Sexual intercourse
Sexual intercourse, or
coitus or
copulation, is chiefly the insertion and thrusting of a male's penis, usually when erect, into a female's vagina for the purposes of sexual pleasure or reproduction; also known as
vaginal intercourse or
vaginal sex.[3][4][5][6] Other forms of penetrative sexual intercourse include penetration of the anus by the penis, penetration of the mouth by the penis or oral penetration of the vulva or vagina, sexual penetration by the fingers, and penetration by use of a strap-on dildo.[7][8][9] These activities involve physical intimacy between two or more individuals and are usually used among humans solely for physical or emotional pleasure and commonly contribute to human bonding.[7][10] A variety of views concern what constitutes sexual intercourse or other sexual activity,[11][12] which can also impact views on sexual health.[13] Although the term
sexual intercourse, particularly the variant
coitus, most commonly denotes penile-vaginal penetration and the possibility of creating offspring, [3][5][6][14] it also commonly denotes penetrative oral sex and particularly penile-anal sex.