How do you know what your sexual orientation is?

Most of us probably know our sexual orientation, or at least have a pretty good sense of it. How do we know? That is to say, what evidence do we base our conclusions about our sexual orientation on? Is it:

* Based on who we’re attracted to?
* Based on who we have had sex with?
* Some combination of the two?
* Some other factor?

Does it make a difference if our romantic attractions diverge from our sexual attractions—i.e., if I’m more romantic with one gender and more sexual with another?

If we someday find ourselves attracted to or having sex with someone unexpected, should we determine that we were wrong about our sexual orientation or should we say that our sexual orientation has changed? Or is our sexual orientation the same as it always was with just one fluke?

At what age did you know your sexual orientation? Or do you still not know it?