Why choose a run when you can engage in intimacy instead? While it might seem like a great way to burn calories, intimacy isn’t quite the workout you might think it is. A 2013 study involving 21 heterosexual couples from Montreal, mostly in their early 20s, explored this idea. They measured energy expenditure during intimacy and compared it to 30-minute moderate treadmill sessions. The results showed that women burned about 3.1 calories per minute during intimacy, while men burned 4.2. On the treadmill, women burned 7.1 calories per minute and men burned 9.2. Essentially, the treadmill workout burned twice as many calories as intimacy.
Although this study had a small sample size and focused on a specific demographic, Dr. Debbie Herinck, a professor of sexual and reproductive health at Indiana University, pointed out that it’s challenging to transform intimacy into an equivalent workout. While intimacy offers health benefits like stress reduction and immune system boosts, relying on it as your sole form of exercise might not be the best strategy.
Hi, I’m Justin DOD, and welcome to misconceptions. Many of us learn about intimacy from overhearing older siblings or watching shows at friends’ houses, leading to numerous misconceptions. Let’s explore the truth behind these myths and what truly counts as intimacy.
Intimacy has a strict definition, but it’s essential to understand what we’re discussing. According to the Oxford English Dictionary, intimacy involves physical contact between individuals with sexual stimulation, among other meanings. Studies reveal that opinions on what constitutes intimacy vary widely.
For instance, a 2023 survey of about 5,800 UK adults found that over a third considered certain activities as intimacy, and around 45% included oral activities. These numbers were higher among LGBTQ+ respondents. A 2015 survey of nearly 600 heterosexual college students asked them to classify activities as definitely intimacy, probably intimacy, probably not intimacy, and definitely not intimacy. About 25% said oral stimulation without climax was definitely intimacy, and 70% considered anal intercourse without climax as definitely intimacy.
These surveys focus on specific demographics and don’t account for factors like gender diversity and cultural differences. However, the varied responses highlight that the definition of intimacy is open to interpretation.
One common misconception is that losing virginity involves breaking a specific membrane. Since there’s no consensus on what counts as intimacy, losing virginity is similarly ambiguous. Historically, it was believed that a woman lost her virginity when a membrane broke during her first intimate experience. This definition is flawed, as it misunderstands anatomy. Most of the time, this membrane naturally has an opening, and some people are born with little or no tissue. Activities like horseback riding or gymnastics can also affect this membrane. In essence, virginity is largely a social construct.
Another myth is that discomfort from prolonged arousal without release is a serious medical condition. While it can be uncomfortable, it’s not dangerous and should never be used to pressure someone into intimacy.
There’s also the misconception that you can’t get pregnant during your period. If you believe period intimacy can’t lead to pregnancy, a refresher on the menstrual cycle might help. Each cycle, an ovary releases an egg that may or may not get fertilized. If not fertilized, the egg and extra tissue shed, resulting in menstruation. Sperm can survive in the reproductive tract for up to five days, so pregnancy is possible if you have unprotected intimacy during your period, especially with shorter cycles.
Lastly, many people think you can’t contract infections from oral intimacy. However, many sexually transmitted infections can be transmitted through oral activities. Using protection, like condoms or dental dams, is the best way to prevent infections.
There are many more misconceptions about intimacy. While discussing these topics might feel uncomfortable, it’s crucial for improving our understanding of sexual health and equality. If you have any misconceptions you think should be addressed, feel free to share them in the comments, but let’s keep it appropriate.
Thanks for reading, and I’ll see you next time!
Gather in small groups and discuss what activities you consider to be intimate. Compare your views with the findings from the surveys mentioned in the article. Reflect on how cultural, social, and personal factors influence your definitions.
Create a short presentation debunking one of the common myths about intimacy discussed in the article. Use credible sources to support your arguments and present your findings to the class.
Engage in role-playing exercises where you address misconceptions about intimacy in a respectful and informative manner. Practice how to communicate effectively about sexual health and consent.
Conduct a research project exploring how different cultures perceive and define intimacy. Present your findings in a report or presentation, highlighting the diversity and commonalities in these perceptions.
Participate in a workshop that focuses on safe practices during intimate activities. Learn about the use of protection, consent, and communication to promote sexual health and well-being.
Here’s a sanitized version of the transcript, removing explicit language and sensitive content while maintaining the overall message:
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Why go for a run when you can engage in intimacy instead? Unfortunately, intimacy is not the miracle calorie burner you might think it is. In a 2013 study, 21 heterosexual couples from Montreal, mostly in their early 20s, tracked their energy expenditure in two situations: during intimacy and during 30-minute moderate exercise sessions on a treadmill. Researchers found that during intimacy, women burned an average of 3.1 calories per minute while men burned 4.2. On the treadmill, women averaged 7.1 calories and men averaged 9.2. In other words, they burned twice as many calories doing a moderate treadmill workout as they did during intimacy.
Granted, it was a small study that looked at a very narrow demographic, but Dr. Debbie Herinck, a professor of sexual and reproductive health at the Indiana University School of Public Health, mentioned that it would be incredibly difficult for people to change intimacy in such a substantial way that it would be equivalent to a workout.
There are plenty of ways to justify engaging in intimacy rather than going to the gym. Intimacy has its own health benefits, from reducing stress to boosting your immune system. However, if it’s the only exercise you ever get, you might want to rethink your strategy.
Hi, I’m Justin DOD, and welcome to misconceptions. Considering that a lot of our earliest education about intimacy comes from eavesdropping on older siblings or watching shows at unsupervised friends’ houses, it’s no surprise that there are many misconceptions on the topic. So join me on a journey to learn the truth about various myths and what even counts as intimacy.
Let’s get started. There’s a strict definition of intimacy, but it’s hard to talk about it without knowing exactly what we’re discussing. The Oxford English Dictionary describes it as physical contact between individuals involving sexual stimulation, among other meanings. Studies show that people have pretty wide-ranging opinions about the specifics.
In early 2023, for example, a market research company polled about 5,800 adults in the UK on what counts as intimacy. More than a third of participants said that certain activities count as intimacy, and about 45% said that oral activities count too. Those stats were higher among LGBTQ+ respondents. Another survey in 2015 asked nearly 600 heterosexual college students to classify different activities as definitely intimacy, probably intimacy, probably not intimacy, and definitely not intimacy. About 1/4 of them said that oral stimulation without climax was definitely intimacy, and 70% said anal intercourse without climax was also definitely intimacy.
These surveys focus on small demographics and don’t account for important variables like gender diversity and cultural differences. However, the fact that there’s a study with response options including “probably intimacy” does help prove our point that the meaning of intimacy is very much up for debate.
Now, let’s address the misconception that you have to break a certain membrane to lose your virginity. Since we don’t agree on what counts as intimacy, it makes sense that losing your virginity is similarly ambiguous. Historically, a woman was said to lose her virginity when a specific membrane broke during her first experience of certain types of intimacy.
This definition has issues beyond being limited in terms of who it can happen to and what kind of intimacy is involved. For one thing, it’s based on a misunderstanding of the anatomy. Most of the time, this membrane naturally has an opening, and some people are born with little or no tissue at all. Other activities, like horseback riding or gymnastics, can also affect this membrane. In short, virginity is mostly a social construct.
Another misconception is that discomfort from prolonged arousal without release is a serious medical condition. While it can be uncomfortable, it’s not dangerous to your health. It should not be used to coerce anyone into engaging in intimacy.
You also cannot get pregnant while on your period. If you think it’s impossible for period intimacy to result in pregnancy, you might appreciate a refresher on the menstrual cycle. Basically, once every cycle, an ovary releases an egg, which may or may not get fertilized. If the egg does not get fertilized, the extra tissue sheds along with some blood, which is menstruation.
Sperm can survive in the reproductive tract for up to five days, so it is possible to get pregnant if you have unprotected intimacy during your period, especially if your cycle is shorter than average.
Lastly, many people believe that you can’t contract infections from oral intimacy. However, many sexually transmitted infections can be passed through oral activities as well. The best way to prevent contracting an infection from oral intimacy is to use protection, such as a condom or dental dam.
There are plenty more misconceptions about intimacy out there. While it might feel uncomfortable to discuss, it’s important to talk about these topics to improve our understanding of sexual health and equality. If you have any misconceptions you think deserve to be talked about, feel free to share them in the comments, but let’s keep it appropriate.
Thanks for watching, and I’ll see you next time!
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This version maintains the educational content while ensuring it is suitable for a wider audience.
Intimacy – A close, familiar, and usually affectionate or loving personal relationship with another person or group. – Developing intimacy in relationships can significantly enhance emotional well-being and mental health.
Misconceptions – Incorrect or misleading notions or ideas about something. – Addressing misconceptions about mental health can lead to more effective support and treatment for those in need.
Health – The state of being free from illness or injury, encompassing physical, mental, and social well-being. – University students should prioritize their health by balancing academic responsibilities with self-care practices.
Exercise – Physical activity that is planned, structured, and repetitive for the purpose of conditioning the body. – Regular exercise has been shown to reduce stress and improve mood among students.
Students – Individuals who are enrolled in an educational institution for the purpose of learning. – Students often face unique stressors that can impact their mental health, making campus resources crucial.
Survey – A method of gathering information from individuals, usually by asking questions to a sample of people. – The university conducted a survey to assess the mental health needs of its student population.
Sexual – Relating to the instincts, physiological processes, and activities connected with physical attraction or intimate physical contact between individuals. – Open discussions about sexual health are essential for promoting safe practices among university students.
Reproductive – Relating to the system of organs and processes involved in the production of offspring. – Education about reproductive health can empower students to make informed decisions about their bodies.
Infections – The invasion and multiplication of microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, and parasites that are not normally present within the body. – Preventing infections through proper hygiene and vaccinations is a key aspect of maintaining student health.
Psychology – The scientific study of the human mind and its functions, especially those affecting behavior in a given context. – Understanding psychology can help students develop better coping strategies for managing stress and anxiety.
