How often the average couple has sex as warning issued over having it less than once a week
The average amount of times couples get down over the course of a week has been revealed.
Statistics have come out after a study previously revealed that people having sex less than once a week tend to be more unhappy in their relationship.
While the amount people should aim for is solely based on the participants involved, different factors can contribute to happiness, or unhappiness, when it comes to intimacy.
Things such as age, health, mental health, life events and more could also negatively affect someone's sex drive and therefore how many times they might want to get between the sheets, on average.
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A recent study has suggested that the ideal marker couples should be aiming for is around once-a-week.
What are the risks involved with couples having sex less than once a week?
A study titled 'The Satisfaction of Women’s Orgasms: The Relationship Between Women’s Orgasmic Pleasure and Sexual Relationship Satisfaction in Aotearoa/New Zealand' was carried out by scientists at the University of Manchester.
Its findings were published in the International Journal of Sexual Health in September 2024, revealing that women who had sex every week were 'sexually satisfied'.
85 percent of women felt this way, in fact, from a sample size of 483 heterosexual women from New Zealand.
In contrast, those that did the deed just once a month were only 66 percent as happy, while just 17 percent of those who had it less frequently were satisfied.
How often does the average couple have sex?
A 2020 study titled 'Trends in Frequency of Sexual Activity and Number of Sexual Partners Among Adults Aged 18 to 44 Years in the US, 2000-2018', revealed how many couples had weekly sex.
50.8 to 55.8 percent of heterosexual men did it every week, while 52.6 to 57.2 percent of heterosexual women engaged in the deed weekly.
The range was larger for gay, lesbian, or bisexual men and women though, with 32.8 to 53.7 percent of the former reporting that they had sex weekly, while 44.7 to 59.2 percent of the latter said they did the same.
But where does the majority lie?
Well, when it came to frequencies, this is what the study uncovered.
Just 1.7 percent of men and 1.3 percent of women in the study said they didn't have sex at all, while 5.2 percent of men and 5.5 percent of women did the deed just once or twice a year.
As for one to three times a month, 35.4 percent of men and 32.4 percent of women ticked the box on this.
Finally, 57.7 percent of men and 60.9 percent of women said they were doing the dirty weekly or more.
How does frequency or quality of sex affect different genders?
The 2024 study was headed up by Alexandra Janssen, who explained that fulfilling relationships lead to more frequent sex, not the other way around.
The study also found that having an orgasm every session isn't necessary for women, as those who climaxed every time weren't always the most satisfied.
Janssen called the belief of an orgasm equalling pleasure, reductive, adding: “Our findings offer a powerful message - it's normal and okay if orgasm doesn't happen every time, and might even be a good thing.”
It's been found in previous studies that men orgasm more than women, and that those who climax more often are more satisfied, signalling a difference with women.
What causes sex in relationships to decline?
While it is reported by YouGov that six in 10 Brits get intimate less than once a week, a number of factors can contribute to less frequent intimacy sessions with your partner.
Health or existing medical conditions can have a role to play in affecting your intimacy time, with certain medications also playing a role in lowering someone's libido.
As people age, they are also likely to have less frequent sex, while changes in a relationship can also bring a drop as partners become more comfortable.
Let's not forget about stress as well, with work, family and friend issues, or small everyday tasks having the capability to completely throw you off your game.
Topics: Sex and Relationships, Health, Community
Joshua Nair