Sex In Marriage: Survey Reveals What Women Want

The widely-held notion that women lose interest in sex after marriage has been debunked, according to a recent survey.

The findings, which were released Tuesday by iVillage.com, an online news source for women, suggest that 75 percent of wives said a healthy sex life is important to them.

"This research sets the record straight: married women definitely value good sex in their relationships," said Liz Zack, editorial director of Love and Sex at iVillage.

But despite the fact that most married women value sex, the survey found that two thirds would rather do something other than get it on, such as go to the spa, watch a movie, use Facebook or chat with friends.

The 2010 iVillage sex survey found similar results, with more than 63 percent of women reporting that they would rather sleep, watch a movie or read than have sex.

So what gets wives in the mood? This year's survey revealed that having a spouse express loving feelings is more likely to rev up a woman's libido than receiving a gift or seeing her partner in sexy clothes.

For tips on how to spice up your sex life, check out iVillage's "We Want Sex Week" coverage.

Also on HuffPost:

Comments

[wellingtonluis]

12 minutes ago ( 2:11 AM)

Using a erection pill will help in intercourse.

[sulafineart]

11:26 AM on 05/10/2012

Do we really need a survey to tell us that what women really want is...shoes?

[xxeminemx39]

07:06 PM on 04/10/2012

1 REASON WHY YOU'RE NOT HAVING SEX: YOUR WIFE.

[amandanunez]

02:10 AM on 04/29/2012

Thats why you marry somebody who loves sex as much as you do.

[NobleTry]

12:29 PM on 03/03/2012

So the women put on a "We Want Sex Week"? And they wonder why men are unsatisfied....

[Cowboy24]

09:44 AM on 02/29/2012

So married women value chatting on Facebook more than sex with their husbands?

[amandanunez]

02:12 AM on 04/29/2012

That is hands down terrible. Somebody shoot me in the face the day I would rather chat on facebook than have sex.

[LabRATTired]

09:55 PM on 02/27/2012

OMG yes... the more sex the better...That cliche' is so annoying...woman don't want sex after marriage.. ? What?? They will as long as the man doesn't purposely try to be as unattractive as possible. Burping , farting all the time probably isn't going to get you laid much..Go FIGURE... And the woman needs to try as much as the man does... GO FIGURE... but, you should want sex..and have it!!! My motto: You have to make time for sexy time!

[amandanunez]

01:53 PM on 02/23/2012

Woman LOVE sex! I don't doubt my sex addiction is anything less than aggressive. This is my own personal life which i guarantee would be different from other women in the room. No woman's sex life is the same, although they can be extremely alike. As much as I like sports sex would have to be my favorite exercise. If anything its my hobby. That is because as much as I enjoy sex, it can only be fully enjoyed with the right person. If somebody is aggressive but have a partner that isn't than they wont be satisfied. Sex is a huge part of a relationship and just like any relationship, its a two way street.

[Seppowatcher]

10:23 PM on 03/04/2012

Agree completely.

[MorallySuperiorAtheist]

12:13 PM on 04/25/2012

The intimacy, even raunchy intimacy, is a reflection of whom each of us are as individuals, and an affirmation of who we are as a couple. We have sex daily.....and it's never dull.

[dawglover704]

08:50 AM on 02/21/2012

DUHHHH
of course women want sex...

[kfmagee]

04:05 AM on 02/17/2012

What women don't realize is that when a man marries, in essence from a sexual perspective he is promising to give up other partners in return for a more dependable stable level of sex. Once the woman curtails that access, he is now left with the option of no sex, and no alternative partners if he keeps his monogamous vows- or he has to break the vow to have access to sex. Now I am well aware that women have their own perspective which is totally different and just as viable--- but at least now ladies, you see why we become bitter, angry, and frustrated and why we cheat. We feel you cheated on us first by changing the value given. I make more money, spend tons of time with the kids, and deny nothing... But I pull away emotionally if you pull away physically...

[Terence Manuel]

08:49 AM on 02/18/2012

Precisely and well stated.

A lot of women like the think they are the only ones who get "turned off'. As a divorced man, I will tell you I was completely put off emotionally and sexually with my ex. Hence, I filed for the divorce.

Unfortunately, for whatever reasons, the sex seems to disappear in marriage. Usually, it is the woman who "curtails that access."

Frankly, they just get bored and tired of us and are really in need of a new partner. Obviously, they offer up a myriad of other excuses (oops, reasons).

[xxeminemx39]

07:11 PM on 04/10/2012

Women can't stand positive happy consistency or fulfillment. They need turmoil, excitement by something different & unpredictability all the time. It's like they crave confusion and inconsistent emotions. Most women view "nice husbands" as boring, unambitious, unattractive, predictable men. Therefore, they lose their attraction towards them. That is why they will forever continue to fall for men who are no good for them (bad boys, married men) because they view them as ambitious, attractive, unpredictable, interesting men.

[kwaut lizard]

09:44 AM on 02/21/2012

Truly insightful and thoughtfully opined.

[NobleTry]

09:32 PM on 02/16/2012

The older I get the more I understand why cliches came about in the first place.

Because there's a nugget of irrefutable truth to them.

Case in point here in this article, which leads off with the "widely-held notion that women lose interest in sex after marriage...."

It's widely-held because it's widely true.

[fireart]

05:06 PM on 03/11/2012

Yes-- like baiting a trap. Once you spring the trap then it is babies, debt, snotty noses.

[DrVeronicaEyeMD]

10:57 PM on 02/15/2012

Wives want GREAT sex, not just sex.

[jf12]

11:56 AM on 02/16/2012

Sex is as great as you want it to be. Period.

[NobleTry]

09:29 PM on 02/16/2012

I don't want sex with a period.

[Independentview1]

09:20 PM on 02/17/2012

The biggest problem there being that the average wife has no clue how to be a good lover much less a great lover

[rigormrtis]

01:14 PM on 02/16/2012

Every woman thinks they are going to get the fairy tale......

[angiedailey628]

12:52 PM on 02/17/2012

Some do...

[DrVeronicaEyeMD]

04:58 PM on 02/19/2012

And if she keeps looking and trying and test driving, she will find the right car. Seriously though, men have to be open to taking direction from their women. Most aren't because they become offended because their woman has enough experience to know what works for her body.

[thatdogguy]

12:09 PM on 02/15/2012

I don't put much salt into these surveys. From my own experience, most women DO lose interest in sex. Whether they are bored with the same man, routine or what, they still lose interest. I'll bet a survey of married men would back this up.

[keith w oliver]

12:06 AM on 02/15/2012

what many women want, is a man who doesn't have to read a survey of what women want, in order to give said woman what she needs or what he thinks she wants.

[LabRATTired]

09:58 PM on 02/27/2012

buy toys and watch a dirty movie together once in a while.. you have to try things or you can't complain...

[lotus321]

06:01 PM on 03/07/2012

How else would he learn...

[Yvonne Serocki]

08:01 PM on 02/14/2012

Women want connection and closeness on all levels: body, heart, mind, soul and spirit. Women need trust to open fully www.newheavenonearth.wordpress.com

[Theanswer007]

11:41 AM on 02/14/2012

Wives do value healthy sex...Just not with the same man.

[Brianna Cole]

01:19 AM on 02/22/2012

I can personally say that this is not true. IME
Blanket statements are generally too easy.