Sex sells.
And it’s always going on behind closed doors.
But because we often keep our sex life under wraps, it’s hard to gauge just how much sex people are really having.
Here, we debunk some of the most popular myths surrounding your sex drive.
What affects sex drive?
Your libido, or sex drive, is an individual’s desire or drive for sexual activity.
The level of craved intimacy differs from person to person.
The key hormone that controls sex drive in both men and women is testosterone, but it is not the only factor.
Stress, lack of sleep, medical conditions and medications can burn out your desire to get busy.
MYTH: All men are randy all the time
Conversely, it’s commonly believed that all men are ready to get down and dirty at the drop of a hat.
Yet in truth, one out of five males has a low sex drive.
The idea that men should be horny all the time can be damaging, causing guilt and anxiety when they are unable to live up to their role in the bedroom.
Also, as men age, conditions such as diabetes and high-blood pressure can have an impact on their libido.
Even some hair-loss products can impact how frequently your man is in the mood!
MYTH: I have no sex drive so something is wrong with me
Firstly, there is nothing wrong with you and you are not alone.
There are a smorgasboard of reasons why you may not be in the mood.
If you’re not really into sex, that’s totally okay!
But if you want to have sex, but you can’t feel an ounce of desire no matter what you try, you might be suffering from hypoactive sexual-desire disorder, otherwise known as lack of lust.
This clinical disorder affects 10-15% of women from 20 to 60-years-old.
Women who have these conditions, or generally a low sex drive, are often branded as being prudes when really, they’re dealing with issues out of their control.
MYTH: I am not capable of having an orgasm
The big “O” can sure be allusive for many women.
With only 25 per cent of women experiencing orgasms consistently during intercourse, it leaves many women feeling like it’s just not something that their bodies are capable of.
For 95 per cent of women, this is untrue.
For many women, standard intercourse won’t hit the spot.
Don’t be afraid to discuss this with your partner and spend time what works for you.
Chances are they won’t be complaining about spending more time in the bedroom!
MYTH: Men have a higher sex drive than women
In short, no. But their libidos are different.
Professor Edward Shorter, author of Written in the Flesh: A History of Desire, believes that on the whole, men and women are largely equal in terms of their sexual ambitions, drive and desires.
He claims that sex drive is 10 per cent biological and 90 per cent cultural, meaning that the feelings surrounding sex in a society influence an individual’s sex drive.
On average, men think more about sex, and seek it out more than women.
And culturally, it is completely acceptable for them to do so.
Whereas women are culturally more reserved in their approach to sex, but they’re generally still just as randy as men.
Real people try tricky Cosmo sex moves
MYTH: You should be having as much sex often as possible
Sex is an integral part of any intimate relationship but there is no magic number for the amount of times per week!
One study by the University of Toronto Mississauga found that having sex regularly is associated with happiness, but you don’t need to behave like rabbits!
The study revealed that having sex once per week is plenty.
If you read this and think that it’s too little (or too much) that’s okay!
Everyone is different! Be open with your partner and find a number perfect for you.
MYTH: Women lose their desire with age.
It’s been a widely accepted idea that while men crave hanky panky well into old age, women lose interest.
Although testosterone levels in women drop when they reach their late 40s, hormones are not the only factor.
Social critic Wednesday Martin from Yale University believes that this is a misconception.
In her book, Untrue, she claims that older women aren’t fed up with sex, they’re just bored with the lack of variety in the bedroom!
