and just how do you stack up?

    A while ago I wrote a post about the Shape.com sex survey. The results are in.
     There are separate data sets (in .pdf files) for the women's results and the men's results. Among the more revealing points highlighted in the article published in the January 2006 issue of the magazine (which I must've misplaced since I'm not usually this far behind on this publication!):

• 8745 people participated in the survey
• 62% consider themselves "pretty good lovers"
• 29% report "languishing libidos"
• 96% of women and 86% of men allow that body image affects their libido
• [Female] respondents voted the ability to respond to verbal and nonverbal cues as the no. 1 factor that makes their partners good lovers. Men appreciate assertiveness in bed above all else.
• 58% of men report that they never cheat, while 19% say they used to, but stopped. 67% of those polled say they established exclusivity with a straight-out conversation.
• 40% of [women] have sex three or more times a week.
• 54% admit they fake orgasms every once in a while.
• 79% say they are satisfied with their sex lives.

    Revealing Clintonian question from the men's results:
What is your definition of sex? (Choose all you "count" as sex)
75.85% (2362 respondents) said "Penetration (regardless of who or if anyone climaxes)".
53.69% (1672) said "Both climax with any kind of stimulation".
53.18% (1656) said "At least one person climaxes with "SOME" kind of stimulation (example anal, oral, vibrator)".
48.72% (1517) said "Giving or receiving oral sex".
44.73% (1393) said "Mutual oral sex".
So, yeah. He did have sexual relations with that woman. The women's results were a little different:
79.41% (6813) said "Penetration (regardless of who or if anyone climaxes)".
47.73% (4095) said "At one least person climaxes with "SOME" kind of stimulation".
45.04% (3864) said "Both climax with any kind of stimulation".
44.01% (3776) said "Giving or receiving oral sex".
39.82% (3416) said "Mutual oral sex."
I think that the reversal of the second and third choices between the genders indicates what the predominant experience of those respondents has been.

    Also from the men's results, in response to "How frequently do you have sex?"
171 respondents (5.48%) report "Every day". I was surprised and pleased to discover that 458 women (5.30%) gave that same answer.
     Around 12 male--and well more than 20 female--respondents have had the same number of sexual partners as I have.

According to the men, "Sex, from beginning (kissing) to end, usually lasts..."
"About half an hour" for 46.64% (1414)
"About an hour" for 27.77% (842)
"More than an hour" for 14.41% (437)
"6-10 minutes" for 9.66% (293)
"Less than 5 minutes" for 1.52% (46)
Women basically agree:
4563 say "About half an hour" (54.39%)
1805 say "About an hour" (21.52%)
1225 say "6-10 minutes" (14.60%)
640 say "More than an hour" (7.63%)
156 say "Less than 5 minutes" (1.86%)

43.08% (1301) of men think that Bert & Ernie are gay. Only 35.06% (2923) of women agree.

Comments? Questions?