Couples losing their virginity today have a ‘better experience than those 25 years ago’


  • Researchers questioned more than 5,000 people in a U.S. university
  • The men and women had all lost their virginity between 1980 and 2012
  • Men always enjoyed the first time more than women, researchers found
  • But women are increasingly reporting a better experience
  • And are feeling less guilt, with fewer men repoerting performance anxiety

By
Anna Hodgekiss

24

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comments

It is a moment few of us forget – albeit not always for the right reasons.

But people losing their virginity today have a better experience than those 20-30 years ago, a study claims.

Researchers from Illinois State University questioned more than 5,000 people in a Midwestern
U.S. university over a 23-year period.

Couples having sex for the first time have a better experience than those losing their virginity 20-30 years ago, researchers claim

Questionnaires completed between 1990 and 2012 involved those whose first experience of intercourse had occurred up to a decade before (e.g. 1980).

They revealed the first time had improved for both men and women – and the different emotions each gender felt.

Whereas men tend to feel more anxious about their performance, they also tend to get more pleasure during their first sexual encounter than women – who were more likely to feel guilt. 

The largest gender difference found was for pleasure, although the effect size was very large for all three emotions.

But over the three decades, anxiety decreased in men – and women felt less guilty – leading to a better first time for both partners.

The study, published in the Journal of Sex Research, concluded: ‘The over-time analyses indicated that men’s anxiety levels decreased (i.e., 1980–2012).’

Discussing the reasons why, lead researcher Susan Sprecher suggested virignity loss was not such a big deal today as it was 20-30 years ago – hence a man is less likely to suffer with ‘performance  anxiety’.

‘Recent cohorts of men are less likely
than [those] from the 1980s and 1990s to have first sexual intercourse
as a rite of passage.

Women have seen an increase in pleasure during their first time, the research found. Those who had sex in the lase decade or so were more likely to enjoy the experience than those who lost their virginity in the 1980s

Men are more likely to suffer from performance-related anxiety during their first time, but this has fallen over the last few years, the study found

Women were more likely to feel guilt about losing their virginity – but this has also eased over the past few years

And research has shown that first-timers are more likely to be in a relationship than a few years ago, she added.

This means intimacy is likely to have increased gradually – ‘so [may] explain why women’s pleasure was found to increase over time and their guilt to decrease,’ she writes.

Reduced sexism and the fact men and women are seen today as more equal – may also be the reason, she said.

Previous research has shown that people who lose their virginity later than their teenage years are more likely to enjoy satisfying relationships later in life.

Researchers from the University of Texas found that people who didn’t have sex until they turned 20 or even later are more likely to end up in a happy relationship.

They were also less likely to be married and they had fewer romantic partners in adulthood.

Comments (25)

what you think

The comments below have not been moderated.

KRISHNA DAS,

kollam, India,

57 minutes ago

Guilt has erased in the last decade or so..thats no bcoz of equality its b coz of the accesebility, availability….i mean everthing is availaible at the tap of a right button..relating to anything…and its shared without any discrimination of sex..and view point of the matters about a decade ago and today is entirely different..its no longer excitement its just a custom…

Condog91,

Peterborough, United Kingdom,

1 hour ago

Who cares!!!!! Live and let live for once DM.

Melissa in NorCal,

San Francisco, United States,

2 hours ago

Reduced sexism and the fact men and women are seen today as more equal – may also be the reason, she said. You forgot the waning influence of misogynist religion as to why women feel less guilt. Men never did. Religion (at least the Abrahamic ones) was invented by men for men.

ANYWAYUP-69,

dingwall, United Kingdom,

2 hours ago

That photo again ! with one right foot and three left feet ! Take a close look.

2 of 5 replies

edmacd,

Dundee, United Kingdom,

1 hour ago

Actually are these all guys feet, must be a sign of the times;)

Lydia1995,

Nuneaton,

1 hour ago

I see 2 right and 2 left…. oh no wait, that far right foot is a left isn’t it.

magicpony9,

District of Columbia,

2 hours ago

“people who didn¿t have sex until they turned 20 or even later are more likely to end up in a happy relationship.
They were also less likely to be married and they had fewer romantic partners in adulthood.” The second part (less likely to be married) surprises me. I definitely attest to the first and second parts though, based on personal experience.

Götz vonBerlichingen,

sterling, United States,

2 hours ago

Hard to believe it could been better than it was

Johny Le Fox,

Prenton, United Kingdom,

2 hours ago

5 seconds in 1993 wont yield much data I’m afraid.

Mo Levsky,

london, United Kingdom,

1 hour ago

Yep, the only sport in the world where coming second made you a winner – only nobody told you!

Dave,

Sheridian, United States,

2 hours ago

Get married first. No guilt.

2 of 4 replies

edmacd,

Dundee, United Kingdom,

1 hour ago

Guilt, for something as natual as sharing a meal eating, or enjoying a film together, or playing a team sport? There is no guilt involved with honest sex. Guilt comes from all the unnatural indoctrination by those who seek control. Do you think the birds and bees feel guilt before, during or after sex? Or how about dolphins, who also do it for the sheer joy of expressing closeness and a joy of living? Sex is an act to be enjoyed. I’d advise all youngsters to only do it when they know they are ready and with someone who shows them the respect and commitment they deserve. There is too much pressure on “getting laid”, just for the sake of “getting laid”. Take it easy, enjoy it more.

furion,

portland, United States,

20 minutes ago

Agreed. No guilt and you have a very close bond with just each other.

Areebkhan,

London, United Kingdom,

2 hours ago

Not with the woman we have these days

2 of 3 replies

Gordon,

kungsbacka,

1 hour ago

With the size of some of the women these days i wonder how the have sex

julie,

newcastle, United Kingdom,

12 minutes ago

and I bet you and Areebkhan are stunning examples of men…….

Areebkhan,

London, United Kingdom,

2 hours ago

Not with the woman we have these days

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