A survey in 1994 was conducted as a part of a study called The Social Organization of Sexuality and was also included in a later report to the Centers for Disease Control. A total of 1,330 men and 1,664 women were asked about their sex lives over the previous year. About half were married, about a quarter had never married, and the rest either were divorced, separated, or widowed. Nationally, according to the Census Bureau, 59% of men and 56% of women were married in 1994.
Sexual Activity of Women, 1994
Perhaps the most interesting point is that a significant percentage of respondents were not very sexually active. 9.8% of men and 13.6% of women reported having no sex in the previous year. 17.6% of men and 16.1% of women said they had sex only a few times during the year. More men than women reported being sexually active 2 or more times a week. More women than men reported having sex just a few times a month. They were usually married, although a significant portion was single.
The panels below compare sexual activity by age. Men who were not active sexually fell into the 18-24 or 55-59 groups. This makes sense. Young men probably are not married or may not have a partner. Older men may be without a partner because of divorce or a deceased wife. They also may not be interested. The levels of men who had not had intercourse were roughly comparable over the age groups. This is more striking when compared to the levels of women who have not had sex. The share of women who had been celibate over the year increased steadily by age group. The jump between women from 50-54 and 55-59 is particularly striking.
The most sexually active seem to be between 18-24 years of age. They were more likely to be having sex four times a week or more (they also have the most sexually transmitted diseases). Activity for both decreased with age. More men than women had sex four times a week. Women 40-44 years of age were the exception for their sex. The share of women reporting this level of sexual activity increased noticeably for women in their thirties and fifties.
Sexual Activity of Men, 1994
Common responses were "a few times a month" or "two or three times a week" The highest levels were reported for men and women between 40-44 years of age. Those in their forties and fifties saw the highest levels in general — in short, people most likely to be married. Most couples, on average, probably have intercourse once a week.
Sexual activity is influenced by a number of issues. People are getting married later in life; this (potentially) delays the start of their sex lives. A second marriage may trigger a jump in sexual activity later in life. A woman trying to get pregnant will also probably be more sexually active in an effort to conceive.
Source: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Report to Congress on Out-of-Wedlock Childbearing. (September 1995), Table IV; Laumann, E.O., et. al. 1994. The Social Organization of Sexuality.
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