It’s a question sexually active people have been asking themselves for generations, how much sex should I be having?.
It goes without saying that there is no magic number or right amount. There are always a variety of reasons that couples (or singles) are having more or less sex than their peers.
There are obviously external influences: health, fatigue, family, if you overate at dinner – the list is long.
However, when it comes to averages, it turns out your age is the most likely indication of the amount of sex you’re having, but not for the reason you may think.
A survey from the Kinsey Institute found the following:
People aged 18-29 have an average of f 112 sex sessions per year.
People aged 30- 39 have an average of 86 sex sessions per year.
People aged 40 to 49 have an average of 69 sex sessions per year.
These numbers may seem obvious to many, the lack of apparent sex drive in the older crowds is due in large part to feeling old, not the actual age of those involved.
Another study published in June investigated subjective age and ageing attitudes on mid- to late-life sexuality, and it found:
“The older participants felt and the less positive their views of ageing, the less they rated sexual activity as enjoyable over time.”
“Feeling older (though not attitudes about ageing) also predicted less interest in sex.”
“Results suggest that subjective age and stereotypic views on ageing may shape the experience of sex in later life.”
More proof that your brain is the biggest sex organ of all.
Current research has shown that women are more likely than men to avoid a sexual encounter, with 40 per cent admitting to doing so at one point or another, citing low libido, fatigue, lack of interest or pain as the reasoning.
For men, the justifications were a little different.
Think erectile dysfunction and lack of opportunity.
For both, however, it was medical conditions that topped the list. “For example, heart disease patients often avoid sex because they are afraid of a heart attack,” Assari says.
Other common conditions among both sexes included chronic pain, obesity, poor sleep quality and hormonal imbalances which can sometimes be influenced by medications such as anti-depressants.
So, what’s the solution?
Well, you guessed it, communication.
Talk to your partner and if needed, your doctors about what feels right for you.
