LET'S TALK ABOUT SEX
Half are unhappy with their sex lives so how do YOU compare? 11 bonking facts we bet you never knew
And the surprising way you can reduce your risk of prostate cancer by a third revealed
PHYSICAL intimacy is fundamental to human nature, but only HALF of us are happy with our sex lives.
It’s a rise of a third since 2006, according to a global poll by condom-maker Durex — but nothing on the 76 per cent in India and 70 per cent in Indonesia.
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Even fewer of us are emotionally fulfilled, scoring 51 per cent.
The world average is 57 per cent.
Not everyone feels comfortable talking about sex, but when it’s linked to a number of health benefits — including better memory, heart strength and immunity — it might be time for a chat with your lover.
Here, you can compare yourself against the “norm” and pick up some juicy sex facts.
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WHAT’S YOUR NUMBER?
FROM one to 100 and beyond, you will have a rough idea of your “number”.
Women have had an average of three sexual partners in a lifetime, and men five, according to a 2023 YouGov survey.
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This increases to around seven for both genders when looking at data across Europe and the US, according to a survey by Supedrug.
Intriguingly, both sexes believe more than a count of seven to eight is “promiscuous”.
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Regardless of past number of partners, taking precautions is key to stopping STIs spreading.
The UK is experiencing a growth in cases of gonorrhoea and syphilis, data shows, so it’s never a bad time to get tested (and buy condoms), whatever your age.
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PAIN RELIEVER
SEX doesn’t just feel great, it can really help us when we are stressed and in pain, too.
Dr Chun Tang, medical director at Pall Mall Medical, says: “Orgasms trigger the release of endorphins, which are natural mood lifters, helping to alleviate stress and promote relaxation.
“These can help alleviate headaches, menstrual cramps and other types of pain.”
SPEED OF TRAVEL
EJACULATED sperm travels at 28 miles per hour, according to Lloyds Pharmacy.
Men release 80 to 300million sperm cells, on average, when they ejaculate.
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Most of these will die.
However, Dr Tang says: “Once ejaculated, sperm can live for several minutes to hours in the right conditions, such as in warm, moist environments.”
There is evidence of a decrease in sperm quality over the last 50 years, according to a number of studies.
Age is the biggest factor that determines fertility in men and women, and both are affected by lifestyle choices such as heavy alcohol use.
Causes of male infertility include conditions that affect sperm quality, such as hormone problems and diabetes, as well as infection, such as STIs.
In females, infertility may be a result of conditions that affect ovulation, such as polycystic ovary syndrome; the structures of the reproductive system; or conditions such as endometriosis.
TOP FAVE
THE peak time we get jiggy between the sheets is Saturday night from 9pm to 11pm, according to research by Durex.
Only nine per cent of us prefer to kick off the day with sex.
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A mid-week self-love session is a firm favourite for one in ten people, the poll showed.
And Friday is the top day for threesomes.
PRIME TIME
EVER worried your love making does not last very long?
Don’t, because, on average, men ejaculate just five-and-a-half minutes after penetration, according to past research cited by the NHS.
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Occasional premature ejaculation is considered common, but the NHS says if it has become a problem, see a GP.
There are many treatments depending on the cause, which could be physical, such as a thyroid disorder, or psychological, such as depression or anxiety about sexual performance.
CALORIE BURN
RESEARCH has found that sex equates to light to moderate exercise.
Dr Tang says: “A session of vigorous sex can burn as many calories as a brisk walk or a light jog.”
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But don’t get too excited — with penetrative sex lasting less than six minutes on average, the calories used can be low.
Men typically burn 4.2 calories per minute, while for women it is 3.1 calories, according to research published in science journal Plos.
HAPPY HEART
A ROMP could be doing your ticker the world of good.
Dr Tang says: “Regular sexual activity can improve circulation, lower blood pressure and reduce the risk of heart disease.”
The British Heart Foundation says if you suffer from a heart condition, sex is no more likely to trigger a heart attack than any other form of activity.
Be warned that erectile dysfunction could be a sign that your circulatory system isn’t healthy, as it can be caused by high blood pressure and high cholesterol.
BUG BUSTING
SEX could help keep your immunity in check.
One study by Wilkes University in Pennsylvania found students who were physically intimate once or twice a week had higher levels of illness-fighting antibodies IgA.
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Though the results have not been replicated, endorphins produced while getting frisky help with stress, too much of which can hamper immunity.
Hormones such as oxytocin, released during sexual pleasure, have an anti-inflammatory effect on the body, studies show.
MAGIC NUMBER
THE average sexually active UK adult has had sex 81 times in the past year (around three times a fortnight), according to research by Durex.
Having sex once a week was linked with reduced risk of cognitive decline in older adults by researchers at Hope College in Michigan, America.
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Plus, ejaculating (whether during sex or solo) five times a week could reduce your risk of prostate cancer by a third, a Boston University study claimed.
NOT BOTHERED
NOT everyone is keen to bonk — almost one in three of us (29 per cent) are sexually inactive, according to research by YouGov in 2019.
Almost a fifth of 40 to 44-year-olds do not have sex at all, and by the age of 74, this figure rises to 57 per cent.
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They could be missing out on all the health benefits of intimacy.
In fact, a US study last month found that women who romped less than once a week had a 70 per cent higher risk of dying within five years.
MORNING GLORY
A MAN’S morning erections aren’t directly caused by sexual arousal, according to Dr Tang.
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“Morning erections are a result of REM (rapid eye movement) sleep cycles, during which the body experiences increased blood flow to the genitals,” he says.
Healthy men have an average of three to five erections per night, lasting up to three hours in total, the NHS says.