The first comprehensive study about Americans' sexual activity since 1994 reveals that Americans have increased their sexual options beyond intercourse. The survey covers information about the male-female orgasm gap, sexual acts based on age and ethnicity and condom use. It also includes information about sex education and its availability.
Forty-one different sexual acts have been recorded, including partnered masturbation, oral sex and vaginal and anal intercourse. Compared to the information gathered from a study from the 1980s, Americans have reported that they are masturbating - either alone or with a partner - taking part in oral sex and experimenting with same-gender sex more often than in prior years.
Although men are more likely to orgasm during vaginal intercourse, women are more likely to do so through a variety of other acts.
There seems to be some miscommunication between men and women when it comes to sexual satisfaction, however. The study noted that 64 percent of women reported orgasming during their most recent sexual encounters, whereas 85 percent of men reported that their partners achieved orgasm during their most recent sexual acts.
The last similar survey, conducted in 1994, studied those between ages 18 and 59. The more recent study, meanwhile, surveyed people as young as 14 and as old as 94 of the 5,865 U.S. residents who responded to the survey.
The study also showed that more young teenagers masturbate than have sex. One in 10 14- and 15-year-olds have had sex with a partner, whereas 62 percent of boys and 40 percent of girls admitted to masturbating by themselves.