But the truth is, thats just not the case for most Americans.
Whats more, 13.5 percent hadnt had it for five years.
In my practice, of the couples that I work with, about 50 percent are in sexless relationships.
What does that mean for yourrelationship?
One thing is for sure it doesnt mean your relationship lacks love, Gilly says.
Both partners may have alow sex driveand choose not to have sex very often.
However, problems can occur when theres an imbalance.
What Should You Do if You Want More Physical Intimacy?
While sexless relationships arent necessarily a bad thing, its not something couples should aim for.
Becoming sexually intimate is good for emotional bonding and great for your health and well-being, Gilly says.
There are also physical benefits to sex, as well.
Ahealthy sex lifemay have protective benefits for the heart, too.
Be open with your partner about your desire to change your physical intimacy, Reynoso says.
Talk about what each of your needs are regarding sex and physical intimacy, which includes nonsexual contact.
However, as this can be a sensitive subject, its also important to be kind and practice empathy.
Gilly advises that couples eliminate blame or labeling of each other when discussing sex.
Sex is not a given or a right within a relationship.
It is a mutually agreed upon act a couple makes to feel pleasure and connection within the relationship.
The other alternative is getting outside help.
The sooner you seek help, the easier it is to address the issues.
She previously taught and mentored medical trainees at the NYU Grossman School of Medicine.
Young graduated magna cum laude fromGeorgetown University with a bachelor of science degree in neurobiology and theology.
During her psychiatry training, Young sought additional training in womens mental health and cognitive behavioral therapy.
Her work has appeared in WebMD, Reader’s Digest, andPrevention.
Suszynski is the coauthor ofBut Im Hungry!
She holds a master’s degree from the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University.
