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AbstractThis study describes the use of contraception and protection for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in six different birth cohorts of the general population in Norway. The results are based on a 2020 national web panel survey among 18–89 year-olds in Norway (n = 4160). For respondents born within 1931–1950 versus those born within 1990–2002, there was a significant increase in the use of protection against unwanted pregnancy and STIs during sexual intercourse, and a significant drop in the proportion of those who did not use any protection at all. More women today (than in previous decades) are using hormonal contraception. The main reason for not using condoms during intercourse was both parties felt safe that they were healthy, especially those born within 1990–2002. To prevent unwanted pregnancy and STIs, it is beneficial to continue to increase the availability of free or subsidized hormonal contraception, including emergency contraception, and free condoms in public arenas that people frequent and where they meet their partners.

AbstractThis study explores the connection between relationship duration and feelings of closeness in Norwegian men and women, and the association with sexual satisfaction and activity. A sample of 4160 Norwegians aged 18–89 years was enrolled from a randomly selected web panel of 11,685 Norwegians. This study focused on participants who were married or cohabiting (1432 men, 1207 women). Closeness was the highest for men and women who had been with their partner for 0−6 years. However, among those who had been with their partner for 31 years or longer, men felt closer to their partners than women. Irrespective of relationship duration, the most important factor for both men and women's perceived closeness with their partner was general sexual satisfaction. Among men who had lived with their partner for 7−20 years and 31 years or longer, having been monogamous in life was significantly associated with "inclusion of others in the self" (IOS). Further, closeness was associated with higher intercourse frequency, lower masturbation frequency, and satisfaction with genital appearance in men who had been with their partners for 31 years or more. Intercourse frequency was significantly associated with IOS in women who had been with their partner for 0−6 years. Furthermore, in women who had been with their partner for 31 years or more, satisfaction with their own weight was important for IOS. In conclusion, men and women reported similar degrees and patterns of IOS up to the point where they had been in their relationship for more than 30 years. Thereafter, women reported feeling less close to their partners, while men's feelings of closeness increased. This may be related to physiological, psychological, and social changes in the lives of aging men and women.

AbstractThe purpose of this paper is to examine the extent to which Norwegians are satisfied with their singlehood, and to determine the association between being single and sexual activity. Data were obtained from a questionnaire survey of a representative web sample of 1076 unpartnered individuals (568 women, 508 men) aged 18–89 years. A total of 45.2% of the single respondents reported being satisfied with being single, while 33.9% reported being unsatisfied. There was no difference between the age groups in men, but more women aged 45 years or older than women under the age of 45 were satisfied with being single. A higher percentage of gay, bisexual, and transmen than heterosexual men was satisfied with being single. More women who had not been sexually active with a partner in the past year were satisfied with being single than were women who had been sexually active. The men who were most satisfied with being single were those who had masturbated and/or had sexual intercourse, and least satisfied were those with no sexual activity, or exclusively masturbation activity. The results are discussed in terms of biological, psychological, and social positions.

AbstractThis study aims to estimate six different sexual debut ages in heterosexual Norwegians in six birth cohorts of the general population in Norway. The results are based on a 2020 national web panel survey of 18–89-year-olds in Norway (n = 4160). There was a general decline in the median debut age from those aged 70+ to those 18–29 (born 1991–2002). Oral sex with a female partner has become increasingly common among men at an earlier age across generations. The same pattern was found in women as well with regard to oral sex with a male partner and receptive anal sex. There was a slight increase in median debut age in 18–29-year-olds for receptive vaginal sex (born 1991–2002). The median debut age for vaginal sex was fairly stable for generations of men and women born after 1950.

AbstractSexuality has become an area of social competence in which individuals strive to be recognized as sexually competent performers. However, a large proportion of young women experience reduced sexual desire. In this study, both quantitative and qualitative methods were applied. Using data from a questionnaire, the aim of this study was to explore the prevalence of, and the factors associated with, lack of sexual interest and desire among young women in Norway. Further, with the help of in-depth interviews, we investigated how young women with reduced sexual desire experience living with their desire problems and what they experience as the cause of their problems. The sample in the quantitative study consisted of 505 Norwegian women between the ages of 18 and 29 years. ANOVA was employed to explore differences in scores on psychological factors and relational factors, as well as between participants who experienced a lack of sexual interest and desire, and those who did not. The results indicate a high prevalence of lack of sexual interest and desire among women (37.1%), while low appearance satisfaction and low relationship satisfaction were central predictors of lack of sexual interest and desire. The sample in the qualitative study consisted of ten Norwegian women with reduced sexual desire between the ages of 18 and 29 years. Through thematic analysis, four themes emerged as experiences of living with reduced sexual desire: (1) physical and mental health, (2) being a young woman in today's society, (3) relational factors, (4) negative experiences, personal expectations toward sexuality, and sexual trauma.