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Seven out of 10 women admit they have faked an orgasm - as have one in three men, a survey says.

Half of the females said they had done so because intercourse was 'taking too long' and they did not want to hurt their partner’s feelings.

Other reasons women gave were they found sex boring (37%), they were not in the mood (36%), they were too tired (35%), they had consumed too much alcohol (28%), their partner was new and could not satisfy them (16%), or that they generally struggle to climax through intercourse (15%).

Sparing a partner's feeling was the main reason men fake it - chosen by 22% of those questioned, followed by too much alcohol (20%).

One in 10 men said they had faked an orgasm during a one-night stand after realising they had made a mistake.

The results come from a new poll of 1,000 people by IllicitEncounters.com, a dating website for married people.

It found that women were eight times more likely to fake an orgasm with their husband or long-term partner than with a new lover or someone with whom they were cheating.

(Image: Rex)

Men were three times more likely to pretend with their wife or long-term partner than with someone they had just started dating or having an affair with.

Half the women questioned (54%) said they saw nothing wrong in faking a climax because to reveal the truth would cause more harm.

Fewer men (36%) saw nothing wrong in faking it.

Four out of ten women (42%) said that it was 'easy' to fool men into thinking they have climaxed.

Only 12% of men said they would find faking it 'easy'.

Hollywood actress Meg Ryan is probably responsible for the most famous faked female orgasm in history, in the diner scene in the comedy film Where Harry Met Sally.

Spokesman Christian Grant said: "It is easier to fake it than confront the deeper problems in a relationship."