10 Things You Didn't Know About Sex

You’ve taken sex ed, have hands-on experience and have been forced to watch some episodes of ‘Sex and the City’. So, you think you know a lot about sex? Here are the 10 things your health teacher most certainly never taught you:

10. Women can orgasm an unlimited amount of times

After orgasm, men experience a refractory period during which they lose their erection. Women don’t need the same recovery time. “Women have unlimited capacity,” says Britton. “Often they think that once they experience their first orgasm, that they are done. On the contrary, women have the ability to experience one orgasm after another.” Britton also points out that both genders can have multiple orgasms but that men must master specific techniques in order to do so. This means the man must understand his body enough to know when to decrease stimulation right before he ejaculates. Once he’s achieved this, you’ve got a partner to ride the wave of successive orgasms with!

9. Many straight guys like their anal areas stimulated

If your man won’t admit to wanting some back door action, it could be because he’s afraid that it’ll make him seem gay. “The reality is that the anal area is packed with nerves,” says Levine. She also says that stimulation of the prostate can lead to intense orgasms. If you decide to go exploring, just give him fair warning first!

8. The left side is best for a woman’s pleasure

According to sex-workshop leaders Steve and Vera Bodansky, there’s actually a specific area of the clitoris that’s the most sensitive. “We’ve found, in every female student that we’ve taught, that the upper left quadrant of the clitoral head is the most pleasurable spot to touch,” they say in their book, Extended Massive Orgasm: How You Can Give and Receive Intense Sexual Pleasure. So tonight instruct him to go, “A little to the left, dear!” This holds us to ask the question, is this why Beyonce released the song “To the Left”?!

7. Most women don’t orgasm from penetration alone

You wouldn’t expect a man to climax without his penis being involved, yet so many women feel pressure to orgasm without the clitoris. “We need clitoral stimulation,” says Levine. “After all, the sole purpose of the clitoris is for pleasure. During sex, stimulate your clit with a toy or your finger — or have your partner get in on the action.”

6. Being on the pill can dull some women’s libidos

The Pill once meant sexual freedom for women but nowadays more studies show that the suppression of ovulation, along with hormonal changes can actually dampen desire in some women. “Sometimes it’s a matter of changing brands,” says Levine. “Or, going off the Pill altogether and trying another birth control method.

5. Sex usually lasts less than 10 minutes

We’ve all seen those montages where a couple stays up all night doing it on every available surface, not stopping to eat or even take a bathroom break. But, in reality sex is usually not an all-night affair. There is nothing wrong with your love life! “If you want it to last longer, your guy needs to get in touch with his body to be able to slow down his arousal arc,” she says. “He can use techniques such as breath control to help him last longer.”

4. Falling asleep after sex is normal for men — and women

There’s a reason you and your honey feel tired after sex (and it’s usually not because one of you doesn’t feel like reciprocating). “After sex, oxytocin is released and that hormone is responsible for calming you and even inducing sleep,” says Patti Britton, PhD, clinical sexologist, founder of SexCoachU.com and author of The Art of Sex Coaching. Next time he dozes off, don’t take it as a sign of boredom, but rather, that your lovin’ is the ultimate stress-release!

3. It’s normal for women to have submissive fantasies

If you dream of your boss taking you on the conference table (while you’re dressed up as a naughty secretary) you’re not alone. “Studies have shown that over 50 percent of women fantasize about being taken,” says Britton. Even the most powerful women may enjoy the submissive role during sex. “This might include being tied up or even forced into sex,” she says. Remember, fantasy and reality are two different realms and acknowledging these thoughts can actually be empowering.

2. Using lube can mean the difference between pain and pleasure

If you’re not all that into sex, or find it painful, the answer to your problem could be in a small bottle you can pick up in any drugstore. Not producing enough lubrication can make sex downright un-fun for women. And needing a supplement doesn’t mean you’re not turned on. Don’t be afraid to use it. “The truth is that our natural lubrication comes and goes throughout an encounter,” says Levine. “Wetter is better, and adding a water-based or silicone-based vagina-friendly lube can lead to an increased level of satisfaction.”

1. Sex can actually lower stress levels and keep you from getting sick

Did you know that when you’re super busy, getting busy can be just the thing to keep you sane? That’s because intercourse can lower blood pressure levels, making you less prone to stress. Regular sex can also give you higher levels of an antibody called immunoglobulin A, which helps ward off colds and other infections. So, in case you ever needed an excuse for nooky, there you go.