Sexual intercourse

Sexual intercourse is sex with penetration of the vagina or anus by a hard penis.

Penetration of the vagina

A man who is aroused can get an erection. The penis swells with blood. It gets bigger and harder and it rises up.

A woman who is aroused gets a wet vagina. This helps the penis to enter the vagina.

The woman can get pregnant only if:

• the man’s semen enters the woman’s vagina and uterus and if
• the woman is in her fertile days of the month.

If you do not have a desire to have children at the moment, use contraception.

Reasons for sexual intercourse

You can have sexual intercourse for different reasons, for example because you want to:

• have children (only through penetration of the vagina);
• have sexual pleasure;
• express love and other emotions;
• experience intimacy;
• relax…

Variation

You do not need to have an orgasm each time you have sex. Many people do not always have an orgasm.

You can have sexual intercourse in various positions: lying, sitting, standing or squatting.
There are other ways of having sex, besides sexual intercourse.

Talk with your partner about your wishes and emotions. Together you can decide what is good sex for both of you.