There are 237 reasons to have sex — and having a child is number 27. That's what researchers from the University of Texas at Austin found. They surveyed 2,000 women and men about their motivations for having sex; this ample (though not exhaustive) list, published in the August issue of Archives of Sexual Behavior, is the result.

From a Planned Parenthood point of view, that's 230-plus reasons to use birth control. Whether you were simply "in the heat of the moment" (1), "tired of being a virgin" (31), or thinking sex might help you fall asleep (108), or because you wanted to "burn calories" (176), if you choose to have intercourse, correct and consistent use of birth control is the best way to avoid an unintended pregnancy. Given the wide range of motivations for having sex, and so few aimed at conception, the availability of good, affordable, and reliable birth control is vital. Remember, in the United States, nearly half of all pregnancies are unplanned.

Every year, 85 percent of women aged 15–44 who don’t use birth control during vaginal intercourse become pregnant. Although the only guarantee against unintended pregnancy is to not have sex, using birth control can reduce your risk of pregnancy from vaginal intercourse. For more information abut birth control methods CLICK HERE!

In the mean time, while the New York Times' John Tierney is on the lookout for reason number 238, the researchers are working on another list — reasons why people don't have sex. Stay tuned.