Someone asked us: Why don't I feel pleasure from penetration?
Not all vaginas are the same. Some people love having their vagina penetrated, and some people don’t get what all the fuss is about. These feelings are all totally normal. Sex isn’t one size fits all.
There are a lot of different ways to have sex. And pleasure doesn’t always come automatically, no matter what you’ve heard or seen in porn or in other media. There are a lot of things that can take the enjoyment out of sex: stress, fear, shame, or past trauma can make it hard to relax and enjoy sex.
But having a healthy sex life is good for you both emotionally and physically. Sex can help you create a connection with another person, and sexual pleasure has lots of health benefits — whether you’re with a partner or not. When you have an orgasm, your body gives you a natural high. You release endorphins, which are hormones that block pain and make you feel good.
Some people need to have certain parts of their body stimulated in a very specific way or with certain objects (like vibrators) to have an orgasm. A lot of people with vulvas have orgasms by stimulating their clitorises, but not by penetrating their vaginas. All of these differences are normal. It may take time and practice to learn how to have an orgasm. Experimenting with what feels good with your partner and by masturbating can help you understand your body and what feels good for you.
Feeling good about your body, enjoying sexual pleasure, and having healthy relationships are also big parts of healthy sexuality. Having a healthy sex life means knowing what you do and don’t want to do sexually and being able to communicate that to your partners.
If having your vagina penetrated is painful, or if you have other questions about sex, your nearest Planned Parenthood is here to help. They’re seen and heard it all, and they know what’s up.
Tags: pleasure, penetration, sexual health