Male sexuality unmasked
In order to understand male sexuality and relationships, French psychiatrist and sex therapist Philippe Brenot has collected a host of candid confessions from over 2,000 heterosexual men. Read on for the results…
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Philippe Brenot, psychiatrist and sex therapist came up with an online investigative method to find out more about the so-called ‘stronger sex’ and their sexuality. “I couldn’t get a complete view purely from confidential sessions at my practice. Answers to my questions over the Internet, however, have taught me a lot,” he confirms, struck by how these men have laid themselves bare.
Individual confessions to a computer screen have revealed different unsuspected sides to male sexuality for Brenot, which he presents in this article. The study was completed by over 2,000 men and explores attitudes to orgasm, masturbation, sexual positions, fantasies, dissatisfaction and many other areas of male sexual behaviour.
The testimonials were surprising, genuine and emotional, and challenge conventional ideas about male sexuality, highlighting the changes it has undergone in recent times.
The results of the study reveal what taboos leap out and provide precious information which, faced with these facts, can help to avoid misunderstandings between men and women in relationships.
The male orgasm: a complex event
While men always seem to be perceived as simplistic by the majority of women, the study reveals quite a different reality. First of all, let’s look at answers to the question: ‘Do you orgasm every time?’. Only 68% of men responded : ‘Yes’.
Next, more than 50% of the men could clearly describe what they felt. This information brought the male orgasm closer to the female orgasm in that it exists in 4 stages. These are: a build-up of tension, followed by an explosion, then a release during pleasure and a loss of control.
Brenot summarises; “The numerous details these men gave revealed a high level of sensitivity and an awareness about their bodies, which goes against the stereotypes of the male machine that doesn’t communicate.” At that’s just the tip of the iceberg!
The first encounter: a source of male anxiety
Philippe Brenot reminds us that “sexuality is something you can learn”. The psychiatrist was struck by the level of anxiety that comes with the first sexual encounter, felt by around 57% of men.
For the others, 10% confess that they have had failures in the bedroom, and 50% had premature ejaculations. Many of the respondents admitted to being quite stressed by the first encounter situation, and not so sure of themselves. As for the question: ‘how did you feel when this happened?’, most described feelings of stress beforehand, surprise and then surprisingly, guilt afterwards.
According to the study, 16% found their first sexual experience difficult, 31% had a neutral feeling about the whole experience and only 48% said it was good.
While a certain number of preconceptions regarding sexuality are par for the course, the sex therapist refers to these first-hand accounts in order to broach the subject of sexual education as something that could help overcome that initial anxiety. According to Philippe Brenot; “A guide for adolescents, making the first time more ‘stress-free’ and secure, means that at least some future sexual and relationship problems could be avoided.”
Masturbation: male relaxation remedy
The figures speak for themselves. 87% of men sexually stimulate themselves, 13% feel guilty about it and 40% do not tell their partner. 11% masturbate on a daily basis and 42% at least twice a week.
Masturbation remains a taboo subject for most couples. Many women continue to feel humiliated when they catch their partner by surprise ‘in the act’, and feel betrayed if their man uses porn as a stimulus for masturbation. It should be noted that 80% of men said ‘yes’ when asked if pornography stimulated them.
The main reason behind this masturbation, considered banal for many men, is stress release. This relaxing effect is not well understood but it is however, the major driving factor behind masturbation according to the men themselves.
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Copyright © 2011 Doctissimo
Posted 31.05.2011
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