Gen Z is in a sex recession: They’re having fewer encounters, engaging with fewer partners, and shifting away from casual sex culture. But that doesn't mean young people are unsatisfied with their sex lives.
In a November 2025 Her Campus survey of over 800 Gen Zers, we got to the root of the decline. Our data shows Gen Zers actually love sex — reading about it, talking about it, and having it. But now, our respondents are prioritizing intentional sex — making the conscious, deliberate choice to engage in sexual intimacy as a means to foster connection, rather than casual sex and quick dopamine hits.
Young people are raising the bar for what they want from their partners, demanding mutual effort and emotional connection both in the bedroom and in their relationships. Because for Gen Z, it’s not just about having sex, it’s about the intention behind it.
Gen z Sex & dating habits
PRESENTED BY
Never
A few times a year
Weekly
A few times a month
Daily
A few times a week
Top dating turn-offs
2%
23%
18%
28%
22%
2%
Rudeness, Arrogance, & Bad Manners
Poor Communication & Listening
Lack of Effort, Inconsistency, & "Nonchalance"
Bad Hygiene & Unkempt Appearance
Dishonesty & Disloyalty
These turn-offs are more than just “icks” — they’re qualities of someone lacking the ability to go above the bare minimum. Nearly half of respondents (46%) feel that sex is equally physical and emotional, citing the importance of connecting with their partner intellectually, beyond surface-level desirability. Additionally, on average, respondents said they had less than two sexual partners in the past year. Because if they can’t count on a partner to consider their needs in a relationship, how can they count on them when it comes to intimacy?
Even experimentation is framed through intention and connection. Over half of our respondents (52%) said they’re introduced to new sexual positions through a partner. But Gen Z’s favorite sex position is nothing new.
What "Good sex" means
Top sexual turn-ons
When our respondents describe what “good sex” means to them, one word comes up again and again: “both.” Both parties orgasm. Both people are satisfied. The top sexual turn-ons for our survey pool revolve around that same idea — the hottest thing a partner can do is show attentiveness and initiative.
How Often respondents Have Sex
missionary
(42%)
doggy
(27%)
SPeed bump
(11%)
69
(2%)
Spooning
(4%)
Rather than signaling conservatism, the preference for missionary points to something deeper — face-to-face intimacy, skin-to-skin contact, and emotional closeness.
Another form of intimacy? Period sex. Read more on why it feels so good — both emotionally and physically — and check out our period must-haves from Honey Pot.
For a generation dealing with dating app burnout, disastrous situationships, and betrayal in relationships, commitment is important. More than half of respondents (56%) are currently in monogamous relationships, and of those, most (72%) say they’re satisfied with their relationship status.
Still, betrayal is common. Almost half (46%) of our respondents have been cheated on, and many report that the experience negatively impacted both their views on sex (55%) and relationships (52%).
A majority of respondents agree on what qualifies as cheating — namely, sexting someone else (98%), physically kissing someone else (98%), hiding dating app profiles (91%), and having an emotional affair without any physical contact (89%). But other activities respondents consider cheating fall into a much larger gray area.
Commitment is the bare minimum
For those choosing to abstain from sex entirely, the decision is often rooted in a desire for a deeper connection: A 20-year-old respondent from Minnesota said they’re ”waiting for the right person.” Similarly, a 24-year-old respondent from California shared, “No one wants to be in real relationships and be romantic anymore.” Both responses are examples of those who don’t want to separate emotional and sexual intimacy before getting into bed with a partner.
Here's what our respondents said. Do you agree?
Rather than turning our Gen Z respondents off from intimacy altogether, these experiences seem to have sharpened their standards. Our survey pool repeatedly expressed craving “intimacy over hookup culture” and “lasting relationships.”
And then there’s the classic college situationship. For the 81% of respondents who have experienced a situationship, only 11% said it positively impacted their sex life, and just 14% said it had a positive effect on their relationships overall. As a 21-year-old respondent from South Carolina put it, a situationship “places a lot less of an emphasis on connecting with another person, and makes these things that should be special feel transactional.”
Gen Z's Favorite sex positions, ranked
Along with the overturning of Roe v. Wade in 2022, continuous restrictions challenging access to abortion and birth control, the rising cost of living, and limited access to health care have made sexual choices feel much higher-stakes. Because, at this point, they are.
sex is a careful decision
In 2026, young people also approach intimacy through a different lens than previous generations — one shaped by economic instability, a global mental health crisis, and uncertainty around reproductive health care.
A significant portion of respondents (78%) also say they want to experiment more in their sex lives, and they’re clear on the things they’ve experienced, want to experience, and don’t want to experience in bed with a partner.
Despite all this caution, sex for our respondents is still an overwhelmingly positive experience. Nearly eight in 10 (79%) say partnered sex makes them feel empowered, and when asked about what sex topics they were comfortable talking about, the top response among survey-takers was all of it — kinks, fantasies, boundaries, sexual health, and more.
Part of feeling empowered is choosing how you want to practice intimacy, from foreplay through aftercare. Check out our favorite post-sex products from Uqora, because aftercare is self-care, too.
gen z still feels sexually empowered
Gen Z is having less sex — but they’re having more of the sex that matters to them. Instead of prioritizing meaningless hookups, empty relationships, and having sex just to have it, they’re choosing to put themselves first. Because for this generation, it’s not about having less sex. It’s about asking for more.
methodology
Her Campus conducted an online survey in November 2025 with 802 respondents from across the United States (representation from 46 states). Most respondents identify as women (96%) and were between the ages of 18-24 (83%). Maintaining the privacy of our respondents is a top priority. Therefore, all names appearing in this article are pseudonyms.
Editors: Julianna Marie & Tina Kolokathis • Designer: Audrey Wu
All opinions are 100% our own. © Her Campus Media 2026
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“After cycling through back-to-back toxic relationships, I found myself in a year-long situationship. We weren’t exclusive, but I stayed with him as a way to reassure myself that I was more than just some random girl to him. Whether it was him texting me that he missed me while in bed with another girl or lying about using a condom with a one-night stand, I constantly found myself questioning why I couldn’t leave.”
respondents' Top Kinks
A vast majority of our respondents are sexually active: 90% have had sex, and a majority (71%) say that they’re satisfied with their sex lives. What they’re not satisfied with? Partners who don’t show up — inside and out of the bedroom.
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Exhibitionism
(13%)
Sex Toys
(18%)
Bondage
(26%)
Role Play
(33%)
Praise
(14%)
Dirty Talk
(6%)
Non-Monogamy (13%)
Edging
(21%)
Voyeurism
(9%)
Degradation
(10%)
Breath Play
(10%)
Lotus
(3%)
“Young women are too busy with school or career, and with all the abortion bans, it’s too risky.”
“We're a lot more intuitive with wants and needs, and we know what we deserve.”
“Gen Z is not following your traditional millennial or Gen X traditions of finding a husband and having kids. Gen Z is more into investing in themselves and learning about their professions or interests.”
“Gen Z has too much to worry about. New health care and abortion laws make [sex] less safe and less enjoyable. Gen Z has too much on their plates.”
I didn’t start fast, partly
because I wanted to make sure
we were both feeling good, and I was suddenly very aware of the power shift. Finding a rhythm felt like learning a new dance — a little awkward at first, then smoother and more confident. Every movement made me feel more in control, more present in my body, and honestly, a little proud of myself. His hands followed my hips in encouragement, and the look on his face told me everything I needed to know.
Read The Rest Of The Entry →
In all my years of being sexually active, I’ve never ridden someone before. I know, that’s like sex 101, but can’t a girl enjoy being a pillow princess without judgment?
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Sensitive
Intimate Wash
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Boric Acid &
Herbs Suppositories
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Uqora Flush
Advanced+ Regimen
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Defend
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Taylor, 22
Sam, 21
Alex, 28
Riley, 21
Why are you having less sex?
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Getting turned on by being seen, watched, or imagined by others while having sex (or masturbating).
Click for the definition!
Exhibitionism
(13%)
Situationship horror stories
“I met this person during my freshman orientation, and instantly, there was a vibe between us. The emotional intimacy was there, even if we never had sex. We would meet at parties, and time after time, instead of hooking up with me, they would end up vanishing to have sex with one of my 'friends.' One time, my situationship even said my name while being intimate with another person. I eventually confronted them about this, and they said they would rather 'have sex with my mind' than with me as a person. Humiliating.”
“My boyfriend and I broke up briefly, and I was left heartbroken and in desperate search for a rebound. I met this guy at a frat house a few weeks later. Turns out the guy had a huge Asian fetish. I stayed for the free dinners, attention, and, honestly, the sex. I ended up ghosting him to get back together with my ex (now boyfriend), but he was the one who only saw me as a fetish.”
Saturday, Jan. 10
Bad Hygiene & Unkempt Appearance
Lack of Effort, Inconsistency, & Nonchalance
Poor Communication & Not Listening
Rudeness, Arrogance, & Bad Manners
Foreplay & Kissing
Physical Touch & Teasing
Dirty Talk & Praise
- Sawyer, 23
- Quinn, 21
- Emma, 23
Getting to the edge of climax, pulling back, and doing it again.
Edging
(21%)
Getting turned on by being complimented.
Praise
(14%)
Getting aroused by being teased or talked down to as part of a consensual power dynamic.
Light and safe restriction of breathing to heighten sensation and adrenaline.
Using words, teasing, and flirty language.
Dirty Talk
(6%)
Bringing in tools (vibrators, cuffs, plugs) to introduce new sensations.
Sex Toys
(18%)
Using restraints (rope, cuffs, blindfolds) to play with control and trust.
Bondage
(26%)
Stepping into characters or scenarios to mix imagination with intimacy.
Getting aroused by watching or listening to other people's sexual intimacy.
Voyeurism
(9%)
Having sex with multiple partners at once.
Non-Monogamy (13%)
Breath Play
(10%)
We got back from one of my friends’ birthday parties at an arcade, and we were feeling adventurous. Earlier this month, we set a New Year's goal to try new positions, and maybe even try some backdoor action. Tonight, we chose cowgirl.
Degradation
(10%)
Breath Play
(10%)
Edging
(21%)
Voyeurism
(9%)
Exhibitionism
(13%)
Role Play
(33%)
Sex Toys
(18%)
Praise
(14%)
Non-monogamy (13%)
Dirty Talk
(6%)
Bondage
(26%)
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An Expert
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Degradation
(10%)
Role Play
(33%)
Read The Full Story →
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Click to flip the cards!
Click for the definition!
What Gen Z considers cheating
A Week In My Life
As A Graduate Student
Saturday, Jan. 10
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