Irish study shows men who lose love handles have better sex lives

Shedding pounds can increase men’s passion levels in the bedroom, according to a new study by Irish researchers.

The study found that overweight men who went on a weight-loss program were able to reduce the prevalence of low testosterone by almost 50 percent.

While the study was conducted at St Vincent’s University Hospital, in Dublin, the findings were presented this week at The Endocrine Society’s 94th annual meeting, in Texas.

According to Philly.com the research followed 900 pre-diabetic men who were also overweight and who had an average age of 54.

The men were placed in three separate groups and received either a prescription for 150 minutes of exercise a week plus a low-calorie, low-fat diet; the diabetes drug metformin, or a placebo pill.

The men who stuck to the exercise regime and consumed a healthy diet reported a decrease of 46 percent in low testosterone levels and lost an average of 17 pounds.

"Doctors should first encourage overweight men with low testosterone levels to try to lose weight through diet and exercise before resorting to testosterone therapy to raise their hormone levels," study co-author Dr Frances Hayes, a professor at St. Vincent's University Hospital in Dublin, said in a society news release.

"Losing weight not only reduces the risk of pre-diabetic men progressing to diabetes, but also appears to increase their body's production of testosterone," Hayes said.

Kinky Irish top poll for world’s most adventurous in bed -- Lots of fooling around as state's birth rate hits 118-year high

Birth rate in Ireland hit a high as Irish get kinky

Everyone in Ireland seems to be mad for a bit of sex these days. The most recent research reveals that Irish men and women are topping the polls for being among the most "adventurous lovers" in the world.

Akin to this, Ireland’s Central Statistics Office revealed this week that the country had the highest fertility rate of the 27 European Union states in 2009.

Separate to the CSO stats, the sexual wellbeing survey revealed that the Irish use more sex toys than the French, more lubricants than the Germans and one in five say they are up for a threesome. Is this an effect of “Fifty Shades of Grey”, I wonder?

Despite this adventurous streak, the research found just 13 percent of respondents always use a condom to protect against STIs and unplanned pregnancies.

Based on this survey, no one could say the Irish are prudes as 42 percent openly discuss their sex lives with their partner.

Commissioned by Durex, the study showed that one in ten Irish people wanted to experiment with a striptease in the bedroom, while 11 percent said they would like some massage as part of foreplay.

The survey questioned 29,003 adults in 36 countries, reports the Irish Examiner.

In related news, the latest figures show that more children were born in 2009 in Ireland, since 1891.

Figures from the Central Statistics Office (CSO) showed that there were 75,554 births in Ireland in 2009, the highest recorded number in over a century.

“The total period fertility rate, or the average number of children per woman, was 2.10 in 2009, the same rate as in 2008,” according to the CSO.

The results of the Durex survey seem to support  the CSO’s figures. Do you think the Irish are a frisky nation?

Seven year itch? Irish couples ditch relationships after three

Shot from "Seven Year Itch"

Due to cutbacks in Ireland, the seven-year itch has been restricted to three years.

It seems couples have more to contend with other than a weak economy and poor job prospects, as new research shows that more people are splitting up after three years, not even making it close to the seven year itch.

According to a study by parenting website Netmums, couples are now four-and-a-half times more likely to split after three years and than the traditional seven years.


A significant 21 percent of couples who parted ways, said their relationship fell apart between two and four years. In contrast, a mere three percent broke up after seven years.

Normal everyday pressures such as raising kids while juggling careers were the main reasons why relationships failed.

Almost half of the 1,500 respondents said that bringing up children had put a strain on their relationship.

Netmums founder Siobhan Freegard (44) told the Irish Sun: “Relationships are tough at the best of times but having children puts an extra strain on them.

“The problem with ‘fast forward’ relationships is if the foundations are not strong then children can quickly make a relationship very wobbly.

“The research shows we are then giving up too quickly — maybe because it seems there are more choices than there used to be.

Irish are no longer sexually repressed - down and dirty photos the norm

Irish couples are getting risque

More than 30 percent of Irish people have called in sick to work to stay at home and have sex, a new survey from Durex has revealed. But a mere seven percent said they regularly have checks for STDs.

Revealing Ireland’s love for lust, the research was released to coincide with National Condom Week.

Over 1,000 people contributed to the survey which found that Irish people prefer women on top and the doggie style position and are also partial to kinky gadgets in the bedroom.

Some 16 percent of respondents said they have also texted a naked picture of themselves to someone, reports the Cork Independent.

One-in-ten people admitted to sleeping with a new love interest within an hour of meeting them, while one-in-five said that they have slept with someone after knowing them for less than two hours.
_______________
Read More:
Irish American women are true man eaters

Syphilis epidemic struck Ireland in the 1930s new survey shows


Bad romance: 10 surprising facts about the Irish and sex
_____________________

Some 38 percent of people admitted to discussing fantasies with their partner and 19 percent have engaged in role play.

One-in-five have done a strip tease and over 20 percent have introduced food into the bedroom.
The Irish Durex National Condom Week began on Monday 24 October and runs through to October 30. The annual initiative is aimed at promoting safer sex and encouraging the country to use condoms.

Miriam Abel, Brand Manager at Durex says, “It is fantastic to see 53 percent of people always use a condom, but also concerning that only seven percent get regular STI checks.

“Carrying a condom can quite literally be lifesaving and should be as commonplace as picking up your keys or your wallet,” Abel added.

Northern Irishmen have best sex lives says new survey

Northern Irishmen are the most satisfied in bed

Only 32 percent of men in Northern Ireland said they were dissatisfied with their sex lives, while the Bayer Healthcare survey found that half of Scottish men were unhappy in the bedroom. A whopping 47 percent of men in England said they were sexually unsatisfied and 32 percent of men in Wales also said they were missing out in their sex lives.

Men who were married or living with their partner, showed the highest levels of satisfaction in their sex lives. While men who were widowed reported the highest levels of dissatisfaction.

A total of 18 percent of males in Northern Ireland and Wales said they would talk to their partner about sexual related problems, while only nine percent of Scottish men said they would approach their other half.
______________
Read More:
Bad romance: 10 surprising facts about the Irish and sex


Irish Justice Minister in move to change laws on purchase of sex

U.K. porn star says Irish men are the best
_______________

The survey also found that men were more likely to fix their car or computer before approaching a doctor regarding sexual related matters, such as a low sex drive.

Presenting the findings at a conference, Dr Geoffrey Hackett, a GP and consultant in sexual medicine said sexual health for men can be an issue they ignore.

“As the data shows, men are more likely to fix their hard drive than their sex drive," he said.

The findings will be discussed at the Men's Health World Congress in Vienna, which aims to explore awareness and barriers to diagnosis across the UK.