Welcome to the 25th year of the Concrete Sex Survey! Over the past few weeks 463 students (and staff) at UEA have very kindly taken the time to provide us with the ins and outs of all their sexual opinions, thoughts and adventures. Watching the results come in has certainly been an experience for our editors and we can’t thank you enough for all of the heartfelt and insightful stories and advice – as well as all of the jokes! Although we would love to publish every comment you provided us with, we’ve accumulated in the next four pages a summary of what we feel is most representative. So sit back, grab your friends – or someone special – and enjoy! 

Your answers….

Do you feel that porn is a negative or positive force? Feel free to elaborate…

I think it should be far more moderated, and is categorically unfeminist.

It creates a high standard and can make you and your partner feel not enough.

It’s a good basis to explore what you are into, however it is fake at the end of the day and it shouldn’t override your views on sex itself and what bodies are supposed to look like.

I’ve struggled with a porn addiction for a while now. I’m slowly getting past it but it takes a huge toll on you both physically and mentally. 

There’s a balance to it? I think you need to have a level of self awareness of the effects it’s having on you?

Good to wank to.

I am a big believer in release through porn, often using it myself and encouraging my boyfriend to do the same. However I also know first hand the negative connotations it can have  the harmful expectations it can put in your head, especially younger audiences.

More harm than it’s worth. Sex trafficking, addictions, relationship issues etc.

Porn itself is chill but there are issues connected to it. Children being exposed to porn is so common and so damaging. The exploitation found in porn sites (which goes as far as trafficking, non-consensual uploads, sometimes children are on screen) is awful. Ethical porn does exist.

It can be empowering for some but can also set us all back

I think it’s great for people – especially women – to be encouraged to explore their bodies (solo) and using porn for that can be positive. However, the industry is so horrifically unethical, that it’s almost impossible to use it where all parties involved get equal benefits, which I struggle with as a concept.

I’ve see first-hand what it does to otherwise lovely guys- makes them think women are objects and they can pick and choose physical attributes. As a partner, this has had a detrimental effect on my mental health and happiness.

I remain neutral as I do not engage in porn. I don’t think that it is a completely negative thing but the majority of porn (and research around this) out there seems to give negative connotations of what sex should really be like.

Did you receive ‘the talk’ from your parents, and if so, did you find it useful? Do you think it went well?

My parents always talked about sexuality very chil so we never had just one conversation. They are open to answer important questions with the truth.

No. Didn’t really need it. Google helped tremendously.

Nah they taught us in school.

An uncomfortably vague one (the metaphors were wild) and they were far too late with it anyways, I’d already done pretty much everything with both the birds AND the bees.

Did and no because it was assuming i was a heterosexual – which clearly, sorry mum and dad, was not the case.

Nope, too religious.

It was basic (about periods) and basics about contraception and sex. Learned other stuff from TV documentaries.

I did receive the talk, and it was useful for me and it went relatively well.

My European parents spared no detail.

No. They only asked if I knew about it. Sex is still taboo in my culture.

I received the talk when I was 6, I walked in on my parents having sex and wasn’t concerned (just thought my mum was sat on my dads lap…) but was told it was because they loved eachother. I didn’t understand it.

No I found porn first.

How would you define sex?

Sex looks different for different people so I don’t think one definition works for everyone.

Heaven.

Intimate act of love and passion in the pursuit of mutual pleasure.

Penis in vagina.

Consensual, pleasurable touch between two or more people.

I honestly don’t know at this point.

A performance that rarely goes as planned, usually fun regardless (Also, literally fucking around and finding out).

Slap in the sausage and make the mash.

Consensually stimulating genitals with another person.

More fun when there’s feelings involved, infinitely more difficult when there’s feelings involved.

Have your attitudes towards sex changed whilst at university? If so, how?

Yeah, I’m a massive slag now.

When I came to university as a virgin, I remember feeling pretty nervous about my first time – but as I’ve had more experience I’ve gained a lot of confidence around sex and sexuality that I didn’t have before. I feel a lot more attractive and comfortable in my own skin now!

If anything, I’ve become more uptight and it has made me into more of a prude. I was a prude before but this has worsened since attending university because of a need to prove my maturity as a contradiction to the student stereotype. 

I wouldn’t say because of university, but within the last year, fuck for passion not for lust.

In 1st year, there was a lot of pressure to have sex, get with people in night clubs, do casual sex. It lessens now but in 4th year, it feels like more pressure to find a partner rather than just sex.

I realised I was bi while at uni and started sleeping with people who don’t have penises, so I re-evaluated how I defined it. I also see it as a ‘hobby’ or an interest as well as a primal urge kind of thing.

Nah. Still don’t care about it. I’m not asexual though.

Do you have ‘a type’/ believe in having ‘a type’? Please elaborate…

No i’ve never been with any 2 people who looked even remotely similar lol. i think people who have a type are weird and often racist.

My girlfriend

People have a type the same way we choose certain people to be our friends. My type has changed quite a lot.

I think picking a “type” is too restrictive, but there are definitely physical features / personality types I’m more drawn to. I.e. green eyes.

Golden retriever energy, goofy, someone who loves me for me and worships the ground I walk on. I also like them tall and dark haired.

Yeah I like ambitious woman haha.

No, if they’re hot they’re hot.

My type is skinny, tall, rodent looking alternative men or women who look like me (alternative women).

Not particularly but I don’t like men who behave overtly masculine.

Big women who love their bodies and are not afraid to make noise and toot a lil 😉

Can you recommend a song to accompany sex?

Happy Birthday

Thick of it – KSI

No omg.

Freak like me- Doja Cat

I wanna be yours- Arctic Monkeys

Any Weeknd song

False God- Taylor Swift

University Challenge Theme

Sean Paul – get busy (must sing throughout)

Any jazz

My Lasy of Mercy- The Last Dinner Party

Nope, Netflix as background noise

Man or a Muppet

CBAT

Mustang Baby by Nessa Barrett

Anything by Hozier

Mirrors by Justin Timberlake

Land of Hope and Glory

Tell us a bit about the best sexual experience you’ve ever had.

T4T foursome. Incredible.

One with emotional intimacy, where you don’t care how you look or sound and u just let go.

I had sex with an older woman. Felt very taboo but there’s definitely a difference and I can’t say I didn’t enjoy it.

I got made an omelette afterwards while i played animal crossing on her switch it was very sweet i felt taken care of 🙂 

In and tree house, in the dark, crazy!

This girl made me wait and wait for months.fucked her in the shower 11/10 moment.

Log fire, good rug, fine whiskey, rain on the windows.

First time trying out bondage (it was surprisingly fun actually).

Most of my sex hasn’t been that good.

Shagging my ex after we broke up, something special about break-up sex. 

When we do it in public places, such as the library, the lake, LCR, lecture theatre, outside in the forest. When we both orgasm at the same time. 

With my partner because it makes me feel safe and loved

She called me Aphrodite …. Need I say more ?

Blindfolds, olive oil, latex gloves.

What’s your favourite piece of sex advice? 

Use protection and don’t feel like you have to have sex just because everyone else is! There’s way more to a relationship than physicality.

When you’re riding a penis, spell ‘coconut’ with your hips. It works wonders.

Dont fake your orgasms for any man. It just inflates their egos, and theyre impossible to convince to do better later

Don’t be afraid to giggle and talk throughout, it’s meant to be fun!

If he doesn’t respect your choices and requests with regards to your body, he probably doesn’t deserve to be inside it.

People tend to kiss how they want to be kissed.

For god’s sake GIVE HER HEAD.

Don’t be silly, wrap your willy.

No is a full sentence.

Cor yeah, hehe, y’know what I always say… BOSH, GET IN THERE MY SON 

Shout ‘Ahh-Bisto!’ when you climax and see how your partner reacts.

COMMUNICATE!!!! there is nothing wrong with speaking during sex in case you suddenly dont like it or want to change it up. its the best way!

Go on top of you’re a girl. 

What is your funniest sex story?

I had sex with someone at their hostel which i wasn’t staying at. the next morning we woke up to a £400 fine and they called the police on us oops.

Had sex by the rocks behind earlham hall after a night out- found a leaf in my labia the next day

Guy asked Alexa to turn the lights off mid giving head.

We were drunk on christmas eve, did it in his dad’s laundry room and almost pissed ourselves laughing at a lone pair of socks hung up to dry.

When he finished he said “mission accomplished” and i immediately was turned off.

A girl one moo-ed during sex (apparently it was a dare).

An ex used to do a Kermit the frog voice when we were having sex. I have no idea why.

Got walked in on by a flatmate to say the air fryer was done.

When I lost my virginity, my ex’s ass got stung by a bumblebee.

Sex at lake with illumuous glow stick round neck by accident after Lcr glow party.

Probably when I was having sex in my bed with some of my stuffed animals – I had a build a bear with a voice message & one of us activated it – cue my own voice belting out an anime opening (your lie in april).

He referred to himself as the “pussy” vampire. It’s okay though, I love him.

Dog rushing through the door and jumping on the bed, scared the life out of me.

Want more of the 2025 Sex Survey? Check out these articles specifically written based off the data!