PATTERNS OF FIRST INTERCOURSE - A SURVEY AMONG ISRAELI WOMEN

Seasonality among animals has an important function in breeding cycles . Research focusing on conception and coital activity in humans has ca lled attention to the possible existence of circannual rhythms in huma n sexual activity. We studied the diurnal variations, seasonality and subjective sexual preference among young women in Israel-focusing on t heir first intercourse. The survey included 135 college students who c ompleted a self-report questionnaire. Half of the subjects (50%) repor ted loss of virginity during the summer with an almost equal distribut ion among the other seasons. Over 85% of the subjects had their first intercourse either in the evening or at night. Subjective sexual - sea sonal - preference was reported by 44.4% of the subjects but no correl ation was found between the preferred season and actual loss of virgin ity; except for the autumn ''preferers''. Our study supports previous research generalizing the sociological explanation for seasonality of the first intercourse.