7 strange sex facts we bet you didn’t know

1. Male sperm can live up to 5 days

Male sperm is surprisingly resilient. Sperm inside a woman’s vagina can live in her cervical mucus or upper genital tract for 3-5 days. Provided the sperm remains alive, it may even be able to fertilise the egg, too. Sperm ejaculated outside the body is less tough – it can survive up to a few hours.

2. Sometimes sex is a matter of life and death

If a female ferret doesn’t mate while she’s in heat, she can die! If she’s unable to find a sex partner and stays in heat too long, her body will start to secrete high levels of estrogen, which causes aplastic anemia – a deadly disease for ferrets.

3. A man produces a mind-boggling amount of sperm

There’s plenty of male sperm to go around. And we mean plenty: One single guy produces enough sperm in two weeks to impregnate every fertile woman on the planet.

4. Sex can increase your pain threshold

Apparently the Divinyls were right – there is a fine line between pleasure and pain – at least during sex, that is. According to a study published in the Journal of Sex Research, when you’re aroused your pain threshold can increase significantly. It’s even better if you reach the big O – orgasms have been known to block pain by releasing a hormone which elevates your pain threshold.

5. Sperm contains calories!

While spitting or swallowing semen is always a matter of personal preference, if you’re on a diet you may want to reconsider swallowing. Why? There are five calories in a teaspoon of semen.

6. There's a reason why it's hard to wee after sex

After you orgasm, your body releases an anti-diuretic hormone, which explains why you may have trouble urinating directly after sex. Stick with it though – going to the loo after sex helps to prevent urinary tract infections.

7. You can increase your bust size by having sex
Ladies, forget push-up bras – just get frisky instead. A woman’s breasts can swell up 25 per cent when she’s aroused. And about one per cent of women are able to orgasm through the stimulation of their breasts and nipples alone.