Table of Contents
PRINCETON, N.J. — Americans’ sexual habits reflect the diversity of the nation’s population and geography, according to the findings of the Trojan U.S. Sex Census.
The Church & Dwight Co. condom and sexual wellness brand said Tuesday that according to the study, the average U.S. adult has sex 120 times a year, or 2.3 times per week, and reports high levels of sexual satisfaction, with 76% saying they’re satisfied. Still, 63% of respondents said they would like to have sex more often.
People in the Northeast report having more sex than any other region, averaging 130 times per year (2.5 times per week) versus 125 times per year (2.4 times per week) in the Midwest, 120 times per year (2.3 times per week) in the West, and 114 times per year (2.1 times per week) in the South.
When it comes to practicing safe sex, Northeasterners (43%) are more likely to report using a condom during sexual activity. And 85% of men indicated that they had purchased a condom, compared with 51% of women.
Researchers in the Sex Census, conducted by StrategyOne, found a great deal of variability in sexual satisfaction based on relationship status. Married couples reported much higher satisfaction rates (82% for married versus 71% for singles), while singles reported higher sexual frequency (130 times per year for singles versus 109 times per year for married couples).
"As we saw with the Indiana University’s National Survey of Sexual Health and Behavior, there is enormous variability that exists in the sexual repertoires of U.S. adults," stated Michael Reece, director of the Center for Sexual Health Promotion at Indiana University. "The Sex Census adds to our understanding of sexual behavior across different parts of the country, having probed deep into the sexual landscape, reinforcing that Americans demonstrate a high comfort level in exploring with and learning from their partners."
From sexual fantasies to vibrators, 74% of those polled said they are experimenting with sex and embracing ways to enhance the sexual experience for themselves and their partners.
Trojan, whose roster of products runs the gamut from pleasure-enhancing condoms to stimulating vibrators, noted that its efforts in tracking and documenting the sexual preferences of men and women ultimately influence its product innovation. The survey showed that men (83%) are more willing to experiment as compared with women (65%), which may explain why men were more likely to describe themselves as sexually liberal (31%) versus women (16%).
"With the Trojan Sex Census, we took the 2010 U.S. Census a step beyond the demographic landscape. It’s clear that Americans are sexually diverse and strive to achieve full satisfaction in the bedroom," commented Bruce Tetreault, group product manager of Trojan sexual health products. "With Trojan sexual health products, we pride ourselves on providing many options to meet those needs and increase the pleasure factor in the bedroom. From vibrations to a wide variety of condoms, there’s an option for everyone."
Trojan’s Sex Census is based on two studies conducted by StrategyOne. The first, a national sample of 1,000 10-minute surveys, were conducted online among U.S. adults, with the results nationally representative based on the U.S. Census indicators. The second study was conducted online in 10 major U.S. cities, encompassing a total of 2,000 10-minute surveys.
