Czech Republic lags behind neighbors for “sexual wellness” according to new study

The Czech Republic is known for leading global rankings that showcase its more liberal attitudes including the highest alcohol and marijuana consumption levels in Europe. In matters of body positivity; there’s a consensus that Czechs are “incredibly comfortable with nudity” compared with other nations around the world.

Yet a recent study suggests that the Czech Republic still lags behind other nations in one area: sexual wellness. Cosmetics brand Lookfantastic ranked countries on societal attitudes towards sexuality, taking into account an interest in sexual health as well as experimentation to heighten satisfaction.

To arrive at its top 20 "Sexual Wellness Capitals of the World" the study analyzed Google searches for sex-related topics including masturbation, readiness to visit clinics for sexually-transmitted infection checks, demand for sex toys and other erotic aids, and interest in watching clips on sites such as Pornhub and OnlyFans.

The U.S. finished, ahem, on top, followed by Australia, the United Kingdom, Germany, Canada, Italy, France, Spain, the Netherlands, and Russia rounding out the leaderboard. Researchers found that the term “sexual wellness” is far more prevalent in America than elsewhere in the world; and that the country boasts the lion’s share of interest in accounts on adult subscription websites such as OnlyFans.

The Czech Republic managed to break into the top twenty, however, coming in eighteenth in the ranking. Surprisingly, it finished well behind Poland, which came in thirteenth place, despite that country being generally considered far more religious and conservative than the Czech Republic, historically known for its atheist tendencies.

Despite the country’s eighteenth-place finish, no Czech cities broke into the ranking of the fifteen metropolises with the best sexual health. Again, the top spots were dominated by British, Australian, and American cities.

Sexual health is “a state of physical, emotional, mental and social well-being in relation to sexuality; it is not merely the absence of disease, dysfunction or infirmity. Sexual health requires a positive and respectful approach to sexuality and sexual relationships, as well as the possibility of having pleasurable and safe sexual experiences, free of coercion, discrimination and violence,” according to the World Health Organization.

Analysis of Google searches showed significant growth in interest in masturbation among Western European countries. Throughout the pandemic, various studies encouraged masturbation as a way of maintaining sexual health without human contact. Some even questioned whether masturbation could help boost immunity against Covid-19.

Such claims may seem dubious but show that emphasis on the importance of sexual wellbeing as an aspect of wider individual health may be on the rise.