Forget the seven-year-itch, the breaking point for couples comes after THREE years

The traditional seven-year itch where relationships start to cool has become a 'three-year glitch' because of the pressures of modern life, a study claims.

Romance begins to fall flat at this point as couples take each other for granted, argue ever more and lose their sexual appetite, researchers say.

Those in three-year plus relationships row for an average of 2.7 hours per week compared with 1.2 hours for those still in the first flushes of love.

Feeling the strain: Those in three-year plus relationships row for an average of 2.7 hours per week compared with 1.2 hours for those still in the first flushes of love

They also have less than a third as much sex than newer couples and more than half - 55 per cent - admit they are so busy that they have to 'schedule' time together for romance.

THE NIGGLES THAT KILL OFF PASSION

Partner's weight gain

Lack of money

Anti-social working hours



Lack of personal hygiene ie stray nail clippings



Snoring



Lack of sexy underwear



Too much exposure to in-laws

Just 16 per cent of couples in longer-term relationships have at least three sex sessions a week - compared with 52 per cent of those together for less than three years.

More than two thirds - 67 per cent - of couples say that habits of their partner that they once considered harmless or endearing turn into major turn-offs by the dreaded three-year mark.

Common niggles that kill passion by then include lack of sexy underwear, snoring, stray nail clippings and over-exposure to the in-laws.

The fast pace of 21st century life, longer working hours and financial worries all take a heavy toll on relationships. the researchers found.

The survey of 2,000 adults in steady relationships suggests that couples are spending less and less time together.

The average pair spends just 13.9 hours a week in each other's company.



And as their romance starts to lose its sparkle around the three-year mark, couples are apart for even longer.

Relationship expert Judi James said that communication between couples is the key to overcoming potential passion killers

They increasingly resort to solo holidays and 'free passes' - leisure time away from their partner.

They either believe the old adage that absence makes the heart grow fonder as they strive to keep relationships alive - or simply drift apart.

Three quarters - 76 per cent - say that 'individual space' is important within a relationship.

Nearly half - 45 per cent - said they would jump at the chance of a week away from their other half provided their partner would not find out what they got up to.

The biggest frustrations with in a partner include a partner's weight gain, lack of money, anti-social working hours, lack of personal hygiene, took much time with the in-laws.

A lack of sex or romantic gestures and treats in a relationship are cause for complaint for eight per cent and a partner drinking too much alcohol was cited by seven per cent.



Snoring and other anti-social bedtime habits irritate six per cent while the wearing of unfashionable clothes and underwear annoys four per cent.

Bad bathroom habits like failing to lock doors or clean up nail clippings and other mess complete the top ten gripes among lovers.

As arguments increase, romantic gestures such as meals out and weekends away tend to fall away markedly over the course of a relationship.

Those together for under three years tend to eat out four times a month.

But as the three-year glitch takes hold, couples typically dine out only twice and by the five-year mark they are down to one meal out a month.

New lovebirds can look forward to an average of three compliments a week from their partner But by the time of the three-year glitch, partners receive just single weekly compliment.

And three in ten of those together for at least five years say they no longer get any compliments from their other half.

Relationship expert Judi James said that communication between couples is the key to overcoming potential passion killers.

She said: 'Longer working hours combined with money worries are clearly taking their toll on modern relationships and we are seeing an increasing trend for solo holidays and weekends away from marriages and relationships in order to revive the romantic spark.

'Traits and habits that are often endearing when we first start to see someone can often blow up to become major irritations around the three-year mark and how you deal with these niggles will play a key part in whether a relationship survives.

'Often something that may appear trivial such as snoring can become a major relationship stress point.

'But if you can get past these niggles and communicate openly then there is no reason why a relationship should not go the distance.'

The survey was commissioned to mark the release of new movie Hall Pass at cinemas this week. The comedy sees Owen Wilson and Jason Sudekis star as best friends who are each restless after being married for many years.

