What percentage of heterosexual couples report pegging in national surveys since 2015?
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Executive summary
The best available survey evidence specifically asking about pegging finds roughly one in ten heterosexual adults report having tried it (10.4% in a recent 880‑person survey) [1], but major national health surveys do not routinely ask about pegging and instead ask only about anal sex more generally [2]. Commercial and niche sex‑industry reports produce higher and more varied estimates — often phrased as “open to” or “would try” rather than “have tried” — so the defensible headline is that directly measured prevalence in available surveys sits near 10%, with a wider industry‑reported range above and below that number [1] [3] [4].
1. Why the question is harder than it sounds: peg‑ging vs. anal sex
National probability surveys such as those conducted by public health agencies typically ask about anal intercourse without distinguishing the mechanics or role (who penetrates whom), so they capture heterosexual anal sex but not pegging specifically; the CDC/NSFG materials show national collection of anal sex behavior yet do not parse pegging as a distinct practice [2]. Academic reviews and qualitative studies likewise note that pegging as a named, role‑specific practice has rarely been asked about in large, representative surveys [5] [6], which means most “national” prevalence claims are inferred or come from smaller, non‑probability or proprietary samples [1] [4].
2. The clearest survey number: about 10% in a mid‑size sample
A recent survey of 880 sexually active Americans focused on anal sex practices and reported that approximately 1 in 10 heterosexual adults (10.4%) had tried pegging [1]. That figure is the most explicit prevalence estimate in the assembled reporting that directly asks about pegging rather than extrapolating from general anal‑sex questions [1]. Because the sample was modest and described as sexually active volunteers rather than a large national probability sample, it should be treated as indicative rather than definitive [1].
3. Commercial and advocacy data paint a broader — and noisier — picture
Sex‑industry and lifestyle outlets synthesize proprietary data and sales trends showing rising interest: for example, increased sales of pegging‑themed videos and gear, and surveys reporting relatively high “openness” or curiosity (sales growth and proprietary statistics reported by Women’s Health and market aggregators) [4] [3]. These sources report metrics such as “willing to be pegged” or “open to pegging” (46% in one survey) and claims that a third of couples who try it keep it in their rotation [3]. Such figures reflect demand and attitudinal openness more than confirmed lifetime prevalence [4] [3].
4. Academic and qualitative research: small samples, richer context
Scholars who have studied pegging emphasize that academic work is largely qualitative and exploratory; small‑N studies document motivations, pleasures, and relational dynamics but do not provide large, representative prevalence estimates [5] [6]. These studies confirm pegging exists across self‑identified heterosexual couples and highlight issues of stigma and identity, reinforcing that prevalence estimates require careful survey design to avoid undercounting [5] [6].
5. How to interpret the range and what a cautious answer looks like
Putting the evidence together, a reasonable, conservative answer is: available surveys that directly ask about pegging give an estimate around 10% of heterosexual adults who have tried it [1], while industry and non‑probability polls yield a wider range reflecting curiosity and openness rather than confirmed behavior [4] [3]. Because major national health surveys since 2015 have not specifically measured pegging, the 10% figure from the 880‑person survey is the most specific number available but should be framed as provisional and likely sensitive to sample and question wording [1] [2].
6. Caveats, competing agendas, and the next research steps
Remember that commercial sites and proprietary reports have incentives to amplify trends that support product sales or click engagement, which can inflate impressions of prevalence [4] [3], while academic work warns of underrepresentation in standard surveys [5] [6]. The clearest fix is inclusion of specific pegging‑worded items in large, probability‑based sexual behavior surveys so prevalence, frequency, demographics, and health implications can be estimated without reliance on small or industry samples [2] [1].