So let\u2019s take a closer look at some of the more common myths about sex with insights from Dr. Killen to help you learn the facts once and for all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Myth 1: You learned everything you need to know about sexual health in Sex Ed<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Other than \u201cboys have penises and girls have vaginas,\u201d it\u2019s likely that many of us don\u2019t remember much from sex ed class in school. \u201cEven the best classes don\u2019t teach you many of the things you\u2019ll ultimately need to know,<\/em>\u201d says Dr. Killen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In the United States, sex education is mandatory in only 39 states and Washington, D.C., according to data<\/a> from Guttmacher Institute. The concerning part is, there aren\u2019t any federal guidelines for this kind of education, and only 18 states require it to be medically accurate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So you can see how not everything<\/em> you need to know about sexual health comes from Sex Ed. \u201cBecause it\u2019s not taught in school and not talked about in polite society,<\/em>\u201d Dr. Killen adds, \u201cmany people never learn how to stay sexually healthy.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n While they\u2019re both interrelated, sexual and reproductive health are not the same thing. Based on the World Health Organization\u2019s (WHO) definitions, the two are characterized as follows:<\/p>\n\n\n\n As Dr. Killen points out in her Quest, it\u2019s possible to get pregnant with a healthy baby after a night of unprotected sex. And it\u2019s also possible to have a thriving sex life without ever procreating.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you\u2019re anything like Friends\u2019<\/em> Chandler Bing, chances are, you go straight to the nether regions. But if you\u2019re anything like Joey Tribiani (or any of the other characters, for that matter), you know sex is more than that\u2014much, much more than that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Desire, arousal, AND orgasm all start in the brain, according to Dr. Killen. She explains, \u201cIt\u2019s chemicals released in the brain, such as dopamine and oxytocin, that make us feel aroused and lead to the intense pleasure associated with orgasm.<\/em>\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n The feel-good neurotransmitters and hormones help charge up sexual energy<\/a>. Without them, sex would feel more like, as Dr. Killen puts it, \u201cshaking someone\u2019s hand or putting your foot in your shoe.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n More than one million sexually transmitted infections are acquired every day around the world, as reported by the WHO. The majority of them are asymptomatic. In the U.S. alone, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported 2.5 million cases<\/a> of chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis at the beginning of 2021 with the numbers continuing to rise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s about keeping your body and mind well so that you\u2019re ready for whatever comes your way. And, it\u2019s about enjoying what you have right here, right now, with or without the contributions and validation of another person.<\/p>\n\u2014 Dr. Amy Killen, trainer of Mindvalley\u2019s The Science of Great Sex<\/em> Quest<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n The thing many people tend to forget is that health, of any kind, isn\u2019t about someone else. It\u2019s about the individual. It\u2019s about you\u2026especially when it comes to sexual health.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There are plenty of sex facts and myths surrounding erections. Case in point: it\u2019s a known fact that males get erections. What many don\u2019t know is that females get them, too\u2014it happens in the clitoris.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe penis and clitoris are similar in many ways,<\/em>\u201d says Dr. Killen. Both contain erectile tissue and are capable of getting erections.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Unfortunately, the lack of knowledge of human anatomy is the primary reason many aren\u2019t familiar with this piece of information. For example, a 2019 study<\/a> revealed that a third of the participants didn\u2019t know what the clitoris was. (And it\u2019s no wonder that many females end up wondering, \u201cWhy can\u2019t I orgasm?<\/em><\/a>\u201d)<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSemen retention is the practice of not ejaculating for a period of time, even when having sex and orgasming,<\/em>\u201d explains Dr. Killen. However, it\u2019s not the same as abstaining from sexual activity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This concept is far from new. It\u2019s actually part of some ancient practices with the belief that the loss of semen was thought to weaken a person. <\/p>\n\n\n\n However, what does science say about semen retention? According to Dr. Killen, there\u2019s no strong evidence that proves semen retention improves testosterone levels, sperm viability, or athletic performance. <\/p>\n\n\n\n She provides plenty of research in her Mindvalley Quest that debunks this sex myth. One study<\/a>, in particular, found that men over 40 who ejaculated at least four to five days per week had a 20-36% reduced rate of developing prostate cancer than those who ejaculated less often.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A common misconception about the female anatomy is that the hymen is something that covers the opening of the vagina and can be \u201cpopped,\u201d resulting in the person \u201closing their virginity.\u201d And according to Dr. Killen, there is so much wrong <\/em>with this sentence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So what is the hymen? And why does society make such a fuss over it?<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe hymen is a very thin membrane near the opening of the vagina,<\/em>\u201d she explains. It was present before birth, but by the time the baby is born, the hymen typically exists \u201cas a crescent or a ring shape around the edges.<\/em>\u201d Furthermore, many vaginas, she adds, have little to no hymen at all, even at birth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The traditional societal preference for virgin wives has made an intact hymen a desirable trait, as many cultures perceive it as a guarantor of virginity. However, the thin mucosal tissue can tear or stretch even with non-sexual activities, like vigorous exercise, riding a horse, or riding a bicycle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When it comes to sex and sexual health, there are some problems that can arise. Things like the lack of desire, arousal, and orgasm, as well as pain during intercourse, all of which can contribute to sexual anxiety<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If there\u2019s one thing Dr. Killen runs into often with her patients, it\u2019s that they don\u2019t believe they have the power to control how well their sexual organs work. Thankfully, that\u2019s not the case\u2014they have\u2026we all have the power.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s up to you to decide how well your sexual organs age. Just as you have quite a bit of control over the health of your heart, your brain, your lungs, and your skin, you also have quite a bit of control over your penis, vagina, prostate, and clitoris.<\/p>\n\u2014 Dr. Amy Killen, trainer of Mindvalley\u2019s The Science of Great Sex<\/em> Quest<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n So if you\u2019re looking to perform better<\/a>, increase libido<\/a>, or improve other sexual issues, best believe that you can. It\u2019s important, though, to remember to seek medical advice from a professional should you have any questions related to your sexual function and health.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There\u2019s a great, big belief that sex declines with age\u2014and that\u2019s why it\u2019s called a myth and not a fact. The truth of the matter is, sexual issues, like erectile dysfunction or sex after menopause, don’t necessarily spell out the end of your sexual explorations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to Dr. Killen, \u201cHow well your penis, vagina, or clitoris ages depends, quite a bit, on how well you take care of yourself<\/em>.\u201d And there are plenty of benefits to having sex on a regular basis; as you get older, those \u201cfeel good\u201d factors still apply. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In fact, studies<\/a> have found older adults who are sexually active tend to have better cognitive performance, have better relationships with their partners, and enjoy life more. This culminates in better mental health.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We\u2019re often taught this notion that to have great sex, we have to perform well in the bedroom. Every sexual encounter has to be a kama sutra<\/a>-inspired experience\u2014a way to get the \u201cOh yes!<\/em>\u2019 and the \u201cNo, don\u2019t stop!<\/em>\u201d on constant repeat.<\/p>\n\n\n\nMyth 2: Sexual health and reproductive health are the same<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Myth 3: The most important sexual organs are the genitals<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Myth 4: Sexual health isn\u2019t important if you don\u2019t have a partner<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Myth 5: Erections only happen in penis owners<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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<\/figure>\n\n\n\nMyth 6: Semen retention is healthier than spilling it<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Myth 7: The hymen is \u201cpoppable\u201d<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Myth 8: You don\u2019t have control over how well your sexual organs work<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Myth 9: The older you get, the less you\u2019ll have<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Myth 10: Sex is a performance<\/h2>\n\n\n\n