Penile – vaginal intercourse is better: evidence trumps ideology

Abstract

It has often been asserted that all sexual behaviours are equal. However, empirical research demonstrates that different sexual behaviours differ in many physiological and psychological domains. These differences are remarkably consistent in revealing an association between specifically penile-vaginal intercourse and indices of better physiological and psychological function. Other sexual behaviours (masturbation, partner masturbation, oral sex, anal sex, or any other sex that excludes penile-vaginal intercourse) are either unrelated or occasionally negatively related to indices of physiological and psychological function. Recent research also indicates that vaginal orgasm differs physiologically and psychologically from clitoral orgasm, and that vaginal orgasm is related to better psychological health. Several examples of other research findings are summarised. The consistency of the results with both physiology and evolutionary and psychoanalytic theories is discussed. The ethical practice of sex therapy, education and research requires the elimination of prevailing sexological prejudices.

Keywords:

• intercourse
• sexual behaviour
• sex research
• sex therapy
• sex education
• research methods
• professional ethics

Acknowledgement

This work was based in part on an invited plenary address to the Annual Meeting of the Society for Sex Therapy and Research, Philadelphia (March 2006).