Maybe because it’s such a key element to our survival, sex is widely talked about. But we may have drummed up some facts about sex that even you didn’t know!
Ah, the birds and the bees.
Talking about sex is always an interesting topic. Perhaps because you’re a grownup who regularly gets some, you think you have everything there is to know about sex down pat. Still, like the universe that you feel closer to each time you orgasm, there are more fascinating and mind-blowing things about sex you may not know.
33 fascinating facts about sex
The next time you find yourself engrossed in a discussion about all things sex, wow your friends *and maybe even your crush* with this list of 33 fun facts about sex no one sitting at the table will likely already know.
#1 Seven Viagras are sold every second worldwide. That’s a lot of erections…
#2 Schwangerschaftsverhütungsmittel is the German word for contraceptive. So when you tell your partner to get protection in German, it may be too late. [Read: 10 birth control options and what they can do for you]
#3 A single sperm cell contains an equivalent of 37.5 MB of DNA information. This means that when a man comes, he is essentially transferring 15,875 GB worth of data. To give you some perspective, this is like ejaculating a combined capacity of 62 MacBook Pros.
#4 In 2008, archaeologists in Cyprus unearthed a 7th-century lead tablet in which the following curse was inscribed: “May your penis hurt when you make love.” There’s no evidence as to who wrote this curse or why. [Read: Surviving an STD scare in a relationship: 9 things to know]
#5 It would theoretically take only two weeks to get every woman on the planet pregnant. Let us elaborate: a single, average man actually has enough sperm produced over the course of two weeks to impregnate every fertile woman in the whole world.
#6 The G-spot was almost called the “Whipple Tickle.” This would have been after Professor Beverley Whipple, who coined the term that we know and use today.
#7 Sperm can live inside a woman’s body for up to 5 days. This means that it can fertilize an egg even days after it is released into the vagina, as it stays in the cervical mucus or the upper genital tract. Meanwhile, sperm outside the body can last for only a few hours. [Read: Condom types and how they can improve your sex life]
#8 Having a dry spell? Well, good thing you’re not a ferret. Female ferrets can actually die due to lack of sex. When they are in heat and unable to find a partner, they will secrete high levels of estrogen, which can cause aplastic anemia, causing them to die.
#9 Sex can increase your tolerance to pain. According to research, your pain threshold can increase significantly when you are aroused. This pain threshold can even exponentially shoot up when you reach your big O. Apparently, orgasms can block any sensation of pain by releasing a hormone that elevates the pain threshold.
#10 The internet is a very big sex jungle. According to a study, more than half of all online spending is estimated to be sex-related. That is a lot of pornography and sex toys. [Read: How to plan a perfect sex toy party with your friends]
#11 Want a yummy, guilt-free snack? A teaspoon of semen only contains five calories. Bon appetit!
#12 It may be hard to go pee-pee after sex, although you really should. After you orgasm or ejaculate, the body releases an anti-diuretic hormone, which helps to prevent you from urinating directly after sex. However, you should do it, because peeing after sex can prevent urinary tract infections.
#13 If you can orgasm by breast stimulation alone, then lucky you. It’s estimated that only about 1 in 100 women can orgasm just from breast stimulation. Additionally, your breasts can get 25% bigger when you are aroused. So if you don’t want to spend money on breast implants, make sure you’re always getting your freak on. [Read: Why do guys like breasts like crazy?!]
#14 Women are more willing to commit adultery when they are ovulating. This loss of control can be their body’s way of telling them that they need to have their eggs fertilized… and fast.
#15 Guess what? Your grandparents may still be doing it, too. Apparently, one-third of women over the age of 80 continue to have sex with their husbands or boyfriends, as long as they are both in good health. You go, grandma!
#16 Studies show that lower cholesterol is directly related to better performance in the bedroom. So you better get your blood pumping.
#17 You may want to adopt pumpkin as your new favorite vegetable. While chocolate is a great aphrodisiac, studies show that the smell of pumpkin can help to increase blood flow to the penis, thereby promoting an erection. [Read: Nom-nom no-nos: 17 foods to avoid before having sex]
#18 If you want to make sex your exercise of choice, you may have to do it more often. It turns out that women burn approximately 69 calories during sex, while men burn between 100 and 200 on average. Nevertheless, sex is fun, so get sexercising!
#19 If you want your sex life to blossom, you’d better give in to your sweet tooth. Low blood sugar can cause harm to your love life because it makes you irritable and less likely to want to have sex.
#20 Men under 40 have an average erection time of 10 seconds. That’s pretty fast, if you want to get it on for a quickie. Some can even get it up in less than 10. If it takes longer than 10, you may need to see a specialist because it can be a symptom of erectile dysfunction.
#21 If you think you can’t compete in any running sport, wait until you hear this. The initial spurt of your ejaculate travels at approximately 28 miles per hour. This is actually faster than the 100-meter dash record, which is only 22.9 miles per hour.
#22 Wondering where you can have a threesome? Consider going down under. Twenty-eight percent of Australians admit to having tried a threesome at least once. [Read: Threesome tips: 20 things to know before entering one]
#23 If you’re having sex once a day, then you are one of the lucky 5% of the population. Meanwhile, 20 percent have sex 3 to 4 times a week, while the rest of the population is unknown.
#24 If you want to please your man, consider sucking on his nipples, too. Men’s nipples can get erect when aroused and are just as sensitive as women’s. In fact, 60 percent of men who get aroused also have erect nipples.
#25 Only women have the ability to have a bedroom voice men swoon over and get hard for. Women can actually make their voice sound sexier, while men have to resort to other tactics. [Read: 23 sexy tips dirty talk and say the sexiest words]
#26 Ah, the clitoris is really a thing epics and songs should be written for. It is so sensitive that it has twice the nerve fibers contained in a penis. The 8,000 nerve fibers of the clitoris can help men cook up the perfect recipe for female orgasm.
#27 Feeling down and blue? Masturbate. Studies show that masturbation helps cure depression, because the release of emotions and hormones when an orgasm is reached helps relax the mind and make you comfortable with your body. It also releases chemicals that make you happy. [Read: The 15 sexy benefits of masturbation]
#28 When you are aroused and ready to have sex, you let your guard down. You are also far less likely to be grossed out or turned off by anything that may happen.
#29 Women can orgasm quickly when they masturbate. It will only take her 4 minutes of pleasuring herself to climax, while it will take between 10 and 20 minutes for you to make her come.
#30 Reaching for a pain reliever? Try having an orgasm instead. Studies show that women who are prone to migraines are more likely to have more sex, because orgasms can actually help to alleviate the pain.
#31 Vibrators were actually invented to cure a 19th-century disease that was believed to plague women, called “hysteria.” Vibrators were used on women to help reduce their “crazy, inexplicable ways.” Well, whatever they were up to then, 21st-century women are definitely sending their thanks. [Read: 7 reasons why some women hate their vibrators]
#32 Social media has even infiltrated our bedrooms! According to a recent study, 35 percent of people under 35 check their Facebook or Twitter right after sex. Talk about not being a cuddler!
#33 The male orgasm lasts only 6 seconds, while women’s orgasms last for 20 seconds. Women really have the last laugh—that is, if they did not fake their orgasm. [Read: 13 untold sex secrets you need to know]
Sex is indeed a beautiful thing. It creates magic, mischief, and… babies! So go get at it and enjoy, and don’t be afraid to use these sex facts and boast about your new sexual knowledge to all your friends!