Sexual intercourse
From Wikipedia, a free encyclopedia written in simple English for easy reading.
Sexual intercourse is normally called "having sex", "making love" or "fucking" (which is a rude way of describing it). It is when animals or humans excite each others' genitals for fun or to make babies.
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[edit] Human sexuality
Sex usually involves contact with the genitals or other parts of the body that make strong feelings. Sex can be done with someone else, with or without penetration (sticking the penis in), for example putting the penis, fingers, or other objects in the vagina, anus, or mouth. When it is done without a partner, it is called masturbation. To make babies, sexual intercourse is done between a man and a woman, and it has to be penis in the vagina. Also, forcing someone to have sex is a crime in many countries (usually called rape).
[edit] Making babies
Main article: Sexual reproduction
If a man and a woman want to make a baby, they can "have sex" to make it. This is the most common way to make a baby. When they are having sex the man may have an orgasm, and semen comes out. The semen moves inside the woman's uterus (or womb). The semen contains sperm which may combine with an ovum (or egg) inside the woman. When this happens the woman becomes pregnant and a human begins to grow inside her. Some people call this growing human an unborn child or baby, although the use of such words can be political (see Abortion). Medically, it is called a pregnancy until birth (and can more specifically be called a zygote for about two weeks, an embryo for about seven weeks, and then a fetus).
[edit] Sex for fun
People can also have sex for fun and to feel good, not just to make babies. If a man and a woman want to make sure they won't make a baby they may use contraception, which is something that stops a baby being made.
Because people can have sex for fun, they can have sex in other ways where they can have lots of fun. The way a person has sex depends on their sexuality, which is the feelings that a person has about sex. Some men like to have sex with men. This is called being "gay". Women who have sex with women are called "lesbians". Having sex with someone of the same sex cannot make a baby, but it can pass on certain diseases. Some men and women feel that they would like to have sex with both men and women. This is called being "bisexual". Sometimes people feel like they want to have sex with animals. This is called bestiality. Some people also feel like they want to have sex with children - this is called pedophilia. Many people consider this morally wrong and it is against the law in most parts of the world.
[edit] Sex as Power
Sometimes one person uses sex to control another person. By doing this, sometimes people make themselves feel powerful. Also they might use sex to make someone feel guilty, or to make someone do something he or she might not want to do. Men and women can control each other with sex. This is called "Sexual Politics". It works because many people want to have sex, but in industrialized countries nowadays, they have trouble finding someone to marry or even have sex with, because their culture is far less social than in most of the world. Controlling someone with sex is usually considered wrong.