Do we have the same sexual practices today as 30 years ago? This is the question asked by researchers at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine in England. To answer this, they gathered and analyzed 3 UK national studies on sexual behavior between 1990 and 2012. A total of 45,199 people, aged 16 to 24, were interviewed during this research. The study focused on heterosexual practices because the number of people who reported experience with someone of the same sex was too low.
While many studies focus on the age of first sexual intercourse, less is known about the beginnings of any kind of experience, including kissing. The researchers found that the median age of first heterosexual experience (without sex) had not changed much over the past decades and remained around 14 years. Regarding the age of the first sexual intercourse, it has decreased since the middle of the 20th century. In the most recent study, he was 16 years old. In France, the age of first intercourse is more around 17 years old.
Oral sex, a practice that has become common
Regarding sexual practices, there is an increase in the prevalence of oral relations and anal in young people, between 16 and 24 years old. During the most recent study, these practices had become common. In 1990, only 1 in 10 people reported practicing oral sex and anal. Since the 2010s, it has been 1 in 4 men and 1 in 5 women.
The researchers nevertheless recognize that, as with most surveys, their study is limited by self-reported behavior, which can be influenced by prevailing social norms. However, this study shows an increasing diversity of heterosexual practices among young people. According to the authors, a new understanding of current sexual trends could help adapt educational policies and protect their health and well-being.
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