Sex is important to the world’s women – but they want better communications with their partner and more spontaneity… please!

Three quarters of women rate sex as important in their lives, according to a worldwide survey carried out earlier this year. Women state that sex strengthens their relationships and makes them feel that they are attractive to their partner.

Bayer, an international pharmaceutical company, commissioned the research to find out how women feel about their sex lives. Over 12,000 women from 12 different countries took part in the research and their combined responses offer a comprehensive picture of women’s views of sex and their enjoyment of it.

The study also explored the impact of male sexual dysfunction or erectile dysfunction (ED) on women’s experience of sex and their relationship. It found that three quarters of women surveyed believe that ED can deeply affect their partnership.

Expert Comment: Dr. John Dean, Sexual Physician and Chair of the ESSM, comments: The “Sex and the Modern Woman” report shows very clearly that the vast majority of mature women see sex as an important part of their lives. They know that it is not everything in life, but it is the cement that binds together men and women in enduring, loving relationships.

a) Vitalsexual woman

Significantly, researchers discovered the profile of what they are calling the Vitalsexual woman. Across all the countries studied 47% of women exhibited the characteristics attributed to this new profile.

The Vitalsexual woman begins with examining women over the age of 40. These women were discovered by researchers to believe sex is important, spontaneity in their sex life is either essential or important, and that their partner’s sexual satisfaction is also either essential or important to them. It’s not surprising perhaps then that Vitalsexual women also say that they would either certainly or probably advise their partner to seek help from a doctor should they experience ED.

The research also discovered that sex is not only important to women, but that communication is important as well. Women want to discuss with their partners how their sex lives could be improved. When asked if there was something that they would improve in their sex lives with their partners, three out of five women said greater communications with their partners or more spontaneity could improve their sex lives.

b) Methodology
Survey covers three continents

The research commissioned by Bayer surveyed women in twelve different countries. These were: Brazil, France, Germany, Italy, Mexico, Poland, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Spain, Turkey, the United Kingdom and Venezuela. Initially, the researchers conducted an exploratory qualitative phase, interviewing 100 women in total, 50 women in France and 50 Germany. In the quantitative phase, the researchers spoke to around 1,000 women, either face to face or by telephone, in each of the 12 countries. The research team selected a representative sample of women in terms of both age, from over 18, and socio-economic position. The women were in relationships at the time of interview. All of the 12,065 interviews took place in April or May of 2006.

Expert Comment: Dr. John Dean says ”It is remarkable how similar the attitudes of women from around the world are towards sex. There are interesting cultural differences in sexual motivations between west and east, but sex is important to both, just the same.”

c) Comparison
Men and women share the same sexual needs

Bayer’s research builds on their previous study examining men’s attitudes to sexual relations and the impact of ED on these. Coincidentally the male study (Sex and the Modern Man, published in October 2005) found that men wanted the similar things to the women surveyed: to communicate more with their partners; give them more pleasure; and be more spontaneous in their sexual relationships. This ‘Sex and the Modern Man’ research heralded the discovery of the Vitalsexual man. The Vitalsexual man is over 40, believes that sex is important, cares about the sexual satisfaction of their partner, seeks spontaneity in their sexual relationship and would seek treatment for ED if they had it This study, develops a greater understanding of women’s attitudes to communication and sexual relations. Uniquely, it establishes women’s perspective on the impact of ED on themselves as partners, their sex lives and their relationship generally. It also explored their knowledge about and understanding of ED and the degree to which women believe ED affected their own quality of life.

This research was prompted in part by the results of Bayer’s previous study of male attitudes and also by recent medical research indicating that ED has an impact on women’s physical and psycho-sexual wellbeing as well as the men’s. The new study recognises that ED impacts on a relationship as a whole and not just on the man who suffers directly.

Expert Comment: Dr. John Dean says “Too many commentators dismiss sex as unimportant in mid-life and beyond, they say, “it is really only men that are interested, middle-aged women don’t care”. They dismiss the importance of treatments for erectile dysfunction (ED) to mature couples and argue that it is only men who benefit. This report contains moving statements from women to show that this is not true. But that’s not all, other research provides objective evidence that ED has a negative on women’s well-being and, in particular, on their experience of sexual desire. There are also data to show treating ED helps both men and women.”

Download Sex & the Modern Woman: Reports Findings

PDF format, 299KB, 20Pages. Provided by erektionsprobleme.ch.

Supported by an educational grant from BayerHealthcare

Table of Contents:

1. Introduction
a) Vitalsexual woman
b) Methodology
c) Comparison
2. Results
a) How important is sex?
i. For Latin America – very important
ii. Important in Europe too
iii. Sex: most important for Saudi Arabian women – less so for South African
b) Wellness and reassurance – why sex is important
i. Sex makes some women feel attractive
ii. Sex and pleasure
iii. Sex is healthy
iv. Sex boosts women’s confidence
c) Women want sexual satisfaction
d) Women want spontaneous sex
e) 40% of women and better sex
f) Talking about it is essential
g) How to improve women’s sex lives: more spontaneity, more talking, more mutual desire
h) Erectile dysfunction – a major impact on women’s satisfaction
i. What women know; how it affects their relationships
ii. Erectile dysfunction – commonplace?
iii. Confused about erectile dysfunction
iv. Erectile dysfunction – affects relationships
v. Strong regional variation
vi. And if erectile dysfunction continues?
i) The reality of erectile dysfunction for some women
i. Feelings of concern
ii. But sadness and annoyance too
iii. Some relieved, some unaffected
j) The causes of erectile dysfunction – according to women: stress, physical illness and
psychological problems
i. Finding the solution – nearly all would seek help from a professional
ii. Responding to ED
k) Knowledge about drug treatments for ED
i. Generally women are not well informed about ED
ii. But most say they are aware of drug treatment options
iii. And 73% of women believe drug treatments are effective
iv. Importantly, women are satisfied after partners’ drug treatments
l) Uncovering the Vitalsexual woman
i. Vitalsexuals demand more
ii. ED can have greater impact on Vitalsexuals
3. Conclusion
a) Research leads to definite conclusions
i. Sex is important but for different reasons
ii. Communication is essential for women
iii. Ready to make love

3. Conclusion

Women’s attitudes to sex differ around the world. They hold certain views in common but place different emphases on the importance of different aspects of their relationships with their partners. Most agree that sex is important in their lives. Three-quarters of all women agree that this is the case.

i. Sex is important but for different reasons

This survey finds that two reasons stand out as to why women find sex important. Most women believe that sex strengthens their relationship with their partner. For some women, sex reassures them that them that their partners still find them attractive. Women therefore see sex as contributing to the health and stability of their relationship with their partner.

Latin American women are more interested in their personal health and satisfaction than women generally. They place significantly greater emphasis on their own sexual satisfaction than women elsewhere. They also have a greater belief in the positive health benefits that sex can offer. Latin American women are also more likely to look for improvements in their sex life than women elsewhere.

Saudi Arabian women are more likely to find that sex boosts their self- confidence as well as reassuring them that they are attractive to their partner.

ii. Communication is essential for women

Women believe that communication is an essential part of their sex lives. Sex communicates the stability and strength of their relationship; it also reassures them that their partners still find them attractive.

Women want to communicate more with their partners about their sex lives. This is the main change that women would make to their sexual relations. Coupled with the general findings about the importance of sex as a communication, this indicates strongly that women want to have deeper and more meaningful discussions with their partner about their sex lives and how they can be improved and developed.

iii. Ready to make love?

This survey shows that women value spontaneity in their sex lives. This strengthens the finding that women value sex as a communication. Spontaneous sex adds to women’s sense of being attractive and reassures them about the intensity of their relationship.

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