5 Sex Myths

Sex and intimacy are healthy parts of adult relationships, but these 5 sex myths are a few examples of the misunderstandings, urban legends and common concerns  which are shared around the locker room, café tables and chat rooms. Sex myths can be dangerous, as they can shape the opinions and standards of sexually active adults, young and old, and color expectations unfairly.

One One of the most common sex myths and misconceptions is that great sex happens naturally. Many people believe that mind-blowing, incredible sex happens without any work at all, and that the only requirement is for two people to have chemistry, genuine affection, commitment-or a combination of the three. Unfortunately, this is a sex myth; great sex happens when two people work towards that shared goal. Strong communication, honesty with your partner, and an open mind are all keys to great sex between couples. Partners must be willing to be considerate of each other, keep each other’s needs in mind, and give as much as they receive. The raw, physical chemistry and seamless transition into amazing sex is the stuff of Hollywood; achieving great sex without work is simply a sex myth.

Two Another popular sex myth, which corresponds with the above example, is the misconception that great sex ceases after marriage. Somewhere in the timeline of our modern culture, people-especially men, it seems-came to the conclusion that the fears about great sex stopping after the wedding are valid. However, many happily married couples continue to have amazing sex even after they say “I do,” and many experts consider a healthy sexual relationship a fundamental aspect of a happy union, whether legally wed or not. Great sex doesn’t have to stop-and honestly, it shouldn’t-simply because rings are exchanged. However, this sex myth promotes unhealthy fears and expectations about marriage, and more people need to be aware that great sex is possible for any married couple.

Three Yet another enduring sex myth is the belief that great sex ceases to be important the older we become, and that senior citizens do not want or need a healthy sex life. However, in this modern age of frank discussions about sexuality, more and more older couples are coming forward to discuss how important an active sex life is to them. As long the couple has no health concerns which prohibit and active sex life, age is no more a requirement for less great sex than marriage is!

Four One sex myth which is more of a debate than a true myth or legend is the great argument over whether or not women crave sex as much as men do. According to Richard Sine’s article comparing the sex drives of adult men and women, men just might be able to claim the title of more sexually preoccupied.  Sine reported that a social psychologist by the name of Roy Baumeister at Florida State University conducted a survey of men and women. Baumeister found that “men reported more spontaneous sexual arousal and had more frequent and varied fantasies.” Likewise, Dr. Laumann, PhD, a professor of sociology at the University of Chicago stated that "sexual desire in women is extremely sensitive to environment and context.” The jury may still be out on this one, but more and more experts are crediting men has having the biological reasons-or excuses-to be more sexually driven.

Five And finally, arguably the most powerful, infamous sex myth of all time is the notion that “size matters most.” In fact, many adult Americans are unaware that the average size of an erect penis in the United States is 5 to 7 inches long with 4 to 6 inches in circumference, according to The Kinsey Institute. A study conducted by Dr. Erick Janssen over ten years ago reported that the average penis circumference among 300 men was approximately 4.8 inches. Unfortunately, this legendary sex myth has led to many men second-guessing their desirability in the penis size department. However, many women are quick to remind the male population that it “isn’t the size of the boat, but the motion of the ocean” that matters to them.