National Survey of Sexual and Health and Behavior Releases Largest Study on Sex Since 1994

posted: 10/08/2010 11:22 am

Sexual health researchers at Indiana University recently published the National Survey of Sexual Health and Behavior (NSSHB), a landmark study documenting the sexual experiences, condom use and partner choice of U.S. Americans. The largest study of its kind since 1994, the survey included responses from 5,865 people ranging from ages 14 to 94. This research provides a more current glimpse of how individuals view their sexuality, what activities they engage in and how they perceive their sexual experiences.

Among some of the findings from the research, the University of Indiana identifies the following as some of the key research findings:

-Respondents reported a total of 41 different combinations of sexual activities during their most recent sexual experiences, reflecting the great variability in how people define sex.

-More women (approximately one-third) reported genital pain during their most recent sexual experience, compared to 5 percent of men. Researchers identify this as an area that requires more attention, and point to increased vaginal dryness in later life, as well as not spending enough time building arousal prior to attempting penetration, among other factors such as pelvic pain conditions.

-Overall condom use has increased, and Black and Latino Americans have higher rates of condom use than White Americans.

-Adults are enjoying sexual activity well into old age, but adults over 40 have "the lowest rates of condom use".

-"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."

-"Adults using a condom for intercourse were just as likely to rate the sexual event positively in terms of arousal, pleasure and orgasm than when having intercourse without one."


For more key findings, visit: http://www.nationalsexstudy.indiana.edu/. From the Indiana University page, you can follow the link to The Journal of Sexual Medicine to see the first nine papers from the NSSHB.

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