Here are some types of sex and sexual activities:
Here are some types of sex and sexual activities:
Touching
Touching becomes a sexual activity if it involves touching or fondling the breasts, buttocks, anus, or genitals of another person. Touching yourself in any of these ways to arouse sexual feelings is called masturbation.
Kissing
Small kisses on the cheek or hand and even pecks on the mouth may be normal to exchange between family and friends, and are not usually considered sexual. But longer kissing on the mouth and other intimate parts of the body, including the neck, chest, abdomen, and genitals is considered sexual activity.
Masturbation
For many people, their first sexual activity is masturbation. This involves touching yourself through stimulation of your breasts, buttocks, anus, or genitals. Sex toys are sometimes used to enhance masturbation.
Masturbation is a good way to learn about what kind of touching you enjoy. Masturbation is a normal activity that people may do alone or with a partner.
Some people masturbate every day, some people masturbate occasionally, and some people never masturbate. There is no wrong way to masturbate unless you feel that it is interfering with your daily life.
There are a few things to keep in mind to make masturbation safer. Avoid putting fragile, sharp, unclean, or excessively large objects into a vagina or anus because they can cause tearing or infection. Any sex toys that are used during masturbation should be kept clean.
Sexual intercourse
Sexual intercourse is the penetration of a penis into the vagina, also known as “vaginal sex” or “sex”. Fingers or sex toys can also be used to penetrate the vagina for sexual pleasure.
There are many different positions that couples can choose for intercourse. The act of sexual intercourse often, but not always, results in orgasm for males and females, and ejaculation for males. By enjoying foreplay first, so that you are both ready for intercourse, the chances are good that you will find it more pleasurable.
It is important to use dual protection when having sexual intercourse; condoms to prevent the spread of sexually transmitted infections and birth control if you are trying to prevent pregnancy.
Cybersex and phone sex
Cybersex and phone sex involve talking about sex over the phone or by text, sending naked or sexy photos, or watching someone touch themselves over online video chat.
These types of exchanges don’t involve physically touching the other person, so they don’t pose a risk of contracting an STI or getting pregnant.
However, there are risks involved, and it is important to be careful when you exchange images and information over the internet. Learn more in our section on Online Safety.
Oral sex
Using your mouth or tongue to stimulate another person’s genitals is considered sex.
Heterosexual oral sex does not directly lead to pregnancy, but it could happen if any semen gets into the vagina, so it’s best to always use protection.
Oral sex does pose a risk of contracting sexually transmitted infections.
Anal sex
Anal sex involves penetration of the penis into the anus.
Anal sexual activity can also involve using the fingers or sex toys to penetrate the anus for sexual pleasure. Some people find anal sex very pleasurable, and some people do not enjoy it, maybe even finding it to be very painful. It’s important to communicate to your partner whether you feel comfortable with anal sex or not.
Heterosexual anal sex does not directly lead to pregnancy, but it could happen if any semen gets into the vagina, so it’s best to always use protection.
Anal sex does pose more risks because it can be easier to contract disease. A condom should always be used, with plenty of water-based lubricant. Many sexually transmitted infections can also be transmitted through anal sex. The risk can be decreased if you use condoms.
It’s best to clean the penis or sex toy afterwards to not spread the bacteria to other areas that could cause infection.