10 truths about sexuality that should be taught in school (but aren't)
Most people grow up with confused, incomplete, or completely wrong ideas about sex. We learn it through whispers, movies, or the internet, but rarely from a real understanding of the body, pleasure, and consent.
In this article, we share 10 key facts—based on science and an educational approach—to help you better understand your sexuality (and maybe unlearn a few things along the way).
1. The clitoris has more than 8,000 nerve endings.
And that's just the external part. This anatomical marvel, exclusively for pleasure, is surrounded by taboos and ignorance. Its complete shape (a "Y" shape) was only accurately documented in 1998.
2. The most important sexual organ is the brain.
Desire begins with a signal in the limbic system. Therefore, what we think, feel, or even imagine directly influences our sexual experience.
3. The body responds to desire before the mind processes it.
Physical arousal (such as lubrication or erection) can occur even without conscious desire. This debunks the idea that if there's arousal, there's necessarily consent.
4. Most women do not achieve orgasm through penetration alone.
Studies indicate that nearly 75% of women require clitoral stimulation to achieve orgasm. Yet, many sexual narratives focus solely on intercourse.
5. Sexual response is not always linear.
Particularly in people with vulvas, desire can appear after the onset of sexual activity. The circular response model, proposed by Rosemary Basson, challenges the idea that desire always has to be "there from the beginning."
6. Consent is not just saying “yes” or “no.”
It must be clear, enthusiastic, informed, reversible, and mutual. Without a YES, everything else is a NO. And you can change your mind at any time.
7. The hymen does not define "virginity" (and virginity is a myth).
There is no physical or biological marker that indicates whether someone has had sexual intercourse. The hymen can vary in shape, elasticity, and condition without any relationship to sexual activity.
8. Sexual orientation can be fluid.
Desire can change over time. Researcher Lisa Diamond has shown that orientation isn't always fixed, and that's also true.
9. Most bodies don't orgasm at the same time.
Porn has created unrealistic expectations about the timing of pleasure. Sex isn't a race; it's an encounter that doesn't always happen at the same pace.
10. Pleasure-based sex education reduces risks.
Programs that integrate pleasure, consent, and diversity reduce unwanted pregnancies, STIs, and violence. Educating with pleasure doesn't promote sex: it promotes self-care.
These facts aren't just curiosities: they're an invitation to look at yourself with different eyes, to question what you were taught (or not taught) and to live your sexuality in a more free, informed and pleasurable way.
At Owna , we believe that knowledge is power, especially when it comes to your body and your pleasure. What fact surprised you the most?