Top 2009 Sexual Studies

I have said this before and I will say it again. I am always amazed at the different research projects that get grants from this foundation or that government agency. Oh, sure, I am 100% behind those initiatives that are working around the clock to create an HIV vaccine or to find a cure for cancer; however, I sometimes read with my jaw hanging open when I see titles like “One million dollars granted for research project to determine why yellow is mellow.” However, some of my favorite studies are the ones that deal with sexual health because they are never boring. An article out of LiveScience decided to pick the best sexual scientific studies that came out of 2009, so we are listing a few here.

Their first pick was a study out of The Journal of Neuroscience that determined that a man’s sweat smelled differently depending on whether it was stimulated by regular exertion from exercise or from being sexually aroused. In addition, women were determined to be able to note the difference between the sweat smells. That must have been a fun and smelly study to work on.

Conception magazine published a paper that stated utilizing withdrawal during sex was “almost as effective as the male condom” in preventing unwanted pregnancies. In fact, the failure rate of withdrawal was found to be 18% with the failure rate of condoms coming close behind at 17%. That sound you just heard was a million college students simultaneously breathing a sigh of relief.

A study emerging out of Iowa State University determined that one-quarter of young children between the ages of 11 and 16 that come from household that are considered low-income have admitted to having sex. In fact, for this group of children, the average age of reported first sexual experience was 12.77 years old. This one is just plain scary.

Any men out there wishing their genes had made their manhood just a tad longer? You might be in luck. The University of Turin issued a study that determined that some products meant to extend the penis might actually work. In fact, one brand they studied that utilizes traction to slowly stretch out the penis proved successful. In fact, some men reported a length growth of almost one full inch.

We all do our best to remain healthy to avoid heart attacks and cancer by eating right and getting exercise. Unfortunately for men who want to avoid prostate cancer, having above-normal sexual activity in their 20s and 30s and frequently masturbating puts these men at a higher risk of developing prostate cancer, according to a study out of the University of Nottingham. As a man advances in age, however, this risk starts to decline. So, there is a silver lining, men.

Women who dread their annual pap smear, raise your hands. Fortunately, there have been new guidelines established by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists that states women should not get their first Pap smear until the age of 21. Also, instead of being checked annually, women can get checked every three years instead.