The 10 Most Googled Sex Questions Answered – Health Digest

Ever since its official creation in 1998, Google has promised to make sure everyone has access to information available around the world, and boy, has it delivered. Whether you’re looking for a delicious dinner recipe or a way to remove a stubborn stain, Google seems to have all the answers, and the same seems to go for questions about sex. Let’s be real: when it comes to sex, most people would rather turn to the World Wide Web than anyone else. It’s anonymous, it doesn’t judge, and your answers are just a couple of clicks away. Thus, it’s safe to say that Google has become your closest confidant for all things practical, intimate, and everything in between.

But why do people feel the need to ask Google instead of a close friend, relative, or even a healthcare provider? After all, sex is not only natural but an essential part of your wellbeing, seeing that it may improve relationships and sleep and boost your heart and immune health, all while keeping your stress levels in check (via the Mayo Clinic). It all has to do with the stigma around sex, which has attached feelings of shame and guilt to anything sex-related. This has resulted in a modern world where people navigate intimacy by relying on Google. From doubts about sexual positions to dating advice and sex-related symptoms, this article provides expert-backed and judgment-free answers to the 10 most Googled sex questions. Because at the end of the day, understanding sex without shame or stigma is key to unlocking your better life.

Sex is commonly referenced in music, movies, and TV shows. As such, you might already be familiar with a couple of popular sex positions, such as the classic missionary or the all-time favorite doggy style. However, when it comes to enjoying your time in the sheets, there are countless ways to do it and just as many creative names for each technique. Enter the speed bump. While it may give acrobatic vibes, this position is actually classified as a difficulty level one out of five, per the Daily Mail. It involves the receiving partner lying face down on a soft surface, such as a bed or couch, with a pillow or cushion placed beneath their hips. This elevation creates a “bump” that tilts the pelvis at an angle, allowing for deeper penetration and increased friction. The partner on top then straddles or kneels behind, enabling greater control over rhythm and depth.

This position can be highly pleasurable for a female receiving partner. In fact, the Daily Mail states that for many women, it can guarantee to reach the Big O. This is thanks to its ability to create an alignment that allows for the stimulation of a specific and highly sensitive erogenous zone found inside the vaginal wall, the famous G-spot, which is often overlooked in traditional positions. Per Healthline, while the G-spot is not an actual spot, it might be the key to stimulating the inner clitorial network, ultimately leading to an intense vaginal orgasm reached through penetration alone.

Pregnancy can be a confusing time, especially for first-time parents. While many expecting moms might wonder whether they have to ditch their favorite meals or if they can still join their beloved spin class, you might find that your mind is set on a more intimate matter: sex. The good news? For most pregnancies, sex is not only safe but can also offer several physical and emotional benefits for both partners. For example, according to the American Pregnancy Association and Healthline, physically, it might provide a fun way to stay active, reduce stress, and promote better blood circulation. Moreover, you might find yourself enjoying better orgasms due to changes in blood flow and increased lubrication in your lower region. Whereas emotionally, sex can foster a stronger emotional connection with your partner.

Nevertheless, there are a couple of particular scenarios or health concerns where sex during pregnancy might go from a heck yeah to a big no. Your healthcare provider or midwife might advise against vaginal or oral sex if you have been diagnosed with placenta previa, early dilation or a weakened cervix, unexplained bleeding or leaking, if your water has broken, or if you have an increased risk of preterm labor or miscarriage (via the Cleveland Clinic). Moreover, the American Pregnancy Association warns that anal sex is not a safe option altogether due to the increased risk of hemorrhoids and infections, such as giardiasis, group B streptococcus (GBS), and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), which can cause complications during pregnancy. Ultimately, be sure to communicate openly with your partner and doctor to ensure a safe and pleasurable experience.

Whether due to cultural, ethical, or religious reasons, sex has been given a negative connotation for almost as long as it has been recorded throughout history, especially regarding female sexuality or that of individuals with diverse sexual orientations or gender identities. However, sex positivity comes as a renewed approach to sexuality that swaps the sigma for open, inclusive, and judgment-free attitudes (via PsychCentral). Per the site, the sex positivity movement encourages people to explore, communicate, prioritize, and accept their desires and boundaries to ensure that sex feels safe, pleasurable, and consensual while respecting the choices of others without judging. In essence, it tries to restore sex’s reputation as a healthy and natural part of the human experience rather than being something to be ashamed of.

Moreover, the site adds that sex positivity not only promotes a mindset that helps you defend your sexual health and needs but also gives you the tools to communicate or call out unhealthy sexual behaviors, which is key in preventing sexual violence. In short, since sex positivity deviates from a shameful and victim-blaming approach towards one that advocates for sex education, including teaching about consent, recognizing abusive behaviors, and understanding how to navigate relationships safely and respectfully, it challenges potentially harmful dynamics that could lead to sexual violence (via McMaster University Sexual Violence Prevention and Response Office).

Bleeding after sex, or postcoital bleeding, is a common occurrence for people with vaginas, and while it can be a cause of concern, it can be due to numerous reasons, some of which are less worrisome than others. Starting with some of the least alarming factors (though this doesn’t mean they should be ignored), one of the most common culprits is vaginal dryness, which can happen because of a drop in your estrogen levels or due to vaginal irritation, for example, during menopause, breastfeeding, after douching, or even after taking over-the-counter medications. Friction from vigorous sex or deficient lubrication can also lead to minor tears or injuries in the vaginal lining, increasing the likelihood of bleeding, via Medical News Today (MNT).

Other common causes include genital infections, like yeast infections, or sexually transmitted infections (STIs), which could inflame tissues, making them more prone to damage. Similarly, people diagnosed with cervical ectropion or cervical polyps are more likely to bleed or spot after sex due to chronic inflammation in their cervix (via Healthline). Nevertheless, bleeding after sex can also signal more serious conditions, such as endometriosis, cervical dysplasia (per MNT), as well as uterine prolapse or cervical cancer. In fact, per the Cleveland Clinic, this is one of the early warning signs of this cancer, roughly affecting 11% of people with a positive diagnosis. Given the many potential causes, you should reach out to your healthcare provider if this is something you’re dealing with, even if the bleeding seems minor.

In today’s dating game scene, there seem to be countless rules people swear by. From who should text first to whether you should get one another gifts for special occasions before being official, the list can get overwhelmingly long. Yet, despite being a constant through time, the question of how many dates you should go on before having sex doesn’t seem to have a straightforward or one-size-fits-all answer. In fact, the answer appears to depend on your comfort level, personal values, and even your gender or where you’re from. For example, according to market research company YouGov, a 2021 survey determined that the most common answer among Americans is to wait at least one week but no more than one month since their first date to hit the sheets. In contrast, a 2017 survey showed that Brits seem to be more blunt about it, with the majority of people stating they’d go for it after just one date (via YouGov).

Yet, when it comes to men’s versus women’s perspectives, the answers seem to line up at both ends of the pond, with both American and British men being more likely to sleep with someone after either just one date or one week of dating. In contrast, women prefer to wait a little longer, showing that they might feel more comfortable getting intimate after having developed a deeper emotional connection. Ultimately, both approaches are valid, and what matters most is that the decision feels right for you.

Yes, you might have heard that sex is a great way to stay active and burn some calories. After all, all that moving will surely increase your energy expenditure, right? Well, the truth is that it doesn’t burn as many calories as you might think. According to a review published in Archives of Sexual Behavior, sex can range from a low- to medium-intensity physical activity, with an average of 100 calories burned per session, although the total count seems to be lower for women. Besides this gender difference, other factors that might influence the final calorie count include the health status of the people involved as well as intercourse duration since longer sessions allow for a more significant calorie burn over time.

Additionally, sex positions can also make a difference, with active positions that engage large muscle groups, like standing or holding someone up, managing to burn more calories than passive ones. For example, men tend to have a higher calorie expenditure during missionary compared to women, seeing that they are the active party in that particular position, and his calorie count would significantly increase if he were to hold themselves up (via Healthline). Still, while sex shouldn’t replace your regular gym session, it is definitely an enjoyable way to get your blood pumping, and it still comes with its share of advantages beyond calorie-burning. Thus, try enjoying sex for what it is: a form of connection and pleasure, rather than looking at it as a means to reach your daily exercise needs.

The unfortunate news is that miscarriages, the unintentional loss of a baby during the first half of pregnancy, are believed to happen in almost 15% of pregnancies, and they likely occur due to genetic problems with the growing fetus or due to health conditions in the mother, resulting in a physically and emotionally challenging time for the expecting parents (via the Mayo Clinic). Among the many questions that emerge in the aftermath, one common concern is when it is safe to resume sexual activity, and the answer seems to vary depending on emotional readiness and medical circumstances. On a general note, most doctors recommend waiting until the bleeding has stopped and your cervix has closed to reduce the risk of infection, which usually happens around the two-week mark if the pregnancy loss occurred naturally without complications.

However, if medical procedures such as a dilation and curettage (D&C) were performed, which help remove tissue from the womb in the case of a missed or incomplete miscarriage, your doctor might advise holding up for slightly longer, depending on your specific circumstances (via Healthline). Besides the time your body might need to physically recover after a miscarriage, you might realize that emotionally, you’re on a completely different timeline. While some people may feel ready to have sex again as soon as they get the green light from their doctor, others might feel overwhelmed by feelings of loss, which could put a hamper on their sex drive. Just know there is no right or wrong scenario, and waiting until you feel physically healed and emotionally ready is the best choice for your overall wellbeing.

Like any other aspect of sexual intimacy, anal sex is a sexual activity preferred by some yet avoided by others. Still, understanding the basics, benefits, and potential risks is essential for a safe and enjoyable experience. Anal sex refers to the act of stimulating or penetrating the anus with either a penis, fingers, or toys, and those who find it pleasurable do so because the area is rich in nerve endings. In fact, up to 90% of men who engage in homosexual relationships favor it, and, despite a very common misconception, up to 10% of sexually active women enjoy it too (per WebMD).

This is because, for men, anal sex can stimulate the prostate gland, which is said to be a highly pleasurable experience, while for women, it can stimulate the A spot, an erogenous zone located in the vaginal wall that can be easily accessible through the anus (via Healthline). However, if you’re curious about anal sex, keep in mind that, as with any sexual activity, it requires mutual consent, communication, and comfort between partners to ensure a positive experience and that practicing safe sex is still key to avoiding unwanted pregnancy or getting an STI (yes, both can still happen via anal sex). Lastly, since the anus doesn’t naturally produce lubrication, Healthline shares that using lots of lube is essential to minimize the risk of tears and ensure a pleasurable experience.

Low libido, defined as a reduced interest in either partnered or solo sexual activity and desire, is a common occurrence among women, seeing that numerous life-altering events, as well as day-to-day factors, can cause it to fluctuate (via the Mayo Clinic). On the one hand, among the long list of potential physical culprits, the site states that a number of sexual conditions that could make sex painful, health conditions such as diabetes or heart disease, a high alcohol or drug intake, fatigue from your daily responsibilities, taking antidepressant medications, or even having had surgery can affect your sex drive. Additionally, hormonal factors such as menopause, pregnancy, medical conditions causing hormonal imbalances, or even taking hormonal birth control drugs can also affect libido (via MNT).

Moreover, emotional and psychological factors could also be to blame. Per MNT, stress, anxiety, depression, and low self-esteem can all impact sexual desire. Also, having had negative experiences in the past, including trauma, relationship conflicts, or simply lacking honest communication with a sexual partner, may also create barriers to intimacy. Luckily, once you determine the cause, you can get on the path toward the proper treatment, which often involves a combination of approaches. For instance, your healthcare provider might recommend specific medications, oftentimes combined with sex therapy. Other potential solutions might include making some lifestyle changes, such as practicing stress management techniques, incorporating regular exercise, or even taking the time to talk about or try new things out with your partner.

You might have seen in movies how fish lay countless eggs and then wait for them to hatch (think Finding Nemo), or maybe you saw a documentary about sharks giving birth. In any case, curiosity likely got the best of you and made you wonder how creatures without Tinder or cuddles keep the ocean stocked. The real and not-so-straightforward answer is that fish reproduction is incredibly diverse, varying significantly between species. Broadly, fish can reproduce through one of three methods: oviparity, ovoviviparity, and viviparity (via American Oceans). The most common method, oviparity, involves females laying eggs, which are fertilized externally by males. This is common in species like salmon. In contrast, viviparity, common in swordtails, involves internal fertilization and nourishing embryos inside the mother, much like mammals. Lastly, ovoviviparity, as seen in sharks, is described as a mix of the two, in which internal fertilization leads to eggs rather than an embryo growing and hatching inside the female, who gives birth to live offspring.

Yet, how does this external and internal fertilization work? Per AquaWorldHub, external fertilization can be described as a no-contact sex method that happens when the female releases the eggs into the water while the male discharges the sperm in the surrounding area, effectively fertilizing lots of eggs at the same time. Conversely, internal fertilization is more similar to what you’re used to since the male has to deliver his sperm inside the female’s body. Lastly, the site adds that, much like humans, some fish practice monogamy, yet others might practice polygamy to increase their reproductive chances.