LOL I had the hardest time answering this - namely, deciding what counted. I still don't really know how many partners I've had.

How embarrassing!

My number is 3, one ex bf (together for 4 years), a one nighter with a guy I had known for years, and now my hubby. I don't think it will ever go up, but that is fine by me.

Wow, I'd always thought everyone else has had more partners than me, but it looks like I'm right in the middle of it.

There's definitely a "too many" for me. I kind of feel like at a certain point, I'd be sacrificing a deeper relationship in favor of breadth. I really like to take the time to get to know how to work someone's knobs and buttons (heh... euphemisms).

I've had intercourse 7 times, oral sex... I don't even remember how many so I won't even bother trying to count. Which is bad. Sort of. Not really. I hate the gendered stereotypes and beliefs about sex that so many people hold in today's society. I'm not a slut, or a bad person. I don't see sex as bad or wrong, but so many people I know do. It's tragic really.

It has arisen as a problem/minor disagreement before with my partner since he has had intercourse with 2 people, while I've had 7, and I'm 4 years younger (I'm only 21). I was his first, as well. I don't consider myself a slut, and I don't regret any of it (even the drunken one night stand with the sailor from Malawi whose name I don't remember but my partner sure does!) The actual problem is more from jealousy and woulda coulda shoulda's in his book.

I personally don't think 7 is a very high number, but most of my friends are virgins on have only had sex with one or two people. *shrug* whatever floats their boat. Really, I think the perfect number is whatever the individual feels comfortable with. If you want to have sex with 20 people, then I hope you enjoy every partner and are safe about it. If you want to just have sex with one partner, that's fantastic too!

But in the end... I regret nothing!

It's either seven or eight, I can't remember which now. Pretty average, I think.

I think that the numbers matter more when you're looking for a relationship. When you're involved in an emotional relationship and it's just sex then it doesn't bother you, if you've made that choice.

My husband has had signifigantly less partners than I have... he's had 2 (I am one of them, obviously) and I have had a lot more than that.. A LOT... it took me a little bit to get over that. Not because he'd only had two, but because I'd had so many and I felt a bit self conscious. He doesn't mind, though, and now it doesn't bother me. It's not one I'd necessarily get tattooed on (though wouldn't that be a fun one to explain? lol!) but hell, for the most part, it was a fun ride. Get it, fun ride?

I'm at around 10 or so. I'm not sure how I feel about the number, but I'm not ashamed of it.

I don't think there is a "normal". My aunt and uncle met in high school and have been together for over 50 years, and still seem completely in love. And on the other hand, I've met people who couldn't just settle down without having different experiences first. I think normal is relative.

It may have been good to have the age (of the person taking the poll) on here too. The reason is, Michele and I both were teens back in the day when you didn't have to worry much about catching anything that couldn't be cured with a quick shot. HIV and AIDS were unheard of. And yeah, everybody fucked alot. The biggest thing we had to worry about about was whether or not the rabbit died (and no, I'm not talking about the vibrating toy).
That being said, we're both in the "10-20" range (including oral encounters), but I would NEVER even consider being so active in this day and age if I were single.

I marked the 10-20 range, and to me, that's kind of a high number. My wife was a virgin when she met me.

Personally, I think my skills really topped out at partner number 3. For the most part, I think your skills develop as soon as you find a partner who is communicative, and/or is more skilled than you and can teach you a fair amount. After that, the odds of you finding additional skills or information from newer partners diminishes dramatically. About the only thing I found out with each additional partner was just how everyone is a lot more alike than they are different.

Why so many partners then? For many years, I thought sex was the most important thing in a relationship (or at least in the top 3 things) so I made it a top priority in the beginnning of the relationship. Unfortunately, it also meant that I missed out on a lot of other more important qualities that make a relationship last. Ironically, the one time I decided to "give up" and put sex last in terms of priorities, was the woman I married.

I don't keep an exact count, but I can estimate. And my boy and girl lists are separate in my head, but I can add them if I have to. I have an idea within a range of 5 people or so. A number's just a number.

Only one for me, and hopefully will stay that way as we plan to marry. I'm his only one as well. We prefer it that way, so we can grow and learn together--we're not keen on sharing each other, that's for sure, lol!

Well I lost my virginity Feb. of 2006... and I've been with about 12 guys since June 2007..... Oops! Hahah

And no second try in one night either.