Top 10 common sex myths revealed

Sex and desire have always been viewed as a very important part of life, but it has emerged that most, in their pursuit for carnal satisfaction, ignore safety and healthy bedroom rules.

Dr Barry Buffman, a certified urologist and director of the Los Angeles Boston Medical Group, has described ten top sex myths that are most common among men, reports Askmen.com.

The first myth concerns the belief that a woman will not get pregnant if a guy 'pulls out' before ejaculation.

Men do not always know when ejaculatory fluid begins to seep out — and even ahead of a perceptible orgasm, pre-ejaculate (which includes sperm) is released and is enough to get a woman pregnant.

The second myth concerns thinking about someone else during the act, which is a bad thing to do. A large part of the sexual experience starts with your brain, not your body, and sometimes your brain can wander. If you are committed to your lady, and your relationship is in a good place, it's okay to think about Angelina Jolie or Megan Fox every now and then.

The third myth is the belief that premature ejaculation only affects young men.

Some men do find that premature ejaculation begins at the onset of sexual maturity, but plenty of men also find it to be an issue later in life. In fact, premature ejaculation affects 30% of men at some time in their lives.

Often, early ejaculation in men who are in their thirties or older is a co-symptom of erectile dysfunction or fatigue, poor cardiovascular conditioning, depression, anxiety, or neurological symptoms.

The fourth myth is that oral sex is safer than vaginal sex. From teenagers to former president Bill Clinton, oral sex seems to have the stigma of a "free pass" as far as sexual relationships go. Yes, it does count as sex, and yes, you can get a sexually transmitted disease from oral sex.

There is still an exchange of fluids, meaning that diseases can enter your body through sores or small cuts in your mouth and throat.

The fifth myth is about how certain foods can be aphrodisiacs that will put one in the mood for some good loving.

While oysters, dark chocolate, strawberries, and tiger penis might make one feel l'amour, there is no scientific evidence to support the validity of aphrodisiacs.

The sixth myth is on how size matters. As anyone with sexual experience knows, true sexual enthusiasm far outweighs any gifted parts. And contrary to another popular sex myth, the size of one's member has nothing to do with the size of one's hands or feet or nose.

The seventh myth is about how, if all else fails, Viagra and other similar oral medications can treat erectile dysfunction.

Oral medications are only a temporary fix to a problem that may have other underlying health causes that should be addressed by a qualified physician. In addition, many men with health conditions, including hypertension and diabetes, cannot take oral prescriptions due to serious potential side effects or contraindications with other medications.

For men who cannot use oral medication, there are a number of other options, including urethral suppositories and ICP, an injection that produces an erection within minutes.

The eighth myth concerns the belief that after a certain age, sex is no longer important. Sex is an important aspect of physical and emotional health and well-being for adults of all ages, even those in their golden years.

While some people believe that a decrease in libido is a natural part of ageing, a loss of sexual desire can be related to a number of other factors, including hormone deficiencies, depression, anxiety disorders, side effects of medication, changes to a relationship, communication barriers, or loss of a spouse or partner.

The ninth myth is about men having more sexual urges than women do. Though many men would have you believe they are ready to go 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, the truth is that men experience daily fluctuations in libido, as do women.

A man's readiness to hop in the sack can be affected by many of the same factors that have an impact on a woman's level of desire, including diet, sleep, health, stress, medical conditions, self-confidence, and relationship disharmony.

The tenth myth is that great sex will just happen naturally without any effort, the way it does in films.

The reality is that the human body doesn't come with an instruction manual. The "tricks of the trade" that pleased a former partner do not always translate with someone new.

Good communication is the key to good sex, as is a willingness to be open to try new techniques and positions to find out what each partner finds pleasurable.

It can be a little awkward at first to over-communicate during sex, but think about the outcome: a partner who knows how to do it right every time.