A new survey has revealed intimate details of the sex lives of Canadian women, including the fact that half admit their body image interferes with sex and a quarter say they routinely fake orgasms.

Chatelaine deputy editor Maryam Sanati says the survey findings show Canadian women are fairly traditional in their views about sexuality.
(CBC)

The survey, conducted by the women's magazine Chatelaine, polled nearly 4,000 women.

"We learned that Canadian women are fairly traditional in their views about sexuality," said Maryam Sanati, deputy editor of Chatelaine. "But critically, I think this is linked to how women see themselves, and body image plays a huge part in this."

When asked to rank their bodies on a scale of one to 10, most women gave themselves only a six. In general, the better women felt about themselves, the more they enjoyed sex.

The survey found that while 53 per cent said they want more sex than they get, 22 per cent say they have sworn off sex at least once in the past.

Twenty-two per cent said they had never masturbated while 38 per cent said they owned a vibrator.

"Twenty-two per cent never masturbate? They're missing out," one woman told CBC News.

"That's a lie," her friend said about the results. 

As well, 81 per cent said they never had cybersex.

"I don't understand why people would even think of that," said another woman. "You know, I mean the real thing is out there and if you really want it, go out and find it, right?"

Love 'most important' for great sex

Most women said love was an important factor in their sexual satisfaction. More than a quarter of women said love is everything when it comes to having great sex while 41 per cent said it's not everything, "but it's most important."

Yet one in five said they had enjoyed a purely sexual, emotion-free relationship in the past.

When it came to what some may consider sexually adventurous behaviour, five per cent of women said they had engaged in group sex, 11 per cent had experienced bondage and three per cent S&M.

"Five per cent have had group sex? Oh my God. That number is a little higher than I would have thought," one woman said.

The survey also revealed differences between English and French Canadian women. Around 42 per cent of French Canadian women said they initiate sex, compared to 32 per cent of English Canadians.

As well, 72 per cent of French Canadian women reported they had an orgasm most or all of the time during sex, versus 57 per cent of English Canadian women.

Among other findings:

• Eighty-one per cent like receiving oral sex but 33 per cent don't like giving it.
• Five per cent had phone sex with a stranger.
• Thirty-one per cent would rather have root canal than spend a day on a nude beach.