10 elements of a healthy sex life

Sex is no longer taboo. It’s everywhere, subtly and in your face. Sex research over the past 2-3 decades has even scientifically proven that good, old fashioned romps can positively influence emotional, mental and physiological health.  

Sex heals. It acts like a prescription-free antibiotic and is usually free of charge. Yup, sex has frequent flier perks. Regular sex boosts immunity, de-stresses, dulls pain and triggers chemicals that trance you with euphoric mood highs. The regular emptying of his seminal fluids also acts as a prostate health check. Clearly, sex is a bio-chemical need that shouldn’t be religiously endorsed for procreation alone. It’s a physical coupling that generates confidence in facing life together and fencing off road blocks as they appear.

Sex talk
Interestingly, a 14 year old University of Chicago study revealed that married “bed rocking” beats that of dating couples, with married couples 18-29 years doing the deed 112 times a year, not great compared to European love birds but not bad either. This tapers to 16x year when married and pushing 70. Another University of Texas study buzzed big news: 40s is indeed the new 30s and a woman’s sex drive peaks in her 40s!

But sex studies say 20 per cent of couples have “sexless” (sex under 10 times a year) unions with 33 per cent having misaligned sexual preferences and needs – needing sex 3 times weekly versus getting a fix 1x a fortnight. Sex therapists even code name low sex drive the “common cold” of sex problems because it’s become a hushed epidemic – a taboo amongst the working elite but an escalating urban problem.

Wizened moms caution time and again that sex is merely icing on a relationship cake and does not act as relationship glue when problems arise. Fascinated? Read on to see if how you fare on the sex life bandwagon.