How Do You Define Sex - Understanding Sexuality: Womens Sexual Health
Content provided by the Faculty of the Harvard Medical School
How do you define "sex"?
Vaginal intercourse is often given the lofty position as the ultimate sexual event, but clearly the story doesn't end there. Pleasurable activities — from casual intimacies such as kissing and caressing to more intense types of physical contact designed to produce orgasm — can complement intercourse or stand alone as a means for gratification. The penis and vagina are not the only tools for sexual enjoyment; people can give and receive intense pleasure without any direct genital-to-genital contact. The mouth, breasts, anal area, hands, and other sensitive spots on the skin are significant sources of erotic sensation. Even the friction of bodies rubbing together, clothed or unclothed, can bring sexual pleasure. Sexual activity does not always demand that you have a partner, either. Masturbation, viewing sexually stimulating materials, and creating fantasies all may be avenues for sexual gratification.
| Last updated: | January 23, 2007 |
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Medical content reviewed by the Faculty of the Harvard Medical School. Harvard Health Publications, Copyright © 2007 by President and Fellows of Harvard College. All rights reserved. Used with permission of StayWell.
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