LOS ANGELES — Shattering the myth that men’s sexuality peaks at 18 and women’s at age 30, a new study from Atlanta-based online sex toy retailer Lovehoney.com counters current misconceptions.
The findings of this exclusive polling of 1,000 Americans, from all states and aged 18-65, reveal that American women enjoy the best sex of their lives when they are 26 — and also finds that they have the most sex of their lives when they are 24 — an average of eight years after losing their virginity.
American men, meanwhile, wait until they are 32 before having their best sex — but have their most sex when they are 27, according to this new research.
Lovehoney asked participants when they lost their virginity, at what age they had the most sex and at what age they had the best sex of their lives. In the former case, men typically lost their virginity at 17, and women a year younger at 16.
The survey highlighted a shift towards losing virginity earlier, with the average age of virginity loss being 17 for those in their 20’s to 50’s, but those in their 60’s had waited until they were 18. On average, folks under 20 were almost two years younger than those in their 60’s when they lost their virginity — having sex for the first time within a few months of the legal age of 16.
Of those polled, nearly half (46 percent) said that they were having the best sex of their lives right now, while more than a third (35 percent) said they were having the most sex of their lives right now.
For most people, the best sex of their lives did not happen when they were having the most, but later, with the wait for great sex being longer for men at 15 years, while it only took women 10 years to have the best sex of their lives, after their first time. People in their 50’s and 60’s who took part in the survey said they had their best sex when they were 46.
Sex and relationship expert Tracey Cox, who has her own range of sex toys with Lovehoney, explains that like most things, sex gets better the more you do it, and the more practiced you are at it.
“It makes sense for men to be having better sex at 32 rather than when they lose their virginity at 17,” Cox says. “It takes time to learn how to control their orgasms and to fathom the complex female sexual system.”
“I suspect when they say ‘best sex’, a lot of men mean it’s when they felt most confident as lovers,” Cox adds. “This reinforces what we’ve always known: it’s not about quantity, it is about quality.”
Cox was not surprised that women had their best sex at a younger age than men.
“This destroys the myth that it takes women longer to master their sexual responses,” Cox explains. “Despite the female sexual system being far more complex than a man’s, women are discovering what works and doesn’t faster than men.”
“I think it’s because there’s a lot more practical information out there for women to access and women read more books and actively look for answers or seek help if they’re having problems,” Cox continues. “Men don’t, which is probably why they take a little longer to truly feel they’ve reached a peak.”
“Although there is a definite peak for frequency of sex, quality of sex tends to be perceived to be best in a person’s present, or their recent past,” Lovehoney co-owner Neal Slateford said. “It’s [also] heartening to know that people are making the effort to keep sexual happiness and satisfaction on the agenda throughout their lifetime.”
“We know that Lovehoney customers, who mostly own at least one sex toy, are twice as likely to say they’re satisfied with their sex life in the first place than non-sex toy owners,” Slateford concludes.
Lovehoney makes all the official “Fifty Shades of Grey” sex toys and pharmacy products — the only ranges approved by E L James, author of the best-selling books. The company is expecting brisk sales as fans snap up merchandise after enjoying the “Fifty Shades” movie which is set for release in February.
Lovehoney is also featured on “Frisky Business,” a six-part TV documentary series which follows the hilarious antics of its staff, and is currently being shown in America on Netflix.
For more information, visit Lovehoney.com.
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