Women As Keen As Men for Group Sex

SYDNEY, Australia -- Australian women are as keen as men to take part in consensual group sex, and they initiate it almost as often.

These are the key findings of a survey conducted among members of the nation's second biggest online dating site.

Almost 40 percent of respondents report an equal gender split in the group encounter, while a further 30 percent report a majority of men taking part and 30 percent a majority of women.

Almost as many women as men instigate the idea of group sex -- 46 percent compared with 54 percent, according to the sizeable RedHotPie.com.au survey, which drew 8,763 responses from among its 1.5 million member listings.

A narrow majority of those engaging in group sex are couples, rather than singles, and most of the couples participate together.

The survey was carried out in response to questions from the national newsagency AAP following revelations of a group sex culture in rugby league which cost former NRL star Matthew Johns his television and coaching jobs.

The most common reasons given for group sex are excitement, variety and to spice up long-term relationships.

The most common form of group sex is a threesome, although one third of respondents say their largest group involved five or more people.

Participants are not at it all the time, with 40 percent saying they have tried it only once, and little over one in 10 doing it weekly or monthly.

But there seem to be few tears after bed time, with 80 percent reporting nothing but fun, with everyone's rights being respected.