MIDLIFE CANADIANS ARE LEADING ACTIVE AND HAPPY SEX LIVES BUT PUTTING

THEMSELVES AT RISK FOR CONTRACTING STIS, TROJAN STUDY FINDS

First of its kind study of midlife Canadians explores sexual health attitudes and behaviours
Canadians are opening up about their sex lives. For the first time, midlife Canadians share the intimate details of
their sexual attitudes and behaviour. The newly-released study found that as they age sexual pleasure does not
decrease, in fact majority of midlife Canadians have become more adventurous than they were a decade ago.
The Study
Commissioned by the makers of Trojan products in partnership with the Sex Information and
Education Council of Canada (SIECCAN)
The first sexual health survey to provide detailed insights into the sex lives of Canadians between the
ages of 40 and 59
2,400 participants surveyed to gain insights into their sexual health, happiness, and pleasure in addition
to their sexual behaviours and attitudes
Sexual Pleasure
75 per cent of our sample reported having a sexual encounter in the previous 12 months (71 per cent in
the previous six months)
Sexual pleasure does not decrease with age - Regardless of age category 65 per cent said last sex was
very pleasurable
87 per cent of midlife Canadians say that their current primary relationship is emotionally satisfying (46
per cent very satisfying, 87 per cent at least somewhat satisfying)
63 per cent of the midlife Canadians surveyed said they are more interested in trying new things to
enhance pleasure than they were a decade ago
Frequent communication is strongly associated with sexual satisfaction:
o Very sexually satisfied individuals were most likely to report frequently communicating their
sexual likes and dislikes with their partner
What midlife Canadians do after sex is one of the strongest predictors of sexual pleasure in relationships
which seems to be especially the case for women;
o 71 per cent of women who had six to ten minutes of post sex affectionate behaviour rated their
most recent intercourse as very pleasurable compared to 44 per cent women who had zero to five
minutes
Sexual Health
Just over 50 per cent of men and women surveyed say that their sexual health is very good
Most respondents in the 40 to 59 age group were sexually active in the previous three months, especially
those who were married or cohabiting
92 per cent of men and 88 per cent of women feel that their sexual health contributes to their overall health
Over two thirds of respondents that reported that they were sexually active stated that they were very
happy or happy with the sexual part of their lives

Sexual Behaviours

About 40 per cent of married/cohabiting respondents report having sexual encounters once or more per
week, while 30 per cent of singles report the same frequency
For majority of Canadians, their last sexual encounter lasted between 16-30 minutes (75 per cent for
married/cohabiting and 87 per cent of singles)
o Canadians are making foreplay last longer with more than 70 per cent of singles saying foreplay
lasted longer than 11 minutes compared to only 54 per cent of married couples
47 per cent of mid-life Canadians engaged in oral sex in their most recent sexual encounter
o Singles were more likely to engage in oral sex than married/cohabiting person (56 per cent
versus 38 per cent)

Masturbation, Lubricant and Vibrator Use

Personal lubricant use by women increases with age. The survey noted that 23 per cent of women used a
personal lubricant to increase sexual pleasure
Lubricant use for intercourse increased with age with 22 per cent of men and 26 per cent of women aged
55 to 59 using lubricant during their last sexual encounter
60 per cent of men masturbate once or more per week which is significantly higher than females at 23
per cent
Frequency of masturbation declines with age but 74 per cent of men and 50 per cent of women in the 5559 age group report masturbating once a month or more
Over a third of women in all age groups used a vibrator for most recent masturbation
o Almost half of women (48 per cent) aged 40-44 used a vibrator
Sexual Health Concerns and Medical Advice

Sexual health problems are common during midlife:

o Over a third (42 per cent) of the women in the survey indicated that My level of sexual desire
(interest in having sex) is lower than I would like it to be
o 30 per cent of men aged 55 to 59 indicated I have trouble getting and maintaining an erection
47 per cent of Canadians seeking information and advice related to sexual health issues turned to the
Internet while only 44 per cent turned to a family doctor

Sexually Transmitted Infections

Single midlife Canadians are more sexually active and there is a growing concern that they are not
protecting themselves against HIV and other sexually transmitted infections. Concern about STIs is
low:
o 56 per cent of single men and 61 per cent of single women are not very concerned or not
at all concerned about contracting an STI
o Lack of concern seems to be translating into high risk behavior. Two thirds, 65 per cent of
single men and almost three quarters of single women, 72 per cent did not use a condom at
last intercourse
o Among those who were sexually active, over half of (55 percent of) of single men and 32 per
cent of single women had two or more partners in the previous 12 months
For further information please contact:
Patricia Amato
Veritas Communications
Phone : 416-955-4583
Email: amato@veritasinc.com

Veronica Sedran
Veritas Communications
Phone: 416-955-4589
Email: sedran@veritasinc.com