‘Heteroflexible’ meaning explained as experts say it was the fastest-growing sexuality last year
Experts have explained what it means to be ‘heteroflexible’ as the orientation emerged as the fastest-growing sexuality of 2025.
As people across the globe continue to explore their sexualities and become more open about their experiences, it’s become more clear than ever that sexuality can go far beyond gay, straight or bisexual.
Internet users have previously spoken out about orientations such as ‘demisexual‘ and ‘abrosexual‘, and in 2025 it emerged that more and more people are identifying as ‘heteroflexible’.
The discovery comes from the dating app Feeld as part of its Feeld Raw 2025 report – an ‘annual deep dive into the desires, identities, and connections that shaped modern intimacy this past year’.
According to the data, people identifying as ‘heteroflexible’ grew by 193 percent in the last 12 months, making it the fastest growing sexuality on the app.
2025 saw a rise in fluidity on the Feeld app (Getty Stock Photo)
What does it mean to be heteroflexible?
As the first part of the name suggests, being ‘heteroflexible’ initially applies to people who are straight – however, the ‘flexible’ part comes in if they are open to same-sex experiences.
A broad range of people can meet the heteroflexible identity, ranging from those who simply wouldn’t rule out a same-sex encounter to people who lean more towards identifying as bisexual.
For example, if a woman was in a relationship with a man, but was open to an encounter such as a threesome with another woman, then they might consider themselves heteroflexible.
Similarly, if a woman who considers themselves straight may just be theoretically open to a same-sex encounter – without actively seeking it out – then they could also fall under the umbrella.
Heteroflexible refers to straight people who are open to same-sex encounters (Getty Stock Photo)
What does the data show?
Dr. Luke Brunning, Lecturer in Applied Ethics at the University of Leeds, UK, explained that the changing identities emerging in the data ‘speak to the growing awareness that sexuality is complex’.
“If anything, it would be surprising if people were never sexually curious about people of their own sex or gender, or if attraction worked in neat and predictable ways,” he said in a Feeld press release.
Taking a more specific look at the data, Feeld revealed that the ‘most heteroflexible city’ is Berlin in Germany. Berlin also emerged as the city with the highest percentage of open relationships.
Across the Atlantic, New York City was found to have the fastest-growing bisexual population, with an increase of 161 percent.
Dina Mohammad-Laity, Feeld’s VP of Data, commented: “Thanks to our incredible community, Feeld has a depth and diversity of data like no other. Feeld Raw offers a unique look at how intimacy and identity are evolving… We’re seeing a surge in people exploring connection and playfulness in authentic, fluid ways, redefining what it means to be seen and to connect in 2025.”
The New Year is officially upon us, so how are you going to spend the first day? Maybe nursing a hangover? Going for a hike? Or how about a steamy day between the sheets?
Everyone has their preferences when it comes to kicking off the year in a strong way, but according to data from the period and ovulation app Clue, having sex is a very popular choice.
In fact, January 1 has been reported as being the most popular day for sex across the entire world – so if you were in two minds about cracking open your Christmas body scrubs or trying out some new underwear, today is definitely the best day for it.
Clue revealed its findings as part of its annual Our Year in Cycles analysis, which looked back at the last 12 months to reveal insights on everything from sex trends to sleep quality.
After ringing in the New Year, many people report a spike in libido (Getty Stock Photo)
According to the data, January 1, 2025 marked ‘the single most popular day of 2025 for high sex drive, sex, orgasms and fantasies’.
Clue shared that the reason for this surge in libido might be down to the psychological feeling of having a ‘clean slate’ in the new year, or perhaps just feeling close to your partner after ringing in midnight together.
Speaking to Metro about the findings, Clue chief medical officer, Dr Charis Chambers, said: “People are often surprised when they hear that January 1st is the most popular day for logging sex in the UK, but to me it reflects something fundamental about how our bodies and minds work.”
The medical officer noted that New Year’s Day is often one spent relaxing, without the worry of work or commuting, which results in ‘time, rest, and proximity to those we care about’. Put all those things together, and you’ve got yourself the perfect recipe for intimacy.
January 1 sex can be down to feeling close, or potentially releasing stress (Getty Stock Photo)
Gigi Engle, a sex and relationships psychotherapist and resident sex expert at the dating app 3Fun, added: “From a psychophysiological perspective, this context is far more erotically supportive than a forced ‘romantic’ holiday like Valentine’s Day, which often comes with pressure and expectations (which are two major desire killers).”
Michael Salas, a licensed professional counselor, has also commented on a peak in sex over the holidays as he noted that the season often comes packed with emotions and stress, whether from tense family get-togethers or too many plans in too little time.
“This season acts like a pressure cooker,” Salas told the New York Post, explaining that ‘people often lean into intimacy as a way to stabilize themselves emotionally’.
With New Year’s Day marking the end of the festive season, sex could just be the relief everyone needs.
On the flip side, the least popular day for sex has been marked as September 10, with Clue tracking the lowest libido on that date.