Wanting Sex Less and Enjoying it More

Posted on January 9, 2012

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A new study is out, conducted by the American Journal of Medicine.  The researchers were people who have perhaps the best job on the planet, next to those who are in charge of quality control for Haagen Dazs, analyzing sexual desire and satisfaction in 806 women, age 40 or older, with a median age of 67 years.

The result:  Women’s satisfaction in the bedroom increases with age, even as desire decreases. Nearly 40% of the women in the study “Never or almost never” experienced sexual desire.  Only 3% desired sex always or almost always. Yet the majority of women, including sexually active and sexually inactive respondents,  were moderately or very satisfied with their sex lives, and the frequency at which women were very satisfied with their sex lives increased with respondents’ ages.

Let’s back up here a moment and re-read the following sentence: “Yet the majority of women, including sexually active and sexually inactive…” So sexually inactive women were part of the data on sexual satisfaction.  Based on this, this writer plans to be included in studies of the satisfaction people derive from being awarded the Nobel Prize, from having had sex with George Clooney, and from wrestling with bears.

By way of explanation, the article says  “In this study, sexual activity was not always necessary for sexual satisfaction.” Well, we guess not, since the study identifies more women who enjoy sex than the ones actually having it. The article ends with the following provocative questions:

What does it really mean to be sexually satisfied?  Normally, one would assume that sexual satisfaction would involve sex.  But, given the pass on this that the study allowed, we can postulate the following possibilities leading to sexual satisfaction:

1. Sexual satisfaction means I am having sex with a person

2. Sexual satisfaction means I am having sex with a person and/or an inanimate object

3. Sexual satisfaction means I rode the Metro today and got a seat.

Does satisfaction go beyond the sex itself?

1. My sexual satisfaction only involves sex

2. My sexual satisfaction can involve sex and/or ingesting food

3. My sexual satisfaction only involves Lindt chocolate truffles

Does sexual satisfaction change with age?

1. My sexual satisfaction has changed with age.

2. My sexual satisfaction has not changed with age.

3. I believe the Republicans have yet to present a viable candidate for the nomination.