Science Proves That Too Much Sex Makes You Miserable

You might think having more sex will make you happier, but a new study argues it could do the opposite.

Researchers in the US have found that frequent sex can often lack spontaneity, romance and desire.

They argue that sex is more about quality than quantity, and having sex too often can make some couples tired of it altogether.

 

Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University say earlier links found between sex and happiness aren't as straightforward as they seem.

Being happy in the first place, for example, might lead someone to have more sex, or being healthy might result in being both happier and having more sex.

As part of the study, researchers experimentally assigned some couples to have more sex.

 

The first group received no instructions on sexual frequency. The second group was asked to double their weekly sexual intercourse frequency.

Daily during the experimental period, the participants answered questions online to measure health behaviours, happiness levels and the occurrence, type and enjoyableness of sex.

              

Scientists have uncovered the key to men's sexual success - more exercise.

Those who are fit and active have better erectile and sexual function, new research has revealed.

And the more strenuous the exercise, the better.

Scientists at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center found men who reported more frequent exercise, a total of 18 metabolic equivalents, known as METS, per week, had higher sexual function scores, regardless of race.

MET hours reflect both the total time of exercise and the intensity of exercise.

A total of 18 METS can be achieved by combining exercises with different intensities.

18 METS is the equivalent of two hours of strenuous exercise, such as running or swimming, 3.5 hours of moderate exercise, or six hours of light exercise, say the scientists.

 

The couples instructed to increase sexual frequency did have more sex. However, this led to a small decrease in happiness.

Looking further, the researchers found that couples instructed to have more sex reported lower sexual desire and a decrease in sexual enjoyment.

It wasn't that actually having more sex led to decreased wanting and liking for sex. Instead, it seemed to be just the fact that they were asked to do it, rather than initiating on their own.

'Perhaps couples changed the story they told themselves about why they were having sex, from an activity voluntarily engaged in to one that was part of a research study,' said George Loewenstein, the study's lead investigator.

'If we ran the study again, and could afford to do it, we would try to encourage subjects into initiating more sex in ways that put them in a sexy frame of mind, perhaps with baby-sitting, hotel rooms or Egyptian sheets, rather than directing them to do so.'

Despite the study's results, Loewenstein continues to believe that most couples have too little sex for their own good, and thinks that increasing sexual frequency in the right ways can be beneficial.

One of the study's designers, Tamar Krishnamurti, suggested that the study's findings may actually help couples to improve their sex lives and their happiness.

'The desire to have sex decreases much more quickly than the enjoyment of sex once it's been initiated,' said Krishnamurti, a research scientist in CMU's Department of Engineering and Public Policy.

'Instead of focusing on increasing sexual frequency to the levels they experienced at the beginning of a relationship, couples may want to work on creating an environment that sparks their desire and makes the sex that they do have even more fun.'