BACKGROUND: Sexuality is a complex aspect of human life, and the perception of sexual normality may vary across genders, religious beliefs, and other aspects. AIM: To report preliminary findings of a pilot survey on sexual attitudes, behaviors, and individual perception of sexual normality in a contemporary cross-cultural scenario. METHODS: A 48-item survey was developed by the Young Researchers Committee (YRC) on behalf of the International Society for Sexual Medicine (ISSM) to collect data on cross-cultural perceptions and attitudes toward sexual norms. The survey consisted of questions related to sexual attraction, behavior, identity, orientation, and subjective perception of sexual normality. Data were collected via five translated versions across five countries (Italy, United States, Brazil, Spain, and Japan) and analyzed to investigate how cultural norms, personal experiences, and social expectations shape individuals' views on sexual normality. OUTCOMES: The primary outcome was to assess gender-based differences in sexual behaviors, satisfaction, religious beliefs' impact, pornography use, and anatomical perceptions. RESULTS: This pilot study included 3423 respondents [63.5% female, 36.2% male
median (IQR) age 39 (30.00, 50.00) years]. Of all, active sexual life was reported by 83.3% participants, with 58.8% expressing satisfaction with their sex life. Heterosexual orientation was predominant (90%), with significant differences in distribution between genders in terms of sexual orientation ( CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: Our findings shape the development of sexual education, fostering inclusivity, equity, and sexual health for overall satisfaction. STRENGTHS AND LIMITATIONS: Possible biases associated with different modalities throughout data collections and with different linguistic and cultural weights given the cross-sectional nature of the pilot survey. CONCLUSION: Current preliminary findings from the pilot survey developed by the ISSM YRC start shedding lights on perceptions and attitudes toward sexual norms, and gender differences in sexual behaviors and satisfaction.