It’s something the gal’s coffee morning has known for a long time; women lose interest in sex over time, and men don’t. Women know that in general, the longer the relationship, the harder it is to spark women’s sexual interest.

Now new Canadian research has confirmed that common experience by coming up with a measure for women’s declining sex drive.

Ontario sex researchers found that for each additional month the relationship lasted, women’s sexual desire declined by 0.02 on the Female Sexual Function Index.

Men’s Sex Drive More Constant

And they say the length of the relationship is a better predictor of sexual desire in women than that either the quality of the relationship, or how sexually satisfying it is.

The study asked 170 undergraduate women and men who had been in heterosexual relationships for anywhere from one month to nine years to report on their levels of relationship satisfaction, sexual satisfaction and sexual desire.

And while the 0.02 decrease in female desire was small, it contrasts with male desire, which held steady over time, the researchers said.

Evolutionary Explanation

Evolutionary theorists have suggested male desire remains high to allow them to produce many offspring, while female desire decreases as their attention turns toward child-rearing.

The new research supports that idea, the researchers said.

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About the author

Jenny W
First career as newspaper and magazine journalist with daily newspapers and magazines, then as an editor who successfully launched a new national Sunday newspaper and NZ House & Garden magazine. First woman editor of NZ Listener. Enjoying a second career as a business owner and entrepreneur, health products marketer, social media habitué, blogger and web marketer. Still learning and loving it.