The NATional surveys of Sexual Attitudes and Lifestyles.
Natsal are surveys about sexual behaviours. They started in 1990 and run every 10 years to see the development in sexual behaviours. The surveys are done in Britain and are amongst the biggest in the world. So far, more than 45,000 people have taken part. The surveys have been run consistently and following the same protocole which enables the observation of how sexual behaviours develops and evolves over time.
These surveys provide important insights about sexual behaviours and help inform decisions on how public health can adapt and prioritise relevant issues on sexual health.
There are 3 reports available so far and Natsal-4 is soon to be published. Surveys were run between 2022 and 2023 to provide an update on today's sexual behaviours, reflecting the changes in society such as, for example, the rise of digitalisation and its impact on sexual lifestyles.
Let's look at Natsal-3 and what it found about sexual function...
Important points to note:
Experiencing sexual issues is fairly common and can lead to high levels of distress (about 10% of people).
Almost 1 in 2 people experienced dissatisfaction with their sex life, with a slightly more important ratio for male than female individuals.
Desire discrepancy is a common issue in relationships where partners experience different levels of interest (1 in 4 people regardless of gender).
Relationships where partners experience sexual difficulties is also not uncommon (1 in 5 people regardless of gender).
Natsal helps contextualise our own experiences. Sometimes, shame and fear stop us from seeking the support and help we need but it is important to realise that other people have been through similar issues and help is available.
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