Americans divulged their most intimate bedroom antics in a new tell-all survey of the nation’s sexual behaviours.
Online pharmacy ZipHealth asked 1,000 people from the US and UK to spill the beans on everything from how long their average sex session lasts, to the romantic locations they choose for a dirty weekend away.
The survey revealed Americans are eager to spice things up in the bedroom, with a majority wanting to explore sex toys, new sexual positions and new partners.
As for favorite sex positions, doggy style was the most popular, followed by reverse cowgirl and 69 — with missionary coming in fourth.
Unconventional stances like wheelbarrow proved the least popular. Respondents also recalled that a typical sexual encounter lasts an impressive 30 minutes per session.
Online pharmacy ZipHealth asked Americans to reveal how long their average sex session lasts and what their preferred sex position is.
The survey found 67 percent of respondents wanted to experiment with using a vibrator, followed by 55 percent wanting to incorporate lubes into their sex sessions.
When it comes to the time of day people enjoy having sex most, most prefer engaging in sexual activity in the evenings and late at night, while about 10 percent of people preferred sex in the morning.
The study, conducted in May, involved polling 1,002 adults about their sexual habits in the summer — 60 percent of participants were from the United States. Some 56 percent were women and 44 percent were men.
Respondents were also asked where they’d go in the world if they were looking for a romantic trip away — and 37 percent ranked Hawaii, while slightly fewer, 29 percent, mentioned the city of love; Paris.
The top 10 also included Turks and Caicos, the Maldives, Italy and Portugal.
As for seasons, 31 percent of men and 21 percent of women report having more sex during the summer than in the winter and fall.
Many adults expressed a desire for a more sexually adventurous summer, with 29 percent of women saying they want a ‘hot girl summer’ – being the life of the party, having confidence, and enjoying themselves.
Americans planned on having two sexual partners this summer, while UK residents expected to have just one. Men were more likely to have more partners.
Men were also more inclined to prefer being single this summer, with 14 percent of men compared to nine percent of women opting for solo status.
Past studies have echoed the latest findings from ZipHealth.
Trojan, the famous condom brand, conducted a Degrees of Pleasure survey in 2010, which found respondents in hotter climates report higher rates of sexual activity, such as Miami (102 times per year) and Atlanta (88 times per year).
Several theories could explain the bump in sexual appetite during the summer months. A report by Matthew Vess, a researcher at Ohio University, posited that hotter temperatures are associated with feelings of intimacy and stronger connections with another person.
Another is scent. While the science behind pheromones is shaky, there is some evidence that we emit mysterious airborne compounds that are related to interpersonal attraction. They’re not the only possible scent-based seduction aid, though.
A mix of factors, such as bacteria on the skin and diet, influences a person’s personal smell, and sweat enhances it.
Meanwhile, hotter weather causes the heart rate to pick up and increase blood circulation, according to Oxford evolutionary biologist Kathleen Bryson, who said this phenomenon ‘mimics signs of sexual arousal, which could potentially make us more willing to have sex.’
Our senses and hormones tick up during the warm summer months as well. Longer days are associated with higher rates of ovulation.
We are also more aware of our senses during the summer, according to Marian O’Connor, a psychotherapist at Tavistock Relationships in the UK.
She said: ‘People feel the sun on their faces. They notice the greenery around them. They might be swimming in the sea. These things are a very different experience from being huddled away from the cold. We almost protect our senses in the winter.
As a result, she added, we’re more aware of our bodies: ‘One of the things about sex, of course, is being aware of your body, and being aware of sensations in your body. Once we are aware of that, our bodies might be more responsive to touch.’
