Sadly, many American teens turn into young adults without having even a minimal amount of sex education. This, unsurprisingly, doesn’t make people STOP having sex, it just makes them have bad, unsafe, questionably consensual, dangerous sex.

Here are a few facts people wish they knew before they embarked on sexual encounters – and things we should definitely be educating our young about:

• The vagina should be ‘ready’ in the same way a penis is. I always thought that once the penis was erect, then you could have sex (which can happen in a matter of seconds). But it’s also important for the vagina to be ‘ready,’ as in lubricated. 
• Cis, hetero sex isn’t ‘done’ just because the man finishes. He should be taking care of you, too, and making sure you’re satisfied!
• That sex can be more than penis in vagina, and that sex comes in all shapes and forms.
• It can be hard to orgasm just from penetration alone. Just because it seems to ‘do the trick’ for women on TV/in movies doesn’t mean it’s going to work for you! 
• Lube is a lifesaver, especially if you’re on birth control or antidepressants, which can seriously hinder vaginal wetness. 
• Bigger isn’t always better.
• Orgasms are lovely, but it doesn’t mean that sex isn’t worthwhile or enjoyable if you don’t have them. 
• Sex is not always romantic like in the movies, but it’s also not always a passionate quickie either. There is a middle ground that doesn’t involve lighting a million candles or tearing off your favorite underwear.