Comfort with genital terminology predicts sexual self-efficacy and satisfaction

A new study published in the Archives of Sexual Behavior provides evidence that knowing the correct names for genital anatomy and feeling comfortable using them are linked to better sexual health outcomes. The findings suggest that while many young adults still lack accurate vocabulary for their bodies, those who are familiar with these terms tend to report higher sexual self-efficacy and satisfaction. This research highlights the potential role of language in fostering sexual well-being and respectful communication between partners.

Public health organizations, including the World Health Organization, recommend teaching children the correct names for their external genitalia to promote safety and bodily autonomy. Despite these guidelines, prior data indicates that a small minority of children can accurately name their genital anatomy. This lack of knowledge often persists into young adulthood, a developmental period marked by increased engagement in intimate relationships.

“This study was motivated by an ongoing tension between public debates and both clinical practice and empirical knowledge surrounding sexual health and sexuality education,” said study author Judith Kotiuga, a clinical psychologist and psychology professor at Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières in Canada.

“While comprehensive sexuality education remains contested by some and the use of anatomically correct genital terminology is sometimes perceived by some as inappropriate or ‘nasty,’ practitioners largely operate from the premise that knowing one’s body and feeling comfortable with it are foundational to sexual health. Some empirical work supports this assumption, yet important gaps remain.”

“Among these gaps is the fact that, although existing data suggest that both children and adults are often unfamiliar with correct genital terminology, knowledge is typically treated as a binary construct. I was interested in moving beyond whether individuals ‘know’ the terms to examine how they engage with them—whether they use accurate terminology, rely on slang, provide incorrect answers or are completely clueless. These distinctions may carry meaningful implications that are typically overlooked.”

“Importantly, knowledge does not necessarily translate into comfort using these terms. Some individuals may know the correct terms but feel uneasy using them for personal, social, or cultural reasons. This led us to examine knowledge and comfort as related but distinct dimensions, and to explore how each is associated with different indicators of sexual health. Specifically, I was interested in how knowledge and comfort are associated with sexual self-efficacy, which draws on self-knowledge and communication skills, as well as with sexual function and respect for a partner’s bodily autonomy.”

To investigate these questions, the research team recruited 516 young adults living in the United States. The participants were between the ages of 18 and 21 and had all been in at least one romantic relationship. The sample included 290 cisgender women, 162 cisgender men, and 64 gender-diverse individuals. Recruitment took place through an online crowdsourcing platform for a project titled Sexuality, Technology, and Relationships in the Virtual Era.

The study employed a detailed procedure to assess knowledge. Participants were presented with diagrams of male and female genital anatomy and asked to type the names of the body parts without using external aids like search engines. The researchers coded the responses into categories: accurate terms, slang, incorrect answers, or admitted lack of knowledge.

Following the labeling task, participants rated their comfort level using specific terms with a partner. These terms included vulva, vagina, clitoris, penis, testicles, anus, and breasts. The researchers also administered standardized scales to measure sexual health. These measures assessed sexual satisfaction, sexual function difficulties, and self-efficacy regarding health-promoting behaviors and the refusal of unwanted sex.

The results revealed significant variability in anatomical knowledge depending on the specific body part. More than half of the participants could accurately identify the clitoris, vagina, penis, and testicles. However, knowledge was substantially lower for the vulva, with only about 18% to 32% of participants identifying it correctly. A common error involved mislabeling the vulva as the vagina, suggesting that confusion between internal and external female genitalia remains widespread.

Gender differences emerged in the analysis of this knowledge. Gender-diverse participants generally displayed the highest levels of anatomical accuracy, outperforming both cisgender men and women. Cisgender women also scored higher than cisgender men when identifying female anatomy. The use of slang was relatively rare overall but appeared more frequently when participants labeled male genitalia compared to female genitalia.

Regarding comfort, Kotiuga and her colleagues found that participants felt the least at ease using the terms “vulva” and “anus.” Patterns of comfort also varied by gender. Cisgender men reported higher comfort levels using terms for male anatomy than cisgender women did. Gender-diverse individuals reported lower comfort levels with certain terms, such as vagina and breasts, compared to cisgender women, which may reflect complex feelings related to gender dysphoria or identity.

The statistical analysis showed that both knowledge and comfort were associated with positive sexual health outcomes. Participants who knew the correct terms and felt comfortable using them reported higher sexual satisfaction. They also expressed greater confidence in their ability to engage in health-promoting behaviors, such as discussing sexual health needs with a provider or negotiating contraception.

Specific associations appeared between different types of competency and distinct outcomes. Comfort with terminology was a significant predictor of a person’s belief in their ability to refuse unwanted sexual contact. This suggests that emotional ease with the language of the body may support assertiveness. On the other hand, possessing accurate anatomical knowledge was the only significant predictor of having a respectful approach toward a partner’s boundaries.

“The key takeaway is that, although the associations observed were modest, as expected given the complexity of sexual health, knowledge of and comfort using correct genital terminology are meaningfully related to sexual health and wellbeing indicators,” Kotiuga told PsyPost. “Still, many individuals still lack the vocabulary needed to understand and communicate about their bodies. This matters because when something is nameable, it becomes more manageable.”

These findings align with and expand upon previous research regarding the language used to describe genitals. For instance, a separate study by Tanja Oschatz and colleagues found that the specific names women use for their genitals are linked to their body image and sexual experiences. That research indicated that women who used playful or childish terms for their anatomy tended to have a more negative genital self-image.

In the Oschatz study, using vulgar terms during sexual intimacy was actually connected to more positive outcomes, such as higher orgasm frequency. This contrasts with the use of childish language in non-sexual contexts, which was associated with negative outcomes like a lower perception of a partner’s enjoyment. Both studies collectively imply that the vocabulary individuals possess and the context in which they use it matter for their psychological and sexual well-being.

The current study did have some limitations. The data relied on self-reports, which can be influenced by social desirability or memory errors. The sample was recruited online and included a higher percentage of gender-diverse individuals than the general population, meaning it is not fully representative of all U.S. young adults.

Additionally, the study was also cross-sectional, capturing data at a single point in time. This design makes it impossible to determine if knowing the terms causes better sexual health or if people with better sexual health seek out this knowledge. Future research would need to track individuals over time to establish the direction of these relationships.

“These findings should not be interpreted as suggesting that knowledge or comfort alone determine sexual health outcomes,” Kotiuga noted. “Rather, they are linked to sexual health and well-being within a broader constellation of individual and structural factors, including access to education and health services and rights-affirming social contexts.”

Despite these limitations, the research provides observational support for the value of anatomical literacy. The authors argue that while knowledge alone is not a panacea, it is a foundational element of sexual health. When individuals have the words to describe their bodies, they may be better equipped to manage their health, communicate their desires, and respect the boundaries of others.

The study, “Exploring Knowledge and Comfort with Genital Anatomical Terminology Among Young Adults,” was authored by Judith Kotiuga, Chelly Maes, and Anne J. Maheux.