For most of us, sex education consists of information from movies, TV shows, the media and our friendship circles. The problem is, this intel may or may not be entirely factual. Sex is often dramatised to the point where expectations are sky-high, and assumptions are way off base. This can have a knock-on effect on your sex life, potentially causing intimacy issues without you even realising it.
We’re fortunate enough to live in a time where we’re more in tune with our bodies than ever, and sex isn’t as taboo a topic. But, with that being said, there are still many sex myths floating around, and we’re here to put them to bed.
Myth 1: Sex Only Counts If It’s Penetrative
It’s a long-standing sex myth that the only type of sex that “counts” is penetrative. This simply isn’t true, and it’s also limiting for people who enjoy sex in other ways and don’t like penetrative sex. Whether you prefer mutual masturbation or playing with toys, there’s no definitive way to have “sex”. It’s up to you to find what you most enjoy, and if it’s not penetrative, that’s ok!
Myth 2: Vaginal Orgasms Are Common
Would it surprise you to know that despite being a common sex myth, the truth is quite the opposite? A survey found that a mere 18% of women orgasm purely from penetration, and a further 37% also require clitoral stimulation. It makes sense when you consider that the clitoris is the only organ in a woman's body designed for pleasure, so why is there so much pressure to orgasm from penetrative sex alone?
It’s this kind of narrow-minded thinking that’s even led to a pleasure gap between men and women. A study carried out on this found that women orgasm half as often as men in heterosexual relationships, and the reason is due to a lack of sexual reciprocity.
There’s also the issue of women being worried about speaking up and telling their partners what they enjoy and feeling uncomfortable with self-exploration. Playing with toys such as clitorial stimulators are fantastic ways to find what makes you tick, and once you’ve discovered this, share it with your partner and guide them on how they can help you climax. It takes two to tango and sex should be enjoyed on both sides.
Myth 3: Vaginas Don’t Need Lubricant
Many believe that your level of arousal dictates vaginal wetness, but this isn’t necessarily true. Around 17% of women between 18 and 50 experience dryness, so it’s not limited to being postmenopausal, but this is more common, with over 50% experiencing it after menopause.
Numerous things can reduce natural lubrication such as medications, whether you’re nursing, perimenopausal and even the type of birth control you’re on. The fact is, it’s more common than you think, and it shouldn’t be shameful. There’s a huge range of lubes out there designed to enhance your pleasure, from simple lubricant aids to ones that tingle and some that are even flavoured.
Myth 4: You Can’t Get Pregnant from Period Sex
You may think that having sex on your period is a natural form of birth control, but it’s still possible to get pregnant during this time. This is because sperm can survive in the female reproductive system for up to five days, so if you have sex at the end of your period, you have a shorter cycle and ovulate early, you can still get pregnant.
Stay on the safe side and avoid unwanted pregnancies by using a condom or alternative contraceptive method.
Myth 5: The Pull-Out Method Is Effective
Speaking of alternative contraceptive methods, the pull-out method is an incredibly popular one, but it’s not actually all that effective. The issue lies in the fact that there’s a lot of room for human error, and it needs to be performed perfectly every time for it to work. When carried out absolutely text-book, it has a 4% failure rate, but if we compare this to condoms, they only have a 2% failure rate. To put this into further perspective, four in 100 women who rely on the pull-out method (when performed perfectly) fall pregnant each year.
However, as we’re all human and can’t rely on pulling out being done perfectly each time, the actual failure rate of this method is between 20-30% when we allow for human error. Instead of ruining a potential good time with the added pressure of perfecting your pull-out, use a condom or a more steadfast contraceptive method.
Myth 6: Longer Is Better
And to be clear, we’re talking about duration here. It’s a common sex myth that the longer it goes on, the better it is and the more gifted your partner is, but this isn’t true. There’s no optimum time for sex, and just because it goes on for longer, it doesn’t mean it’s better. The truth is, you could have a completely mind-blowing encounter that only lasts five minutes or a really average one that goes on for 20. Don’t put too much pressure on how long it lasts; just enjoy it and lose yourself in the moment.
Myth 7: Dildos Are Just for Women
Before we dive into this sex myth, let’s first look at what the word “dildo” means. A dildo is referred to as an object that looks like a penis and is used for sexual stimulation. These are commonly thought of as being solely for women, but dildos for men are a thing, too!
There are tons of options available to suit all kinds of play styles, so whether you’re flying solo or enjoying time with a partner, there’s a male dildo to explore. From powerful prostate massagers for mind-altering orgasms to vibrating cock rings to enjoy with your other half, you’re sure to find something to tickle your fancy.
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Myth 8: Masturbating While You’re in a Relationship Means You’re Unhappy
Despite living in a relatively “woke” world, there are still several stigmas that surround masturbation, and one of the biggest ones is that masturbation = an unhappy sex life.
For many, if they catch their partner masturbating, they can quickly jump to conclusions and assume things like “they don’t find me attractive” or “they think I’m bad in bed”, but this isn’t true. Masturbation is completely healthy and normal. Just because you like to enjoy alone time, it doesn’t mean that you’re cheating and should never be taken personally by you or your partner.
Me-time is a crucial part of having a healthy relationship, and it can even help improve intimacy, take pressure off sexual encounters and help you discover what you like so you can have better, more pleasurable sex.
Myth 9: Sex Burns a Lot of Calories
Sorry, fitness enthusiasts, but this is a complete sex myth. In fact, 30 minutes of sex only burns between 85 to 100 calories. It’s also important to note here that very few people are having sex for 30 minutes, and the average duration is around 5.4 minutes, which really isn’t many calories burnt. Don’t give up that gym pass just yet.
Myth 10: Men Think about Sex Every Seven Seconds
Remember when you were told that men were so obsessed with sex that it entered their minds every seven seconds of the day? Well, this common sex myth is completely wrong.
A study carried out on 18 to 25-year-olds found that it actually pops into men’s heads around 19 times a day on average. To put this into perspective, thoughts of food came up 18 times. Interestingly, women think about sex around 10 times a day and food 15.
So there you have it, 10 of the most common sex myths debunked. Ready to find your true pleasure? Take your intimate experiences to new heights with our Rodeo Drive Sex Toy Gift Box. We promise you won’t regret it.
