More sex during Movember

Since starting back in 2003 in Australia, the Movember movement has grown to be a truly global health phenomenon.

How is Movember changing the face of male health awareness? Online research specialist Columinate in Randburg revealed the findings of its Movember survey last week. Conducted earlier in November, it targeted over 1 200 men and women in urban areas.

How many South Africans understand the principles behind the movement, and, more importantly, have had themselves checked for potential health threats?

Around 88% of our white males were aware of the Movember movement. Only an estimated 44% of African men were aware, with 81% Indian and 76% of the coloured male population aware.

Out of this group, 34% had taken part in Movember and were taking part again, 38% were first-timers, 11% had done it before and weren’t repeating it and 16% weren’t planning to ever sport a moustache.

The survey revealed 68% of men understood the significance of Movember and the purpose of the movement. Interestingly, 78% of male participants claim to be more aware of potential healthcare issues due to Movember, yet only a third have had themselves tested for general health issues.

A mere 22% had their prostate examined over the course of the past 12 months, where 61% of respondents had never had their prostate checked. Comparably, 45% of female respondents had never undergone a breast cancer screening.

Henk Pretorius, CEO of Columinate says: “This survey has shown while Movember has raised awareness around diseases like prostate and testicular cancer there are still glaring gaps in our cumulative healthcare knowledge. For instance, 37% of men did not realise men are susceptible to breast cancer.”

Another concerning trend was 17% of men believed cancer is contagious. But it was the findings in the sexual health part of the survey that really showed the influence of Movember on the male mind.

While it was evident the bulk of respondents enjoyed sex (92 of males and 87 of females), variety is the spice of life, as 53% of male respondents and 35% of female respondents claimed their sex lives had become routine. Unfortunately, it seems 50% of males and 51% of females were not having sex as often as they would like.

Finally, the survey also revealed 37% of respondents with facial hair claimed their partners always experienced orgasm, with 41% of them satisfied with their sex lives.

Alas, out of their clean shaven counterparts, only 25% believed their partners experienced orgasm and only a third were satisfied with their sex life. The staggering part was 37% of males claimed their sex lives improved when they sported a moustache, while only 50% of males were satisfied with their sex lives. 61% of women taking the survey claimed they were satisfied with their sex lives.

“The survey is meant to raise much needed awareness for men around prostate cancer and the importance thereof. To not only focus on growing the mo but focus on other important areas such as your health. However, it is quite encouraging to see that a high percentage of men are aware Movember is also about their wellbeing,” Pretorius says.

A high percentage (51%) of men also only thought of Movember as an opportunity to grow a moustache, unaware of the awareness campaign and charity aspect of it. Out of the pool of men, only 45% of Movember participants was donating cash to Movember causes.