Sex Study.

I just like the sound of the phrase - sex study.  It makes me think of a bunch of people in a sterile room having sex on cots - all in missionary position of course, with a bunch of doctor and nurse types in white coats takes notes.  It really makes me laugh. 

Now, I'm sure that's not what the National Survey of Sexual Health and Behavior (NSSHB) did when they completed the largest nationally represented study (5,865 adolescents and adults ages 14 to 94) of sexual and sexual-health behaviors test (though I'm sure some of them wish they did! But they could never admit it considering they are fancy PhD's from Indiana University...)  The study provided an updated view of the modern Americans view and current sexual behaviors including a description of more than 40 combinations of sexual acts that people perform during sexual acts (does this include illustrations - because I could use a little addition to my repertoire!), patterns of condom use by both adolescents and adults, and the percentage of Americans taking place in same-sex acts and relationships. 

So, findings were published on 1 October in a "Special Issue" of the The Journal of Sexual Medicine - one of those fancy magazines that has a limited publication and an even more limited readership to just those people in the medical field. 

Interesting findings in the study were as follows:

* In 1 in 4 acts (25%) of vaginal intercourse (think penis insert into vagina) the man wraps his cock.  (but for it's slightly higher singles, this is only 1 in 3 - 33%.  Believe it or not, this means that condoms are being used more frequently than in the past in some groups...  I'm seriously SHOCKED.  Do people realize how much crap there is out there, and DOWN there?  I gotta tell you, there is too much crap that you can catch - man or woman that you better wrap that shit before you are entering me.  If you aren't, you better keep on walking.  I can't believe the percentage is THAT low.  I can understand for married couples - but for singles?  Really?  Even in a committed relationship people stray... Yeah, until I have a guy committed and ready and willing to take on all the responsibilities he's not going to go without.    The study also shows that these condoms are used twice as often with casual partners than are with relationship partners - and that is consistent with both men and women and also consistent across age groups ranging 50 years.  All I can say is thank god.

* The study/survey also says that while there is an "enormous variability in the sexual repertoire" of U.S. adults (umm, good... if there was just one way it would be very boring! and there wouldn't be a whole lot of reason to just have sex)... But  the study shows that men and women rarely engage in just one sex act when they engage in sex.  (humm - what does that mean? Ohh but I will tell you!)  Vaginal sex is #1, but many"sexual events" do not include intercourse and only include partnered masturbation or oral sex (ok, these technical and scientific terms are making me giggle!)

* Additional key findings highlighted in the collection of papers include:

• There is enormous variability in the sexual repertoires of U.S. adults, with more than 40 combinations of sexual activity described at adults’ most recent sexual event.
• Many older adults continue to have active pleasurable sex lives, (see, see... I told you - the little blue pill is a miracle!!!) reporting a range of different behaviors and partner types, however adults over the age of 40 have the lowest rates of condom use. Although these individuals may not be as concerned about pregnancy, this suggests the need to enhance education efforts for older individuals regarding STI risks and prevention.
• About 85% of men report that their partner had an orgasm at the most recent sexual event; this compares to the 64% of women who report having had an orgasm at their most recent sexual event (Can we account for how many women FAKE IT). (A difference that is too large to be accounted for by some of the men having had male partners at their most recent event.)
• Men are more likely to orgasm when sex includes vaginal intercourse; women are more likely to orgasm when they engage in a variety of sex acts and when oral sex or vaginal intercourse is included.
• While about 7% of adult women and 8% of men identify as gay, lesbian or bisexual, the proportion of individuals in the U.S. who have had same-gender sexual interactions at some point in their lives is higher.
• At any given point in time, most U.S. adolescents are not engaging in partnered sexual behavior. While 40% of 17 year-old males reported vaginal intercourse in the past year, only 27% reported the same in the past 90 days (Bullshit, they just didn't want to admit it!!!).
• Adults using a condom for intercourse were just as likely to rate the sexual extent positively in terms of arousal, pleasure and orgasm than when having intercourse without one.