This Is the Real Reason People Lose Interest in Sex

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So, your sex drive just took a serious nosedive—or maybe a small catnap. No need to worry! While your low libido could come from a variety of sources, the explanation might be as simple as how long you’ve been shacking up, research says. A study published in BMJ Open analyzed a two-year survey of people’s sex lives. The data included responses from 4,839 men and 6,669 women between the ages of 16 and 74 years who had at least one sexual partner in the past year.

After they crunched the numbers, the researchers came away with some interesting results. Overall, 15% of men and over 34% of women reported  a lack of interest in sex. Many separate factors contributed to a lower sex drive among both men and women, including age, sex history, and physical and mental health. For women in particular, though, a lack of interest in sex was higher among those who reported being in a long-term relationship for at least one year.

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Makes sense, right? Long-term relationships provide plenty of perks, including security, support, and simple companionship. The one negative: Once the “honeymoon phase” dies down, sex can often go by the wayside. “A lot of couples struggle when their sex lives become too routine,” David Klow, LMFT, and owner of Skylight Counseling Center in Chicago told Prevention. You don’t have to go completely off script, even tiny changes like having sex at the best time of day can help.

Luckily, there are plenty of ways to help you rekindle the spark. Experimenting with new positions and locations, communication in and out of the bedroom, and couples therapy are all viable options, depending on you and your partner’s preferences. You could also try fooling around during the best time of day to have sex, which is in the late afternoon.

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Seriously, though, no pressure! Remember that happy, healthy sex starts when both parties feel excited—and connected.

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[Source: Prevention]