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How many girls does the average guy sleep with?

An curved arrow pointing right. Nectar Sleep surveyed Americans to discover how many sexual partners they had before settling down. The average number for people who identify as men was 26, the average number for people who identify as women was 19. But other studies have shown that people often lie about their number.

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Nectar Sleep surveyed Americans to discover how many sexual partners they had before settling down. The average number for people who identify as men was 26, the average number for people who identify as women was 19.

But other studies have shown that people often lie about their number.

Comparing yourself to others is all too easy, especially when it comes to sex. While sharing your number may be uncomfortable, it's easy to wonder about other people's. There's an episode of "Friends" in which Monica's boyfriend Richard asks her how many people she's slept with. After telling her his number is two, she's embarrassed to share her higher number, clearly fearing judgment. This exchange leads Ross and Rachel to have a similar, equally awkward conversation, comparing their past. While stigmas around sex are slowly dissolving, for many, these conversations can still feel incredibly uncomfortable and will be avoided at all costs. At the end of the day, however, it's natural to be curious about how many people others have slept with. Nectar Sleep has released a study perfect for anyone wondering what their fellow Americans numbers are. Broken down by the gender binary, the survey asked participants who identify as men and women aged 30 and below how many sexual partners they had before "settling down." It wasn't clear the respondents' sexuality, or what they defined as "sex," and the only people surveyed appeared to be on the gender binary. For those who identify as men, the average number of sexual partners was 26. The average number of sexual partners for those who identify as women was a bit lower, coming in at 19. It's worth noting that these numbers are much higher than many previous studies, including one Superdrug, previously reported on by INSIDER, that put women at an average of seven and men at an average of six. Data is usually hard to pin down because people also admit they aren't truthful about their "number." Studies have shown that men often increase their "number" while women decrease theirs when asked, which can say a lot about our attitudes towards sex and gender. Also, "sexual partners" and "sex" can often mean different things to different people, especially depending on their sexuality. So although we can only go off of what people respond to in surveys like this, it's definitely worth noting that these numbers can often be inflated based on who you ask.

No matter what, you shouldn't stress about your number

After reading all that data did you immediately compare it to your number? I know I did. While it's all too easy to compare yourself to others in every aspect of life, it's incredibly important to note that there is no "normal" when it comes to the amount of sexual partners you "should" have and sharing your "number" is up to you. "If it's relevant to understanding what you both do and don't like sexually then that's important for physically communicating between the sheets, but if it's about tallying up who is more ‘sexually experienced' then this will achieve nothing for your relationship," dating expert Sarah Ryan told HuffPost UK. All that matters is that you are having safe and consensual sex that makes you happy.

For more great stories, head to INSIDER's homepage.

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What's the best age to get into a serious relationship?

It's important to consider your child as an individual. Consider their emotional maturity and sense of responsibility. For many kids, 16 seems to be an appropriate age, but it may be entirely suitable for a mature 15-year-old to go on a date, or to make your immature 16-year-old wait a year or two.

When your child mentions dating, or a girlfriend or boyfriend, try to get an idea of what those concepts mean to them. Take note of how your child reacts when you discuss dating. It could be a little uncomfortable or embarrassing, but if your child is unable to even discuss it with you without getting defensive or upset, take that as a sign that they probably aren’t ready.

Other things to consider include the following.

Is your child really interested in someone in particular, or are they just trying to keep up with what friends are doing?

Do you think your son or daughter would tell you if something went wrong?

Is your child generally confident and happy?

Does your child’s physical development match their emotional development?

Be aware that for many tweens and young teenagers, dating amounts to socializing in a group. While there may be interest between two in particular, it’s not double-dating so much as a group heading out or meeting up at the movies or the mall. This kind of group stuff is a safe and healthy way to interact with members of the opposite sex without the awkwardness that a one-on-one scenario can bring. Think of it as dating with training wheels. So, when is a child ready for one-on-one dating? There’s no right answer. It’s important to consider your child as an individual. Consider their emotional maturity and sense of responsibility. For many kids, 16 seems to be an appropriate age, but it may be entirely suitable for a mature 15-year-old to go on a date, or to make your immature 16-year-old wait a year or two.

You can also consider what other parents are doing. Are lots of kids the same as yours already dating in the true sense of the word?

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