Think you know a lot about sex? Maybe you're right, but there's always more to learn! Here are 110 sex facts you may not know.
- According to a survey of adults aged 20 to 59, women have an average of four sex partners during their lifetime; men have an average of seven. Source: National Center for Health Statistics
- According to sex researchers William Masters and Virginia Johnson, during female orgasm, the body experiences a period of myotonia, or muscle spasms, due to the activation of vaginal muscles. This causes the muscles of the legs, arms, neck, abdomen, and face to contract while involuntary vaginal contractions occur at regular intervals.
- On average, American teenagers lose their virginity at age 17. Source: Guttmacher Institute
- 84 percent of women have sex to get their guy to do more around the house. Source: Woman's Day survey compiled by Sarah Jio in December, 2011
- While 75 percent of men always reach orgasm during sex, only 29 percent of women report the same. In addition, most women are unable to climax through vaginal intercourse, instead needing clitoral stimulation. Source: National Health and Social Life Survey
- Americans spend 57 minutes per week having sex. That's 14 minutes below the global average. Source: Durex
- Approximately 5 percent of 40-year-old men and between 15 to 25 percent of 65-year-old men experience erectile dysfunction. Source: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
- Among sexually active American teens, 70 percent of females and 56 percent of males report their first sexual experience was with a steady partner. Source: Guttmacher Institute
- The average person has sex 103 times per year. Source: Woman's Day survey compiled by Sarah Jio in December, 2011
- About one out of 10 married adults - 12 percent - say that they typically sleep alone. Source: National Sleep Foundation
- At least 50 percent of sexually active men and women will have a genital HPV infection at some point in their lives. HPV, or human papillomavirus, comes in both low and high-risk forms; low-risk HPV can cause genital warts and high-risk can cause cervical and other cancers. In 90 percent of cases, the body's immune system will fight off the disease within two years. Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- 34: Number of times per day women fantasizes about sex during the workday. Source: DatingDirect.com
- The average erect penis is five to seven inches long, and four to six inches in circumference. Source: Kinsey Institute
- The average male loses his virginity at age 16.9; females average slightly older, at 17.4. And a new study shows that genetics may be a factor: inherited traits, such as impulsivity, can make a person more or less willing to have sex at an earlier age. Sources: Kinsey Institute; California State University
- 33% of British women that think that they can prevent pregnancy by jumping up and down immediately after sex. Source: Family Planning Association
- People who are more open to talking about sex are actually happier with their sex lives. Source: Live Science
- Women in stable relationships have better quality sleep than singles according to the University of Pennsylvania
- 43% of women consider it cheating when their husband fantasizes about someone else. Source: Are you normal about Sex, Love and Relationships
- A woman who is sexually active and not using contraception has an 85 percent chance of becoming pregnant within one year. Source: Guttmacher Institute
- Adults over the age of 40 have the lowest rates of condom use. Source: National Survey of Sexual Health and Behavior
- 48% of women have faked an orgasm. Source: Woman's Day survey compiled by Sarah Jio in December, 2011
- A national sex study found, with the except of the 71+ age group, at least 60 percent of men have masturbated within the past year, and an impressive 84 percent of men between 25 and 29 are taking matters into their own hands. In contrast, women are masturbating in much smaller numbers, consistently 10 to 30 percent lower than men in the same age group. Source: Indiana University's Center for Sexual Health Promotion
- 43% of golfers would trade sex for the perfect swing. Source: National Survey by Lexus
- For the ultimate orgasm, abstain from all sexual activity for three weeks. That is the amount of time it takes for your testosterone levels to peak and boost your libido. Source: World Journal of Urology
- Semen contains citric acid, amino acids, fructose, enzymes, phosphorychloine, prostaglandin, potassium and zinc. The average ejaculation contains 2 to 5 milliliters of semen, which may contain between 40 million and 600 million sperm. Source: About.com Guide
- By the age of 15, only 13 percent of American teens have had sex, but by their 19th birthday, 7 in 10 teenagers have had intercourse. Source: Guttmacher Institute
- 48% of Americans report being satisfied with their sex lives. Source: Woman's Day survey compiled by Sarah Jio in December, 2011
- 76% of men that think it is physically harmful not to have sex. Source: Journal of Sexual Medicine
- There are 500-1,000 deaths per year due to autoerotic asphyxiation. This number equals the number of murders in New York City each year. Source: "Autoerotic Fatalities"
- When you are aroused, you're less likely to find something, or someone, disgusting. Source: POLS ONE
- 21% of men admit to watching porn at work. Source: Journal of Sex Research
- Sex tones a woman's pelvic muscles that also support her bowel, bladder and uterus, therefore resulting in better control of urination.
- 1 of 4 acts of vaginal intercourse are condom protected in the U.S. (1 in 3 among singles). Source: National Survey of Sexual Health and Behavior
- 18% of women ages 25-34 think their sexual peak has passed. Source: Durex Global Survey
- In 2006-2010, the most common reason for abstaining from sex given by teenagers was that it was against their religion or morals (38 percent among females and 31 percent among males). The second and third reasons given by teenage females was they didn't want to get pregnant and they haven't found the right person yet. Source: Guttmacher Institute
- What country produces the best lovers? Spain, Brazil, and Italy. Source: Onepoll.com
- 37% of men fantasize more about money than sex. Source: Indiana University's Center for Sexual Health Promotion
- Men are more likely to orgasm when sex includes vaginal intercourse, while women are more likely to orgasm when sex includes multiple sex acts. Source: National Survey of Sexual Health and Behavior
- 10% of sexually active adults use a vibrator or other sex toy during partner sex. Source: National Sexual Health Survey
- A small study of obese women found that those that accepted their bodies had better sex. Source: Live Science
- The way your brain is wired might influence the number of sexual partners you have. Those whose brains showed more activity when shown a sexual image tended to have had the most sexual partners. Sexual motivation varies from individual to individual. Source: Journal of Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience
- 34% of men ages 25-34 that think their sexual peak has passed. Source: Durex Global Sex Survey
- 7% of adult females and 8% of adult males identify themselves as gay, lesbian or bisexual however the proportion of adults reporting having had a same-sex sexual experience at some point in their lives is higher. Source: National Survey of Sexual Health and Behavior
- Adult men and women rarely engage in just one sex act when they have sex. There were more than 40 combinations of sexual activity described as the adult respondents' most recent sexual event. Source: National Survey of Sexual Health and Behavior
- 200: The average number of calories burned after 30 minutes of sexual intercourse. Source: Woman's Day survey compiled by Sarah Jio in December, 2011
- Masturbating in the presence of a partner is a less popular activity than going solo with only 49 percent of men aged 25 to 29 engaging in it. Source: Indiana University's Center for Sexual Health Promotion
- 2% of men think that a satisfying sex life is a top priority. Source: The Journal of Sexual Medicine
- According to a study done by researchers at Rutgers University, different regions of the brain are activated in response to stimulation of the vagina, clitoris, nipples and cervix. Source: Journal of Sexual Medicine
- A study found that women directly exposed to semen vaginally (in other words, through sex without a condom) were less depressed. Researchers think the mood-altering hormones in semen were absorbed into the body through the vagina. Source: Archives of Sexual Behaviour
- It is illegal to purchase or sell sex toys in the state of Alabama. Alabama is the only remaining state to uphold this law.
- 78% of females and 85% of males used contraceptives the first time they had sex. Source: Guttmacher Institute
- Vaginal intercourse is quite common among men aged 18 to 69 with at least 53 percent (18 to 19 year-olds) and up to 86 percent (25 to 29 year-olds) of respondents saying they've had vaginal intercourse in the past year. Source: Indiana University's Center for Sexual Health Promotion
- The merkin (pubic wig) has been around since the 1400s when it was worn by women who, because of a fear of lice, had shaved their pubic hair.
- 14% of men say they let the woman take the lead during sex. Source: Men's Health Magazine survey
- Researchers at Queens University found that even though straight women reported only being aroused by men, most women became aroused at every stimulus they saw - inclusive of men's and women's bodies, heterosexual and homosexual sex, and even animal sex. Source: PLoS ONE
- Up to 44% of men are uncircumcised. Source: CDC
- According to a study done by the Marriage and Family Studies Laboratory at Birmingham University, watching relationship themed movies with your partner might reduce the likeliness of a split. Source: Journal of Consulting and Clinnical Psychology
- 28% of Americans are living with an incurable STD. Source: Woman's Day survey compiled by Sarah Jio in December, 2011
- Two-thirds of college students have been in a friends-with-benefits relationship, citing the lack of commitment required as the main advantage to such an arrangement. More than half of those who had sex with a friend said they had engaged in all forms of sex; 22.7% said they had intercourse only, while 8% said they did everything but have intercourse. Source: Wayne State University and Michigan State University
- 36% of people under the age of 35 go onto Facebook and Twitter after a romp, rather than hit the showers. Source: Poll conducted by Retrevo.com
- Women who have sex at least once a week have a more regular menstrual cycle than those who have sex less often. Source: Endocrinologists at Columbia and Stanford Universities
- 46% of women would rather give up getting laid for two weeks rather than logging off the Internet for the same amount of time. Source: National survey conducted by Intel
- A person's pain threshold significantly increases during sexual arousal. Source: Journal of Sex Research
- 11% of men say that they use sex to help relieve stress. Source: Men's Health Magazine survey
- According to a study done by the University of Groningen (Netherlands) the amygdala - the part of the brain responsible for producing feelings of fear and anxiety - shuts down during a female orgasm. Source: Presentation at the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology in Copenhagen
- Men who had oral sex before self-reporting their member size had larger penises than those who gave themselves a hand before. Source: Kinsey Institute
- Licorice helps reduce your libido. Licorice root has the ability to modulate cortisol levels in the body. Higher cortisol levels inhibit testosterone production, which, in turn, correlates to a lower libido. Source: Livestrong.com
- Spouses may have similar DNA. People tend to marry partners with similar DNA. Source: Proceedings of the National Academy of Science
- 79% of penises are "growers" while 21% have "show-ers." Source: International Survey by Men's Health
- Low blood sugar can result in a higher incidence of arguments and aggression in couples. Source: Ohio State University Study
- High cholesterol can be a contributor to erectile dysfunction. ED can actually serve as a warning sign for cardiovascular disease. Source: Rutgers University Robert Wood Johnson Medical School
- More than two-thirds of healthy Americans are infected with one or more strains of HPV, a type of virus that is transmitted via sexual intercourse and oral sex. Source: NYU Langone Medical Center
- Women are deliberately able to manipulate their voice to make themselves sound sexier, but when men tried they were rated as sounding worse. Source: Study by Albright University
- Appearing less pretentious might help you get a date according. Source: Journal of Positive Psychology
- Birth control can actually affect a woman's taste in men. Research shows that when women take hormonal birth control, they are attracted to men with lower testosterone levels and less masculine physical characteristics.
- A 2012 Scottish study found that women who met their partner while on birth control were less sexually attracted to their mates and less sexually satisfied during their relationship.
- According to several studies, women tend to seek out masculine men during the most fertile times of their cycle. Source: Health.com
- According to a 2014 University of Toronto study, kissing, cuddling and affectionate talk after sex might be just as important as the actual sex in terms of contributing to relationship satisfaction.
- Love can literally make us obsessed. MRI scans show that falling in love sends blood rushing to the pleasure centers of your brain - the same areas responsible for obsessive and compulsive behaviors. Love also lowers serotonin, which is a hormone that is also lower in people who have obsessive-compulsive disorders. Source: Loyola Sexual Wellness Clinic in Chicago
- If they wait until after 25 to tie the knot, marriage actually strengthens men's skeletons. Source: University of California Los Angeles
- You probably already know whether or not your partner is the one. Source: Science
- A study done by the University of Quebec found that on average, men burn 4.2 calories per minute during sex, while women burn 3.1.
- The more orgasms you have, the more likely you are to live. Source: British Medical Journal
- Experiencing butterflies associated with falling in love means something totally different in France. "Papillion d'amour" refers to pubic lice.
- The most alluring smell to men is a combination of lavender and pumpkin pie. Source: Smell and Taste Treatment and Research Foundation in Chicago
- Only 33% of people have experienced a G-spot orgasm, but 80% of people believe that they exist. Source: Survey conducted by Lovehoney
- The majority of condom failures occur because condoms are either too big or small. Source: FPA
- The word pornographic comes from the Greek "the writing of prostitutes."
- Narcissists are more likely to have casual sex for power, not love and romance. Source: Journal of Social and Personal Relationships
- Priapism is a painful erection that persists after ejaculation has occurred. If left untreated, it can result in permanent damage.
- 1% of women surveyed were able to achieve orgasm solely through breast stimulation. Source: Masters & Johnson
- The biggest erect penis on record is 13 inches long. Source: Kinsey Institute
- Women who ride about 100 miles per week, experience decreased sexual sensation. Source: Journal of Sexual Medicine
- College students who have sex once or twice a week have 30% more immunoglobulin, which boosts the immune system. Source: Society for the Scientific Study of Sexuality
- In 2005, a couple broke the world's longest unbroken kiss. 31 hours, 30 minutes, and 30 seconds.
- Couples report that foreplay typically lasts 11-13 minutes. Source: Journal of Sex Research
- 7.7% of women whose lovers spent 21 minutes or longer on pre-penetration fun and games failed to reach orgasm. Source: Kinsey Institute
- The Big O is better for your brain than a session of Sudoku. Source: Dr. Delia McCabe
- A study completed by Oakland University found that men use cunnilingus as mate-retention strategy - translation - men go down on women so they wont stray. Source: The Evolution of Sexuality
- Researchers at the University of Toronto found that even boring sex makes couples happier.
- Researchers at the University of Groningen in the Netherlands found that when women wear socks, 80% were able to reach climax, whereas only 50% could orgasm without socks.
- Ohio State University researchers found that male college students thought about sex 19 times per day on average - compared to the average female student who thinks about sex 10 times daily.
- Chlamidya remains the most commonly reported STD in the US, and the most undiagnosed. Source: Weinstock, Perspectives on Sexual and Reproductive Health
- 55% of 15-19 year olds who reported having had sex wish that they had waited longer before losing their virginity. Source: "Understanding Teenage Sexuality"
- 37% of men and 25% of women aged 50-80+ gave oral sex this past year. Source: Indiana University Journal of Sexual Medicine
- 85% of women are satisfied with their partner's penis size. Only 55% of men are satisfied with their own penis size. Source: Journal of Psychology of Men and Masculinity
- The smell of pumpkin can significantly increase blood flow to the penis. Source: Smell and Taste Treatment and Research Foundation of Chicago
- Studies show that your body temperature increases during sexual arousal, which explains why your face and chest might become red while having sex. The increased heart rate and blood flow create a sex flush that appears as a red or pinkish rash that subsides shortly after you're finished having sex.
- 85% of men report that their female partner had an orgasm during their most recent sexual event while only 64% of women report having had an orgasm during their most recent sexual event. Source: National Survey of Sexual Health and Behavior
- 2: Number of minutes before ejaculation before it counts as premature. Studies show that premature ejaculation is more common than erectile dysfunction, as more than 1 in 3 men experience this phenomenon. Source: Woman's Day survey compiled by Sarah Jio in December, 2011
