Stress is the number one libido killer, research suggests.
A survey of 2,066 adults in the UK found 45 per cent report stress as the biggest problem in the bedroom.
A relationship expert claims feeling frazzled creates anxiety, which puts couples off intimacy.
Stress is the number one libido killer, a survey of more than 2,000 adults found (stock)
The survey, by BBC Radio 5 Live, found physical health has the second biggest impact on a person’s sex life, with 32 per cent reporting it as a passion killer.
This was followed by mental-health issues, which affect 26 per cent of the public’s libidos, having children (20 per cent) and work (18 per cent).
And watching porn has a negative impact on the sex lives of 12 per cent of those surveyed.
Ellen Brady, a therapist from the relationship charity Relate, was also surprised to discover only 10 per cent highlight social media as being an issue.
She added, however, the likes of Facebook and Instagram probably have a bigger impact than the survey’s results suggest.
‘There’s not the basic connection happening in couples, they’re not even making eye contact or talking to each other, so it’s no wonder when they get to bed that sex is difficult,’ Ms Brady said.
Overall, half of the men surveyed were happy with their sex lives, who rose slightly to 53 per cent among the female participants.
And 58 per cent are confident about their performance between the sheets.
However, 38 per cent of the men and a quarter of the women questioned were dissatisfied.
To improve your sex lie, Ms Brady recommends imposing a temporary ban on getting intimate and then starting from scratch.
‘Ban sex, because whatever you’ve been doing sexually it’s gone wrong, so you want to wipe it out and start again, and just reconnect emotionally and in terms of intimacy,’ she said.
‘There’s a big gender divide on that one, because women very often want to buy into emotional intimacy and kisses and cuddles and quite often men don’t see that as a priority, they see sex as the priority.’
Ms Brady added, however, most men come round to kissing, particularly when they learn it often leads to more.