Sexual intercourse

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Lions copulating in the Maasai Mara, Kenya
An illustration of two people having sex
Two people having sex

Sexual intercourse (or simply called sex) is the insertion and thrusting of a male's penis into a female's vagina.[1][2] People and animals that sexually reproduce use sexual intercourse to have an offspring. Sometimes sexual intercourse is called coitus or copulation and is more casually known as having sex or sleeping together. The two animals may be of opposite sexes or they may be hermaphroditic, as is the case with snails.[3] Sexual intercourse may also be between individuals of the same sex.

Humans sometimes engage in behaviors that do not include the penetration of sexual organs, such as oral intercourse or anal intercourse or by non-sexual organs (fingering, fisting). These behaviors are sometimes included in the definition of sexual intercourse.[2] Sex is usually teleiophilic (between adults).[4]

Two animals coming together for the purposes of sexual reproduction is called mating. Most mammals only mate when the female is at the point of estrus, which is the most fertile period of time in its reproductive cycle.[5][6] In certain animals, sexual intercourse is not only used for reproduction, but has taken other functions as well. These animals include bonobos,[7] dolphins,[8] and chimpanzees which also have sexual intercourse even when the female is not in estrus, and to engage in sex acts with same-sex partners.[9] In most instances, humans have sex primarily for pleasure.[10] This behavior in the above mentioned animals is also presumed to be for pleasure,[11] which in turn strengthens social bonds.

Culture[change | change source]

Many governments have laws relating to sex. Forcing someone to have sex who does not want to, called rape, is a serious crime in many countries. There are other forms of sex that may also be against the law, such as incest, sex with minors, sex outside of a marriage, prostitution, homosexual sex, sex with animals, as well as others.

Reproduction[change | change source]

Human Fertilization. The sperm and ovum unite through fertilization.


Behaviours unrelated to reproduction[change | change source]

Certain species of animals also have sex for other purposes than to bear offspring. These include Humans, bonobos,[7] chimpanzees and dolphins.[8] These species also are among those known to engage in homosexual behaviors.[9] In both humans and bonobos, the female has a relatively concealed ovulation. Neither male or female partners commonly know whether she is fertile at any given moment. One reason for this may be that sex partners of these species form strong emotional bonds. The partners come together for more than just sexual intercourse. In the case of humans, long-term partnership is more important than immediate sexual reproduction.[10]

Humans, bonobos and dolphins show cooperative behaviour. In many cases, this behaviour has shown better results than what an individual can achieve alone. In these animals, the use of sex has evolved beyond reproduction and has taken additional social functions. Sex reinforces intimate social bonds between individuals. Overall, such cooperation also benefits each member of the group in that they are better able to survive.

In humans, sexual intercourse seems to serve three types of purposes,which do not exclude one another:

  • Reproduction
  • Forming and keeping relationships
  • Recreational[10][12]

How humans prevent pregnancy[change | change source]

In the late 20th century, very effective forms of contraception (birth control) were developed allowing a man and women to help prevent a baby from being made when they have sex. One type of contraception is a condom. This is a piece of rubber that covers the penis that a man can wear during intercourse, which stops the man's semen from going into the woman's vagina. This does not always work though because the condom may rip or tear. Another well-known type of contraception is called the Pill, which a woman takes every day. When a woman is "on the Pill," she and her partner may have sex any time they wish with very little chance of making a baby. It is recommended that a couple who have a sexual relationship use two forms of contraception. That way if one fails the other is a 'backup'. Contraception allows people to keep "sex for fun" separate from "sex to make children". For example, a fertile couple may use contraception to experience sexual pleasure (recreational). At the same time, this experience may strengthen their relationship, and a stronger relationship may mean that they will better be able to raise children in the future.

Sexual orientation[change | change source]

Who people like to have sex with depends on their sexuality. Men who like to have sex with women, and women who like to have sex with men are heterosexual or "straight". Men who only like to have sex with other men, and women who only like to have sex with other women are homosexual or "gay". A different word to describe a woman who only likes to have sex with other women is "lesbian". Some people like both men and women, which is called being bisexual. Others do not feel sexual attraction at all, and are referred to as asexual. Approximately 1.5% of the UK's population in 2010 was bisexual or gay.[13]

Sexually transmitted infections[change | change source]

Some diseases can be caught by having sex. These diseases are called sexually-transmitted infections (STIs).[14]

Some examples of STIs include chlamydia infection, syphilis and gonorrhoea. A virus called HIV causes AIDS, which cannot be cured and can lead to death.

Using Latex condoms or oral dams reduce the chance that a few types of diseases will be passed on, but it not entirely effective for all STIs. Birth control (like "the Pill") can prevent pregnancy, but won't prevent sexual infections.

Some STIs can also be spread in ways other than having sex. For example, herpes simplex and hepatitis B could be caught by a virgin without having sex, but can also be caught through sex. Some types of STIs can spread from contact between the genitals, mouth, anus, skin, eyes, and (rarely) infected surfaces; this depends a lot on the type of STI and how it spreads. Some common diseases like HPV can cause warts and cancer in the genitals or anus or throat.

There exists an HPV vaccine that prevents some sexually-transmitted strains of HPV; however, the vaccine only works if you get vaccinated before becoming infected. The vaccine is approved of for both men and women, but is often not required in the U.S. due to politics.

Sexual reproduction vs asexual reproduction[change | change source]

Type Advantages Disadvantages
Asexual reproduction No gestation period. No mate needed. No variation in the species. No contact between the male and the female
Sexual reproduction Variation of the species. Contact between male and female Sometimes offspring are abnormal. Gestation period

Other kinds of sex[change | change source]

There are many other kinds of sex. Two of them are oral sex and anal sex.

Oral sex[change | change source]

Oral sex is when one partner uses the tongue, mouth, or throat to excite the other partner's sex organs.

Slangs for oral sex is common in Western cultures, for example: "going down on", "giving a blowjob", "giving head", or "eating out". The technical term for oral sex is fellatio if performed on a male and cunnilingus if performed on a female. A girl pretending to do oral on a guy whilst close to him is known as a Fakelatio. A guy pretending to do oral on a girl while close to her is known as a Crummylingus. A Guy who's not very skilled at giving oral to a girl is known as giving her a Clunkylingus. A girl who's not skilled at giving oral to a guy is known as giving him a Failatio. When a man performs fellatio on himself, it is called autofellatio, and autocunnilingus if a woman performs cunnilingus on herself. Few men and women are able to do this.

People can get sexually transmitted infections from oral sex, such as herpes (which can be passed between the mouth and groin), HIV and even oral cancer.

Anal sex[change | change source]

Anal sex is when an erect penis or other device made for sexual pleasure is inserted into the sexual partner's anus. Anal sex with a female does not lead to pregnancy by itself, however, semen can leak out of the anus and enter into the vagina, and pregnancy may rarely occur. Anal sex can still pass sexually transmitted diseases from one partner to another. It can also be very unhealthy for the body because the skin around the anus can tear, bleed and get infected with bacteria.[15] For safety and pleasure partners often use condoms, female condoms and/or lubrication.

Painful sexual act[change | change source]

A painful sexual act is a condition of repeated or persistent genital pain before, during, or after sexual intercourse due to physical, psychogenic and emotional causes. Doctors call the condition as "dyspareunia". It occurs in women and men. The condition affects up to one-fifth of women at some point in their lives.[16]

Related pages[change | change source]

References[change | change source]

  1. Sexual intercourse Britannica entry.
  2. 2.0 2.1 "Sexual Intercourse". Archived from the original on 2008-08-22. Retrieved 2008-01-12.
  3. "Common snail, garden snail". BBC. Archived from the original on 2012-12-23. Retrieved 2010-05-13.
  4. Beier, Klaus M., et al. "Hebephilia as a sexual disorder." Fortschritte der Neurologie-Psychiatrie 83.2 (2015): e1-e9.
  5. "Females of almost all species except man will mate only during their fertile period, which is known as estrus, or heat..." Helena Curtis (1975). Biology. Worth Publishers. pp. 1065. ISBN 0879010401.
  6. Pineda, Leslie Ernest McDonald (2003). McDonald's Veterinary Endocrinology and Reproduction. Blackwell Publishing. p. 597. ISBN 0813811066.
  7. 7.0 7.1 Frans de Waal, "Bonobo Sex and Society", Scientific American (March 1995): 82-86.
  8. 8.0 8.1 Dinitia Smith, "Central Park Zoo's gay penguins ignite debate", San Francisco Chronicle (February 7, 2004). Article is mainly about gay penguins but also mentions homosexuality in dolphins, and also says 'In bonobos, she noted: "you see expressions of sex outside the period when females are fertile."' Available online at
  9. 9.0 9.1 Bruce Bagemihl 1999. Biological exuberance: animal homosexuality and natural diversity St. Martin's Press, London. ISBN 0-312-19239-8
  10. 10.0 10.1 10.2 Jared Diamond (1992). The rise and fall of the third chimpanzee. Vintage. ISBN 978-0099913801.
  11. John, Gartner (2006-08-15). "Animals Just Want to Have Fun". Wired. Retrieved 2007-10-15.
  12. The Joy of Sex: a gourmet guide to lovemaking (1972)
  13. Travis, Alan; editor, home affairs (23 September 2010). "1.5% of Britons say they are gay or bisexual, ONS survey finds" – via maint: extra text: authors list (link)
  14. "About sexually transmitted diseases (STDs)". Nemours Foundation. Retrieved 2010-06-30.
  15. "Sexual Intercourse". / Archived from the original on 2011-01-06. Retrieved 2010-05-13.
  16. Shein; Zyzanski, SJ; Levine, S; Medalie, JH; Dickman, RL; Alemagno, SA; et al. (Spring 1988). "The frequency of sexual problems among family practice patients". Fam Pract Res J. 7 (3): 122–134. PMID 3274680.

Other websites[change | change source]