32 Random Facts About . . . Sex

1. During 30 minutes of active sex, the average person burns approximately 200 calories.e
2. On average, adult men think about sex every seven seconds.e
3. Having sex at least once per week can lower a man’s risk of heart disease by 30%, stroke by 50%, and diabetes by 40%. It has also been shown that men with an active sex life are more likely to live past 80 years.f
4. The average size of an erect penis measures between 5 and 6 inches, while the average size of a flaccid penis is about 3.5 inches.e
5. The sperm count of the average American male in 2008 was down nearly 30% from the sperm count of an average American male 30 years ago.h
6. Viagra, the well-known blue pill designed to help with erectile dysfunction, made $411 million in profits within the first three months of its release in 1998 before going on to make $1.8 billion in 2003.g
7. Use of the condom was first noted in published literature in the early 1500s. The device was originally made of linen, and historians believe the legendary lover Casanova used linen condoms.a
8. Historical records show that even in 1850 B.C., women attempted to practice birth control. The most common method was a mixture of crocodile dung and honey placed in the vagina in the hopes of preventing pregnancy.a
9. Although nearly any body part or item of clothing may be an object of sexual fetishism, the shoe and the foot are the two most common fetishes in Western society.e
10. Just a decade ago, only 25% of women reported experiencing orgasm as a result of intercourse. In recent years, this number has risen to about 45%. In contrast, over 80% of women report experiencing orgasm though oral sex.e
11. The vibrator, a common sex toy for women, was originally designed in the nineteenth century as a medication to combat the anxiety-related symptoms of “hysteria” (now known as menstruation).a
12. Homosexuality was listed as a mental illness with the American Psychiatric Association (APA) until 1973. It has since been removed and is now considered an orientation by the APA instead of an illness.h
13. Throughout the United States, approximately 4% of the population self-identifies as gay, lesbian, or bisexual.h
14. Approximately 1% of people worldwide identify as asexual (having no strong sexual attraction to either sex).b
15. Statistics suggest that approximately one in every five Americans has indulged in sex with a colleague at work.e
16. Approximately 70% of people in the U.S. admit to fantasizing about group sex at some point in their life, and more than 50% of those people actually follow through.e
17. Nearly one in four Americans (65 millions people) are currently living with an incurable sexually transmitted disease (STD).i
18. During 2007, more than 2.5 million people worldwide became infected with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. With these new cases, there are now 33 million people living with AIDS throughout the world.i
19. Since AIDS was first diagnosed in 1981, more than 25 million people have died as a result of the virus. Two million people died from AIDS in the year 2007 alone.i
20. The average male produces several million new sperm daily. Conversely, a female is born with a finite amount of eggs and will produce no more than that throughout her lifetime.f
21. Statistics show that approximately 90% of men and 65% of women masturbate from time to time.e
22. Worldwide, 27.5% of women report that they felt pressured into having sex for the first time compared to 15% of men reporting the same feelings.c
23. According to a 2007 worldwide sex survey, the average age when people first have sex is 19.25. The survey also found that people in Asian countries tended to lose their virginity at a much later age (an average of 22) than those in Western cultures (an average of 18).c
24. Outside of the bedroom, the most common place for adults in the U.S. to have sex is the car.c
25. The average couple spends about 20 minutes engaged in sexual foreplay prior to intercourse.e
26. Worldwide, sexually active adults report having sex an average of 103 times per year. This number is down from an average of 127 times per year in 2003.d
27. One report states that 48% of women have faked an orgasm at least once in their life. Interestingly, an identical 48% of men also report faking an orgasm at least once.d
28. Throughout the world, approximately 25% of people report having had only one sexual partner. Conversely, 21% of people report having more than 10 sexual partners in their lifetime.d
29. One survey reports that 53% of sexually active Americans claim to have sex at least once weekly. However, only 48% of Americans report being satisfied with their sex life.c
30. Many of the ingredients in chocolate are proven to cause arousal similar in effect to sexual foreplay. In fact, some experts believe chocolate may be even more effective than foreplay for sexual arousal.a
31. Both men and women can be turned on by the aromas of wine. The scents of many wines are believed to replicate human pheromones, the chemical substances that cause behavioral responses in humans.a
32. Endorphins released during sexual activity create a euphoria similar to that produced by opioid drug use. These same endorphins also act as extremely effective pain killers.f

References
a Baker, JoAnn and Erica Orloff. 2001. Dirty Little Secrets: True Tales and Twisted Trivia about Sex. New York, NY: MacMillan Publishing Company, Inc.
b Bogaert, Anthony F. 2004. “Asexuality: Prevalence and Associated Factors in a National Probability Sample.” The Journal of Sex Research, Vol. 41.
c Durex. “The The Face of Global Sex 2007.“ Accessed: January 9, 2009.
d Durex. “The Global Sex Survey 2005.“ Accessed: December 23, 2008.
e Kanner, Bernice. 2005. Are You Normal About Sex, Love, and Relationships? La Vergne, TN: Lightning Source, Inc.
f Keesling, Barbara. 2000. Rx Sex: Making Love Is the Best Medicine. Alameda, CA:Hunter House, Inc.
g Kick, Russ, ed. 2006. Everything You Know about Sex Is Wrong: The Disinformation Guide to the Extremes of Human Sexuality (and Everything in between). New York, NY: The Disinformation Company Ltd.
h Laumann, Edward O., John H. Gagnon, Robert T. Michael, and Stuart Michaels. 1995.Sex in America. New York, NY: Grand Central Publishing.
i UNAIDS. “2008 Report on the Global AIDS Epidemic.” Accessed: December 28, 2008.