What Are The Different Types of Attraction and Why Is It Important to Know The Difference

You might have heard that sexuality is a spectrum. Instead of simply being gay, straight, or bisexual, you can fall anywhere on that spectrum. But when it comes to sexual attraction, that's only the tip of the iceberg. There are more types of attraction than you've likely heard of, even if you consider yourself well-versed in human sexuality. It can be overwhelming, so we're going to break down some of the different types of attraction today.

First, let's consider other spots on that spectrum of sexuality.

If you don't fall on either end of the exact center, where do you fall? You can be hetero- or homo-flexible, which means you're primarily straight (or gay) but willing to experiment. Similarly, being bi-curious suggests that you're open to the idea but still on the fence. Another common term you may have seen is pansexual, which describes an attraction to people regardless of gender. There's overlap with bisexual, but some people view that as gendered.

Some people experience no sexual attraction; although, they still might have sex for their partners. These people are asexual or "ace" for short. Asexuality itself is an umbrella that includes demisexual, or only experiencing sexual attraction when you have a strong emotional connection. Those who are gray-sexual or "gray ace" fall somewhere between sexual and fully sexual. 

For many, perhaps most people, romantic and sexual attraction go hand in hand.

But that's not always the case. Did you know that some people identify as asexual, which means they don't experience sexual attraction, but can still experience romantic attraction for different people. For example, you could be asexual and biromantic. The opposite is also true, with people feeling only sexual attraction without any romantic attraction. To add another layer to this, some people may prefer romantic intimacy with certain genders and sexual intimacy with other genders.

If your romantic and sexual attractions align, especially if you're straight, then sexuality might seem pretty simple.

But understanding how complex sexuality can be not only helps you understand others better, it might reveal that your own sexuality is a bit more complicated than you once thought. Even though labels can seem confusing at first, having words to describe your feelings can be quite reassuring. No wonder so many people are searching for answers!

Some people find labels restricting. Thankfully, "queer" is en vogue once more if your sexual attraction defies rigid definition or is fluid, meaning it changes.

One thing's for sure: no matter who you're attracted to or getting intimate with, you want the confidence that comes with being fresh and clean before you get down and dirty! Because you can't always know when the mood will strike, why not keep an intimate wipe on hand? Sweetums is just the product if you want to smell better, and it leaves a hint of flavor on your skin, too. With multiple flavors to choose from, you can have fun sampling the taste on your partner's skin after using this hygiene wipe, too.