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139-399: In most versions, the eponymous hero is hunted and persecuted after he reveals Antiochus of Antioch's incestuous relationship with his daughter. After many travels and adventures, in which Apollonius loses both his wife and his daughter and thinks them both dead, he is eventually reunited with his family through unlikely circumstances or intercession by gods. In some English versions Apollonius

278-411: A genital ulcer ; even if they do not, they increase the risk of both acquiring and passing on HIV up to ten-fold. Hepatitis B can also be transmitted through sexual contact. Globally, there are about 257 million chronic carriers of hepatitis B. HIV is one of the world's leading infectious killers; in 2010, approximately 30 million people were estimated to have died because of it since the beginning of

417-467: A royal family were married as a means of perpetuating the royal lineage. Some societies have different views about what constitutes illegal or immoral incest. For example, in Samoa , a man was permitted to marry his older sister, but not his younger sister. However, sexual relations with a first-degree relative (meaning a parent, sibling, or child) are almost universally forbidden. The English word incest

556-460: A stroke can also largely impact on the ability to engage in sexual intercourse. Although disability-related pain, including as a result of cancer , and mobility impairment can hamper sexual intercourse, in many cases, the most significant impediments to sexual intercourse for individuals with a disability are psychological. In particular, people who have a disability can find sexual intercourse daunting due to issues involving their self-concept as

695-426: A boy who is 1 to 3 years older than they are. Between 1988 and 2002, the percentage of people in the U.S. who had sexual intercourse between the ages of 15 and 19 fell from 60 to 46 percent for never-married males, and from 51 to 46 percent for never-married females. In humans, sexual intercourse and sexual activity in general have been reported as having health benefits as varied as increased immunity by increasing

834-607: A brother and sister if they had different mothers: for example, some accounts say that Elpinice was for a time married to her half-brother Cimon . Incest is mentioned and condemned in Virgil 's Aeneid Book VI: hic thalamum invasit natae vetitosque hymenaeos   – "This one invaded a daughter's room and a forbidden sex act". Roman civil law prohibited marriages within four degrees of consanguinity but had no degrees of affinity with regard to marriage. Roman civil laws prohibited any marriage between parents and children, either in

973-668: A child is usually considered a form of child sexual abuse, also known as child incestuous abuse , and for many years has been the most reported form of incest. Father–daughter and stepfather–stepdaughter sex are the most commonly reported forms of adult–child incest, with most of the remaining involving a mother or stepmother. Many studies found that stepfathers tend to be far more likely than biological fathers to engage in this form of incest. One study of adult women in San Francisco estimated that 17% of women were abused by stepfathers and 2% were abused by biological fathers. Father–son incest

1112-512: A clinical study by Kelly et al. (2002), among the 67 sexually abused men, in 17 cases the perpetrators were their mothers. More recently, studies have suggested that sibling incest , particularly older brothers having sexual relations with younger siblings, is the most common form of incest, with some studies finding sibling incest occurring more frequently than other forms of incest. Some studies suggest that adolescent perpetrators of sibling abuse choose younger victims, abuse victims over

1251-492: A felony of the third degree. Other states also commonly prohibit marriages between such kin. The legality of sex with a half-aunt or half-uncle varies state by state. In the United Kingdom, incest includes only sexual intercourse with a parent, grandparent, child, or sibling, but the more recently introduced offense of "sex with an adult relative" extends as far as half-siblings, uncles, aunts, nephews, and nieces. However,

1390-495: A form of safe sex and contraception. Condoms are widely recommended for the prevention of sexually transmitted infections (STIs). According to reports by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and World Health Organization (WHO), correct and consistent use of latex condoms reduces the risk of HIV/AIDS transmission by approximately 85–99% relative to risk when unprotected. Condoms are rarely used for oral sex and there

1529-434: A handful such cases were documented. Catanzarite attributes this to selection bias and the lack of physical evidence in such cases. According to Etherington (1997), one of the reasons of the under-reporting of such cases is that men often found difficulty in defining their mother's behavior as abuse. In a clinical study by Olson (1990), 30 men had been victims of incest; the mother was a perpetrator in 61.5 % of cases. In

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1668-604: A lack of "dialogue around this population's human right to consensual sexual expression, undertreatment of menstrual disorders, and legal and systemic barriers". Women with intellectual disability may lack sexual health care and sex education. They may not recognize sexual abuse. Consensual sexual intercourse is not always an option for some. Those with intellectual disability may have limited knowledge and access to contraception, screening for sexually transmitted infections and cervical cancer. Sexual intercourse may be for reproductive, relational, or recreational purposes. It often plays

1807-464: A lengthier period, use violence more frequently and severely than adult perpetrators, and that sibling abuse has a higher rate of penetrative acts than father or stepfather incest, with father and older brother incest resulting in greater reported distress than stepfather incest. South Africa, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Pakistan, and Nigeria are some of the countries with the most incest through consanguineous marriage. Sex between an adult family member and

1946-517: A man's penis into another person's rectum, but may also mean the use of sex toys or fingers to penetrate the anus, or oral sex on the anus ( anilingus ), or pegging . Oral sex consists of all the sexual activities that involve the use of the mouth and throat to stimulate genitalia or anus. It is sometimes performed to the exclusion of all other forms of sexual activity, and may include the ingestion or absorption of semen (during fellatio ) or vaginal fluids (during cunnilingus ). Fingering involves

2085-493: A neurotransmitter. This behavior is characterized by a fixation on sexual intercourse and disinhibition. It was proposed that this 'addictive behavior' be classified in DSM-5 as an impulsive–compulsive behavioral disorder. Addiction to sexual intercourse is thought to be genetically linked. Those having an addiction to sexual intercourse have a higher response to visual sexual cues in the brain. Those seeking treatment will typically see

2224-609: A new report suggests. Delhi organisation RAHI said 76% of respondents to its survey had been abused when they were children   – 40% of those by a family member." According to the National Center for Victims of Crime a large proportion of rape committed in the United States is perpetrated by a family member: Research indicates that 46% of children who are raped are victims of family members (Langan and Harlow, 1994). The majority of American rape victims (61%) are raped before

2363-505: A physician for pharmacological management and therapy. One form of hypersexuality is Kleine–Levin syndrome . It is manifested by hypersomnia and hypersexuality and remains relatively rare. Sexual activity can directly cause death , particularly due to coronary circulation complications, which is sometimes called coital death, coital sudden death or coital coronary. However, coital deaths are significantly rare. People, especially those who get little or no physical exercise, have

2502-605: A primary form of sexual activity. Researchers commonly use sexual intercourse to denote penile–vaginal intercourse while using specific words, such as anal sex or oral sex , for other sexual behaviors. Scholars Richard M. Lerner and Laurence Steinberg state that researchers also "rarely disclose" how they conceptualize sex "or even whether they resolved potential discrepancies" in conceptualizations of sex. Lerner and Steinberg attribute researchers' focus on penile–vaginal sex to "the larger culture's preoccupation with this form of sexual activity", and have expressed concern that

2641-462: A receptive partner during anal intercourse. The study said that fewer women reported engaging in anal sex than other partnered sexual behaviors. It was estimated that 10% to 14% of women aged 18 to 39 years old practiced anal sex in the past 90 days, and that most of the women who engage in anal sex said they practiced it once a month or a few times a year. The prevalence of sexual intercourse has been compared cross-culturally. In 2003, Michael Bozon of

2780-461: A role in personal decisions about sexual intercourse or other sexual activity, such as decisions about virginity , or legal and public policy matters. Religious views on sexuality vary significantly between different religions and sects of the same religion, though there are common themes, such as prohibition of adultery. Reproductive sexual intercourse between non-human animals is more often called copulation , and sperm may be introduced into

2919-416: A sexual being, or a partner's discomfort or perceived discomfort. Temporary difficulties can arise with alcohol and sex , as alcohol can initially increase interest through disinhibition but decrease capacity with greater intake; however, disinhibition can vary depending on the culture. People with mental disabilities also are subject to challenges in participating in sexual intercourse. This can include

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3058-468: A slightly increased risk of triggering a heart attack or sudden cardiac death when they engage in sexual intercourse or any vigorous physical exercise that is engaged in on a sporadic basis. Regular exercise reduces, but does not eliminate, the increased risk. Sexual intercourse, when involving a male participant, often ends when the male has ejaculated, and thus the partner might not have time to reach orgasm . In addition, premature ejaculation (PE)

3197-429: A strong role in human bonding . In many societies, it is normal for couples to have sexual intercourse while using some method of birth control, sharing pleasure and strengthening their emotional bond through sexual activity even though they are deliberately avoiding pregnancy. In humans and bonobos , the female undergoes relatively concealed ovulation so that male and female partners commonly do not know whether she

3336-522: A surgery. Obstacles that those with disabilities face with regard to engaging in sexual intercourse include pain, depression , fatigue, negative body image , stiffness, functional impairment, anxiety, reduced libido , hormonal imbalance, and drug treatment or side effects. Sexual functioning has been regularly identified as a neglected area of the quality of life in patients with rheumatoid arthritis . For those that must take opioids for pain control, sexual intercourse can become more difficult. Having

3475-416: A variety of safe sex methods that are practiced by heterosexual and same-sex couples, including non-penetrative sex acts, and heterosexual couples may use oral or anal sex (or both) as a means of birth control. However, pregnancy can still occur with anal sex or other forms of sexual activity if the penis is near the vagina (such as during intercrural sex or other genital-genital rubbing ) and its sperm

3614-408: A younger sibling by an older sibling. A 2006 study showed a large portion of adults who experienced sibling incest abuse have "distorted" or "disturbed" beliefs (such as that the act was "normal") both about their own experience and the subject of sexual abuse in general. Sibling abusive incest is most prevalent in families where one or both parents are often absent or emotionally unavailable, with

3753-1071: Is delayed ejaculation , which can be caused as an unwanted side effect of antidepressant medications such as fluvoxamine ; however, all SSRIs have ejaculation-delaying effects, and fluvoxamine has the least ejaculation-delaying effects. Sexual intercourse often remains possible after major medical treatment of the reproductive organs and structures. This is especially true for women. Even after extensive gynecological surgical procedures (such as hysterectomy , oophorectomy , salpingectomy , dilation and curettage , hymenotomy , Bartholin gland surgery, abscess removal, vestibulectomy , labia minora reduction, cervical conization , surgical and radiological cancer treatments and chemotherapy), sexual intercourse can continue. Reconstructive surgery remains an option for women who have experienced benign and malignant conditions. Men and women who have underwent extensive surgery should consult their medical team to understand how their treatment or surgery affects sex and how long they should wait before having sexual intercourse after

3892-424: Is ejaculated through the penis into the vagina. The sperm passes through the vaginal vault , cervix and into the uterus , and then into the fallopian tubes . Millions of sperm are ejaculated to increase the chances of fertilization (see sperm competition ), but only one is sufficient to fertilize an egg or ovum . When a fertile ovum from the female is present in the fallopian tubes, the male gamete fertilizes

4031-420: Is sex between close relatives , for example a brother or sister or cousins. This typically includes sexual activity between people in consanguinity (blood relations), and sometimes those related by lineage . It is condemned and considered immoral in most societies, given that it can lead to an increased risk of genetic disorders in children in case of pregnancy from incestuous sex. The incest taboo

4170-480: Is "the most prevalent sexual behavior among men and women of all ages and ethnicities". Clint E. Bruess et al. stated that it "is the most frequently studied behavior" and is "often the focus of sexuality education programming for youth." Weiten et al. said that it "is the most widely endorsed and practiced sexual act in our society." Regarding oral or anal intercourse, the CDC stated in 2009, "Studies indicate that oral sex

4309-472: Is a sexual activity typically involving the insertion and thrusting of the male penis inside the female vagina for sexual pleasure , reproduction , or both. This is also known as vaginal intercourse or vaginal sex . Sexual penetration has been known by humans since the dawn of time, and has been an instinctive form of sexual behaviour and psychology among humans. Other forms of penetrative sexual intercourse include anal sex (penetration of

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4448-444: Is a form of assisted reproductive technology , which are methods used to achieve pregnancy by artificial or partially artificial means. For artificial insemination, sperm donors may donate their sperm through a sperm bank , and the insemination is performed with the express intention of attempting to impregnate the female; to this extent, its purpose is the medical equivalent of sexual intercourse. ICI insemination, which involves

4587-454: Is a popular misconception that mother–son incestuous contact is common, due to the manner in which it is depicted in the press and popular media. According to Hideo Tokuoka, "when Americans think of incest, they think of fathers and daughters; in Japan one thinks of mothers and sons" due to the extensive media coverage of mother–son incest there. Some Western researchers assumed that mother–son incest

4726-479: Is a specific instance in which child sexual abuse in the form of forced adult–child and sibling–sibling incest took place over at least three generations. A number of Goler children were victims of sexual abuse at the hands of fathers, mothers, uncles, aunts, sisters, brothers, cousins, and each other. During interrogation by police, several of the adults openly admitted to engaging in many forms of sexual activity, up to and including full intercourse, multiple times with

4865-457: Is also a major inspiration of the chanson de geste Jordain de Blaivies . William Shakespeare and George Wilkins 's play Pericles, Prince of Tyre was based in part on Gower's version, with the change of name probably inspired by Philip Sidney 's Arcadia . Apollonius of Tyre was also a source for his plays Twelfth Night and The Comedy of Errors . Incestuous Incest ( / ˈ ɪ n s ɛ s t / IN -sest )

5004-509: Is also not clear if timed intercourse has an effect on a person's level of stress or their quality of life. Studies have shown no significant difference between different sex positions and pregnancy rate, as long as it results in ejaculation into the vagina. When a sperm donor has sexual intercourse with a woman who is not his partner and for the sole purpose of impregnating the woman, this may be known as natural insemination , as opposed to artificial insemination . Artificial insemination

5143-493: Is always lawful in the Netherlands and Belgium, even among closely related family members. Sexual acts between an adult family member and a minor are illegal, though they are classified not as incest but as abuse of the authority such an adult has over a minor, comparable to that of a teacher, coach, or priest. In Florida , consensual adult sexual intercourse with someone known to be one's aunt, uncle, niece, or nephew constitutes

5282-519: Is at lower ages than that of women; this group includes south European and Latin cultures (Portugal, Greece and Romania are noted) and such from Latin America (Brazil, Chile , and the Dominican Republic ). The study considered many Asian societies to also fall into this group, although matching data was only available from Thailand . In the third group, age of men and women at sexual initiation

5421-537: Is because "although an estimated 15 percent to 20 percent of men experience difficulty controlling rapid ejaculation, most do not consider it a problem requiring help, and many women have difficulty expressing their sexual needs". The American Urological Association (AUA) estimates that premature ejaculation could affect 21 percent of men in the United States. For those whose impotence is caused by medical conditions, prescription drugs such as Viagra , Cialis , and Levitra are available. However, doctors caution against

5560-497: Is common in Japan, but research into victimization statistics from police and health-care systems discredits this; it shows that the vast majority of sexual abuse in Japan, including incest, is perpetrated by men against young girls. While incest between adults and children generally involves the adult as the perpetrator of abuse, there are rare instances of sons sexually assaulting their mothers. These sons are typically mid-adolescent to young adult, and, unlike parent-initiated incest,

5699-411: Is common, and women often require a substantially longer duration of stimulation with a sexual partner than men do before reaching an orgasm. Scholars, such as Weiten et al., state that "many couples are locked into the idea that orgasms should be achieved only through intercourse [penile-vaginal sex]," that "the word foreplay suggests that any other form of sexual stimulation is merely preparation for

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5838-502: Is commonly practiced by sexually active male-female and same-gender couples of various ages, including adolescents." Oral sex is significantly more common than anal sex. The 2010 NSSHB study reported that vaginal intercourse was practiced more than insertive anal intercourse among men, but that 13% to 15% of men aged 25 to 49 practiced insertive anal intercourse. Receptive anal intercourse was infrequent among men, with approximately 7% of men aged 14 to 94 years old having said that they were

5977-488: Is demonstrated by the fact that politicians would use charges of incest (often false charges) as insults and means of political disenfranchisement. In Norse mythology , there are themes of brother–sister marriage, a prominent example being between Njörðr and his unnamed sister (perhaps Nerthus ), parents of Freyja and Freyr . Loki in turn also accuses Freyja and Freyr of having a sexual relationship. The earliest Biblical reference to possible incest involves Cain. It

6116-420: Is deposited near the vagina's entrance and travels along the vagina's lubricating fluids; the risk of pregnancy can also occur without the penis being near the vagina because sperm may be transported to the vaginal opening by the vagina coming in contact with fingers or other non-genital body parts that have come in contact with semen. Safe sex is a relevant harm reduction philosophy and condoms are used as

6255-983: Is derived from the Latin incestus , which has a general meaning of "impure, unchaste". It was introduced into Middle English , both in the generic Latin sense (preserved throughout the Middle English period) and in the narrow modern sense. The derived adjective incestuous appears in the 16th century. Before the Latin term came in, incest was known in Old English as sib-leger (from sibb 'kinship' + leger 'to lie') or mǣġhǣmed (from mǣġ 'kin, parent' + hǣmed 'sexual intercourse') but in time, both words fell out of use. Terms like incester and incestual have been used to describe those interested or involved in sexual relations with relatives among humans, while inbreeder has been used in relation to similar behavior among non-human organisms. In ancient China , first cousins with

6394-512: Is especially the case for men with a lower emotional and composite marital satisfaction. Other studies report that the lack of sexual intercourse does not significantly result in divorce, though it is commonly one of the various contributors to it. According to the 2010 National Survey of Sexual Health and Behavior (NSSHB), men whose most recent sexual encounter was with a relationship partner reported greater arousal, greater pleasure, fewer problems with erectile function, orgasm, and less pain during

6533-460: Is extremely rare. The manuscript copy may only have survived because it was bound into a book together with Archbishop Wulfstan's homilies. Various versions of the tale were later written in most European languages. A notable English version is in the eighth book of John Gower 's Confessio Amantis (1390), which uses it as an exemplum against lust . It is described as being based on Pantheon , but it contains many details that work does not but

6672-685: Is fertile at any given moment. One possible reason for this distinct biological feature may be formation of strong emotional bonds between sexual partners important for social interactions and, in the case of humans, long-term partnership rather than immediate sexual reproduction. Sexual dissatisfaction due to the lack of sexual intercourse is associated with increased risk of divorce and relationship dissolution, especially for men. Some research, however, indicates that general dissatisfaction with marriage for men results if their wives flirted with, erotically kissed or became romantically or sexually involved with another man ( infidelity ), and that this

6811-599: Is involuntary tensing of the pelvic floor musculature, making coitus, or any form of penetration of the vagina, distressing, painful and sometimes impossible for women. It is a conditioned reflex of the pubococcygeus muscle, and is sometimes referred to as the PC muscle. Vaginismus can be hard to overcome because if a woman expects to experience pain during sexual intercourse, this can cause a muscle spasm, which results in painful sexual intercourse. Treatment of vaginismus often includes both psychological and behavioral techniques, including

6950-422: Is known under different ancient Latin names for a variety of sexual activities, but usually denotes penile–vaginal penetration. This is often called vaginal intercourse or vaginal sex. Vaginal sex, and less often vaginal intercourse , may also denote any vaginal sexual activity, particularly if penetrative , including sexual activity between lesbian couples . Copulation , by contrast, more often denotes

7089-594: Is legal, but only with the explicit permission of the Dutch government, due to the possible risk of genetic defects among the offspring. Nephew-niece marriages predominantly occur among foreign immigrants. In November 2008, the Scientific Institute of the Christian Democratic Party (CDA) announced that it wanted a ban on marriages to nephews and nieces. Consensual sex between individuals aged 16 and older

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7228-557: Is less risky than vaginal or anal intercourse. Many times, STIs initially do not cause symptoms, increasing the risk of unknowingly passing the infection on to a sex partner or others. There are 19 million new cases of sexually transmitted infections every year in the U.S., and, in 2005, the World Health Organization (WHO) estimated that 448 million people aged 15–49 were infected per year with curable STIs (such as syphilis , gonorrhea and chlamydia ). Some STIs can cause

7367-471: Is not referred to as his sister. The accusations against Cambyses of committing incest are mentioned as part of his "blasphemous actions", which were designed to illustrate his "madness and vanity". These reports all derive from the same Egyptian source that was antagonistic towards Cambyses, and some of these allegations of "crimes", such as the killing of the Apis bull , have been confirmed as false, which means that

7506-637: Is often based on penile–vaginal intercourse is because heterosexual couples may engage in anal or oral sex as a way of being sexually active while maintaining that they are virgins since they have not engaged in the reproductive act of coitus. Some gay men consider frot or oral sex as a way of maintaining their virginities, with penile-anal penetration used as sexual intercourse and for virginity loss, while other gay men may consider frot or oral sex as their main forms of sexual activity. Lesbians may categorize oral sex or fingering as sexual intercourse and subsequently an act of virginity loss, or tribadism as

7645-488: Is often extra-marital; the study considered the Indian subcontinent to also fall into this group, though data was only available from Nepal . In the second group, the data indicated families encouraged daughters to delay marriage, and to abstain from sexual activity before that time. However, sons are encouraged to gain experience with older women or prostitutes before marriage. Age of men at sexual initiation in these societies

7784-875: Is one of the most widespread of all cultural taboos , both in present and in past societies. Most modern societies have laws regarding incest or social restrictions on closely consanguineous marriages. In societies where it is illegal, consensual adult incest is seen by some as a victimless crime . Some cultures extend the incest taboo to relatives with no consanguinity, such as milk-siblings , stepsiblings, and adoptive siblings, albeit sometimes with less intensity. Third-degree relatives (such as half-aunt, half-nephew, first cousin) on average have 12.5% common genetic heritage, and sexual relations between them are viewed differently in various cultures, from being discouraged to being socially acceptable. Children of incestuous relationships have been regarded as illegitimate , and are still so regarded in some societies today. In most cases,

7923-409: Is possible at any time of the menstrual cycle for women. Sex pheromones facilitate copulatory reflexes in various organisms, but, in humans , the detection of pheromones is impaired and they have only residual effects. Non-primate females put themselves in the crucial lordosis position and remain motionless, but these motor copulatory reflexes are no longer functional in women. During coitus,

8062-449: Is possible that individuals who engage in oral sex, but do not consider it as 'sex', may not associate the acts with the potential health risks they can bring." In other cases, condom use is a factor, with some men stating that sexual activity involving the protection of a condom is not "real sex" or "the real thing". This view is common among men in Africa, where sexual activity involving

8201-586: Is proportional to their parents' coefficient of relationship , a measure of how closely the parents are related genetically. However, cultural anthropologists have noted that inbreeding avoidance cannot form the sole basis for the incest taboo because the boundaries of the incest prohibition vary widely between cultures and not necessarily in ways that maximize the avoidance of inbreeding. In some societies, such as those of Ancient Egypt , brother-sister, father-daughter, mother-son, cousin-cousin, aunt-nephew, uncle-niece, and other combinations of relations within

8340-514: Is reported less often, but it is not known how close the frequency is to heterosexual incest because it is probably more under-reported. The prevalence of incest between parents and their children is difficult to estimate due to secrecy and privacy. In a 1999 news story, the BBC reported: "Close-knit family life in India masks an alarming amount of sexual abuse of children and teenage girls by family members,

8479-453: Is rumored to have had sexual relationships with all three of his sisters ( Julia Livilla , Drusilla , and Agrippina the Younger ). Emperor Claudius , after executing his previous wife, married his brother's daughter, Agrippina the Younger, and changed the law to allow an otherwise illegal union. The law prohibiting marrying a sister's daughter remained. The taboo against incest in ancient Rome

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8618-415: Is shipwrecked and becomes a tutor to a princess who falls in love with him, and the good king gradually discovers his daughter's wishes. The major themes are the punishment of inappropriate lust—the incestuous king invariably comes to a bad end—and the ultimate rewards of love and fidelity. The story is first mentioned in Latin by Venantius Fortunatus in his Carmina (Bk. vi. 8, 11. 5–6) during

8757-451: Is significantly less research on behaviors with regard to condom use for anal and oral sex. The most effective way to avoid sexually transmitted infections is to abstain from sexual intercourse, especially vaginal, anal, and oral sexual intercourse. Decisions and options concerning birth control can be affected by cultural reasons, such as religion, gender roles or folklore . In the predominantly Catholic countries Ireland, Italy, and

8896-453: Is very difficult" and that this is "because most sexually active individuals practice oral sex in addition to other forms of sex, such as vaginal or anal sex, when transmission occurs, it is difficult to determine whether it occurred as a result of oral sex or other more risky sexual activities". They added that "several co-factors may increase the risk of HIV transmission through oral sex"; this includes ulcers, bleeding gums , genital sores, and

9035-561: The European Convention on Human Rights deems all familial sexual acts to be criminal, even if all parties give their full consent and are knowledgeable to all possible consequences. He also argues that the use of particular language tools in the legislation manipulates the reader to deem all familial sexual activities as immoral and criminal, even if all parties are consenting adults. In the Netherlands , marrying one's nephew or niece

9174-649: The European Court of Human Rights , Patrick Stübing lost his case that the conviction violated his right to a private and family life. On 24 September 2014, the German Ethics Council recommended that the government abolish laws criminalizing incest between siblings, arguing that such bans impinge upon citizens. Some societies differentiate between full-sibling and half-sibling relations. Marriages and sexual relationships between first cousins are stigmatized as incest in some cultures, but tolerated in much of

9313-536: The Inca rulers married their sisters. Huayna Capac , for instance, was the son of Topa Inca Yupanqui and the Inca's sister and wife. Half-sibling marriages were found in ancient Japan, such as the marriage of Emperor Bidatsu and his half-sister Empress Suiko . Japanese Prince Kinashi no Karu had sexual relations with his full sister Princess Karu no Ōiratsume, although the action was regarded as foolish. In order to prevent

9452-507: The Patriarch Abraham married his half-sister Sarah . Other references include the passage in 2 Samuel 13 where Amnon , King David 's son, rapes his half-sister Tamar . According to Michael D. Coogan , it would have been perfectly all right for Amnon to have married her, the Bible being inconsistent about prohibiting incest. In Genesis 19:30–38, while living in an isolated area after

9591-636: The anus by the penis), oral sex (penetration of the mouth by the penis or oral penetration of the female genitalia ), fingering (sexual penetration by the fingers) and penetration by use of a dildo (especially a strap-on dildo ), and vibrators . These activities involve physical intimacy between two or more people and are usually used among humans solely for physical or emotional pleasure. They can contribute to human bonding . There are different views on what constitutes sexual intercourse or other sexual activity, which can impact on views of sexual health . Although sexual intercourse , particularly

9730-837: The mating process, especially for non-human animals; it can mean a variety of sexual activities between opposite-sex or same-sex pairings , but generally means the sexually reproductive act of transferring sperm from a male to a female or sexual procreation between a man and a woman. Although sex and having sex also most commonly denote penile–vaginal intercourse, sex can be significantly broad in its meaning and may cover any penetrative or non-penetrative sexual activity between two or more people. The World Health Organization (WHO) states that non-English languages and cultures use different words for sexual activity, "with slightly different meanings". Various vulgarisms , slang , and euphemisms are used for sexual intercourse or other sexual activity, such as fuck , screw , shag , and

9869-407: The woman on top position or the coital alignment technique , a technique combining the "riding high" variation of the missionary position with pressure-counterpressure movements performed by each partner in rhythm with sexual penetration, to maximize clitoral stimulation. Anal sex involves stimulation of the anus , anal cavity, sphincter valve or rectum ; it most commonly means the insertion of

10008-736: The "widespread, unquestioned equation of penile–vaginal intercourse with sex reflects a failure to examine systematically 'whether the respondent's understanding of the question [about sexual activity] matches what the researcher had in mind'". This focus can also relegate other forms of mutual sexual activity to foreplay or contribute to them not being regarded as "real sex", and limits the meaning of rape . It may also be that conceptually conflating sexual activity with vaginal intercourse and sexual function hinders and limits information about sexual behavior that non-heterosexual people may be engaging in, or information about heterosexuals who may be engaging in non–vaginal sexual activity. Studies regarding

10147-460: The 'main event'" and that "because women reach orgasm through intercourse less consistently than men," they are likelier than men to fake an orgasm to satisfy their sexual partners. In 1991, scholars from the Kinsey Institute stated, "The truth is that the time between penetration and ejaculation varies not only from man to man, but from one time to the next for the same man." They added that

10286-510: The 'sequel' to Oedipus , Antigone , his four children are also punished for their parents' incestuousness. Incest appears in the commonly accepted version of the birth of Adonis , when his mother, Myrrha , has sex with her father, Cinyras , during a festival, disguised as a prostitute . In ancient Greece , Spartan King Leonidas I , hero of the legendary Battle of Thermopylae , was married to his niece Gorgo , daughter of his half-brother Cleomenes I . Greek law allowed marriage between

10425-453: The 9th or 10th century but are from late antiquity. Thus they show an intersection of Greek and Roman as well as pre-Christian and Christian influences. Overall, the work is classed with other ancient Greek romance novels. Some scholars hold that the riddles with which the king tests the hero in many versions may be a later addition: ten derive from the c. fourth-century Latin riddle-collection attributed to Symphosius . Other scholars believe

10564-480: The French Institut national d'études démographiques conducted a cross-cultural study titled "At what age do women and men have their first sexual intercourse?" In the first group of the contemporary cultures he studied, which included sub-Saharan Africa (listing Mali , Senegal and Ethiopia ), the data indicated that the age of men at sexual initiation in these societies is at later ages than that of women, but

10703-782: The Graeco-Roman period. Numerous papyri and the Roman census declarations attest to many husbands and wives being brother and sister, of the same father and mother. However, it has also been argued that the available evidence does not support the view that such relations were common. The most famous of these relationships were in the Ptolemaic royal family ; Cleopatra VII was married to two of her younger brothers, Ptolemy XIII and Ptolemy XIV , whilst her mother and father, Cleopatra V and Ptolemy XII , were also brother and sister. Arsinoe II and her younger brother Ptolemy II Philadelphus were

10842-760: The Middle East, North Africa, and South Asia. Communities such as the Dhond and the Bhittani of Pakistan clearly prefer marriages between cousins due to the belief they ensure purity of the descent line, provide intimate knowledge of the spouses, and ensure that patrimony will not pass into the hands of "outsiders". Cross-cousin marriages are preferred among the Yanomami of Brazilian Amazonia, among many other tribal societies identified by anthropologists. Sexual intercourse Sexual intercourse (also coitus or copulation )

10981-787: The Philippines, fertility awareness and the rhythm method are emphasized while disapproval is expressed with regard to other contraceptive methods. Worldwide, sterilization is a more common birth control method, and use of the intrauterine device (IUD) is the most common and effective way of reversible contraception. Conception and contraception are additionally a life-and-death situation in developing countries , where one in three women give birth before age 20; however, 90% of unsafe abortions in these countries could be prevented by effective contraception use. The National Survey of Sexual Health and Behavior (NSSHB) indicated in 2010 that "1 of 4 acts of vaginal intercourse are condom-protected in

11120-637: The U.S. (1 in 3 among singles)," that "condom use is higher among black and Hispanic Americans than among white Americans and those from other racial groups," and that "adults using a condom for intercourse were just as likely to rate the sexual extent positively in terms of arousal, pleasure and orgasm than when having intercourse without one". Penile–vaginal penetration is the most common form of sexual intercourse. Studies indicate that most heterosexual couples engage in vaginal intercourse nearly every sexual encounter. The National Survey of Sexual Health and Behavior (NSSHB) reported in 2010 that vaginal intercourse

11259-546: The abusive siblings using incest as a way to assert their power over a weaker sibling. Absence of the father in particular has been found to be a significant element of most cases of sexual abuse of female children by a brother. The damaging effects on both childhood development and adult symptoms resulting from brother–sister sexual abuse are similar to the effects of father–daughter, including substance abuse, depression, suicidality, and eating disorders. Proponents of incest between consenting adults draw clear boundaries between

11398-403: The adolescent son. Childhood sibling–sibling incest is considered to be widespread but rarely reported. Sibling–sibling incest becomes child-on-child sexual abuse when it occurs without consent, without equality, or as a result of coercion . In this form, it is believed to be the most common form of intrafamilial abuse. The most commonly reported form of abusive sibling incest is abuse of

11537-462: The age of 18; furthermore, 29% of all rapes occurred when the victim was less than 11 years old. 11% of rape victims are raped by their fathers or stepfathers, and another 16% are raped by other relatives. A study of victims of father–daughter incest in the 1970s showed that there were "common features" within families before the occurrence of incest: estrangement between the mother and the daughter, extreme paternal dominance, and reassignment of some of

11676-456: The appropriate length for sexual intercourse is the length of time it takes for both partners to be mutually satisfied, emphasizing that Kinsey "found that 75 percent of men ejaculated within two minutes of penetration. But he didn't ask if the men or their partners considered two minutes mutually satisfying" and "more recent research reports slightly longer times for intercourse". A 2008 survey of Canadian and American sex therapists stated that

11815-417: The ascending or descending line ad infinitum . Adoption was considered the same as affinity in that an adoptive father could not marry an unemancipated daughter or granddaughter even if the adoption had been dissolved. Incestuous unions were discouraged and considered nefas (against the laws of gods and man) in ancient Rome . In AD 295, incest was explicitly forbidden by an imperial edict, which divided

11954-405: The average time for heterosexual intercourse (coitus) was 7 minutes and that 1 to 2 minutes was too short, 3 to 7 minutes was adequate and 7 to 13 minutes desirable, while 10 to 30 minutes was too long. Anorgasmia is regular difficulty reaching orgasm after ample sexual stimulation, causing personal distress. This is significantly more common in women than in men, which has been attributed to

12093-518: The behavior of consenting adults on one hand and rape, child molestation, and abusive incest on the other. However, even consensual relationships such as these are still legally classified as incest and criminalized in many jurisdictions (although there are certain exceptions ). James Roffee, a senior lecturer in criminology at Monash University and former worker on legal responses to familial sexual activity in England and Wales, and Scotland discussed how

12232-608: The body's production of antibodies and subsequent lower blood pressure , and decreased risk of prostate cancer . Sexual intimacy and orgasms increase levels of the hormone oxytocin (also known as "the love hormone"), which can help people bond and build trust. Oxytocin is believed to have a more significant impact on women than on men, which may be why women associate sexual attraction or sexual activity with romance and love more than men do. A long-term study of 3,500 people between ages 18 and 102 by clinical neuropsychologist David Weeks indicated that, based on impartial ratings of

12371-513: The children. Sixteen adults (both men and women) were charged with hundreds of allegations of incest and sexual abuse of children as young as five. In July 2012, twelve children were removed from the 'Colt' family (a pseudonym) in New South Wales , Australia, after the discovery of four generations of incest. Child protection workers and psychologists said interviews with the children indicated "a virtual sexual free-for-all". In Japan, there

12510-507: The concept of incestus into two categories of unequal gravity: the incestus iuris gentium , which was applied to both Romans and non-Romans in the Empire, and the incestus iuris civilis , which concerned only Roman citizens. Therefore, for example, an Egyptian could marry an aunt, but a Roman could not. Despite the act of incest being unacceptable within the Roman Empire, Roman Emperor Caligula

12649-485: The deposit of (usually) raw semen in the vagina of a woman, is in effect a substitute for intercourse and is often contrasted with 'normal intercourse' in this context. Reproductive methods also extend to gay and lesbian couples. For gay male pairings, there is the option of surrogate pregnancy; for lesbian couples, there is donor insemination in addition to choosing surrogate pregnancy. Some women use artificial insemination to become single mothers by choice . There are

12788-401: The destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah , Lot 's two daughters conspire to inebriate and rape their father due to the lack of available partners to continue his line of descent . Because of intoxication, Lot "perceived not" when his firstborn, and the following night his younger, daughter lay with him. Moses was also born of an incestuous marriage. Exodus 6 details how his father, Amram , was

12927-415: The digital manipulation of the clitoris, rest of the vulva , vagina or anus for the purpose of sexual arousal and sexual stimulation; it may constitute the entire sexual encounter or it may be part of mutual masturbation, foreplay or other sexual activities. Natural human reproduction involves penile–vaginal penetration, during which semen , containing male gametes known as sperm cells or spermatozoa,

13066-410: The disease , and patients can enjoy healthy and productive lives. In cases where infection is suspected, early medical intervention is highly beneficial in all cases. The CDC stated "the risk of HIV transmission from an infected partner through oral sex is much less than the risk of HIV transmission from anal or vaginal sex," but that "measuring the exact risk of HIV transmission as a result of oral sex

13205-504: The disorder, estimates for the prevalence of premature ejaculation vary significantly more than for erectile dysfunction. For example, the Mayo Clinic states, "Estimates vary, but as many as 1 out of 3 men may be affected by [premature ejaculation] at some time." Further, "Masters and Johnson speculated that premature ejaculation is the most common sexual dysfunction, even though more men seek therapy for erectile difficulties" and that this

13344-405: The early Udege people . Incest between an adult and a person under the age of consent is considered a form of child sexual abuse that has been shown to be one of the most extreme forms of childhood abuse; it often results in serious and long-term psychological trauma , especially in the case of parental incest. Its prevalence is difficult to generalize, but research has estimated 10–15% of

13483-525: The epidemic. Of the 2.7 million new HIV infections estimated to occur worldwide in 2010, 1.9 million (70%) were in Africa . The World Health Organization also stated that the "estimated 1.2 million Africans who died of HIV-related illnesses in 2010 comprised 69% of the global total of 1.8 million deaths attributable to the epidemic." It is diagnosed by blood tests , and while no cure has been found, it can be controlled by management through antiretroviral drugs for

13622-452: The expression of a gene transcription factor called ΔFosB (delta FosB) in the brain's reward center ; consequently excessively frequent engagement in sexual activity on a regular (daily) basis can lead to the overexpression of ΔFosB, inducing an addiction to sexual activity. Sexual addiction or hypersexuality is often considered an impulse control disorder or a behavioral addiction. It has been linked to atypical levels of dopamine,

13761-479: The false accusation against Anne Boleyn and George Boleyn was trumped up in order to ensure the king could go on to marry Jane Seymour . Sects deemed heretical, such as the Waldensians , were accused of incest. Incestuous marriages were also seen in the royal houses of ancient Japan and Korea, Inca Peru , Ancient Hawaii , and, at times, Central Africa, Mexico , and Thailand . Like the kings of ancient Egypt,

13900-546: The female is in estrus, and to engage in sex acts with same-sex partners . Like humans engaging in sexual activity primarily for pleasure, this behavior in these animals is also presumed to be for pleasure, and a contributing factor to strengthening their social bonds. Sexual intercourse may be called coitus , copulation , coition , or intercourse . Coitus is derived from the Latin word coitio or coire , meaning "a coming together or joining together" or "to go together", and

14039-431: The female's reproductive tract in non-vaginal ways among the animals, such as by cloacal copulation. For most non-human mammals , mating and copulation occur at the point of estrus (the most fertile period of time in the female's reproductive cycle), which increases the chances of successful impregnation . However, bonobos , dolphins and chimpanzees are known to engage in sexual intercourse regardless of whether

14178-448: The fertile window, a practice that is sometimes called 'timed intercourse'. Timed intercourse using urine tests that predict ovulation may help improve the rate of pregnancy and live births for some couples trying to conceive such as those who have been trying for less than 12-months and who are under 40 years old, however, it is not clear from medical evidence if timed intercourse improves the rate of ultra-sound confirmed pregnancies and it

14317-510: The first in the family to participate in a full-sibling marriage, a departure from custom. A union between full siblings was counternormative in Greek and Macedonian tradition, and prohibited by the laws of at least some cities. The fable of Oedipus , with a theme of inadvertent incest between a mother and son, ends in disaster and shows ancient taboos against incest, since Oedipus blinds himself in disgust and shame after his incestuous actions. In

14456-407: The general population as having had at least one such sexual contact, with less than 2% involving intercourse or attempted intercourse. Among women, research has yielded estimates as high as 20%. Father – daughter incest was for many years the most commonly reported and studied form of incest. Mother – son incest is rarely reported. According to Catanzarite (1980), between 1965 and 1980 only

14595-470: The incest story to have been a later addition as well, though others, including Elizabeth Archibald, see it as an integral thematic element of the tale. The most widespread Latin versions are those of Godfrey of Viterbo , who incorporated it into his Pantheon of 1185 as if it were actual history, Historia Apollonii regis Tyri and a version in the Gesta Romanorum . 'Fifty to a hundred versions' of

14734-412: The incidents involve some kind of physical force. Although the mothers may be accused of being seductive with their sons and inviting the sexual contact, this is contrary to evidence. Such accusations can parallel other forms of rape, where, due to victim blaming , a woman is accused of being at fault for the rape. In some cases, mother–son incest is best classified as acquaintance rape of the mother by

14873-421: The influence of the other families, Korean Goryeo dynasty monarch Gwangjong married his half-sister Daemok in the 10th century. Marriage with a family member not related by blood was also regarded as contravening morality and was therefore incest. One example of this is the 14th century Chunghye of Goryeo , who raped one of his deceased father's concubines , who was thus regarded to be his mother. In India,

15012-645: The lack of sex education with regard to women's bodies, especially in sex-negative cultures, such as clitoral stimulation usually being key for women to orgasm. The physical structure of coitus favors penile stimulation over clitoral stimulation; the location of the clitoris then usually necessitates manual or oral stimulation in order for the woman to achieve orgasm. Approximately 25% of women report difficulties with orgasm, 10% of women have never had an orgasm, and 40% or 40–50% have either complained about sexual dissatisfaction or experienced difficulty becoming sexually aroused at some point in their lives. Vaginismus

15151-473: The lack of a knowledgeable healthcare provider trained and experienced in counseling those with intellectual disabilities on sexual intercourse. Those with intellectual disabilities may have hesitations regarding the discussion of the topic of sex, a lack of sexual knowledge and limited opportunities for sex education. In addition there are other barriers such as a higher prevalence of sexual abuse and assault. These crimes often remain underreported. There remains

15290-605: The largest proportion of women aged 13 to 49 who marry their close relatives are in Tamil Nadu , then Andhra Pradesh , Karnataka , and Maharashtra . While it is rare for uncle–niece marriages, it is more common in Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu . In some Southeast Asian cultures, stories of incest being common among certain ethnicities are sometimes told as expressions of contempt for those ethnicities. Marriages between younger brothers and their older sisters were common among

15429-454: The late 6th century; it is conjectured, based on similarities with the Ephesian Tale of Xenophon of Ephesus and the presence of idioms awkward in Latin but typical in Greek, that the original was a Greek romance of the third century. Some fragments of Greek romance, however, point to the possibility of an even older date. The earliest manuscripts of the tale, in a Latin version, date from

15568-621: The meaning of sexual intercourse sometimes come into conflict. While most consider penile–vaginal intercourse to be sex, whether anal or oral intercourse are considered sex is more debatable, with oral sex ranking lowest. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) stated that "although there are only limited national data about how often adolescents engage in oral sex, some data suggest that many adolescents who engage in oral sex do not consider it to be 'sex'; therefore they may use oral sex as an option to experience sex while still, in their minds, remaining abstinent". Upton et al. stated, "It

15707-892: The mother's traditional major family responsibility to the daughter. Eldest and only daughters were more likely to be the victims of incest. It was also stated that the incest experience was psychologically harmful to the woman in later life, frequently leading to low self-esteem, very unhealthy sexual activity, contempt for other women, and other emotional problems. Adults who as children were incestuously victimized by adults often suffer from low self-esteem , difficulties in interpersonal relationships, and sexual dysfunction , and are at an extremely high risk of many mental disorders, including depression , anxiety disorders , phobic avoidance reactions , somatoform disorder , substance abuse , borderline personality disorder , and complex post-traumatic stress disorder . The Goler clan in Nova Scotia

15846-562: The nephew of his mother, Jochebed . An account noted that the incestuous relations did not suffer the fate of childlessness, which was the punishment for such couples in Levitical law. It stated, however, that the incest exposed Moses "to the peril of wild beasts, of the weather, of the water, and more." Many European monarchs were related due to political marriages, such that many such marriages were between cousins of some degree, uncles and nieces, and so forth, and sometimes first cousins. This

15985-565: The old Historia does. Its numerous vernacular versions, along with the Latin ones, attest to its popularity throughout the Middle Ages. It appears in an old Danish ballad collected in Danmarks gamle Folkeviser . Robert Copland translated from the French the romance of Kynge Appolyne of Thyre (W. de Worde, 1510). The story was retold in thirteenth-century Castilian as Libro de Apolonio . It

16124-569: The ovum, forming a new embryo . Pregnancy begins after the fertilized ovum is implanted in the lining of the uterus (the endometrium ). Pregnancy rates for sexual intercourse are highest during the menstrual cycle time from some five days before until approximately one day after ovulation (this is sometimes called the fertile window ). For optimal pregnancy chance, there are recommendations of vaginal intercourse every one or two days, or every two or three days. Some people who are trying to conceive may choose to time vaginal intercourse with

16263-435: The parents did not have the option to marry to remove that status, as incestuous marriages were, and are, normally also prohibited. A common justification for prohibiting incest is avoiding inbreeding , a collection of genetic disorders suffered by the children of parents with a close genetic relationship . Such children are at greater risk of congenital disorders, developmental and physical disability, and death; that risk

16402-618: The partners orient their hips to allow the penis to move back and forth in the vagina to cause friction, typically without fully removing the penis. In this way, they stimulate themselves and each other, often continuing until orgasm in either or both partners is achieved. For human females, stimulation of the clitoris plays a significant role in sexual activity; 70–80% of women require direct clitoral stimulation to achieve orgasm, though indirect clitoral stimulation (for example, via vaginal intercourse) may also be sufficient (see orgasm in females ). Because of this, some couples may engage in

16541-646: The phrase "sleep together". The laws of some countries use the euphemism, carnal knowledge . Penetration of the vagina by the erect penis is additionally known as intromission , or by the Latin name immissio penis (Latin for "insertion of the penis"). The age of first sexual intercourse is called sexarche . Vaginal, anal and oral sex are recognized as sexual intercourse more often than other sexual behaviors. Sexual activity that does not involve penile-vaginal sex or other sexual penetration might be used to retain virginity (sometimes called technical virginity ) or labeled outercourse . One reason virginity loss

16680-445: The presence of other STIs. In 2005, the World Health Organization estimated that 123 million women become pregnant worldwide each year, and around 87 million of those pregnancies or 70.7% are unintentional. Approximately 46 million pregnancies per year reportedly end in induced abortion . Approximately 6 million U.S. women become pregnant per year. Out of known pregnancies, two-thirds result in live births and roughly 25% in abortions;

16819-403: The protection of a condom is often associated with emasculation because condoms prevent direct penile–to–skin genital contact. Sexual intercourse or other sexual activity can encompass various sexually stimulating factors ( physiological stimulation or psychological stimulation ), including different sex positions (such as the missionary position , the most common human sex position ) or

16958-564: The remainder end in miscarriage. However, many more women become pregnant and miscarry without even realizing it, instead mistaking the miscarriage for an unusually heavy menstruation . The U.S. teenage pregnancy rate fell by 27 percent between 1990 and 2000, from 116.3 pregnancies per 1,000 girls aged 15–19 to 84.5. This data includes live births, abortions, and fetal losses. Almost 1 million American teenage women, 10% of all women aged 15–19 and 19% of those who report having had intercourse, become pregnant each year. Sexual activity can increase

17097-513: The repeated prosecutions and jail time they have served as a result, have caused some in Germany to question whether incest between consenting adults should be punished at all. An article about them in Der Spiegel states that the couple are happy together. According to court records, the first three children have mental and physical disabilities, and have been placed in foster care. In April 2012, at

17236-577: The report of Cambyses' supposed incestuous acts is questionable. Several of the Egyptian kings married their sisters and had several children with them to continue the royal bloodline. For example, Tutankhamun married his half-sister Ankhesenamun , and was himself the child of an incestuous union between Akhenaten and an unidentified sister-wife. Several scholars, such as Frier et al., state that sibling marriages were widespread among all classes in Egypt during

17375-400: The royal family, yet it remains problematic to determine the reliability of these accounts. According to Herodotus , Shah Cambyses II supposedly married two of his sisters, Atossa and Roxane. This would have been regarded as illegal. However, Herodotus also states that Cambyses married Otanes ' daughter Phaidyme , whilst his contemporary Ctesias names Roxane as Cambyses' wife, but she

17514-466: The same surnames (i.e. those born to the father's brothers) were not permitted to marry, while those with different surnames could marry (i.e. maternal cousins and paternal cousins born to the father's sisters). In Achaemenid Persia , marriages between family members, such as half-siblings, nieces and cousins took place but were not seen as incestuous. However, Greek sources state that brother-sister and father-daughter marriages allegedly took place inside

17653-499: The story are known from antiquity into the early modern period, mostly European, including texts in English, Dutch, German, Danish, French, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Polish, Russian, Hungarian, Greek, and Latin. The earliest vernacular translation is an incomplete Old English prose text from the 11th century, sometimes called the first English novel . The existence of this unique text is unusual, as secular prose fiction from that time

17792-440: The subjects' photographs, sex on a regular basis is associated with people looking significantly chronologically younger. However this does not imply causality. Vaginal intercourse for the first time increases vaginal immune activity. Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are bacteria , viruses or parasites that are spread by sexual contact, especially vaginal, anal, or oral intercourse, or unprotected sex . Oral sex

17931-906: The term coitus, generally denotes penile–vaginal penetration and the possibility of creating offspring , it also commonly denotes penetrative oral sex and penile–anal sex, especially the latter. It usually encompasses sexual penetration, while non-penetrative sex has been labeled outercourse , but non-penetrative sex may also be considered sexual intercourse. Sex , often a shorthand for sexual intercourse , can mean any form of sexual activity. Because people can be at risk of contracting sexually transmitted infections during these activities, safer sex practices are recommended by health professionals to reduce transmission risk. Various jurisdictions place restrictions on certain sexual acts, such as adultery , incest , sexual activity with minors , prostitution , rape , zoophilia , sodomy , premarital sex and extramarital sex . Religious beliefs also play

18070-426: The term 'incest' remains widely used in popular culture to describe any form of sexual activity with a relative. In Canada, marriage between uncles and nieces and between aunts and nephews is legal. One of the most public cases of adult sibling incest in the 2000s is the case of Patrick Stübing and Susan Karolewski , a brother–sister couple from Germany. Because of violent behavior on the part of his father, Patrick

18209-446: The unnecessary use of these drugs because they are accompanied by serious risks such as increased chance of heart attack. The selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) and antidepressant drug dapoxetine has been used to treat premature ejaculation. In clinical trials, those with PE who took dapoxetine experienced sexual intercourse three to four times longer before orgasm than without the drug. Another ejaculation-related disorder

18348-433: The use of sex toys . Foreplay may precede some sexual activities, often leading to sexual arousal of the partners and resulting in the erection of the penis or natural lubrication of the vagina . It is also common for people to be as sexually satisfied by being kissed, touched erotically , or held as they are during sexual intercourse. Non- primate females copulate only when in estrus , but sexual intercourse

18487-506: The use of vaginal dilators . Additionally, the use of Botox as a medical treatment for vaginismus has been tested and administered. Painful or uncomfortable sexual intercourse may also be categorized as dyspareunia . Approximately 40% of males reportedly have some form of erectile dysfunction (ED) or impotence, at least occasionally. Premature ejaculation has been reported to be more common than erectile dysfunction, although some estimates suggest otherwise. Due to various meanings of

18626-683: The world. Currently, 24 US states prohibit marriages between first cousins, and another seven permit them only under special circumstances. The United Kingdom permits both marriage and sexual relations between first cousins. In some non-Western societies, marriages between close biological relatives account for 20–60% of all marriages. First- and second-cousin marriages are rare in Western Europe, North America, and Oceania, accounting for less than 1% of marriages, but reach 9% in South America, East Asia, and South Europe, and about 50% in regions of

18765-558: Was cited that he knew his wife and she conceived and bore Enoch. A literalist reading of this passage indicates that, during this period, there was no other woman except Eve, or there was an unnamed sister, in which case Cain had an incestuous relationship with his mother or his sister. According to the Book of Jubilees , Cain married his sister Awan . Later, in Genesis 20 of the Hebrew Bible ,

18904-496: Was especially true in the Habsburg , Hohenzollern , Savoy , and Bourbon royal houses. However, relations between siblings, which may have been tolerated in other cultures, were considered abhorrent. For example, the false accusation that Anne Boleyn and her brother, George Boleyn , had committed incest was one of the reasons given for both being executed in May 1536. Historians agree that

19043-878: Was lower, with both men and women involved in sexual intercourse before any union formation; the study listed Switzerland, Germany and the Czech Republic as members of this group. Concerning United States data, tabulations by the National Center for Health Statistics report that the age of first sexual intercourse was 17.1 years for both males and females in 2010. The CDC stated that 45.5 percent of girls and 45.7 percent of boys had engaged in sexual activity by 19 in 2002; in 2011, reporting their research from 2006 to 2010, they stated that 43% of American unmarried teenage girls and 42% of American unmarried teenage boys have ever engaged in sexual intercourse. The CDC also reports that American girls will most likely lose their virginity to

19182-589: Was more closely matched; there were two sub-groups, however. In non-Latin, Catholic countries (Poland and Lithuania are mentioned), age at sexual initiation was higher, suggesting later marriage and reciprocal valuing of male and female virginity. The same pattern of late marriage and reciprocal valuing of virginity was reflected in Singapore and Sri Lanka . The study considered China and Vietnam to also fall into this group, though data were not available. In northern and eastern European countries, age at sexual initiation

19321-548: Was taken in at the age of 3 by foster parents, who adopted him later. At the age of 23 he learned about his biological parents, contacted his mother, and met her and his then 16-year-old sister Susan for the first time. The now-adult Patrick moved in with his birth family shortly thereafter. After their mother died suddenly six months later, the siblings became intimately close, and had their first child together in 2001. By 2004, they had had four children together: Eric, Sarah, Nancy, and Sofia. The public nature of their relationship, and

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