Sexual intercourse

Sexual intercourse

Various jurisdictions place restrictions on certain sexual acts, such as adultery, incest, sexual activity with minors), prostitution, rape, zoophilia, sodomy, premarital sex and extramarital sex. Religious beliefs also play a role in personal decisions about sexual intercourse or other sexual activity, such as decisions about virginity, or legal and public policy matters. Religious views on sexuality vary significantly between different religions and sects of the same religion, though there are common themes, such as prohibition of adultery.


Sexual intercourse

Reproductive sexual intercourse between non-human animals is more often called copulation), and sperm may be introduced into the female's reproductive tract in non-vaginal ways among the animals, such as by cloacal copulation. For most non-human mammals, mating and copulation occur at the point of estrus (the most fertile period of time in the female's reproductive cycle), which increases the chances of successful impregnation. However, bonobos, dolphins and chimpanzees are known to engage in sexual intercourse regardless of whether the female is in estrus, and to engage in sex acts with same-sex partners. Like humans engaging in sexual activity primarily for pleasure, this behavior in these animals is also presumed to be for pleasure, and a contributing factor to strengthening their social bonds.


Definitions

!19th-century [erotic interpretation of Roman emperor Hadrian and Antinous engaged in anal intercourse, by Édouard-Henri Avril](//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a0/%C3%89douard-HenriAvril%2818%29HadrianandAntinousinEgypt.jpg/250px-%C3%89douard-HenriAvril%2818%29HadrianandAntinousinEgypt.jpg)

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