Most of us like to think we’re pretty clued up when it comes to sex. Especially if you are reasonably experienced in life. But would you consider yourself such an expert that you’re confident you’d breeze through a Mastermind round on sex?
Try these little facts on for size...
What you think you know: No one wants sex when they have a headache.
What you probably didn’t know: A study by Cephalalgia, the International Headache Society, found “sexual activity can lead to partial or complete relief of headache in some migraine and a few cluster headache patients”. Next time you reach for your painkillers you might want to consider this: endorphins are natural painkillers. And guess what chemical floods your body when you have sex?
Fun fact: A study found that moderately frequent sex raises your body’s levels of immunoglobulin A – an antibody that fights colds and flus.
What you think you know: You stop wanting sex as you get older
What you probably didn’t know: A study in the US showed that 73% of men and women aged 57 to 64 and over half of those aged 65 to 74 were sexually active. And back here in the UK, a recent documentary for Channel 4 found 51% of those questioned aged over 60 described enjoying a late sexual bloom, in part due to the advancement of online dating.
What you think you know: There is a peak age for sexual prowess
What you probably didn’t know: We’ve all heard the story: men peak at 18, women at 35? Right? Wrong! These numbers have often been challenged, most recently by Lisa Wade, a professor of sociology. In addition, a survey on mindfulness app Happify found that most people in their 50s and 60s say they enjoyed sex most at the age of 46. It is all a matter of experience…
What you think you know: Your sex life has no bearing on your lifespan.
What you probably didn’t know: A study of 45-to-59-year-old Brits found the death rate halved in men who had sex more frequently (twice a week versus once a month). Sex can also greatly reduce [8] your chances of having a heart attack.
What you think you know: Male ejaculation = orgasm.
What you probably didn’t know: Studies have shown that orgasm and ejaculation in men are separate physiological processes, meaning some men can orgasm without ejaculating. You can also try to achieve climax through the tantric practice of “energetic orgasms”.
What you think you know: Erectile Dysfunction (ED) is not common
What you probably didn’t know: Actually, ED is relatively common among men of all ages. Indeed, 4.3 million men in the UK experience symptoms*, and it is easily treatable in most cases. A visit to your pharmacist should be the first item on your agenda.
* Prevalence based on men reporting occasional and frequent difficulty getting or maintaining an erection [ref. Kantar TNS Omnibus Survey Dec 2010 – in a survey of 1,033 men]
VIAGRA Connect® 50mg film coated tablets. Contains Sildenafil. For erectile dysfunction in adult men. Always read the leaflet.