12 months and the sizzle is gone?

Some were in a new relationships at the start of the study, others had been together for up to 24 years.

Some were in a new relationships at the start of the study, others had been together for up to 24 years.

Published Oct 2, 2015

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London - Forget the seven-year itch. It seems it only takes 12 months for a relationship to start to lose its sizzle.

A large-scale study found passion peaks after a year together – and it’s all downhill after that.

By the time a couple have clocked up 16 years, they find their sex life almost a third less satisfying than they did in the heady early days.

The researchers analysed the results of a nationally representative sample of almost 3 000 men and women aged between 25 and 41. They were asked several times how satisfied they were with their sex lives.

Some were in a new relationships at the start of the study, others had been together for up to 24 years.

Their answers revealed that sexual satisfaction rises early in a relationship, peaking at 12 months.

Sixteen years in and it had dropped by 27 percent, the journal Archives of Sexual Behaviour (CORR) reports.

Importantly, the finding couldn’t be explained away by the couples having children as time went on.

The researchers, from Ludwig Maximilian University in Munich, said: “We did not find that having children played a major role in a couple’s sexual satisfaction, which is remarkable as research has shown that sexual frequency is heavily influenced by the existence and age of children.”

However, arguments and lack of lovemaking did seem to take their toll.

The researchers said that passion may run high in the first year because new lovers are taking the time to get to know each other’s desires. It may fall away after that due to a mismatch in libido.

Previous research has shown that while male sex drive doesn’t change over time, females tend to lose interest.

This, say the researchers, could dampen passion.

Dr Pam Spurr, a relationship expert and agony aunt, said: “This doesn’t surprise me at all as previous research shows that the intense sexual chemistry of the honeymoon phase diminishes at around 18 months.

“The great news though is that many couples develop a deeper emotional intimacy that bridges the ‘can’t keep your hands off each other’ passion of the early days to a more mature approach to satisfying sex that meets their needs.

“Sadly those couples who don’t manage to negotiate that transition have many difficulties accepting the changes to their sex life.

“Some partners seek sexual release in affairs which only complicate relationship issues further.”

Professor Sir Cary Cooper, a Manchester University psychologist, said: “In the early days of a relationship, passion is prominent, and then other things develop and change. Children arrive, there are changes at work, and there may be a mismatch between partners in their sexual needs.

“Perhaps over time as the relationship matures, the significance of factors like loyalty, trust, caring, honesty and the value of shared interests, become more important.

“Sex is still part of the package, but its significance declines as needs mature.”

Daily Mail

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