Sexual Repertoire, Duration of Partnered Sex, Sexual Pleasure, and Orgasm: Findings from a US Nationally Representative Survey of Adults

Abstract

In a confidential U.S. nationally representative survey of 2,525 adults (1300 women, 1225 men), we examined participants’ event-level sexual behaviors, predictors of pleasure and orgasm, and perceived actual and ideal duration of sex, by gender and age. Event-level kissing, cuddling, vaginal intercourse, and oral sex were prevalent. Sexual choking was more prevalent among adults under 40. While women and men reported a similar actual duration of sex, men reported a longer ideal duration. Participants with same-sex partners reported a longer ideal duration than those with other-sex partners. Finally, findings show that gendered sexual inequities related to pleasure and orgasm persist.

Acknowledgment

We are grateful to Drs. Eli Coleman and Pepper Schwartz, as well as Lauren Broffman, Yael Cooperman, and Megan Zhou, for their feedback on drafts of the questionnaire.

Conflict of interest

Dr. Herbenick has served as a member of Ro’s Medical Advisory Board.

Additional information

Funding

The authors are grateful to Roman Health Ventures, LLC for their funding in support of the present research (PI: Herbenick). Roman Health employees Lauren Broffman, Yael Cooperman, and Megan Zhou provided feedback on survey drafts. However, the funders did not participate in data collection, data analysis, or drafting of the manuscript.