1) "The vagina widens with repeated sexual intercourse" 😲
The misconception (and sexist) that sexual intercourse deforms the vagina and vulva is widespread. But... wrong! The vagina is a muscle that adapts to different situations : it relaxes to accommodate a finger , a sex toy , or a penis, then returns to its original shape immediately after stimulation. Therefore, the number of vaginal penetrations has no impact on the size or tone of the vagina. Sorry not sorry .
2) "Periods smell bad" 🩸
While blood can naturally have a metallic odor due to its iron content, it's actually the reaction with the chemicals in menstrual hygiene products that creates an unpleasant smell . Yes, indeed! When blood sits on a pad with a less-than-ideal composition, bacteria can thrive. This has nothing to do with the natural, perfectly harmless scent of menstrual blood !
3) "The sperm is active while the egg is passive" 🚀
During fertilization , eggs are often described as passive and immobile , while sperm are generally characterized as active and fast , ready to penetrate the patiently waiting egg . However, numerous studies have shown that the egg and sperm interact and that the sperm, far from actively penetrating the egg, is more accurately "pulled" inside by the egg! Social constructs , indeed...
4) "Abortion can cause sterility" 🏥
FALSE! Numerous scientific studies have demonstrated that abortion, when performed safely and legally under proper conditions , whether surgical or medical, has no impact on a woman's fertility . This is important to remember for those who would have us believe otherwise.
5) "Anal pleasure isn't for straight men!" 🍑
Unfortunately, anal pleasure is still surrounded by many prejudices , and many still associate it with homosexuality . Yet, all men have an anus and... a prostate . Often called the " male G-spot ," the prostate is a highly erogenous zone whose stimulation can lead to incredibly intense orgasms , sometimes even without penile stimulation . It's therefore neither a question of sexual orientation nor virility , but simply of pleasure and self- knowledge ;)
6) "Women need feelings to experience pleasure" 💞
Spoiler alert: no . Women need to be aroused . This is easily acknowledged for men, but less so for women, as if, being "more sentimental," we only needed romantic feelings to experience pleasure. Female orgasm isn't directly linked to the heart, and spoiler alert 2: it's not "more complex" either : proof in 3 minutes with the best sex toys ;)
7) "Real sex is penetration" 🍆
The idea that penetration is central to sexual intercourse is still far too widespread . Yet, penetration is a sexual activity like any other , and it's perfectly possible to have "complete" sex without penetration . In fact, 70% of women do n't reach orgasm with this practice. So, how about we stop with the cliché trio of "foreplay - penetration - orgasm" ?
8) "A woman is either clitoral or vaginal" 🤚
This is what women have long been told. But in reality, the clitoris is an organ that measures approximately 10 cm . Beyond the externally visible hood , the clitoris extends internally , and its roots surround the urethra all the way to the vagina. Therefore, its stimulation can be internal (via the vagina ) or external (directly around the glans ). In short, there's no need to choose : there's no anatomical reason why we should be one or the other!
9) "Women are passively penetrated" 🦦
Now that we know sexuality is n't based on penetration , what if we revisited our vocabulary to rethink a more egalitarian sexual relationship ? Luckily, there's a word for it, coined in 2016 by the German philosopher and feminist Bini Adamczak: circlusion . Formed from the prefix " cir, " derived from the Latin " circum, " meaning " around, " and " clure ," derived from " clore, " meaning "to close ," the verb "circlure " refers to the act of surrounding or enveloping a penis (or other object) during sexual intercourse . After all, when we 're riding our partner, isn't it more accurate to speak of circlusion than penetration?
10) "If you need lubricant, it means you're not aroused." 💦
FALSE! Natural lubrication depends on many factors : hormones, hydration, stress, fatigue, medications (like the pill), etc. A person can be very aroused but produce little lubrication . Using lubricant has nothing to do with arousal; it can simply help make intercourse more enjoyable . In fact, it should be normalized and used without embarrassment !
Conclusion :
In short, pleasure is something to be claimed! It's by tackling taboo subjects, correcting false beliefs, and deconstructing the most persistent myths that we can make a difference! And as they say, knowledge is power 💪