The results of the Women’s Health Readers’ Sex Survey 2014 are in. See how you stack up against the women who took it.
or our sex special issue, we mapped the sexual preferences of the WH reader with an online poll that ran across our social media for a week. Over1,200 WH readers responded anonymously. We found a mix of startling stats (5.1%have had 12 or more sexual partners!) and progressive attitudes (63.88% use condoms as a form of protection). Then we called in the experts to give ustheir take on the results. Plus, we pulled out research-backed info on how to do it bigger, better and safer.
-by Team WH
(You love…) Adventure
33.46% women hook up with people they barely know or don’t know at all.
Expert take
One stat that took us by surprise: 12.08% expect to have sex after the first date! “Hooking up with random people gives women a sense of anonymity;they can assume whatever character they like without revealing their realselves. This gives them freedom to express themselves more without guilt,”says Anuja Kapur, Delhi-based psychologist.
A word of caution, though: “If you only have random encounters and not relationships, it is likely that there is some emotional discord in your life or you have body-esteem issues.” So look into those before you leap into bed. “Having intercourse with many strangers could lead to guilt. To get over it, you may end up with another stranger, creating a cycle that could have negative effects on your psyche.” Ask yourself ifit’s a peer group thing. “You may not see the risks if all your friendshave multiple partners they don’t know,” says Kapur.
Have used a vibrator – 20.21%
(You love…) Experimentation
40.72% do it doggie style
Expert take
In response to how diverse the sexual repertoire was, 71.80% had tried oral sex, while 18.25% said they’d indulged in some form of bondage (BDSM’s gone mainstream with Fifty Shades of Grey). “The book has helped many articulate what they merely thought about,” says VarkhaChulani, clinical psychologist and WH columnist.”Erotica has given women a chance to voice their desires without guilt or shame. Those who have needed that nudge have been propelled by it.” There are also more channels to get the gyan from-channels that give us the woman’s POV too (will we see men in the bunny costume?).”The Internet and erotica are exposing us to things we’ve never experienced before. Women see themselves as equal to men and are not afraid to take the reins. Expression of sexuality is not only important for relationships, it also makes a woman feel empowered and in control,” says Delhi-based Dr Aditya Kapoor, member of the European Society of Sexual Medicine.
Make It Better
Sit on a pillow on the edge of the bed and lie back, resting your head onanother pillow. With him kneeling down in front of you, place your feet on hisshoulders. Have him envelop your clitoris in his mouth and suck gently whilepenetrating your vagina with his fingers.
(You love…) Self-Gratification
43.93% masturbate, when there’s no guy around to give a hand.
Expert take
We asked what excited you most about sex. Amongst a range of choices that included “his orgasm”, “connecting with your partner” and “seeking new experiences”, 49.44% said it was their own orgasm in asexual encounter. “The whole idea of a woman being a recipient and a man being the doer has gone out the window,” says Kapoor. “Educated, financially independent women are taking the initiative and becoming more assertive about their sexuality. Women are expecting and exploring more.”But though women are conscious of individual needs, they don’t seem preoccupied by them: feeling connected with a partner, feeling loved and expressing loverate high- 40.91% feel that sex is not just a physical need but an emotion alone.
Make It Better:
Having trouble sleeping? Masturbation is a pressure release. A recent studypublished in the Journal of Neuro Quantologylisted four distinct types of female orgasms (clitoral, vaginal, blended ormultiple orgasms). You should try them all-starting tonight.
(You love…) Classic Sex (Sometimes)
26.40% women have foreplay with their partners for 5-15 minutes.
Expert take
Women are turning over a new (fig) leaf when it comes to trying new things, but the most popular sex position remains missionary (50.51% still like it best). “The missionary position would likely be the most preferred, not because it’s better but because it’s the safe default. However, woman-on-top and rear-entry are probably much more pleasurable for the woman simply because they are both better at providing clitoral and vaginal stimulation, thereby enhancing the likelihood of orgasms, both single and multiple,” says WH advisor Dr Vijay Nagaswami, Chennai-based psychiatrist and psychotherapist. Then there’s foreplay. “It’s a keyaspect of the whole sexual experience,” he adds. “It helps, not onlyin building a better emotional connect with the partner, but also in priming the body better for the final sexual act. As important as foreplay is after-play, as it enhances the emotional connect. Certainly beats turning over and going to sleep!”
Make It Better:
Play a sexy game to up the foreplay ante-try Bumps and Grinds,a classic drinking-and-stripping board game. Or go to Adultsexygames.com forfree downloadable games.
(You love…) Risk-Taking
31.50% use the withdrawal method as means of contraception.
Expert take
Experts are concerned at the level of risk-taking. “The withdrawalmethod is the least effective method of birth control. Moreover, it is unsafeand pre-ejaculate can also get you pregnant-yes, it does contain baby gravy.The risk of infection and STDs is high especially if you have multiplepartners,” says gynaecologist Dr Sadhana Kala, Moolchand Hospital, Delhi. “Since no method of birthcontrol is 100% safe, it’s a good idea to use two methods: barrier (condom) andhormonal (like the Pill). (See the article 8 Ways to OutsmartSperm, p 54). Also, “In these days of sexually transmitted diseasesand hidden cam videos uploaded onto porn sites, I think some care exercised inpartner choice would be the prudent way to go. I mean when we spend so muchtime researching personal care products before using them, surely doing thesame when it comes to who we sleep with, isn’t such a bad idea!” says Nagaswami.
Are You Serious? 18.78% claimed to have sex all the time
Expert Take
“All the time? When do they go grocery shopping then? Or earn the money they need to go grocery shopping?” asks Nagaswami. “When talking about sex, particularly undercover of the anonymity that a survey offers, people do tend to exaggerate wildly when it comes to sex and sexual prowess. In the past, it was the guys who were given to bragging, but today’s woman is evidently not too far behind in this department. I’d take this with a lot of salt.” However, regular sex does have its benefits. A study at Wilkes University found that having sexonce or twice a week boosts your immune system.
10.30% never ever watch porn and think it’s wrong!
Expert take
“Women who think porn is wrong have been brought up that way-their upbringing dictates sex as a taboo subject. There is a whole stigma attached to porn because a lot of women think it’s a man thing. All porn does is act as a stimulus to get you in the mood for a sexual act,” says Kapur. However, if porn becomes your mainstay, it can be problematic. “Many people get their sex education from porn today and tend to feel inadequate when they see porn stars going at it apparently for hours together,” says Nagaswami.”They don’t always realize that porn stars are porn stars because they’re abnormally endowed and therefore, tend to believe that they’re not as good when it comes to either sexual equipment or prowess. While occasionally viewing porn can be educative and even heighten the sexual anticipation, particularly if the couple do it together, it tends to become repetitive and monotonous, and worse, addictive, after a while.”
