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Science reveals the ideal body count for both men and women

Published 15:38 6 Jan 2026 GMT

Updated 15:38 6 Jan 2026 GMT

Joseph Loftus
Science reveals the ideal body count for both men and women

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Science has spoken...

Deary me, I thought the days of the 'body count' were long behind us, but trust scientists to bring it back up again.

According to science, not me but science, there is an ideal body count.

A new study carried out in Social Psychological and Personality Science, set out to figure out exactly what society sees as the 'ideal' level of sexual activity for both men and women.

According to Vice, the study found that people with moderate sex lives are judged more positively than those who have either too little or too much sex.

The study surveyed over 340 participants in two separate samples.

They asked how society would view a 25-year-old man or woman with different levels of sexual activity.

They asked everything from the number of sexual partners to the level of intercourse and masturbatory habits.

The study found that high sexual activity was rated as more favourable for men than women, however low sexual activity was rated more positively for women than for men.

The study found that the ideal was:

  • For men: 4-5 sex partners, with 2-3 being casual, and an age of 18-20 for losing their virginity
  • For women: 2-3 total sex partners, 1-2 casual, and losing their virginity between the ages of 16 and 18

The researchers wrote: “There are both similarities and differences in the societal evaluation of male and female sexuality.

“However, contrary to common assumptions, moderate rather than extremely low or extremely high levels of sexual activity are most valued for both genders.”

TLDR: moderation is what people deem to be 'ideal'. Too little or too much is deemed off for the masses.

Science reveals the ideal body count for both men and women