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 (ангел. ''sex'', фр. ''sexe'', лац. ''sexus'' — пол) — сексуальнасць, сукупнасць псіхічных і фізіялагічных рэакцый, перажыванняў і ўчынкаў, звязаных з праявай і задавальненнем палавой цягі або жаданні працягнуць род. Упершыню значэнне слова "секс" у сэнсе каітус зарэгістравана ў 1929 гаду.

== Следствы праявы сексуальнасці ў чалавечым грамадстве ==

Секс можа быць сродкам:
*размнажэння,
*праявы кахання,
*зносіны, усталяванні інтымнай блізкасці паміж партнёрамі,
*атрыманні задавальнення — гл. Аргазм,
*паляпшэнні фізічнага і эмацыйнага стану,
*рэлігійнай або містычнай практыкі,
*атрыманні прыбытку — гл. Прастытуцыя.

У шэрагу выпадкаў секс можа быць змушаным — гл. венерычных хвароб.

У любым грамадстве секс і праява сексуальных паводзін людзей з'яўляецца прадметам сацыяльных, ідэалагічных і крымінальных абмежаванняў. Як правіла, чым аўтарытарней грамадства, тым гэтыя абмежаванні мацней. Напрыклад, у СССР і фашысцкай Нямеччыны мужчынскі гомасексуалізм быў крымінальным злачынствам. Таксама, у шматлікіх краінах (як ісламскіх, так і хрысціянскіх) шлюбная няслушнасць таксама прызнаецца злачынствам, за якое можа быць прызначаная альбо матэрыяльная, альбо крымінальная адказнасць, аж да смяротнага пакарання смерцю.

== Тэхніка сексу ==
Асноўны артыкул: '''Сексуальныя пазіцыі'''

Упершыню падрабязнае апісанне як сексуальных пазіцый, так і мастацтвы кахання з'явілася, відаць, у Індыі - знакамітая «Кама Сутра» і некалькі меней вядомая «Ананга Рангу». У XX стагоддзі выйшаў цэлы шэраг папулярных кніг, прысвечаных тэхніцы сексу; 

== Асексуальнасць і гіперсексуальнасць ==
Пад асексуальнасцю разумеюць альбо адсутнасць палавой цягі, альбо яго свядомае прыгнечанне па тых або іншых прычынах (аскетызм). Супрацьлегласцю з'яўляецца гіперсексуальнасць — падвышанае запатрабаванне ў сексуальных кантактах (сатырыязіс).

Нейкай адзінай для ўсіх «нормы інтэнсіўнасці палавога жыцця» не існуе, але сярэдняя (статыстычна) частата палавых кантактаў у сталых гетэрасексуальных парах складае, па розных адзнаках, ад некалькіх разоў у тыдзень да некалькіх разоў у месяц. Найболей лагічна вызначаць такую норму, зыходзячы не з якіх-небудзь статыстычных даследаванняў (вынік якіх уяўляе асерадненне па вялікай выбарцы апытаных), а з індывідуальных асаблівасцяў пэўнай пары.

'''Human sexual behavior''' or different '''human sexual practices''' encompass a wide range of activities such as strategies to find or attract partners (display behaviour), interactions between individuals, physical or emotional intimacy, and sexual contact. 

Some cultures will find only sexual contact within marriage acceptable; however, extramarital sexual activity still takes place. Unprotected sex may result in unwanted pregnancy or sexually transmitted diseases. In some areas, sexual abuse of individuals is prohibited by law and considered against the norms of society.

==Aspects of human sexual behavior==
thumb|250px|''Coitus'', [[tacuinum sanitatis casanatensis (XIV century)]]
=== Cultural aspects === 

As with other behaviors, human intelligence and complex societies have produced among the most complicated sexual behaviors of any animal. Most people experiment with a range of sexual activities during their lives, though they tend to engage in only a few of these regularly. Most people enjoy some sexual activities. However, most societies have defined some sexual activities as inappropriate (wrong person, wrong activity, wrong place, , etc.) Some people enjoy many different sexual activities, while others avoid sexual activities altogether for religious or other reasons (see chastity, sexual abstinence). Historically, some societies and religions have viewed sex as appropriate only within marriage.

=== Social norms and rules ===

Human sexual behavior, like many other kinds of activity engaged in by human beings, is generally governed by social rules that are culturally specific and vary widely.  These social rules are referred to as sexual morality (what can and can not be done by society's rules) and sexual norms (what is and is not expected).  Sexual ethics, morals, and norms relate to issues including deception/honesty, legality, fidelity and consent.

Some activities, known as sex crimes, are illegal in some jurisdictions, including those conducted between (or among) consenting and competent adults (examples include sodomy law and adult-adult incest).  Scientific studies suggest sexual fantasy, even of unusual interests, is usually a healthy activity.
 
Some people engage in various sexual activities as a business transaction. When this involves having sex with, or performing certain actual sexual acts for another person, it is called adult industry include (for example) telephone sex operators, strip clubs, pornography and the like.

Nearly all developed societies consider it a serious crime to force someone to engage in sexual behavior or to engage in sexual behavior with someone who does not consent. This is called sexual assault, and if sexual penetration occurs it is called rape, the most serious kind of sexual assault. The details of this distinction may vary among different legal jurisdictions. Also, precisely what constitutes effective consent to have sex varies from culture to culture and is frequently debated. Laws regulating the minimum age at which a person can consent to have sex (age of consent) are frequently the subject of political and moral debate , as is adolescent sexual behavior in general. Additionally, many societies have forced marriage, so consent does not really figure in to the equation of a sex crime.

It is possible to engage in sexual activity without a partner, primarily through masturbation and/or sexual fantasy.

===Frequency of sexual activity===
The frequency of postmenopausal women experience declines in frequency of sexual intercourse.<ref>[http://www.athenainstitute.com/sciencelinks/acog03.html ACOG 2003 Poster, Sociosexual Behavior in Healthy Women]</ref>. The average frequency of sexual intercourse for married couples is 2 to 3 times a week (in America).
<ref>{{cite book
  | last = Varcarolis
  | first = E.M.
  | authorlink =
  | coauthors =
  | title = Foundations of Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing
  | publisher =W.B. Saunders Company
  |date=1990
  | location = New York
  | pages = p. 787
  | url =
  | doi =
  | id = ISBN 0-7216-1976-2}} </ref>

==Safety and ancillary issues==
There are four main areas of risk in sexual activity, namely:
* choosing to trust a partner who is physically at risk
* sexually transmitted disease
* unwanted pregnancy
* seeking or engaging in an activity which is legally or culturally disapproved

These risks are raised by any condition (temporary or permanent) which impairs one's judgement, such as excess depression or euphoria (e.g. new students at college). Carefully considered activity can greatly reduce all of these issues.

=== Sexually transmitted disease ===

Sexual behaviors that involve contact with the bodily fluids of another person entail risk of transmission of sexually transmitted disease. Safe sex practices try to avoid this.  These techniques are often seen as less necessary for those in committed relationships with persons known to be free of disease; see fluid bonding.

Due to chlamydia, STDs before engaging in sex.

===Unwanted pregnancy===
Sexual behaviors that involve the contact of semen with the vagina or vulva may result in pregnancy.  To prevent pregnancy, many people employ a variety of birth control measures. The most popular methods of prevention are condoms, spermicides, hormonal contraception, and sterilization.

==Legal issues related to sexual behavior==

===Sodomy and same sex laws===
Various forms of same-sex sexual activity have been prohibited under law in many areas at different times in history. In 2003, the Lawrence v Texas United States Supreme Court decision overturned all such laws in the US.<ref>[http://www.law.cornell.edu/supct/html/02-102.ZS.html Lawrence V. Texas<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>