6 Things We Learned About Sex from 'Friends'
Old wives' tales, erogenous zones, high-risk revenge sex–the list goes on.

Over the course of ten seasons, the six characters of Friends had a lot of sex. Naturally, we had the most takeaway from their carnal hypotheses and hilarious pitfalls. Here are their 6 most important lessons:
1. How to Measure a Guy's Manhood
Chandler, Joey, and Ross test the theory that penis size is equivalent to the distance between a man's index finger and thumb. Whether or not it's an old wives' tale remains to be seen.
2. Women Have 7 Erogenous Zones
Monica teaches future-husband Chandler, diagram et all, about the can't-miss areas for pleasuring a woman. The important thing to remember is, "Take your time, hit them all, and mix 'em up. You got to keep them on their toes."
3. How to Have High-Risk Revenge Sex
If Julia Roberts' guest appearance as Chandler's childhood friend taught us anything, it's that you should never bed anyone who has reason to seek vengeance against you — even if their anger dates back to childhood. Oh, and keep track of your clothes! Poor Channy had to learn both of these things the hard way.
4. How to Accidentally Go On A Perma-Break
After a nasty fight with Rachel, Ross puts himself in a sticky situation by getting drunk and sleeping with the cute girl from copy store, Chloe. Guys, here's a sage bit of wisdom: it's not really a break if it's only been a couple of hours.
5. The Art of Poorly Gifting Your Bedfellow
Unless you're Joey Tribbiani, don't expect to score in the bedroom if you give your significant other a pen (even if it's a clock too) for their birthday.
6. Joey Tribbiani Can Seduce Anyone With a Single, "How You Doin'?"
But a word of caution to everyone else: do not try this at home, or at a bar, or ever.
Stay In The Know
Get exclusive access to fashion and beauty trends, hot-off-the-press celebrity news, and more.
Follow Marie Claire on Instagram for the latest celeb news, pretty pics, funny stuff, and an insider POV.
Lauren Valenti is Vogue’s former senior beauty editor. Her work has also appeared on ELLE.com, MarieClaire.com, and in In Style. She graduated with a liberal arts degree from Eugene Lang College, The New School for Liberal Arts, with a concentration on Culture and Media Studies and a minor in Journalism.
-
Summer 2025’s Fashion Trends Are All About Easy Style
From perfectly placed cutouts to just-right fabrics, this season's best focus on working smarter, not harder.
By Emma Childs
-
What If You Didn’t Have to Feel—Or Look—Your Age?
Thanks to a rise of menopause makeovers, you don’t have to.
By Samantha Holender
-
Climate Fiction So Earth-Shattering You’ll Never Forget to Recycle Again
These dystopian books imagine a future where the worst has already happened.
By Liz Doupnik
-
Youn Yuh-jung Poured Her Heart Into 'The Wedding Banquet'
The Oscar winner shares why the LGBTQ+ rom-com hit close to home and the message she hopes it sends to ''conservative'' Koreans.
By Quinci LeGardye
-
What to Know About the 'North of North' Cast
The new comedy follows a modern Inuk woman determined to transform her life.
By Quinci LeGardye
-
Meet Nicholas Duvernay, the Actor Who Plays Zion in 'The White Lotus' Season 3
We can't stop thinking about his scene-stealing performance in the finale.
By Quinci LeGardye
-
'The White Lotus' Season 4: Everything We Know
Creator Mike White has already started teasing where the next installment will be set—and who might be back.
By Quinci LeGardye
-
The Best Workplace TV Shows of All Time
From iconic sitcoms to award-winning dramas.
By Iris Goldsztajn
-
'Dying for Sex' Brought Jenny Slate to Life
The actress shares why playing Nikki in FX on Hulu's female friendship dramedy has felt like a life-changing part.
By Sadie Bell
-
The Wild Ride of Carrie Coon
Laurie's deep-set insecurities come to a head in episode 7 of 'The White Lotus,' allowing the actress to turn a "dark night of the soul" into an illuminating time.
By Jessica Goodman
-
Meet the 'Survival of the Thickest' Season 2 Cast
There's so much to love about Michelle Buteau's Netflix comedy about a stylist looking for love and success.
By Quinci LeGardye