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Intercourse
Intercourse,
or coitus, refers in a strict biological sense to the insertion of the
male's penis into the female's vagina for the purpose of reproduction.
Sexual intercourse is found among all mammalian species. Intercourse has
traditionally been viewed as the natural endpoint of all sexual contact
between a man and a woman. However, the meaning of the term has been
broadened in recent years to include a wider range of behaviors and a
wider set of motivations and intentions. In both popular and
professional usage, intercourse now labels at least three different sex
acts, two of which are not directly tied to conceiving a child. These
three types of intercourse are: vaginal intercourse, involving vaginal
penetration by the penis, possibly to the point of male ejaculation and
female orgasm; oral
intercourse, involving oral caress of the sex organs (male or
female), possibly to the point of orgasm; and anal intercourse,
involving insertion of the male's penis into his partner's anus.
The latter two of these behaviors may be the endpoints of a sexual
encounter or they may be acts of foreplay
leading to each other or to vaginal intercourse. Moreover, intercourse
is not limited to partnerships between individuals of opposite genders.
Same-sex or homosexual encounters, involving oral or anal penetration or
stimulation, are also referred to as sexual intercourse. Some writers
also include digital (use of fingers or hands) intercourse or mutual
masturbation as yet another form of intercourse. In addition to
recognizing a wider array of behaviors as constituting different types
of intercourse, sex researchers and therapists have come to recognize
that humans engage in sexual intercourse for many reasons beyond
procreation. Sexual intercourse is among the most intimate behaviors
possible between two people, and, for many people, it is also one of the
most pleasurable and emotionally satisfying.
All of the types of
intercourse mentioned above may produce orgasm for one or both partners.
Orgasm
is a complex physical and emotional release that can last from a few
seconds to over a minute. Generally, it is followed by a significant
sense of well-being and both physical and emotional relaxation. While
the experience of orgasm is generally similar among men and women, there
are some differences. Male orgasm commonly follows a series of penile
thrusts, rhythmic contractions of the prostate gland and the set of
muscles surrounding the penis, testicle elevation, and ejaculation of
semen from the penis. For almost all males, ejaculation is followed by a
recovery period (that tends to grow longer with age) before it is
possible to ejaculate again. Female orgasm is variable, ranging from a
single brief period of mildly pleasurable contractions of the uterine
and vaginal walls to multiple episodes (approximately 0.8 seconds apart)
of physically intense waves that cover the entire body and can last for
long periods of time.
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Sex
