whether it actually felt good or whether everyone involved was satisfied. Of course, sex is not limited to penile-vaginal penetration and ejaculation. Studies that measure intercourse duration may not include foreplay and may focus only on the technical time from penetration to ejaculation.

For every couple, a “normal” duration is individual. Some people are swept up by spontaneous passion and need only a few minutes. Others need time to relax, become aroused and enjoy the process. Matching or mismatched temperaments can also change the duration. Ordinary physiological factors – genital anatomy, enough lubrication, fatigue – as well as timing and circumstances all matter. Try to enjoy each moment, listen to your partner's wishes, talk about your own preferences and remember that your “normal” may be different from somebody else's. This is not a marathon.

Size matters

Sometimes it may – but only for some people and some types of stimulation.

Women who especially enjoy vaginal stimulation may have particular size preferences, but preferences vary from person to person. Anatomy is individual too, and very large toys or penises can cause discomfort or pain for some women. The point is that there is little sense in inventing a problem where there is none: compatibility, comfort and technique matter more than chasing an abstract “ideal” size.

You cannot get pregnant during your period

You have probably heard this claim many times.

In reality, ovulation can shift earlier or later in the cycle, and sperm can remain viable in the reproductive tract for several days. Because cycle timing can vary, pregnancy from sex during menstruation is possible.

Fairy tales are not for adults. Check the information you hear and enjoy each other without prejudice.

Taking care of your orgasms, Danni...