Key points
- Sexual fluidity is when your sexual orientation is flexible — sometimes you might be attracted to men and sometimes to women, or to people of other genders.
- Research says fluid sexuality is more common in women than men.
- We don’t know for sure what makes some people sexually fluid, but researchers have found many potential contributing factors, including influences on a baby before it’s born, and hormone changes across the menstrual cycle.
Picture this: Someone goes through their teen years with heterosexual tendencies — that is, being sexually attracted to people of the opposite sex. Then, as they enter adulthood, their sexual attraction changes, and they identify as bisexual.
That’s one example of sexual fluidity.
“[Sexual fluidity is when] a person has the ability to experience changes in sexual desire and responses over time or under certain circumstances,” says Tanginika-Simone Cuascud Vega, PhD, a clinical sexologist, sexual health educator, and surrogate partner therapy facilitator.
A 2014 research study in 188 people found that 63% of female and 50% of male participants reported having some degree of sexual fluidity.
In this article, we’ll cover gender differences in sexual fluidity in more detail with the help of research and sexual health experts.
A note on our terminology: We recognize that gender is a spectrum and that some people may not identify with the terms “man” and “woman.” In this article, we’re sticking to the terminology used by researchers and experts.
What is fluid sexuality?
Fluid sexuality or sexual fluidity refers to changes in sexual attraction, behavior, or identity someone can experience over time.
Research indicates that people are aware of their sexual orientation — especially same-sex attraction — in their early teen years, according to a 2002 study.
But change can happen over time. And some people consider themselves sexually fluid.
“People who are sexually fluid can feel changes in sexual attraction, easily switch identity labels or sexual behavior depending on the situation,” Vega says.
Researchers from a 2017 study suggest that you can become sexually fluid in various situations, like:
- Meeting someone new
- Discovering a new sexual attraction
- Learning a new identity label that better fits your experiences
And FYI: Sexual fluidity is not the same as gender fluidity. Your gender identity is your personal or internal sense of your gender (e.g., man, woman, or another gender identity), according to researchers.
“Sexual fluidity may come with gender fluidity but not necessarily,” Vega says. “For instance, a cisgender woman may be sexually fluid. She may enjoy or seek sexual encounters with other women sometimes or like both women and men some other times.”
Examples of sexual fluidity
Fluid sexuality can look like:
- Bisexuality, which involves being attracted to either men or women regardless of your gender
- Having inconsistent sexual behavior or sexual attraction
- Experiencing a change in your sexual attraction over some time
Are women more sexually fluid than men?
Yes, research seems to suggest women are more sexually fluid than men.
A 2005 study surveyed 762 self-identified heterosexual, bisexual, and gay men and women over five-year time periods from age 16.
Researchers discovered that changes in sexual orientation were more frequent among gay and heterosexual women.
Sexual fluidity in women
One study revealed that young women are rejecting the idea they have to choose to be either heterosexual or lesbian. Instead, they’re embracing being more sexually fluid.
Vega points to a 2022 review that shows women may be more sexually fluid than men because they have greater erotic plasticity.
Erotic plasticity means how much your culture, social situation, and other factors around you influence your desire to have sex. In this term, “plasticity” means the ability to change.
“Women are more influenced by sociocultural factors like religion, society, and peers,” she explains. “Because women are able to have a wider range of behaviors, they are more likely to be more fluid in their sexuality throughout their lives.”
Sexual fluidity in men
Men may be less likely to believe their sexuality can change over time than women, according to one study. Many men also said they believed that sexuality was something people were born with.
Men also tend to show way less sexual arousal when it comes to their non-preferred sex compared to women, according to one review.
So what’s the deal?
It’s possible men are less open about their sexuality than women because of stigma.
“There’s likely lesser stigma on sexual fluidity among women, particularly when it comes to same-sex attraction,” says Suzannah Weiss, AASECT-certified sex educator, sex/love coach, birth doula, and author of Subjectified.
Men may experience more stigma about being bisexual than women in some cases. People in one study tended to have more negative attitudes toward bisexual men compared with their attitudes toward gay or straight men.
Culture plays a huge role in this, of course. What’s perfectly acceptable or celebrated in one culture or social group may be taboo in another.
Why are some people sexually fluid?
“Some people may be rebellious about established sexual norms or see an opportunity for love or sexual enjoyment regardless of the gender identity or presentation of the other person,” says Vega.
“Many people feel like they are more attracted to personality and internal qualities like intelligence, humor, how caring or attentive the other person is, rather than external sexual characteristics like body type or genitals,” she adds.
Potential prenatal influences on sexual fluidity
What makes someone prefer partners of one sex, the other, or all of the above, remains controversial, but it’s clear sexual orientation has biological causes.
Studies looking into this question over the years have found that the origins of homsexuality are different in women than they are in men.
Hormones, genetics, the environment, and the mother’s immune system all play a role, and a lot of these factors may influence future sexual orientation in babies before they’re born.
For example, one 2016 review suggests that exposure to certain hormones during prenatal development may increase the chances of a person being homosexual.
Fluidity can depend on menstrual cycle phase for some people
Menstrual cycle phase may also influence sexual preferences in women, but the results have been mixed and more research is needed.
Some studies have found women find certain male features more attractive around ovulation, when they’re most likely to get pregnant if they have sex, including masculine faces, bodies, and voices.
There may also be a potential evolutionary purpose behind women being sexually fluid, some researchers have suggested.
“It has been hypothesized that women may be sexually fluid as a coping and adapting mechanism to polygamy,” Vega explains. “Women may use sexual fluidity to be able to coexist with the other women or ‘cowives’ with which they coexisted, making it easier for them to share space and men with the other women.”
Theories like this are speculative, but still compelling to think about. Much more research on sexual fluidity and its roots is needed.
Frequently asked questions
Here are some answers to common questions about sexual fluidity.
Can sexual orientation change?
It’s complicated. Academics who study sexual orientation have long thought sexual orientation remains stable over a person’s life.
But newer research tells a different story. For example, one U.S. study in 6,864 people found that sexual orientation changed and developed in many people between late teenagehood and their late 20s.
Weiss says yes, your sexual orientation can change over time.
“Many report that their sexual orientation changes, whether because they did not have the chance to explore a non-sexual identity until later in life or because their desire actually shifted for whatever reason,” she explains.
Are women more likely to be bisexual?
All signs point to “yes,” though the stats vary between studies.
In the United States, 5% of women identify as bisexual compared to 2% of men, a 2023 Pew Research survey reports.
Another U.S. study reported bisexuality in 3.6% of women vs. 2.6% of men.
The final word
If you notice your sexuality changes over time, you may be sexually fluid. It’s a pretty common experience — especially for women.
If you feel your gender identity or sexual orientation has changed, don’t be afraid to explore it.
If you’re facing challenges accepting your sexual identity, reach out to a mental health professional for support.