Is it common for co-workers to discuss their sex lives or is it even appropriate?

Uh, no this is absolutely not common or appropriate. This would violate several policies with my current employer and likely result in immediate termination of employment.

While it’s nice to have friendly banter, jokes and a light atmosphere there IS a line.
Talk about family / significant others has to be at a friendly yet not too personal level.

For example:
“My son just lost a tooth last night.” <- This is okay.
“Dang, my home PC hard drive is full with all my porn.” <- This is NOT okay.

That’s why there is the term: “NSFW”

not common and definitely not appropriate. Among close friends that all work together, as long as they are all on board with those conversations, and only during breaks or lunch, the conversation is their business. In front of others (you, for example) not appropriate.

In very bad taste. Some things need to be left unsaid.

Those topics are best said to other people at other places.

Why would they not? To the US masses sex is the grease the runs the nation, we want to hear and know all about it, we just don’t want to see it unless we sneak peek in private.

I guess there’s two issues here. One is if it’s normal or appropriate which it isn’t. The second unasked question is if there is something you can do about it. If they are all in agreement that they want to discuss it and if it is not impinging on the higher ups, you making a stink about it to management will probably come back to bite you. If you are comfortable with it, maybe you could raise it with one or two or even the whole group and say, “I’m really not comfortable with all this sex-talk at work. Can we take it down a notch or two?”

In the meantime, don’t feel you need to participate if you don’t feel comfortable with it. If they think you’re a prude, so be it.

This is what I would do if I didn’t want to be perceived as a prude or I didn’t want to marginalize myself. I would make some kind of off hand remark that pertains to nothing or can pertain to the topic (for example “Wow, sounds like you had a fun weekend!”), and then I’d take the opportunity to walk away and make copies or get some water or use the restroom or something.

^ totally agree with @jca. They’ve obviously worked together for a while and developed their own ‘comfort zone’ which does not suit you. You don’t want to make your work situation uncomfortable so remove yourself from the conversations when they take place. Get some headphones and listen to some music when such conversations take place. If they ask you why you don’t participate, be honest and say you find their discussions a bit too risque for your taste. I really doubt you’ll stop them unless you’re prepared to go and speak to management and that could backfire on you dramatically.

It sure would make work more fun. Unfortunately, law firms are notoriously conservative, so this kind of thing doesn’t happen there. Although, we did get some pictures from a teacher’s Twitter page showing him clad in leather chaps while posing suggestively with another hairy bear of a dude. It was the highlight of my week.

No, of course it’s not professional or work-appropriate. I wouldn’t mind, though.

I think it’s pretty common when most of the people working prefer the same sex and have a separate space of some sort where their managers/customers/others would rarely overhear.

When I worked in a warehouse, it was all men, and they always wanted to know what was going on with each other.

When my wife worked in a doctor’s office that was all women, they all shared at least as much as you’re describing.

I’ve never seen it happen like that when the mix is closer to 50/50 or when there’s not a separate area, at least not during work hours.

lol hard thingg is is that we literally are in one small room all day cuz there’s mo where else to go in br office. It’s tiny but a huge company. no one has worked together that long. One woman been there 9 yrs, one for 1, the new guy and me been there 4 months. They’re just type about going personalities i think. Not a big issue just annoying.

That sounds a tad extreme, but not unlike many places I have worked. I don’t think it is terribly uncommon, but it is inappropriate.

I’ve worked in biotech distribution (think warehouse) and medicine/medical research.