Ok, so we all know about the health benefits of having sex; Apart from the fabled “morning- after glow, there’s boosting your mood, cutting your risk of cancer and heart disease, etc., etc. ( Mmm … looks like you have a pretty good reason to skip spinning class on a Saturday morning and work up a sweat between the sheets, right?!)

Here’s the thing though. What if you’re libido isn’t alive and kickin’? Should you be concerned? Or, what if it’s too high, too low, or could it be juuust right?

Let’s state the facts: Having sex is fun. So, what’s the deal? How much sex is ideal? According to Ian Kerner, Ph.D., and sex therapist at the Kinsey Institute, most couples in a relationship should be having sex at least once per week.

Also, couples therapist, Dr Barry McCarthy, agrees that once or twice a week makes for a healthy sex life. He also mentions that during the infatuation stage (a.k.a. the honeymoon stage), couples often have sex every time they’re together. And when couples first move in together, the frequency increases, but only temporarily.

According to Lauren F. Streicher, M.D., associate clinical professor of obstetrics and gynaecology at the Feinberg School of Medicine at North-Western University, there is medically speaking no such thing as too much sex.  But, if sex begins to take over your daily thoughts, starts interfering with relationships, work and family life, red flags should be going up! Obviously you have to listen to your body; if you’re sore or tired, then don’t have sex.

But what if cute panties and flirting doesn’t cut it? Mismatched libidos don’t necessarily have to be a deal breaker. At the end of the day it comes down to quality, not quantity. But, if you’re relationship lacks the fireworks, try one or more of the following tips:

• Schedule it, sure this sounds terribly unromantic, but it’s really quite the opposite. Plan a shower or a massage as a start. Who doesn’t look forward to a massage …?
• Mix it up. Now’s the time to speak up about your secret fantasy and be sure to ask about his or hers. Just, no regrets, please!
• Change the scenery. Try the kitchen or maybe a hotel room. Take frequent weekends just for this!
• Be romantic. Give your partner a gift “just because”. Take your art-lover wife to a museum, your sports-junkie husband to a pro-sports game.

If you still striking out and things aren’t happening, it may be time to seek the assistance of a medical doctor and/or a couple’s counsellor. It is wise to rule out any existing medical problems first. Also, a sex therapist could help you through psychological or emotional issues that may be holding you back.

For a fulfilling sex life that’s juust right, it’s helpful to be honest with your partner about how frequent you’d like to be intimate.

Our appetites for sex grow and shrink, and couples need to manage those ups and downs. Sometimes libidos will match up, but when they don’t, we have to take responsibility by enjoying ourselves by ourselves. Truth is, the answer to our sexual inconsistencies may lie in our very own hands!

Enjoying  a healthy sex life is one of the great joys in life. So, if you and your partner feel A-OK about how much sex you’re having, chances are you’re libido is just fine. So, keep calm and carry on (ahem) get it on!

Source: www.happywivesclub.com, www.cheatsheet.com, greatest.com, www.womanshealthmag.com, www.huffingtonpost.com, elitedaily.com, www.losethebackpain.com, www.mensfitness.com, www.psychologytoday.com, edition.cnn.com, www.fitnessmagazine.com, www.everydayhealth.com