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What's the average number of guys a girl has slept with?

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 causes falling out of love?

Communication issues and unrealistic expectations are two of the main reasons people find themselves falling out of love. But there are things that can be done to stop the fall. Relationships are hard work; they should be viewed as investments, particularly if there is a marriage.

It may be more difficult for women to come to terms with, or even admit, that they are having problems maintaining the feelings of love for their spouses. They have to make a decision to dissolve or save the marriage while battling conflicting emotions. Men seem to be getting all the attention when it comes to relationship muck-ups and falling out of love. Bestselling book, Why Men Fall out of Love (2005), by Michael French, was a big hit with readers, but no such book has been written about women. Women, meanwhile, often think they are the “fixers” of the relationship, and tend to seek out information to remedy the problem. They may perceive men to be indifferent and construe their lack of communication as cruel. As the women feel more neglected, the slow process of falling out of love begins. Neglect isn’t as concrete as infidelity or physical abuse, so it is a tougher area to discuss directly. See your partner for who he is. If he treats you poorly now, he will later. If he has a bad habit of putting you down in front of his friends, see it as a red flag. These actions may not make you feel like falling out of love now, but soon enough they will wear on you.

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