U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

National Center for Health Statistics

Sexual Behavior, Sexual Attraction, and Sexual 

Orientation Among Adults Aged 18–44 in the 

United States: Data From the 2011–2013 National 

Survey of Family Growth

by Casey E. Copen, Ph.D.; Anjani Chandra, Ph.D.; and Isaedmarie Febo-Vazquez, M.S., Division of Vital Statistics

Abstract

Objective—This report provides national estimates of sexual behavior, sexual 

attraction, and sexual orientation among women and men aged 18–44 in the United 

States, based on the 2011–2013 National Survey of Family Growth (NSFG). 

Methods—Data for the 2011–2013 NSFG were collected through in-person 

interviews with 10,416 women and men aged 15–44 in the household population in 

the United States. In this report, data are shown only for 9,175 adults aged 18–44. The 

data presented in this report were primarily collected using audio computer-assisted 

self-interviewing, in which the respondent enters his or her answers into the computer 

without telling them to an interviewer. The overall response rate for the 2011–2013 

NSFG was 72.8%.

Results—Regarding opposite-sex sexual behavior, 94.2% of women and 92.0% 

of men aged 18–44 had ever had vaginal intercourse; 86.2% of women and 87.4% 

of men had ever had oral sex; and 35.9% of women and 42.3% of men had ever had 

anal sex. Almost three times as many women (17.4%) reported any same-sex contact 

in their lifetime compared with men (6.2%) aged 18–44. Feelings of attraction “only 

to the opposite sex” were more common for men (92.1%) compared with women 

(81.0%) aged 18–44. Among those aged 18–44, 92.3% of women and 95.1% of men 

said they were “heterosexual or straight”; 1.3% of women and 1.9% of men said 

they were “homosexual, gay, or lesbian”; 5.5% of women and 2.0% of men said they 

were bisexual; and 0.9% of women and 1.0% of men said “don’t know” or “refused” 

(i.e., “did not report”) on sexual orientation. Sexual attraction and sexual orientation 

correlate closely but not completely with reports of sexual behavior. Sexual behavior, 

sexual attraction, and sexual orientation vary by age, marital or cohabiting status, 

education, and race and Hispanic origin. 

Keywords: oral sex • anal sex • sexual identity

Introduction

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs), 

including human immunodeficiency 

virus (HIV), the virus that causes 

acquired immune deficiency syndrome 

(AIDS), have a significant impact on 

the sexual and reproductive health of 

adolescents and adults in the United 

States. The Centers for Disease Control 

and Prevention (CDC) estimates that 

about 19 million new cases of STIs 

occur in the United States each year 

(1). Approximately 50,000 Americans 

are diagnosed with HIV each year (2), 

and more than 1 million Americans are 

currently living with HIV (3). 

Studies on STIs or HIV often use 

different measures to identify U.S. 

populations at risk, including measures 

of sexual behavior, sexual attraction 

(e.g., desires), and sexual orientation 

(i.e., whether one self-identifies as gay, 

lesbian, bisexual, or heterosexual). These 

different measures can lead to variation 

in the estimates of STI or HIV risk in a 

specific population. One explanation for 

this variation is that individuals’ sexual 

behavior is not always consistent with 

whom they are attracted to or whom they 

form sexual relationships with—persons 

of one’s same sex, the opposite sex, or 

both sexes. For example, some research 

Number 88  January 7, 2016

National Health Statistics Reports
Page 2 National Health Statistics Reports  Number 88  January 7, 2016

suggests that within the subgroup of 

individuals that identify as bisexual, there 

is considerable variation in both sexual 

attraction and sexual behavior with 

opposite-sex and same-sex partners (4). 

Further information on the relationships 

among sexual behavior, sexual attraction, 

and sexual orientation may help to 

identify populations at risk of STIs or 

HIV in the U.S. and to better target 

health-related programs and interventions 

aimed at reducing these risks. In addition, 

nationally representative data on sexual 

behavior, attraction, and orientation can 

be helpful in understanding patterns of 

fertility and family formation in the U.S. 

household population. 

Using data from the National Survey 

of Family Growth (NSFG), this report 

presents national estimates of sexual 

behavior, sexual attraction, and sexual 

orientation among women and men aged 

18–44 in the United States in 2011–2013. 

In addition, attention is given to patterns 

of association, or concordance, between 

sexual behavior, sexual attraction, and 

sexual orientation to identify the level of 

consistency among these three measures.

Methods 

Data source

This report is based on the 

2011–2013 NSFG. NSFG is a nationally 

representative survey of the U.S. 

household population, with face-to-face 

interviews conducted with women 

and men aged 15–44. NSFG is jointly 

planned and funded by CDC’s National 

Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) 

and several other programs of the U.S. 

Department of Health and Human 

Services. The fieldwork plan, interview 

content, and other procedures of the 

survey are similar to what was done in 

previous surveys (5). The final sample 

for 2011–2013 consisted of 10,416 

respondents aged 15–44—5,601 women 

and 4,815 men. The response rate for the 

2011–2013 NSFG was 72.8% overall, 

73.4% for women, and 72.1% for men. 

This report includes measures of 

sexual behavior, sexual attraction, and 

sexual orientation for 9,175 adults aged 

18–44 interviewed for the 2011–2013 

NSFG—5,010 women and 4,165 men. 

The age range 18–44 was chosen to allow 

comparisons with past NSFG reports and 

other national surveys (6–8), and also 

because some of these characteristics, 

such as sexual orientation, may not yet 

be known or accurately reported among 

teenagers aged 15–17 (9). Similarly, 

this age range most accurately reflects 

the percentage of U.S. adults who have 

ever had opposite-sex sexual contact, 

since less than one-half of teens aged 

15–19 in 2011–2013 had ever had sexual 

intercourse with an opposite-sex partner 

(10).

Use of audio computerassisted self-interviewing 

Much of the data in the survey 

were collected by computer-assisted 

personal interviewing or CAPI, in 

which the questionnaire was stored on 

a laptop computer and administered 

by an interviewer, but many of the 

variables described in this report were 

collected using audio computer-assisted 

self-interviewing (ACASI). In ACASI, 

the respondent listens to the questions 

through headphones, reads them on the 

screen, or both, and enters the response 

directly into the computer. This method 

avoids asking the respondent to give his 

or her answers to the interviewer, and it 

has been found to yield more complete 

reporting of sensitive behaviors (11). All 

data on sexual behavior shown in this 

report were collected using ACASI. 

Measurement of sexual 

behavior, sexual attraction, 

and sexual orientation in 

ACASI

In ACASI, all respondents were 

asked questions about oral sex and anal 

sex with opposite-sex partners, sexual 

behaviors with same-sex partners, sexual 

attraction, and sexual orientation. The 

question on vaginal intercourse with an 

opposite-sex partner was only asked for 

those respondents who did not provide 

clear evidence of intercourse in the 

interviewer-administered portion of the 

interview. Specifically, if the respondent 

had ever been married or cohabited 

with an opposite-sex partner or if the 

respondent had ever been pregnant or had 

ever fathered a pregnancy, the respondent 

was not asked again about vaginal 

intercourse in ACASI. 

Measures of sexual behavior, sexual 

attraction, and sexual orientation were 

similar for women and men aged 18–44, 

with the exception of the reporting 

of any same-sex sexual contact. For 

women, the measure of any same-sex 

sexual contact included responses to 

questions on ever giving to or receiving 

oral sex from another female. If the 

woman responded “no” to both of these 

questions, she was asked if she had ever 

had any sexual experience of any kind 

with another female. For men, questions 

on same-sex sexual contact were asked 

on ever giving to or receiving oral sex 

from another male or ever giving to or 

receiving anal sex from another male; 

a more general question on having had 

any sexual experience of any kind with 

another male was not asked during this 

survey period. The specific wording of 

the NSFG questions on sexual behavior, 

sexual attraction, and sexual orientation 

can be found in the Technical Notes. 

In this report, the term “intercourse” 

refers to vaginal intercourse between 

a male and a female. The terms “sex” 

or “sexual contact” refer to all types 

of sexual activity, including vaginal 

intercourse, oral sex, and anal sex, either 

with opposite-sex or same-sex partners. 

Demographic variables 

The data presented in this report 

are shown with respect to several 

key background or demographic 

characteristics, including age, marital or 

cohabiting status, educational attainment, 

and Hispanic origin and race. Age of 

respondent and educational attainment 

reflect status at the time of interview. 

Educational attainment is shown based 

only on respondents aged 22–44 because 

large percentages of those aged 18–21 

are still attending school. The definition 

of marital or cohabiting status used 

in this report also reflects status at the 

time of the interview and includes only 

those relationships with opposite-sex 

spouses or partners, in keeping with the 

recoded variables that have been defined 

across all NSFG surveys to date. While 

it is theoretically possible to construct a 

measure of same-sex partners who are 
National Health Statistics Reports  Number 88  January 7, 2016 Page 3

married or cohabiting using the NSFG 

household roster information, the small 

sample sizes reporting these relationships 

do not permit analyses for these 

population subgroups. The definitions 

of Hispanic origin and race used in this 

report take into account the reporting 

of more than one race, in accordance 

with 1997 guidelines from the Office of 

Management and Budget (12); however, 

sample sizes of multiple-race individuals 

or single-race groups other than black or 

white in NSFG are too small to permit 

separate analysis. 

Statistical analysis 

All estimates in this report are 

based on sampling weights that are 

designed to produce unbiased estimates 

representative of the approximately 110 

million women and men aged 18–44 

in the United States. Statistics for this 

report, including sampling errors, were 

produced using the survey analysis 

procedures in SAS software version 

9.3. Significance of differences among 

subgroups was determined by standard 

two-tailed t tests. No adjustments 

were made for multiple comparisons. 

Terms such as “greater than” and “less 

than” indicate a statistically significant 

difference. Terms such as “similar” or 

“no difference” indicate that the statistics 

being compared were not significantly 

different. 

Close attention should be paid to 

the sampling errors for small groups, 

such as those who reported their sexual 

orientation as gay, lesbian, or bisexual 

or those who reported “don’t know” or 

“refused” on sexual orientation (i.e., “did 

not report”). In this report, percentages 

are not shown if the denominator is fewer 

than 100 cases, or if the numerator is 

fewer than 5 cases. When a percentage 

or other statistic is not shown for this 

reason, the table contains an asterisk 

signifying that the “statistic does not meet 

standards of reliability or precision.” 

Given limited statistical power resulting 

from small sample sizes, some subgroups 

shown in the tables are not discussed in 

the report.

Results

Types of sexual behavior 

with opposite-sex and samesex partners

Table 1 shows percentages of women 

and men aged 18–44 who had ever had 

the specified types of sexual contact with 

opposite-sex and same-sex partners. 

Regarding opposite-sex sexual behavior, 

95.3% of women and 93.5% of men aged 

18–44 had ever had any opposite-sex 

sexual contact. Specifically, 94.2% of 

women and 92.0% of men had ever had 

vaginal intercourse, 86.2% of women 

and 87.4% of men had ever had oral 

sex, and 35.9% of women and 42.3% of 

men had ever had anal sex. Comparable 

percentages of women and men have had 

any opposite-sex sexual contact, vaginal 

intercourse, and oral sex with oppositesex partners. Higher percentages of men 

(42.3%) than women (35.9%) had ever 

had anal sex. Regarding same-sex sexual 

behavior, almost three times as many 

women aged 18–44 (17.4%) had ever 

had same-sex contact in their lifetime 

compared with men aged 18–44 (6.2%). 

The percentages of women and 

men reporting specific types of sexual 

experience with opposite-sex partners 

generally increased with age. Compared 

with persons aged 18–24, higher 

percentages of women and men aged 

25–44 had ever had vaginal intercourse 

(98.5% for women and 96.5% for men), 

had ever had oral sex (89.3% and 91.0%), 

and had ever had anal sex (38.5% and 

47.0%). In contrast, women and men 

aged 25–44 had lower percentages 

reporting any same-sex sexual contact 

(16.7% and 6.0%) compared with women 

and men aged 18–24 (19.4% and 6.6%), 

but the percentages were not significantly 

different.

Looking at oral and anal sex with 

opposite-sex partners, some differences 

by education and Hispanic origin and 

race were seen. Among both women 

and men aged 22–44, oral sex was 

reported more often among those with 

a bachelor’s degree or higher (91.5% of 

women and 91.7% of men) than among 

those with no high school diploma or 

General Educational Development high 

school equivalency diploma (GED) 

(72.6% of women and 80.2% of men). 

Non-Hispanic white women were more 

likely to have ever had oral sex (91.9%) 

than women in other Hispanic origin and 

race groups. Similar percentages of nonHispanic white men (91.0%) and nonHispanic black men (90.4%) had ever 

had oral sex, both of which were higher 

than Hispanic men (78.6%). Anal sex 

was reported by a lower percentage of 

women aged 22–44 with no high school 

diploma or GED (24.4%) compared with 

other education groups; however, this 

same pattern by education was not seen 

for men. 

Regarding same-sex sexual 

experience, a higher percentage of nevermarried, noncohabiting men had samesex sexual contact (8.9%) compared with 

men in other marital or cohabiting status 

groups. Among women aged 18–44, no 

such pattern by marital status was seen. 

No clear-cut pattern by education was 

seen in the percentage having had samesex sexual contact for women or men 

aged 22–44. Hispanic women (11.2%) 

were less likely than either non-Hispanic 

white women (19.6%) or non-Hispanic 

black women (19.4%) to have had 

same-sex sexual contact. For men, the 

percentage having had same-sex sexual 

contact did not differ significantly across 

Hispanic origin and race groups. 

Sexual attraction and sexual 

orientation

Table 2 shows the percent 

distribution of sexual attraction for 

women and men aged 18–44. Men in 

2011–2013 were more likely to say they 

were attracted “only to the opposite sex” 

(92.1%) compared with women (81.0%). 

However, when the “only to opposite 

sex” and “mostly to opposite sex” 

categories were summed, no difference 

was seen between women and men. 

Similar patterns of sexual attraction by 

age were seen for both women and men. 

Both women (75.9%) and men (88.6%) 

aged 18–24 were less likely to say they 

were attracted “only to the opposite 

sex” than women (82.8%) and men 

(93.4%) aged 25–44. Never-married, 

noncohabiting men were less likely to say 

they were attracted “only to the opposite 

sex” (86.4%) compared with men in 

other marital or cohabiting status groups, 

although this same pattern by marital 
Page 4 National Health Statistics Reports  Number 88  January 7, 2016

status was not seen for women. Among 

men, no significant differences in sexual 

attraction by education or Hispanic origin 

and race were seen, but for women some 

differences were observed. Women aged 

22–44 with no high school diploma 

or GED (85.9%) and women with a 

bachelor’s degree or higher (84.7%) 

had higher percentages who said they 

were attracted “only to the opposite sex” 

compared with women with a high school 

diploma or GED (79.1%) and those with 

some college and no bachelor’s degree 

(78.5%). Non-Hispanic white women 

(79.6%) were less likely than Hispanic 

women (84.7%) and black women 

(84.2%) to say they were attracted “only 

to the opposite sex.” 

Table 3 shows the percent 

distribution of sexual orientation for 

women and men aged 18–44. Among 

adults aged 18–44, 92.3% of women 

and 95.1% of men said they were 

“heterosexual or straight,” while 

7.7% of women and 4.9% of men 

reported a sexual orientation other than 

“heterosexual or straight,” including 

1.3% of women and 1.9% of men who 

said they were “homosexual, gay, or 

lesbian,” 5.5% of women and 2.0% of 

men who said they were bisexual, and 

0.9% of women and 1.0% of men who 

said “don’t know” or “refused” (i.e., “did 

not report”) on sexual orientation. Age 

appeared to be more closely associated 

with sexual orientation for women than 

for men. Women aged 25–44 were more 

likely to say they were heterosexual or 

straight and less likely to say they were 

bisexual compared with women aged 

18–24. Among men aged 18–44, no 

such pattern by age was seen. Looking 

at marital or cohabiting status, 3.2% of 

currently married women and 1.7% of 

currently married men said they were 

bisexual. Among current cohabitors, 

5.9% of women and 1.8% of men said 

they were bisexual. Among women 

and men aged 18–44 who had never 

married and were not cohabiting, 3.4% of 

women and 4.5% of men said they were 

gay or lesbian and 7.2% of women and 

2.4% of men said they were bisexual. 

Among those formerly married and not 

cohabiting, 9.1% of women and 1.4% of 

men said they were bisexual. 

The distribution of sexual orientation 

varied by education for women but not 

for men. Women aged 22–44 with a 

bachelor’s degree or higher were more 

likely to say they were heterosexual 

(95.6%) and less likely to say they were 

bisexual (2.9%) compared with other 

education groups. Women with less than 

a high school diploma or GED (3.3%) 

were more likely to report “don’t know” 

or “refused” (i.e., “did not report”) on 

sexual orientation than women with some 

college, no bachelor’s degree (0.6%) 

and women with a bachelor’s degree or 

higher (0.5%). For men aged 22–44, a 

similar pattern by education of “don’t 

know” and “refused” responses on 

sexual orientation was evident, but was 

not statistically significant. Regarding 

Hispanic origin and race, Hispanic 

women were more likely not to report 

sexual orientation (1.9%) than nonHispanic white women (0.2%) but were 

similar to non-Hispanic black women 

(0.9%). This same pattern by Hispanic 

origin and race was evident for men but 

did not reach statistical significance. 

Association of sexual 

behavior, sexual attraction, 

and sexual orientation

Table 4 shows the percent 

distribution of sexual orientation for 

women and men aged 18–44 by sexual 

attraction. Nearly all women (98.9%) 

and men (99.3%) who reported being 

attracted “only to the opposite sex” 

said they were heterosexual or straight. 

Among those attracted “mostly to 

the opposite sex,” 84.7% of women 

and 78.5% of men said they were 

heterosexual or straight. Due to small 

sample sizes, all other categories 

of sexual attraction were collapsed 

to include those who were equally 

attracted to both sexes, mostly attracted 

to the same sex, only attracted to the 

same sex, or were not sure of their 

sexual attraction. The attraction group 

labeled “all other” showed a different 

distribution by sexual orientation for 

women and men. For women in the 

“all other” attraction group, the most 

commonly reported sexual orientation 

was bisexual (49.6%), followed by 

heterosexual or straight (25.9%), gay 

or lesbian (18.7%), and 5.8% who 

did not report sexual orientation. For 

men in the “all other” attraction group, 

the most commonly reported sexual 

orientation was gay (41.0%), followed 

by heterosexual or straight (25.2%), 

bisexual (20.2%), and 13.6% who did 

not report sexual orientation. Men in 

the “all other” attraction group (13.6%) 

were more likely not to report their 

sexual orientation than women (5.8%) 

but the difference was not statistically 

significant. 

Table 5 shows percentages of women 

and men aged 18–44 who ever had the 

specified types of sexual contact with 

opposite-sex and same-sex partners, by 

sexual attraction and sexual orientation. 

In the “all other” attraction group, a 

higher percentage of women (86.3%) 

had ever had any type of opposite-sex 

sexual contact compared with men 

(67.9%). More than one-half of women 

(53.9%) who were attracted “mostly to 

the opposite sex” had ever had same-sex 

sexual contact, compared with 7.5% of 

women who were attracted “only to the 

opposite sex.” Similarly, men who were 

attracted “mostly to the opposite sex” 

were more likely to have ever had samesex sexual contact (26.8%) compared 

with men who were attracted “only to the 

opposite sex” (2.3%). 

Among women and men who 

reported themselves as heterosexual or 

straight, 95.8% of women and 94.7% of 

men had ever had opposite-sex sexual 

contact, and 12.6% of women and 2.8% 

of men had ever had same-sex sexual 

contact. Similar to the collapsing of 

sexual attraction categories, women 

and men who self-identified as gay, 

lesbian, or bisexual were shown together 

in a category called “homosexual 

or bisexual.” In the “homosexual or 

bisexual” group, a higher percentage 

of women had ever had opposite-sex 

sexual contact (89.7%) compared with 

men (67.9%). Having ever had samesex sexual contact was common for 

both women (83.6%) and men (88.6%) 

in the “homosexual or bisexual” group; 

however, 16.4% of women (100% minus 

83.6%) and 11.4% of men in this group 

had never had same-sex sexual contact. 

The percentage of women who reported 

ever having had same-sex sexual contact 

was higher for heterosexual women 

(12.6%) compared with women who said 

they were attracted “only to the opposite 

sex” (7.5%). In contrast, no difference 
National Health Statistics Reports

 Number 88 January 7, 2016 Page 5

was observed in the percentages who 

reported ever having had any same-sex 

sexual contact among heterosexual men 

(2.8%) and men who said they were 

attracted “only to the opposite sex” 

(2.3%). 

Looking at specific types of sexual 

contact with opposite-sex partners, 

women who said they were attracted 

“mostly to the opposite sex” (59.5%) 

were more likely to have had anal sex 

with an opposite-sex partner than women 

who were attracted “only to the opposite 

sex” (32.3%). Among men, no such 

difference by sexual attraction was seen 

for anal sex with opposite-sex partners. 

Women who said they were “homosexual 

or bisexual” were also more likely to 

have had anal sex with an opposite-sex 

partner (44.2%) compared with 35.4% 

of heterosexual women. In contrast, anal 

sex with an opposite-sex partner was 

more common among heterosexual men 

(42.7%) compared with “homosexual or 

bisexual” men (33.9%). For oral sex with 

an opposite-sex partner, no difference 

was seen by sexual orientation for 

women. In contrast, men who said they 

were “homosexual or bisexual” (62.5%) 

were less likely than heterosexual men 

(88.8%) to have ever had oral sex with an 

opposite-sex partner. 

Discussion

This report provides updated national 

estimates of some basic statistics related 

to sexual behavior, sexual attraction, 

and sexual orientation, followed by 

a description of the association or 

concordance among these measures 

for women and men aged 18–44 in the 

household population of the United 

States. Estimates of sexual behaviors, 

sexual attraction, and sexual orientation 

among women and men aged 18–44 were 

generally similar between the 2011–2013 

and 2006–2010 NSFG. However, 

significantly higher percentages of 

women in the 2011–2013 NSFG reported 

ever having had same-sex sexual contact 

(17.4%) compared with women in the 

2006–2010 NSFG (14.2%), and higher 

percentages of women (5.5%) and men 

(2.0%) in the 2011–2013 NSFG said they 

were bisexual compared with women 

(3.9%) and men (1.2%) in the 2006–2010 

NSFG (6). 

As shown in this report, these three 

dimensions of sexuality—behavior, 

attraction, and orientation—have shown 

varying patterns of association in NSFG. 

There are challenges in the collection of 

data about sexuality in household surveys, 

including how to define and operationalize 

these concepts. A comparison of estimates 

of sexual orientation between the 2013 

National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) 

and 2006–2010 NSFG showed higher 

percentages of women and men aged 

18–44 who identified as bisexual and a 

lower percentage of women who identified 

as gay or lesbian in NSFG compared with 

NHIS, although estimates of men who 

identified as gay and women and men 

who did not report sexual orientation 

(i.e., “don’t know” or “refused”) were 

similar across the two surveys (8). 

Variation in estimates of sexual behavior 

and sexual orientation across surveys 

may be due to differences in question 

wording and survey design (e.g., mode 

of administration, survey content, and 

question context).

This report includes data from 

NSFG from 2 years of data collection, 

resulting in relatively small sample sizes 

that may yield unreliable estimates for 

key demographic subgroups. Readers 

should exercise caution when drawing 

conclusions for sexual minority 

populations. More detailed subgroup 

analysis will be possible when the next 

data files, covering 4 years of data 

collection for 2011–2015, are released. 
Page 6 National Health Statistics Reports  Number 88  January 7, 2016

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National Health Statistics Reports  Number 88  January 7, 2016 Page 7

Table 1. Sexual behavior with opposite-sex and same-sex partners among women and men aged 18–44, by selected characteristics: United States, 2011–2013

Percent reporting

Characteristic

Number

(in thousands)

Any opposite-sex 

sexual contact1

Any vaginal 

intercourse with 

opposite-sex 

partner

Any oral sex

with oppositesex partner

Any anal sex

with oppositesex partnerAny same-sex 

sexual contact2

Percent (standard error)

All women aged 18–443

 � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 55,271 95�3 (0�5) 94�2 (0�5) 86�2 (1�1) 35�9 (1�1) 17�4 (0�9)

Age

18–24 � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 14,269 85�6 (1�4) 81�7 (1�6) 77�3 (2�0) 28�4 (1�7) 19�4 (1�5)

25–44 � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 41,002 98�7 (0�3) 98�5 (0�3) 89�3 (1�1) 38�5 (1�2) 16�7 (1�1)

25–34 � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 20,790 98�3 (0�5) 98�0 (0�5) 89�8 (1�2) 39�0 (1�6) 20�0 (1�6)

35–44 � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 20,212 99�1 (0�3) 99�1 (0�3) 88�7 (1�4) 38�0 (1�7) 13�1 (1�4)

Marital or cohabiting status

Currently married � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 23,191 100�0 100�0 91�2 (1�2) 37�5 (1�6) 10�9 (1�2)

Currently cohabiting � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 9,032 100�0 100�0 90�3 (1�4) 42�2 (3�1) 23�9 (2�8)

Never married, not cohabiting � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 17,499 85�2 (1�2) 81�5 (1�4) 76�4 (1�9) 27�8 (1�9) 20�1 (1�4)

Formerly married, not cohabiting � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 5,549 100�0 100�0 89�0 (2�9) 44�4 (3�3) 25�0 (3�3)

Education4

No high school diploma or GED � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 4,904 99�2 (0�8) 99�1 (0�8) 72�6 (3�1) 24�4 (3�0) 15�2 (2�9)

High school diploma or GED � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 11,891 98�6 (0�4) 97�6 (0�7) 87�3 (1�8) 40�8 (2�3) 20�6 (1�7)

Some college, no bachelor’s degree � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 14,851 97�7 (0�6) 97�5 (0�6) 92�2 (1�2) 42�9 (2�3) 22�2 (1�8)

Bachelor’s degree or higher � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 15,446 96�8 (1�0) 96�1 (1�1) 91�5 (1�4) 36�2 (2�0) 12�2 (1�6)

Hispanic origin and race

Hispanic or Latina � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 10,811 95�8 (0�8) 95�5 (0�9) 77�7 (2�2) 32�3 (2�4) 11�2 (1�4)

Not Hispanic or Latina:

White, single race � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 31,880 95�4 (0�7) 93�9 (0�8) 91�9 (1�1) 40�5 (1�3) 19�6 (1�5)

Black or African American, single race � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 7,581 96�3 (0�9) 95�6 (0�9) 82�7 (1�5) 27�5 (2�9) 19�4 (2�1)

All men aged 18–443 � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 54,685 93�5 (0�7) 92�0 (0�7) 87�4 (1�0) 42�3 (1�6) 6�2 (0�5)

Age

18–24 � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 14,718 83�5 (1�7) 79�9 (1�7) 77�6 (2�0) 29�3 (2�1) 6�6 (1�0)

25–44 � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 39,967 97�2 (0�5) 96�5 (0�5) 91�0 (0�9) 47�0 (1�9) 6�0 (0�6)

25–34 � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 20,453 95�6 (1�0) 94�6 (1�0) 90�1 (1�6) 49�3 (2�3) 6�0 (0�9)

35–44 � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 19,514 98�9 (0�5) 98�5 (0�5) 92�0 (0�9) 44�8 (2�3) 6�0 (0�8)

Marital or cohabiting status

Currently married � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 21,298 100�0 100�0 93�4 (0�9) 45�4 (3�0) 3�9 (0�7)

Currently cohabiting � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 8,157 100�0 100�0 94�7 (1�3) 57�0 (3�0) 5�4 (1�3)

Never married, not cohabiting � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 21,793 83�7 (1�5) 79�9 (1�5) 77�4 (1�8) 30�8 (1�7) 8�9 (1�0)

Formerly married, not cohabiting � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 3,438 100�0 100�0 97�3 (1�0) 60�4 (3�6) 5�2 (1�4)

Education4

No high school diploma or GED � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 5,890 97�0 (0�9) 97�0 (1�0) 80�2 (3�6) 45�0 (3�3) 3�7 (1�1)

High school diploma or GED � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 13,473 96�9 (0�8) 96�9 (0�8) 90�9 (1�4) 50�4 (2�6) 5�4 (0�9)

Some college, no bachelor’s degree � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 14,002 96�6 (1�0) 94�2 (1�1) 92�7 (1�1) 47�1 (2�1) 7�5 (1�4)

Bachelor’s degree or higher � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 13,007 95�2 (1�2) 94�8 (1�2) 91�7 (1�4) 38�5 (2�5) 6�6 (1�0)

Hispanic origin and race

Hispanic or Latino � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 11,292 93�3 (1�1) 92�4 (1�1) 78�6 (2�4) 40�4 (2�2) 6�2 (1�2)

Not Hispanic or Latino:

White, single race � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 31,423 93�7 (0�9) 92�0 (0�9) 91�0 (1�1) 44�1 (2�2) 6�9 (0�6)

Black or African American, single race � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 6,304 96�3 (1�0) 95�4 (1�0) 90�4 (1�5) 35�4 (2�6) 5�3 (1�4)

1

Includes vaginal, oral, or anal sex� 

2

For women, any sexual contact with same-sex (female) partners includes oral sex or any sexual experience� For men, it includes oral or anal sex with male partners�

3

Includes those of other or multiple race and origin groups, not shown separately�

4

Limited to persons aged 22–44 at the time of interview� GED is General Educational Development high school equivalency diploma�

NOTE: See Technical Notes for descriptions of all questions on sexual behavior used in this report�

SOURCE: CDC/NCHS, National Survey of Family Growth, 2011–2013�
Page 8 National Health Statistics Reports  Number 88  January 7, 2016

Table 2. Sexual attraction among women and men aged 18–44, by selected characteristics: United States, 2011–2013

Sexual attraction

Characteristic

Number

(in thousands) Total

Only opposite 

sex

Mostly 

opposite sex

Equally to 

both

Mostly same 

sex

Only same 

sex Not sure

Percent distribution (standard error)

All women aged 18–441

 � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 55,271 100�0 81�0 (0�9) 12�9 (0�8) 3�2 (0�3) 0�8 (0�1) 0�8 (0�2) 1�2 (0�2)

Age

18–24 � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 14,269 100�0 75�9 (1�4) 14�4 (1�2) 5�3 (0�9) 1�7 (0�4) 1�0 (0�3) 1�6 (0�5)

25–44 � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 41,002 100�0 82�8 (1�0) 12�4 (0�9) 2�5 (0�3) 0�5 (0�1) 0�8 (0�3) 1�1 (0�2)

25–34 � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 20,790 100�0 79�1 (1�7) 15�4 (1�4) 3�3 (0�5) 0�3 (0�1) 0�9 (0�4) 0�9 (0�2)

35–44 � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 20,212 100�0 86�6 (1�2) 9�2 (1�1) 1�7 (0�3) 0�7 (0�3) 0�6 (0�2) 1�3 (0�4)

Marital or cohabiting status

Currently married � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 23,191 100�0 86�5 (1�0) 10�9 (1�0) 1�7 (0�4) * – 0�8 (0�2)

Currently cohabiting � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 9,032 100�0 74�9 (2�7) 18�8 (2�3) 4�9 (1�1) * * 1�3 (0�5)

Never married, not cohabiting � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 17,499 100�0 77�3 (1�3) 12�8 (1�1) 3�9 (0�5) 2�0 (0�4) 2�2 (0�6) 1�8 (0�5)

Formerly married, not cohabiting � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 5,549 100�0 79�6 (2�4) 11�9 (2�0) 4�8 (1�0) 1�4 (0�6) 1�1 (0�5) 1�2 (0�7)

Education2

No high school diploma or GED � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 4,904 100�0 85�9 (2�4) 5�8 (1�2) 4�4 (1�3) 1�6 (1�0) 1�1 (0�6) 1�1 (0�5)

High school diploma or GED � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 11,891 100�0 79�1 (2�0) 14�8 (2�2) 3�2 (0�4) 0�9 (0�4) 0�5 (0�2) 1�4 (0�4)

Some college, no bachelor’s degree � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 14,851 100�0 78�5 (1�7) 15�6 (1�6) 3�5 (0�6) 0�6 (0�2) 1�1 (0�3) 0�7 (0�3)

Bachelor’s degree or higher � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 15,446 100�0 84�9 (1�4) 11�2 (1�2) 1�9 (0�5) 0�3 (0�1) * 1�1 (0�5)

Hispanic origin and race

Hispanic or Latina � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 10,811 100�0 84�7 (1�3) 9�3 (1�1) 3�5 (0�8) 1�1 (0�4) 0�8 (0�3) 0�5 (0�2)

Not Hispanic or Latina:

White, single race � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 31,880 100�0 79�6 (1�3) 15�2 (1�1) 2�9 (0�4) 0�8 (0�2) 0�9 (0�4) 0�7 (0�2)

Black or African American, single race � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 7,581 100�0 84�2 (1�8) 9�1 (1�3) 3�7 (0�8) 0�6 (0�2) 0�8 (0�2) 1�7 (0�6)

All men aged 18–441 � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 54,685 100�0 92�1 (0�6) 4�1 (0�4) 0�9 (0�2) 0�8 (0�2) 1�5 (0�3) 0�7 (0�2)

Age

18–24 � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 14,718 100�0 88�6 (1�1) 5�9 (0�9) 1�0 (0�4) 0�7 (0�2) 2�5 (0�7) 1�3 (0�6)

25–44 � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 39,967 100�0 93�4 (0�6) 3�4 (0�5) 0�7 (0�2) 0�8 (0�2) 1�2 (0�3) 0�5 (0�1)

25–34 � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 20,453 100�0 92�7 (0�9) 3�4 (0�6) 0�9 (0�4) 1�2 (0�4) 1�0 (0�2) 0�8 (0�2)

35–44 � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 19,514 100�0 94�1 (0�8) 3�5 (0�7) 0�6 (0�2) 0�3 (0�1) 1�4 (0�4) *

Marital or cohabiting status

Currently married � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 21,298 100�0 96�4 (0�8) 2�8 (0�6) 0�5 (0�3) * – 0�3 (0�1)

Currently cohabiting � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 8,157 100�0 95�2 (1�0) 2�9 (0�7) * * * *

Never married, not cohabiting � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 21,793 100�0 86�4 (1�1) 6�0 (0�7) 0�9 (0�3) 1�5 (0�3) 3�8 (0�7) 1�3 (0�4)

Formerly married, not cohabiting � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 3,438 100�0 94�3 (1�5) 2�8 (0�9) 1�9 (1�0) * * –

Education2

No high school diploma or GED � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 5,890 100�0 92�5 (2�0) 3�9 (1�3) * – * 1�6 (0�6)

High school diploma or GED � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 13,473 100�0 94�5 (0�8) 3�3 (0�6) * 0�5 (0�2) 0�9 (0�2) 0�6 (0�2)

Some college, no bachelor’s degree � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 14,002 100�0 92�1 (1�2) 3�9 (0�8) 0�9 (0�4) 1�1 (0�4) 1�7 (0�6) 0�2 (0�1)

Bachelor’s degree or higher � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 13,007 100�0 91�9 (1�3) 3�9 (0�9) 0�7 (0�4) 1�0 (0�4) 2�1 (0�7) *

Hispanic origin and race

Hispanic or Latino � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 11,292 100�0 91�5 (1�4) 3�9 (0�8) 1�1 (0�6) 0�8 (0�5) 1�8 (0�6) 0�8 (0�4)

Not Hispanic or Latino:

White, single race � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 31,423 100�0 92�5 (0�7) 3�9 (0�5) 0�9 (0�3) 0�6 (0�2) 1�7 (0�4) 0�3 (0�1)

Black or African American, single race � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 6,304 100�0 93�5 (1�1) 2�8 (0�8) 0�4 (0�2) 1�1 (0�4) 0�9 (0�4) 1�3 (1�0)

* Figure does not meet standards of reliability or precision�

– Quantity zero�

1

Includes those of other or multiple race and origin groups, not shown separately�

2

Limited to persons aged 22–44 at the time of interview� GED is General Educational Development high school equivalency diploma�

NOTES: Percentages may not add to 100 due to rounding� See Technical Notes for descriptions of all questions on sexual behavior used in this report�

SOURCE: CDC/NCHS, National Survey of Family Growth, 2011–2013�
National Health Statistics Reports  Number 88  January 7, 2016 Page 9

Table 3. Sexual orientation among women and men aged 18–44, by selected characteristics: United States, 2011–2013

Sexual orientation

Characteristic

Number

(in thousands) Total

Heterosexual or 

straight

Homosexual, gay, 

or lesbian Bisexual Did not report1

Percent distribution (standard error)

All women aged 18–442 � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 55,271 100�0 92�3 (0�6) 1�3 (0�2) 5�5 (0�4) 0�9 (0�2)

Age

18–24 � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 14,269 100�0 89�5 (1�2) 1�8 (0�4) 7�8 (0�9) 0�9 (0�4)

25–44 � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 41,002 100�0 93�3 (0�7) 1�1 (0�3) 4�7 (0�5) 0�9 (0�2)

25–34 � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 20,790 100�0 92�5 (1�0) 1�2 (0�4) 5�4 (0�8) 1�0 (0�2)

35–44 � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 20,212 100�0 94�2 (0�8) 0�9 (0�3) 4�0 (0�7) 0�9 (0�3)

Marital or cohabiting status

Currently married � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 23,191 100�0 95�7 (0�7) – 3�2 (0�6) 1�1 (0�3)

Currently cohabiting � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 9,032 100�0 93�7 (1�0) * 5�9 (0�9) *

Never married, not cohabiting � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 17,499 100�0 88�3 (1�2) 3�4 (0�7) 7�2 (0�7) 1�1 (0�4)

Formerly married, not cohabiting � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 5,549 100�0 88�7 (2�2) 1�8 (0�6) 9�1 (2�2) *

Education3

No high school diploma or GED � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 4,904 100�0 87�8 (2�1) 2�0 (1�0) 6�9 (1�5) 3�3 (1�0)

High school diploma or GED � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 11,891 100�0 91�7 (1�2) 0�8 (0�2) 6�2 (1�1) 1�2 (0�6)

Some college, no bachelor’s degree � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 14,851 100�0 91�9 (1�2) 1�5 (0�4) 6�0 (1�0) 0�6 (0�3)

Bachelor’s degree or higher � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 15,446 100�0 95�6 (0�9) 0�9 (0�6) 2�9 (0�6) 0�5 (0�3)

Hispanic origin and race

Hispanic or Latina � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 10,811 100�0 92�6 (0�8) 1�2 (0�4) 4�2 (0�6) 1�9 (0�5)

Not Hispanic or Latina:

White, single race � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 31,880 100�0 93�1 (0�9) 1�3 (0�4) 5�4 (0�7) 0�2 (0�1)

Black or African American, single race � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 7,581 100�0 93�1 (1�0) 1�1 (0�3) 4�9 (1�0) 0�9 (0�3)

All men aged 18–442 � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 54,685 100�0 95�1 (0�5) 1�9 (0�3) 2�0 (0�3) 1�0 (0�3)

Age

18–24 � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 14,718 100�0 94�0 (1�1) 2�6 (0�7) 2�5 (0�5) 0�9 (0�6)

25–44 � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 39,967 100�0 95�4 (0�6) 1�7 (0�3) 1�8 (0�3) 1�1 (0�4)

25–34 � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 20,453 100�0 95�4 (0�8) 1�6 (0�3) 2�2 (0�5) 0�8 (0�3)

35–44 � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 19,514 100�0 95�5 (0�9) 1�7 (0�5) 1�3 (0�4) 1�4 (0�7)

Marital or cohabiting status

Currently married � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 21,298 100�0 97�5 (0�6) * 1�7 (0�5) 0�8 (0�4)

Currently cohabiting � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 8,157 100�0 95�8 (1�4) – 1�8 (0�7) 2�4 (1�3)

Never married, not cohabiting � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 21,793 100�0 92�1 (0�8) 4�5 (0�7) 2�4 (0�4) 0�9 (0�3)

Formerly married, not cohabiting � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 3,438 100�0 96�8 (1�2) * 1�4 (0�7) *

Education3

No high school diploma or GED � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 5,890 100�0 94�9 (1�8) * 1�2 (0�7) 3�8 (1�7)

High school diploma or GED � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 13,473 100�0 95�3 (1�0) 1�5 (0�4) 1�5 (0�4) 1�7 (0�8)

Some college, no bachelor’s degree � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 14,002 100�0 94�7 (1�1) 1�9 (0�6) 2�8 (0�8) 0�6 (0�3)

Bachelor’s degree or higher � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 13,007 100�0 95�3 (0�9) 2�9 (0�7) 1�7 (0�6) *

Hispanic origin and race

Hispanic or Latino � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 11,292 100�0 93�2 (1�6) 2�1 (0�7) 2�0 (0�6) 2�7 (1�3)

Not Hispanic or Latino:

White, single race � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 31,423 100�0 95�4 (0�6) 2�0 (0�4) 2�2 (0�4) 0�4 (0�1)

Black or African American, single race � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 6,304 100�0 96�5 (0�9) 1�5 (0�5) 1�6 (0�7) 0�4 (0�2)

– Quantity zero�

* Figure does not meet standards of reliability or precision�

1

Includes “don’t know” and “refused” responses� 

2

Includes persons of other or multiple race and origin groups, not shown separately� 

3

Limited to those aged 22–44 at the time of interview� GED is General Educational Development high school equivalency diploma�

NOTES: Percentages may not add to 100 due to rounding� See Technical Notes for descriptions of all questions on sexual behavior used in this report�

SOURCE: CDC/NCHS, National Survey of Family Growth, 2011–2013�
Page 10 National Health Statistics Reports  Number 88  January 7, 2016

Table 4. Sexual orientation and sexual attraction among women and men aged 18–44: United States, 2011–2013

Sexual orientation

Characteristic

Number

(in thousands) Total

Heterosexual or 

straight

Homosexual, gay, 

or lesbian Bisexual Did not report1

Percent distribution (standard error)

Women

Sexual attraction:

Only to opposite sex � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 44,522 100�0 98�9 (0�3) * 0�4 (0�1) 0�7 (0�2)

Mostly to opposite sex � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 7,084 100�0 84�7 (2�2) * 15�0 (2�2) *

All other2

 � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 3,598 100�0 25�9 (2�9) 18�7 (2�8) 49�6 (2�8) 5�8 (1�5)

Men

Sexual attraction:

Only to opposite sex � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 49,893 100�0 99�3 (0�2) * 0�3 (0�1) 0�4 (0�1)

Mostly to opposite sex � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 2,214 100�0 78�5 (3�7) – 19�7 (3�8) *

All other2 � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 2,527 100�0 25�2 (5�0) 41�0 (5�0) 20�2 (4�5) 13�6 (4�5)

* Figure does not meet standards of reliability or precision�

– Quantity zero�

1

Includes “don’t know” and “refused” responses� 

2

Includes those responding: “equally attracted to both sexes,” “mostly to same sex,” “only to same sex,” “not sure,” “don’t know,” and “refused�”

NOTES: Percentages may not add to 100 due to rounding� See Technical Notes for descriptions of all questions on sexual behavior used in this report�

SOURCE: CDC/NCHS, National Survey of Family Growth, 2011–2013�
National Health Statistics Reports  Number 88  January 7, 2016 Page 11

Table 5. Sexual behavior with opposite-sex and same-sex partners among women and men aged 18–44, by sexual attraction and sexual orientation: United States, 

2011–2013

Percent reporting

Characteristic

Number

(in thousands)

Any opposite-sex 

sexual contact1

Any vaginal 

intercourse with 

opposite-sex 

partner

Any oral sex with 

opposite-sex 

partner

Any anal sex with 

opposite-sex 

partner

Any same-sex 

sexual contact2

Percent (standard error)

Women

Sexual attraction:

Only to opposite sex � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 44,522 95�7 (0�5) 94�5 (0�6) 85�5 (1�2) 32�3 (1�2) 7�5 (0�6)

Mostly to opposite sex � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 7,084 97�6 (0�7) 96�4 (0�9) 96�4 (0�9) 59�5 (2�7) 53�9 (3�7)

All other3

 � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 3,598 86�3 (3�3) 86�0 (3�4) 73�2 (3�9) 33�8 (3�6) 69�0 (3�6)

Sexual orientation:

Heterosexual � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 50,978 95�8 (0�5) 94�7 (0�5) 86�7 (1�1) 35�4 (1�1) 12�6 (0�8)

Homosexual or bisexual � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 3,720 89�7 (2�9) 88�6 (3�2) 83�0 (3�1) 44�2 (3�8) 83�6 (3�0)

Men

Sexual attraction:

Only to opposite sex � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 49,893 95�2 (0�5) 93�8 (0�5) 89�6 (0�8) 42�8 (1�7) 2�3 (0�3)

Mostly to opposite sex � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 2,214 84�8 (4�6) 83�8 (4�6) 77�5 (5�0) 53�3 (5�4) 26�8 (4�1)

All other3 � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 2,527 67�9 (5�7) 64�5 (6�0) 50�4 (6�0) 19�0 (4�6) 68�3 (5�8)

Sexual orientation:

Heterosexual � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 51,936 94�7 (0�6) 93�3 (0�6) 88�8 (0�9) 42�7 (1�6) 2�8 (0�5)

Homosexual or bisexual � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 2,127 67�9 (5�7) 63�7 (6�1) 62�5 (5�6) 33�9 (5�3) 88�6 (2�7)

1

Includes vaginal, oral, or anal sex�

2

For women, any sexual contact with same-sex (female) partners includes oral sex or any sexual experience� For men, it includes oral or anal sex with male partners�

3

Includes those responding: “equally attracted to both sexes,” “mostly to same sex,” “only to same sex,” “not sure,” “don’t know,” and “refused�”

NOTE: See Technical Notes for descriptions of all questions on sexual behavior used in this report�

SOURCE: CDC/NCHS, National Survey of Family Growth, 2011–2013�
Page 12 National Health Statistics Reports  Number 88  January 7, 2016

Technical Notes

Measurement of sexual 

behavior in National Survey 

of Family Growth audio 

computer-assisted selfinterviewing

This section defines the sexual 

behaviors and related variables presented 

in this report, in part by showing the 

wording of the questions asking about 

them. Below is the question wording 

related to types of sexual behavior in 

the National Survey of Family Growth 

(NSFG) audio computer-assisted selfinterviewing (ACASI) section for 

2011–2013. These questions were not 

asked in the order shown. To see the 

questions in their full context, with 

intervening questions, please see the full 

questionnaires on the NSFG webpage, 

available from: http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/

nsfg/nsfg_2011_2013_questionnaires.

htm.

Types of sexual behavior for 

female respondents 

For female respondents, the question 

wording for vaginal intercourse with a 

male partner was as follows: 

● Has a male ever put his penis in 

your vagina (also known as vaginal 

intercourse)?

All female respondents answered 

two questions on oral sex with a male 

partner and one question on anal sex with 

a male partner. The two questions on oral 

sex with a male partner are shown below, 

following a preface:

The next few questions are 

about oral sex. By oral sex, we mean 

stimulating the genitals with the mouth.

● Has a male ever performed oral sex 

on you?

● Have you ever performed oral sex 

on a male? That is, have you ever 

stimulated his penis with your 

mouth?

Below is the question female 

respondents were asked about anal sex 

with a male:

● Has a male ever put his penis in your 

rectum or butt (also known as anal 

sex)?

With regard to same-sex sexual 

partners, female respondents were asked 

up to three questions on sexual contact 

with female partners, following a preface:

The next questions ask about sexual 

experiences you may had with another 

female.

● Have you ever performed oral sex on 

another female?

● Has another female ever performed 

oral sex on you?

If the respondent answered “noˮ to 

both of the questions on oral sex with a 

female partner, then she was asked the 

more general question: 

● Have you ever had any sexual 

experience of any kind with another 

female?

A “yes” answer to any of these three 

questions was classified as “same-sex 

sexual behavior” for women. 

Types of sexual behavior for male 

respondents 

For male respondents, the question 

wording for vaginal intercourse with a 

female partner was as follows: 

● Have you ever put your penis in 

a female’s vagina (also known as 

vaginal intercourse)?

All male respondents answered 

two questions on oral sex with a female 

partner and one question on anal sex with 

a female partner. The two questions on 

oral sex with a female partner are shown 

below, following a preface:

The next few questions are about 

oral sex. By oral sex, we mean 

stimulating the genitals with the mouth.

● Has a female ever performed oral 

sex on you, that is, stimulated your 

penis with her mouth?

● Have you ever performed oral sex on 

a female?

Below is the question male 

respondents were asked about anal sex 

with a female:

● Have you ever put your penis in a 

female’s anus or butt (also known as 

anal sex)?

With regard to same-sex sexual 

partners, male respondents were asked 

four questions on same-sex sexual 

contact with male partners, following a 

preface:

The next questions ask about sexual 

experiences you may have had with 

another male. Have you ever done any of 

the following with another male?

● Have you ever performed oral sex on 

another male, that is, stimulated his 

penis with your mouth?

● Has another male ever performed 

oral sex on you, that is, stimulated 

your penis with his mouth?

● Has another male ever put his penis 

in your anus or butt (insertive anal 

sex)?

● Have you ever put your penis in his 

anus or butt (receptive anal sex)?

A “yes” answer to any of these 

four questions was classified as “samesex sexual behavior.” A “yes” answer 

to either of the oral sex questions was 

classified as “any oral sex with a male,” 

and a “yes” answer to either of the anal 

sex questions was classified as “any anal 

sex with a male.” Unlike the question 

series for female respondents in the 

NSFG’s ACASI, male respondents who 

answered “no” to all four of the specific 

behavioral questions were not asked a 

more general question about “any sexual 

experience of any kind with a male 

partner,” although such a question is 

currently being fielded in the 2015–2019 

NSFG.

Measurement of sexual 

attraction and sexual 

orientation 

In ACASI, all respondents aged 

15–44, regardless of reported sexual 

behavior, were asked questions on 

sexual attraction and sexual orientation. 

However, as noted, this report presents 

estimates only for adults aged 18–44. For 

sexual attraction, the question worded 

below is for women. A similar question 

asking about sexual attraction for 

opposite-sex and same-sex partners was 

asked of men.

People are different in their sexual 

attraction to other people. Which best 

describes your feelings? Are you...

● Only attracted to men

● Mostly attracted to men

● Equally attracted to women and men

● Mostly attracted to women

● Only attracted to women

● Not sure
National Health Statistics Reports

 Number 88 January 7, 2016 Page 13

For sexual orientation, the question 

for women was:

Do you think of yourself as...

● Heterosexual or straight ● Homosexual, gay, or lesbian ● Bisexual

For sexual orientation, the question 

for men was:

Do you think of yourself as...

● Heterosexual or straight ● Homosexual or gay ● Bisexual

NSFG respondents interviewed 

chose one of the three response 

categories provided or chose “don’t 

know” or “refused,” as is allowed on any 

question in the survey. In this report, all 

respondents who chose “don’t know” or 

“refused” are grouped as “did not report.” 

The category of “something else” was an 

available option for the sexual orientation 

question for women and men in the 

2002 and 2006–2008 NSFG, until it was 

dropped beginning in July 2008. Detailed 

information on the changes to the sexual 

orientation question is available in a 

previous report (7). 
National Health Statistics Reports  Number 88  January 7, 2016

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Suggested citation

Copen CE, Chandra A, Febo-Vazquez I. 

Sexual behavior, sexual attraction, and sexual 

orientation among adults aged 18–44 in the 

United States: Data from the 2011–2013 

National Survey of Family Growth. National 

health statistics reports; no 88. Hyattsville, 

MD: National Center for Health Statistics. 

2016.

Copyright information

All material appearing in this report is in the 

public domain and may be reproduced or 

copied without permission; citation as to 

source, however, is appreciated.

National Center for Health Statistics

Charles J. Rothwell, M.S., M.B.A., Director

Nathaniel Schenker, Ph.D., Deputy Director

Jennifer H. Madans, Ph.D., Associate Director 

for Science

Division of Vital Statistics

Delton Atkinson, M.P.H., M.P.H., P.M.P., Director

Hanyu Ni, Ph.D., M.P.H., Associate Director

for Science

Acknowledgments 

The 2011–2013 National Survey of Family Growth (NSFG) and prior NSFG surveys were conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and 

Prevention’s (CDC) National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS), with the support and assistance of a number of other organizations and individuals. 

Interviewing and other tasks were carried out by the University of Michigan’s Institute for Social Research, under a contract with NCHS. The 2011–

2013 NSFG was jointly planned and funded by the following programs and agencies of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services:

• Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development

• Office of Population Affairs

• National Center for Health Statistics, CDC

• Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention, CDC

• Division of Sexually Transmitted Disease Prevention, CDC

• Division of Reproductive Health, CDC

• Division of Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities, CDC

• Division of Cancer Prevention and Control, CDC

• Children’s Bureau of the Administration for Children and Families (ACF)

• Office of Planning, Research and Evaluation, ACF

NCHS gratefully acknowledges the contributions of these programs and agencies, and all others who assisted in designing and carrying out the

2011–2013 NSFG.

This report was prepared under the general direction of Delton Atkinson, Director of NCHS’ Division of Vital Statistics (DVS), and Amy Branum,

Chief of the Reproductive Statistics Branch of DVS. The authors are grateful for the valuable comments provided by Amy Branum, Chief of the 

Reproductive Statistics Branch, DVS; Hanyu Ni, Associate Director for Science, DVS; and Jennifer Madans, NCHS Associate Director for Science.

The report was edited and produced by NCHS Office of Information Services, Information Design and Publishing Staff: Jennifer Hurlburt edited the 

report and graphics were produced by Erik Richardson (contractor).