Sex makes us happy, says new survey - but we're not getting enough of it! A huge 20 per cent of women polled NEVER get any action

A massive 60 per cent of those polled make love twice a month or less

Those who had more sex reported feeling happier

A hug is our favourite simple pleasure

Time to up your game, gentlemen. The women of Britain are not having enough sex - and they're not happy about it.

According to a new survey into the nation's happiness levels, carried out by Top Santé magazine, almost 20 per cent NEVER have sex.

Another 10 per cent are making love less than three times a year and a massive 60 per cent get down to it twice a month or less.



Twenty per cent of women between 35-55 NEVER have sex, according to a new survey by Top Santé magazine

It's not just singletons missing out - the survey revealed that over a quarter (26 per cent) of those with a partner admitted they have sex just once every two or three months, or less.



All in all, it's a sorry state of sexual affairs. And, according to the poll, taken from a thousand women aged between 35-55, there's a a clear link between sex and our state of mind.

Over a quarter of those with a partner admitted they have sex once every two or three months, or less

A third (33 per cent) of respondents who have sex more than twice a week said they were ‘very happy’ compared to only 15 per cent who have sex every two to three months.



Commenting on the findings, Jane Druker, editor of Top Santé magazine said: 'The findings were shocking and sad, especially in light of the fact that sex makes us feel good which helps us live longer and it's free!

'I think women can feel under pressure to have mind-blowing love lives, but actually the intimacy of everyday sex is enough – a "quickie" can give us genuine health benefits and truthfully sex begets more sex.'



When it comes to anxiety, only 9 per cent of those having sex once a week described themselves as ‘very anxious’, compared to 20 per cent of those having sex every two to three months.



The stats revealed that 63 per cent of those having sex every two or three months or less have spoken to their GP about anxiety levels.



Fifty nine per cent of women having sex less than once a month said more sex would make them happier.



If, like many of those who responded to the poll, you're currently experiencing a drought within a relationship, don't let things go. It can be easier to simply ignore the problem and drift into a sexless union - but this can be dangerous, says sex expert Tracey Cox.

A hug is our favourite simple pleasure, according to the poll

'When couples tell me, “Sex is no longer important once you’ve been together forever”, I beg to differ loudly.'

'Sex is not a luxury, it is vital. It decreases stress, boosts the immune system and gives us an important sense of wellbeing.'

It also helps heart health, lowers blood pressure and gives you better self-esteem, according to a host of studies on the subject.

Plus, it burns a few calories too. Thirty minutes of sex burns 85 calories or more. It may not sound like much, but it adds up: forty-two half-hour sessions will burn 3,570 calories, more than enough to lose a pound. Doubling up, you could drop that pound in 21 hour-long sessions.



But, if you're not getting any, all is not lost. According to the survey, a nice cuddle can also help cheer us up - it's our favourite simple pleasure, with nine in 10 people saying it makes them happy.

Doing things for others and spending time with people we love are the two things cited as being most likely to improve happiness levels.

So, go on - do something nice for someone and then give them a big hug. You never know what it could lead to...





Read more in October's issue of Top Santé magazine



















