Love + Sex

Wednesday, February 10, 2010

Why Your Wonderful Relationship May Be Killing Your Sex Drive

Us ladies tend to get our panties in a twist when we feel used for sex.

Nothing has the ability to boil our blood quicker than a roll in the hay where the only result is a notch on his belt. Yet all that energy spent hating man w----s may seem a bit hypocritical if we were to sit down and examine why we slept with him. A need to get off? One too many glasses of Pinot Grigio? A slight sense of IOU after a pricey meal? To get over somebody else? To feel preeeety? Read: All Women Are Prostitutes. Seriously?

University of Texas at Austin clinical psychologist Cindy M. Meston and evolutionary psychologist David M. Buss set out to find the blunt answers in their new book, Why Women Have Sex: Understanding Sexual Motivation—From Adventure to Revenge (And Everything in Between).

As The Daily Mail reports:

For most women, passionate desire languishes in the lower reaches of the list, somewhere below 'to get presents from him,' 'to shut him up' and even 'for fun'... the reasons to have sex become far more mundane, or even acquisitive, such as 'So he'll take the rubbish out' or 'Because he took me for a meal'. The key finding of the book is that men are, on some level, physically attracted to most women, yet women are left sexually cold by most men.

The Daily Mail writer explains away these, er, creative reasons for sex by placing men square in SIMPLE and woman's own a libido that's "intricate as a weaver bird's nest—a complex interlacing of disparate feelings, needs and promises."

According the book, 84 percent of those surveyed have sex plainly to "keep their partners quiet or to get help with the chores." And one in ten admit to having sex for presents.

How's that for romance?

Sex, like anything else, can become a chore, we realize. But, as the book goes on to explain, early relationship sex for women is about physical attraction (check) and, after the magnetism has waned in a longer-term relationship, is often motivated as a means of emotionally connecting with a partner (check again). While we hope that most American women don't get to the point of using it as a pacifier, we understand that the bodice-ripping, madly-in-love sex experienced early in a relationship inevitably morphs into a more comforting, comfortable routine.

Readers: what are your reasons for having sex?

More love & relationship advice from YourTango.com:
Written by Melissa Noble for YourTango.com.
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From the Community…

Comments 1-10 of 31
  • E. Boost's Avatar
    Posted by E. Boost Tue Nov 10, 2009 10:21am PST

    LOL! To keep them quiet and do chores?! That's crazy.. and sad.

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  • Ms.Wanda's Avatar
    Posted by Ms.Wanda Tue Nov 10, 2009 10:35am PST

    Why did it happen to me?

    And I was being honest about not even wanting to this Man girl,girlfriend or whatever people are calling it these days.

    I didn't even get to have sex with this charming guy.My period was on.And know matter what ideals or suggestion he handled me in order to have sex with me while my period was on was out of the question.And I laugh it off.

    My inside laughter was even louder once we started kissing and he had an erection on my Pj pants.

    Still No sex. This time a new guy.I wasn't going to let having sex to be blame as an excuse to not call me back.

    Okay!! No Sex. And this guy leaves me a voice message.Tell me he is not looking for a girlfriend.He need to focus on his career.

    Wow!!! Talking about jumping the gun!!!! Being his girlfriend in a year from now would have been so awesome.

    I'm assuming that he thought that's what I was looking for. And he wasn't the one. He just wanted to do some heavy kissing,and I'm guessing if my period had not been on.We may have had sex. But I'm glad that we didn't,cause he don''t call me anymore. And I have blocked his number anyway.

    I just understand how a real,nice,smart charming guy could call you for 2 weeks. Leave several voice messages. Attend a Business conference with you, entertain you in your own hotel suite. Buy you roses. And not have sex,and just leave you while you are asleep and leave no note,no message or anything. Wait 2 days later,and tell you "I'm not looking for a girlfriend"..."I have to focus on my Career".... And Good Bye!!!

    I just wish he had given me a chance to hint at even wanting to be his best friend......Who said anyting about wanting to be your Girlfriend?

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  • Amanda's Avatar
    Posted by Amanda Tue Nov 10, 2009 10:43am PST

    I have sex with him because I crave the feeling of being wanted and desired.

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  • Irene's Avatar
    Posted by Irene Tue Nov 10, 2009 11:12am PST

    I only have one reason for having sex....Because I enjoy it! I can not remember ever having sex for any other ulterior motive. I wonder where "The Daily Mail" got their information? And that revolutionary book? It is no wonder that men and women have such difficulties in the bedroom. There is so much completely inane information going around. The simple fact of the matter is that sex is a pleasurable thing to do. Sex in long term relationships does not have to become boring or mundane...it actually should progress to something better than the sex that you had during the first stages of your relationship. Change your attitudes people! Ladies never have sex with your man as payment for a task completed or a task to be done.....if you are doing that then you are just setting yourself up to feel used and to have a less than satisfactory sex life. And guys, focus on your partner's pleasure during sex. Many men(and woman) have no idea how great sex can really be and most of the problems are caused by skewed attitudes and inaccurate information.

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  • None's Avatar
    Posted by None Tue Nov 10, 2009 11:53am PST

    So sad.........but seems true, theres this girl who screwed this creep on the second date, she preaches how sex with guys is all the same, only with the one you love it feels good, shes had multiple partners, a lot actually, so then why did you screw a guy that you weren't into? Cuz it's something to do or you think he wants it, so she just gives it, she says in her past relationships, she didn't feel like giving any, but did it just to make them "happy." Horrible reasons, one should do it cuz they want to and feel it, otherwise its a bit of prostitution.

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  • Ginny's Avatar
    Posted by Ginny Tue Nov 10, 2009 12:16pm PST

    I have sex with my man because:

    A. I want to have sex.

    B. I don't want to have sex with just anybody

    C. I LOVE him

    D. I want to feel cute, pretty, hot, sexy, loved

    E. SOMETIMES to shut him up about it or leave me alone, but honestly I always end up enjoying it in the end.

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  • anh's Avatar
    Posted by anh Tue Nov 10, 2009 12:42pm PST

    I went on an "all-nighter" that didn't include sex, so the next morning he told me "I'm glad you're my friend." The hotel I live at (he lives out of town, and likes the city I live in a lot) doesn't allow overnight guests, so the "friend" line could either have been a "at least you're not mad at me" or "I can't have any relations with any woman who doesn't sleep with me right away"(this was our first date).

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  • Alex's Avatar
    Posted by Alex Tue Nov 10, 2009 12:59pm PST

    i have sex cause i love my man and i love showing that love. sometimes i have sex because i want it and sometimes its because he wants it. but we make sure to put emotions in it.

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  • LoveN's Avatar
    Posted by LoveN Tue Nov 10, 2009 2:09pm PST

    84 percent of women having sex to get their men to do chores?? Sounds ridiculously high.

    Irene & Ginny -- I really like your answers.

    How did our perception of sex for gain come about? Evolution?

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  • Gigi's Avatar
    Posted by Gigi Tue Nov 10, 2009 2:09pm PST

    I have sex because it feels good and to feel close to my man. I bet you they interviewed married women with children lol

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Comments 1-10 of 31

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