Outline of human sexuality

Updated on Dec 25, 2024

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The following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to human sexuality:

Human sexuality is the capacity to have erotic experiences and responses. Human sexuality can also refer to the way one person is sexually attracted to another person of the opposite sex (heterosexuality), the same sex (homosexuality), or having both tendencies (bisexuality). The lack of sexual attraction is referred to as (asexuality). Human sexuality impacts cultural, political, legal and philosophical aspects of life, as well as it is widely connected to issues of morality, ethics, theology, spirituality, or religion. It is not, however, directly tied to gender.

History of human sexuality

By period

Sexuality in ancient Rome

Homosexuality in ancient Rome

Prostitution in ancient Rome

Timeline of sexual orientation and medicine

By region

History of sex in India

By subject

By orientation

History of bisexuality

History of homosexuality

History of lesbianism

History of masturbation

History of prostitution

LGBT history

History of same-sex unions

Sexual revolution

History of erotic depictions

Golden Age of Porn

Feminist Sex Wars

Types of human sexuality

By sex

Male sexuality

Female sexuality

By age

Child sexuality

Genital play

Playing doctor

Adolescent sexuality

Sexuality in older age

By region

Adolescent sexuality in the United States

Sexuality in India

Sexuality in Japan

Sexuality in South Korea

Sexuality in ancient Rome

Sexuality in China

Sexuality in the Philippines

LGBT rights by country or territory

Other

Animal sexual behaviour

Sexual orientation

Sexual attraction –

Heterosexuality – sexually attracted to the opposite sex.

Homosexuality – sexually attracted to the same sex.

Bisexuality – having both homosexual and heterosexual tendencies.

Asexuality – not sexually attracted to either sex.

Demographics of sexual orientation

Sexual orientation identity

Gender identity

Transgender

Sexual identity

Types of sexual activity

Foreplay

Non-penetrative sex

Exclusive

Erotic massage – rubbing all over, with or without oil.

"Dry humping" – frottage while clothed. This act is common, although not essential, in the dance style known as "grinding".

Footjob – stimulating genitals with the feet.

Handjob – stimulating the penis with the hand.

Irrumatio –

Intercrural sex – (interfemoral sex) type of irrumation, where one partner places a phallic object or penis between the other partner's thighs.

Intergluteal sex – when one partner places a phallic object or penis into the other partner's buttock cleavage or gluteal cleft.

Mammary intercourse – when one partner rubs a phallic object or penis between the partner's breasts.

Stimulation of nipples – stimulating the nipples, usually orally or manually.

Sumata – type of stimulation of male genitals popular in Japanese brothels: the woman rubs the man's penis with her hands, thighs and labia majora.

Tribadism – vulva-to-vulva rubbing, commonly known by its "scissoring" position.

Frot – penis-to-penis rubbing.

Non-exclusive

Fingering – stimulating the vagina or anus with the fingers.

Oral sex – stimulation of the genitalia by the use of mouth, lips, tongue, teeth or throat.

Mutual Masturbation – two or more people stimulate themselves or one another sexually, usually with the hands.

Autoeroticism

Penetrative sex

Sexual intercourse

Foreplay –

Anal sex – penetration of one person's anus with another's penis for sexual stimulation.

Oral sex –

Anilingus – oral stimulation of the anus or perineum.

Cunnilingus – oral stimulation of a female's clitoris, vulva, or vagina.

Fellatio – oral stimulation of a male's penis.

Masturbation

Fingering –

Anal masturbation

Fisting – involves inserting a hand into the vagina or rectum.

Autoeroticism

Sex toys

Other

Facial

Group sex

Vanilla sex

Sexual roleplay

Bondage and Discipline

Dominance and Submission

Erotic humiliation

Sadism and Masochism

Cock-and-ball torture

Bondage positions

Bareback –

Bukkake –

Circle jerk –

Creampie –

Cum shot –

Cybersex –

Felching –

Gang bang –

Pompoir –

Quickie –

Snowballing –

Tea bag –

Venus Butterfly –

Sexual arousal

Touch

Erogenous zone

Smell

Perfume

Cologne

Sight

Romantic setting

Nudity

Sound

Moaning

Dirty talk

Aphrodisiac –

Libido –

Sexual fantasy

Physiological events

Male

Female

Male ejaculation

Unsorted

Incest

Accidental incest

Covert incest

Mechanics of sex

Orgasm control

Sex magic

Sexual sublimation

Sexology (science of sex)

Sexology – scientific study of human sexuality, including human sexual interests, behavior, and function. The term does not generally refer to the non-scientific study of sex, such as political analysis or social criticism.

Sexuality in older age

Biology and sexual orientation

Environment and sexual orientation

Fraternal birth order and male sexual orientation

Handedness and sexual orientation

Neuroscience and sexual orientation

Prenatal hormones and sexual orientation

Sexual orientation change efforts

Sexual orientation hypothesis

Sexual orientation identity

Sex education

Sexually transmitted disease

Birth control

Condom

Dental dam

Postorgasmic illness syndrome

Medicine

Reproductive medicine

Sex surrogate

Hyposexuality

Philosophy of sex

What is the function of sex?

What is romantic love?

Is there an essential characteristic that makes an act sexual?

Are some sexual acts good and others bad? According to what criteria? Alternatively, can consensual sexual acts be immoral, or are they outside the realm of ethics?

What is the relationship between sex and biological reproduction? Can one exist without the other?

Are sexual identities rooted in some fundamental ontological difference (such as biology)?

Is sexuality a function of gender or biological sex?

Sexual objectification