What defines virginity?

Sex and STIs
Written By Tessa Commers

While I’ve gotten this question from a couple of you, it’s not up to a doctor to answer, “what defines a virgin?” Virginity is a fuzzy concept and one that I, as a medical provider, really don’t care about.

What I DO care about is what sex and virginity mean to YOU. It’s silly for me to ask, “are you still a virgin?” because the concept varies from person to person. (It also carries a bit of a judgmental tone, don’t you think?) Instead, what matters is what types of sex you are having (if at all) and if you are practicing safe sex. There are many types of sex, and they all carry their own risks (and benefits).

Some types of sex (mature language alert):

  • Oral sex is mouth to genitalia (penis, clitoris, vagina, anus).

  • Penis-to-vagina sex is the only one that carries risk of pregnancy.

  • Anal sex is penis to anus.

  • Tribbing is clitoris/vagina to clitoris/vagina.

  • Manual genital stimulation of a partner and self-stimulation (masturbation) are the only of these sexual acts that do not carry the risk of STIs.

And, as always, remember: condoms and dental dams protect against STIs, birth control and condoms protect against pregnancy.

Tessa Commers https://www.askdoctort.net
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