Pizza deliveries. Pillow fights. Plumbing issues. 

Spontaneous sex scenarios are commonplace in pornography — but how often do these types of encounters actually happen? 

We’d guess they’re few and far between. Despite its prevalence and popularity, mainstream porn looks pretty different from the sex most of us are having in real life. And that can be confusing to watch, especially when you’re hoping to learn about intimacy or develop your relationship with your sexuality. 

The reality is that porn actors are just that: actors. And there will be many incongruities between the scenarios you see online and those you encounter in the bedroom — unless you consume ethical, realistic smut crafted with care. 

So, how much of porn is real, and where can you find the good stuff? 

Is porn real?

Most “conventional” porn is anything but. In fact, popular pornography rarely resembles realistic sex, no matter if it’s a solo session, with a partner, or in a group. It’s intended to act out larger-than-life fantasies, depicting an “ideal” version of sex that usually caters to straight men — which isn’t what real encounters look like.

But why is this a problem? Well, you may not even realize it, but porn subtly influences your perception of sex. 

While the narratives in porn are typically more fiction than fact, this content still has a surprisingly powerful impact on what we expect sex to be like. As a result, you might leave a video feeling confused or upset about what you just watched. And for those who primarily draw their understanding of intimacy from porn, the gap between reality and what’s on-screen can be startling. 

When it comes down to it, porn might create unrealistic expectations of what happens behind closed doors. Let's delve deeper into how mainstream porn compares to real-life experiences. 

9 things in porn that rarely happen in real life 

If you’ve consumed mainstream porn, chances are you’ve encountered sexual scenarios and postions you couldn’t fathom recreating. And, although not all porn is fake, you might be surprised to learn that these tropes are far more common in porn than IRL: 

1. Orgasming at the same time

Climaxing simultaneously is intense, emotional, and much less common than conventional porn leads us to believe. Far from the norm, achieving simultaneous orgasms is challenging because navigating individual arousal and climax patterns takes time and communication. And sometimes, it takes a little bit of luck, too. In many cases, partners reach orgasm at different times but continue the sex session until everyone has finished — which is just as satisfying. 

2. Unrealistic body standards

The bodies in porn don’t accurately represent everyday people. In “conventional” films, many casting directors focus more on conventional — and often unattainable — beauty than representing their viewers. But in real life, bodies are wonderfully diverse, and the size of your body doesn’t equal sexual satisfaction. So while you may see many large breasts and penises, hairless bodies, and thin figures online, the truth is that most real sex looks very different (and it’s all the better for it). 

3. Anal sex

While many people genuinely enjoy anal sex, it’s not as commonplace as porn portrays it. It requires careful planning, preparation, and communication — which we rarely see on screen. Anal sex also requires an abundance of lubricant, a factor often left out of many porn scenes, too. 

4. Long periods of intercourse 

When considering how porn is made versus how it’s depicted, endless endurance is another common myth. One of society’s more damaging sexual expectations, the idea that people with penises should take considerably long to reach orgasm sets unrealistic expectations for real-life intimacy. The truth is that many penis-havers climax in under 10 minutes, and erectile dysfunction (ED) — not seen in porn — is both very common and normal. 

5. Emotionless sex 

Most porn overlooks the importance of emotional connection in sexual encounters. In porn, interactions are often between strangers (or even people who don’t like each other). But in reality, many people value the emotional intimacy and vulnerability accompanying sex.

6. Female ejaculation

Female ejaculation isn’t an everyday experience for most women and people with vaginas. Not to be confused with squirting or gushing, this type of ejaculate is chemically similar to semen. Remember: everyone’s body responds differently to pleasure, and your orgasm is just as valid if you don’t ejaculate. 

7. Lack of diversity

Porn actors often fit a specific mold of conventional attractiveness, which doesn’t reflect the variety of bodies in the real world. They’re often thin, fit, and participate in an over-the-top, male-centered version of sex. Real people and the sex they have are much more diverse — and lots doesn’t include men at all. Your sexuality is as unique as your fingerprint, and that uniqueness is attractive. 

8. Every position is an option 

Porn can be inspiring, but not all positions work for everyone. Comfort and pleasure vary significantly person-to-person, and it’s perfectly normal to have favorites and ones you’d rather avoid.

9. Submission and domination 

Most traditional porn caters to men. This is one of the reasons it often depicts women as submissive, while men fill the dominant roles. In real life, the dynamics during partnered sex are more varied and personal. In some cases, participants prefer equal give-and-take, while others lean toward a preference that isn’t dictated by gender. 

Real sex versus porn sex

The sex you see in porn is scripted and directed, and the sex you have at home isn’t. Niche kinks, mismatched sex drives, and nights where you’re just too tired happen all the time in the real world. But “conventional” porn doesn’t reflect most sexual experiences in the same way ethical porn does (more on that later).

Here are some critical differences between real sex and sex in porn: 

• Real sex is often more emotional. Porn often seems mechanical compared to the intimacy and emotion involved in real sex. 

• Real sex is more communicative. Ongoing communication is key to a healthy sex life. This includes expressing preferences, setting boundaries, and checking in with your partner(s).

• Real sex involves fewer vaginal orgasms. Though it’s the bread and butter of mainstream porn, most women and vagina-havers don’t orgasm from vaginal penetration alone. Clitoral stimulation is essential for many people to climax, but plenty of porn doesn’t show it.

• Real sex means less squirting. Like vaginal orgasms, squirting is also uncommon. The majority of people with vaginas don’t experience it, and that’s perfectly okay.

• Real sex can be awkward. Many bodily functions, emotional moments, and humorous mishaps involved in real sex are edited out of porn. But they can make real encounters all the more fun and fulfilling. 

Ethical porn versus conventional porn

Why does porn exist if it creates unrealistic ideals? 

Humans are fascinated by sex, and porn caters to this curiosity. But issues arise when we interpret this content as an instructional rather than as a scripted performance designed to entertain. Conventional porn videos are a fantasy, and their exaggerated scenarios and bodies create unrealistic ideals when we consume them uncritically. 

The benefits of ethical porn, which is often women-produced porn, include respect, safety, and fair pay. The videos are diverse and non-exploitative, from amateur porn featuring actors with natural bodies to larger-scale adult film productions with feature actors. The genre also includes audio erotica, a porn format that uses sound to inspire sexual arousal. 

This paradigm shift creates more genuine and relatable content, reflecting the real, consensual encounters people can relate to. Consuming ethical types of porn is a safe, healthy way to explore your sexuality, free from the lens of conventional content.

Explore your sexuality with Quinn

If you’re looking for options outside of mainstream porn videos, try ethical porn. Ethical porn allows you to consume scenes, scenarios, and audio of real-life sex — both for masturbation and with partners — without harm. 

Quinn is a diverse, inclusive, women-run audio erotica app. We’re elevating ethical porn with erotic sound catering to women’s authentic needs. To access thousands of audio stories and guided sessions, download the Quinn app for iOS or Android.