37 Surprising Facts About Sex and Our Dumb Brains
![37 Surprising Facts About Sex and Our Dumb Brains](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/6/9/6/797696_320x180.jpg)
Think you know everything about sex? You probably don’t. Our brains are surprisingly dumb when it comes to sexual behavior. In fact, there are all sorts of things we do during sex that we can’t help because our brains are just designed that way. Things like…
![MYTH: once you get married. the Sex stops. FACT: Married people are having way more Sex than singles. According to the Kinsey Institute, almost 50 percent of young married couples are having sex two to three times a week. Meanwhile, more than 50 percent of young single people haven't even had sex in the past year. CRACKED.COM https os://www.quora.com/How-often-do-married-couples-have-SeX](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/6/7/1/797671.jpg)
![MYTHS When cousins marry, it's a genetic disaster. FACTS They're more likely to successfully reproduce. A recent study found that marriages between cousins in Iceland tended to produce more children and grandchildren than those between completely unrelated individuals. And the odds of a birth defect are 2-3% about the same as those of a woman who becomes pregnant in her 40s. CRACKED.COM http p://abcnews. go ws.go.com/Health/ReproductiveHealth/story?id=4258128&page=1# UckcePm1eAi](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/6/6/9/797669.jpg)
![MYTH: If a woman's a virgin, she has a hymen. FACT: It's long gone by the time you have Sex. The hymen isn't solid in the first place - it's more like a donut. And during childhood, most of it wears away as a result of washing, walking, athletics, and masturbation, though little bits may remain here and there. If the hymen existed as people imagine it, virgins couldn't have periods. CRACKED.COM https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/all-about-sex/ 01103/the-hymen-membrane-widelv-misunderstood](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/6/7/0/797670.jpg)
![MYTH: The right herbs can get you in the mood. FACT: Herbal aphrodifiacy can kill you. According to the FDA, no herbal supplement can actually boost your sex drive, and Spanish Fly has been shown to permanently damage the urinary system. Worse, in 1995, four men died from taking herbal aphrodisiacs. The myth probably arose in ancient times, when some herbs contained vitamins people were actually deficient in. CRACKED.COM features/9912150015 1 aphrodisiacs-wild-oats-herbal](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/6/6/8/797668.jpg)
![MYTH: condoms make Sex terrible. FACTS You're wearing the wrong kind. A study done by luckybloke.com found that 68% of participating men were using the wrong condom size. Switching to the correct size dramatically improved their pleasure. The site also reported that style preference is individual and surprising - you might think you'll like ribbed, when it turns out ultra-thin is your thing. CRACKED.COM https:/uckybloke.com/pages/condom-reviews-better-sex-with-condoms](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/6/6/6/797666.jpg)
![MYTHS Conception happens during Sex. FACT: It can take up to a week. The thing is, sperm can live up to seven days inside a woman's body. This means that even if she wasn't ovulating at the time of sex, if she does so within seven days, she could still get pregnant. And counting the duration of your pregnancy backward might not take you to the date you had sex. CRACKED.COM http. //www.nhs.uk/conditions/pregnancy-and-baby/pages/getting-pregnant aspx](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/6/6/7/797667.jpg)
![MYTH: Girls go dg wild, in college. FACT: College women are less likely to dabble. Even Wikipedia has a page on the lesbian until graduation trope. But a CDC study shows that women with college degrees are less likely than their non-college-going peers to have dipped their toes into the same-sex pool. Just 10% of college women reported experimenting, compared to 15% for women who never finished high school. CRACKED.COM 8sex](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/6/6/5/797665.jpg)
![MYTH: Take a cold shower to kill your libido. FACT: cold showers raise hormone levels. Cold showers increase testosterone, which gives your libido a nice boost. They also increase your energy level and sperm count. Remember, your swimmers like it cool. So if you're trying to make yourself less horny, a cold shower is going to be fairly counterproductive. CRACKED.COM http://www.menprovement.com/boost-festosterone-naturally/](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/6/6/4/797664.jpg)
![MYTH: chocolate gets you in the mood for love. FACTS But only if you eat an insane amount. Despite its association with love and romance, chocolate isn't an aphrodisiac. While it does contain serotonin and phenyl ethylamine, which can cause a hormonal rush, the amounts are so trace that you'd enter a diabetic coma before you felt any chocolate-induced afterglow. CRACKED.COM Ahttp://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2006/02/0214 060214 valentines.html](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/6/6/3/797663.jpg)
![MYTH: Casual Sex will mess you up emotionally. FACT: It's great for your well-being. Psychologists say that those who engage in casual sex tend to have lower depression and higher self-esteem, if they're doing it for the right reasons. So don't have casual sex if you're doing it to drown out your lack of self-worth and feelings of inadequacy. But if you're motivated by fun and enjoyment, you'll likely get a nice self-esteem boost. CRACKED.COM M https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/strictly-casual/201402/is-casual-sex-bad-your-mental-health](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/6/6/2/797662.jpg)
![MYTH: People who are into BDSM are sick f*CkS. FACT: Actually, they're psychologically healthy. People who prefer bondage and sadomasochism (or other unusual sex) are more extroverted and open to new experiences, and also less neurotic, anxious, and paranoid than their vanilla counterparts. They are also more secure in their relationships. Researchers speculate that it might be because they're satisfied with their sex lives. CRACKED.COM 9.gizmado.com/kinky-people-have-better-mental-heaith-than-the-rest-of-510510381](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/6/6/1/797661.jpg)
Source: 13 Flirty Facts on the History & Science of Flirting
![Men Think They're Hot Stuff CRACKED.COM In heterosexual encounters, men tend to overestimate and women tend to underestimate sexual interest.](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/6/6/0/797660.jpg)
Source: 13 Flirty Facts on the History & Science of Flirting
![Business Cards for Flirting MAY I.C.U. HOME? Yes! No! CRACKEDed In the late 19th century, cards were handed out as a fun flirtation. They said things like Let's get acquainted for fun and results. and May I be permitted the blissful pleasure of escorting you home this evening?](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/6/5/9/797659.jpg)
Source: 13 Flirty Facts on the History & Science of Flirting
![Fancy Brands to Keep Your Man CRACKED.COM Women were less likely to flirt with a man who was with a woman who was wearing luxury brands, inferring the man had bought the items and was devoted to her.](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/6/5/8/797658.jpg)
Source: 13 Flirty Facts on the History & Science of Flirting
![Stomach is the way to the heart CRACKED.COM The way to a man's heart is his stomach, and research shows the same is true for women. Women are more likely to respond positively to romantic cues when full.](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/6/5/6/797656.jpg)
Source: 13 Flirty Facts on the History & Science of Flirting
![The 5 Styles CRACKED .CON Researchers have determined there are five ways of communicating romantic interests: traditional, physical, sincere, playful, and polite.](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/6/5/5/797655.jpg)
Source: 13 Flirty Facts on the History & Science of Flirting
![Hard to Read CRACKEDG .COM In one study, pairs were 80% accurate in knowing when someone wasn't flirting, but only 18-36% accurate in knowing when they were flirting, with men tending to be more accurate.](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/6/5/4/797654.jpg)
Source: 13 Flirty Facts on the History & Science of Flirting
![The Face of Flirting CRACKED.co The most easily recognizable cues that someone is flirting include a head turned to one side and tilted down a little, a slight smile, and eyes directed towards the intended recipient.](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/6/5/7/797657.jpg)
Source: 13 Flirty Facts on the History & Science of Flirting
![A Fan of Language CRACKED.COM In the Victorian era, how a woman carried her fan conveyed different messages. For example, holding it in her left hand meant she wanted company.](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/6/5/3/797653.jpg)
Source: 13 Flirty Facts on the History & Science of Flirting
![Anti-Flirt Activism ANTIFURT CLUB CLUB CRACKED.COM In the 1920s women campaigned against street harassment by participating in Anti-Flirt Clubs.](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/6/5/2/797652.jpg)
Source: 13 Flirty Facts on the History & Science of Flirting
![MYTH! Men like casual Sex; women don't. FACTS Women are open to good casuall Sex. A study found that women are just as likely to say yes to a casual sexual encounter if they know their partner is competent. Since it takes women more effort to climax, they don't want to waste their time on unsatisfying sex. And bisexual women are exactly as likely as men to say yes when that encounter is with another women. CRACKED.COM http://nymag.com/thecut/2014/02/woman-with-an-alfernative-theary-of-hookups.html](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/6/4/7/797647.jpg)
![MYTH: pulling out doesn't prevent pregnancy. FACT: It's almost as effective as condoms. Used properly, the withdrawal method of birth control is 96% effective. When condoms are used correctly they're 98% effective. Used imperfectly, that success rate drops to 82%, but the success rate of condoms also drops- to 83%. (Please note that withdrawal won't protect against STDs.) CRACKED.COM http://abcnews.go.com/Health/Economy/sex-study-pull-withdrawal](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/6/4/4/797644.jpg)
![MYTH: Don't have Sex before the big game! E9 FACTS Sex doesn't affect your sportsingness. Sex doesn't burn all that many calories (it's equivalent to walking a couple of flights of stairs), so it won't tire you out. And if you are worried it'll drain your testosterone, don't. Sex actually causes the body to produce more testosterone. So if anything, sex actually makes men more competitive. CRACKED.COM http: ww.webmd.com/men/news/20150313/more-sex-better-festosterone-levels](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/6/4/6/797646.jpg)
![MYTH: Men hit their Sexual peak much younger than women. FACT: Hormones don't dictate when you hit your peak. While it's true that testosterone reaches its apex when a man is in his late teens, and estrogen maxes out when a woman is in her 20s, sexual maturity has more to do with attitude and comfort. Middle-aged women are viewed as being at their sexual peaks because they've had time to experiment and become comfortable with their sexuality. CRACKED.COM https ddanielle.com/2011/04/24/the-myths-and-facts-behind-womens-sexual-peak/](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/6/4/3/797643.jpg)
![In the Workplace CRACKED.COM One study showed that a little flirting at work can relieve stress, as long as it doesn't cross into sexual harassment.](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/6/5/1/797651.jpg)
Source: 13 Flirty Facts on the History & Science of Flirting
![MYTHS Sex Sells. FACTS Sex makes people forget what you're selling. Studies show that people are half as likely to remember what was advertised in a sexy commercial than they are to remember what's being sold in a regular one. For women, that means that around 22% of them can remember. For men, that number is less than 10% And women actively turn their attention away from sexy ads. CRACKED.COM ttp://www.emergencemarketing.com/2005/10/25/sex-in-ads-does-not-sell/](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/6/4/1/797641.jpg)
![MYTH: Any man can learn to last longer. FACT8 some men are just wired for quickies. According to New York sex therapist Stephen Snyder, MD: If you have trouble lasting more than a minute during intercourse, you're not likely to be able to rock like a porn star no matter how many exercises you do. Pro tip: Get really, really good at afterplay. CRACKED.COM http ttp://abcnews.go.com/Health/Wellness/14-sex-myths-busted/story?id=24520345#12](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/6/4/5/797645.jpg)
![MYTH Open relationships are doomed to fail. FACT: Couples who swing communicate well. Communication is the cornerstone of any relationship, and studies show that couples in polyamorous relationships communicate incredibly well. Their relationships are also less burdened by fear, anger, jealousy, and rejection than monogamous couples. And when they do experience negative feelings, they are more likely to talk them out. CRACKED.COM http: //www w.livescience.com/27129-polyamory-good-relationships.html](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/6/3/6/797636.jpg)
![MYTH Every drop of man-juice can get you pregnant. FACT: There's no working sperm in pre-ejaculate. In two separate studies, scientists found that most of the pre-ejaculate samples they collected did not contain any sperm at all. Those scarce few that did had only small clumps of a very small amount of sperm that were immobile - in other words, they couldn't swim. CRACKED.COM hito ncbi alm nih. nih.gov/pubmed/12286905?report=abstract&format=text](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/6/4/2/797642.jpg)
![MYTH: You should avoid Sex during your period. FACTS Sex is great for alleviating cramps. Period sex has been unfairly classified as taboo, because it can be a little messy. But the internal massage created by sex and orgasm can go a long way toward relieving cramps. It can also help with period-related cluster headaches. Plus, your body is more sensitive, so the sex will be better. CRACKED.COM http://www.everydayhealth.com/news/it-safe-have-sex-during-your-period/](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/6/3/7/797637.jpg)
![MYTH: A woman's first time will be painful. FACTS It'll only hurt if She's not relaxed. A woman's vagina is attuned to her mental state, so if she's tense, she'll tighten up. And if she's expecting her first time to hurt, it might be a self-fulfilling prophecy. If a couple takes things slowly and relaxes, there shouldn't be pain for the woman. And if there is, it's time to see a doctor. CRACKED.COM Amber Madison 2006 Hooking Up: A Girl's All-Out Guide to Sex and Sexuality.](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/6/3/8/797638.jpg)
![The Effect of Weather CRACKED.com Research shows that flirting is most effective when it's sunny outside, with flirt recipients being almost twice as likely to give out their number.](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/6/5/0/797650.jpg)
Source: 13 Flirty Facts on the History & Science of Flirting
![MYTH: when you get older, you Stop having Sex. FACTS old people are having tons of Sex. A recent study found that a whopping 75 percent of the 57- to 75-year-olds surveyed are sexually active. And they're not as missionary as you might think. More than half reported engaging in oral sex in the past year. In fact, there's so much brittle pelvic grinding going on that it's causing an STD problem among the elderly. CRACKED.COM health/ t/sexed-up-seniors-do-it-more-youd-think/#,V4fLhJMrLo1 -seniors](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/6/3/9/797639.jpg)
![Homemade Love Puzzles vot Love devine here I This Hours varizated Saues When Segal hards The carnation to the bro Display the are onjos move view all Sho convers True will you both Commons breat will their No Shiew with So beaut Ford de think where hearts nyrev some When Sweetness That There be all which clitten 15 gold. ser All must great a M saud R CRACKED.COM A form of 18th century Valentine, the intricately folded love letter would reveal new sentiments as the reader unfolded the paper.](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/6/4/9/797649.jpg)
Source: 13 Flirty Facts on the History & Science of Flirting
![MYTH The morning after pill induces abortion. FACT: Plan B prevents ovulation. If you had unprotected sex while you were ovulating, taking a morning-after pill can't do anything to prevent pregnancy. But if there wasn't an egg available to be fertilized, Plan B prevents you from releasing one. Remember, those sperm could still be hanging around a week later. CRACKED.COM https dparenthoodorg/learn/moming-after-pill-emergency-contraception](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/6/4/0/797640.jpg)
![Stamp Placement LEFT-HAND TOP CORNER. R TOP ANNED 3NO 150d 1A07 PEN POST ONE FENNY ONE LOVE CANNOT 00 YOU I I SEND YOU LOVE YOU AM ALWAYS THINKINO YOURS. LOVE ME. TRULY. OF YOU. A KISS. T- -HAND SIDE OF SURNAME CRACKED.COM 19th century sweethearts would send private messages to each other using their letters' stamp placements as code when their parents would censor their mail.](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/6/4/8/797648.jpg)
Source: 13 Flirty Facts on the History & Science of Flirting
![MYTHS Women prefer jocks to brainy guys. FACT8 Women want their men to be smart. Scientists showed college-aged women videos of men performing various tasks, and had them evaluate each man's potential as a long-term mate. What the studies showed was that the creativity and overall braininess of these potential suitors won out over good looks or athleticism. CRACKED.COM http://abcnews. go.com/Technology/story?id=5951979&page=1](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/6/3/5/797635.jpg)