Survey reveals how often ‘happy’ couples should have sex

A new survey of 2000 couples in long-term relationships has revealed how often you should be having sex.

Are you having enough sex?

Two-thousand British couples in happy, long-term relationships have revealed how often they get it on.

As reported by the New York Post, researchers from the UK streaming service ITVX quizzed the Brits as part of a survey looking at important factors that contribute a long-lasting romance.

They found that the couples – who had been together for a minimum of 10 years – had sex seven times a month on average.

According to the Daily Mail, which reported on the research, the lovers claimed that reaching that magic number helped them build a successful relationship.

However, the survey also revealed that a majority of participants did not believe that sex was the most defining part of their unions.

Most couples said “having fun together” was the crucial factor for their relationship and what has kept them together for more than a decade.

“Compromise”, “having no secrets” and “having the same sense of humour” were also valued as more important factors in a successful romance than time spent in the bedroom.

A new survey has revealed how often you should have sex in your relationship to stay ‘happy’. Picture: iStock

Although many respondents said regular sex was important, five per cent of couples polled admitted to sleeping in separate bedrooms.

Meanwhile, 20 per cent of those surveyed said they had cheated on their partner. Of those, 58 per cent were caught being unfaithful but most were able to recover from the mistake.

Surprisingly, 85 per cent of couples surveyed said they were able to stay together after the infidelity, while 38 per cent actually alleged that an affair made their relationship stronger in the end.

The survey was conducted ahead of the premiere of the series Love & Death, which is set to stream on ITVX in the UK.

The survey also uncovered that a majority of participants did not believe that sex was the most important part of their relationship. Picture: iStock

It’s just one of several recent research projects looking at important factors in relationships.

A study published in the SAGE Journal of Social and Personal Relationships earlier this year found that men in heterosexual relationships tend to say “I love you” first.

Contrary to stereotypical gender norms, the global team of researchers found that in six of the seven regions (all but France), men were more likely to admit love first.

On average, men considered confessing love 69 days into a relationship, while women didn’t think about it until 77 days in.

This article originally appeared on the New York Post and was reproduced with permission