For married couples, sex frequency can depend on relationship length and numerous other factors. Over 65% of married respondents reported having sex at least once per week, and another 23.6% had sex at least once per month. Only 10.9% of married couples had sex less than that. 

As couples were together longer, “less than once a month” became a more likely answer for sex frequency. In fact, 15% of couples together for more than 15 years had sex less than once a month.

On average, the longest time married couples went without having sex was six weeks. Older couples, together for 16 years or longer, only pushed this number by one week, saying the longest they ever went without sex was 7.1 weeks, on average. However, there was a substantial group (19% of people) who went three months or longer without having sex.

According to Charlene Lewis, a marriage and couples counsellor and certified sex therapist, it’s normal for couples to go through ebbs and flows with their sex frequency. “Every relationship is different, and life gets in the way. Although it doesn’t seem natural to have scheduled ‘sexy nights,’ it’s sometimes needed, so they don’t get stuck in a dry spell,” Lewis said. “That goes against the myth that sex needs to be spontaneous. If you don’t schedule it, it won’t become a priority.”

Although married couples largely reported consistent sexual activity, there were some changes. Fifty-two percent agreed they had sex less often than they did before getting married. Twenty-eight percent also said their sex life became more boring after marriage.   

To that, our respondents said they experimented more after marriage (67%), tried different positions (63.1%), and became more spontaneous (42.6%). Toys, enjoyed by 33% of married couples, also reportedly helped increase sexual excitement for both partners. 

Although only 8.5% of couples went to see a sex therapist or considered couples therapy, they were part of the group that experienced increased sexual excitement after getting married, so their opinion shouldn’t be glossed over. 

As Lewis explains, while it isn’t the most common scenario, many couples do improve their sex lives after marriage. “Depending on the situation, some couples will feel a spark when they get married, being in the ‘honeymoon’ phase immediately after getting married.” Further, she explains, “There may be religious or cultural reasons couples may feel a sexual spark after getting married. For those who may have waited until marriage, it may be the first time they’re able to finally feel the freedom to have sex without guilt.” 

Even though sex lives weren’t completely inactive during the marriage, 65% of married couples did experience a time of significantly decreased sex frequency. For most, it was caused by a lower sex drive (57.8%).

Science tells us that hormone levels falling with age often correlate with lower sex drives in both men and women. Male respondents, however, were more likely than women to mention lower sex drive as the reason they had less sex in their marriage.

Lewis explains that when life gets in the way, couples frequently deprioritise the health of their sex lives: “The responsibilities of a true partnership show up quickly in a marriage. Sharing bills, a home, possibly kids – the normal stressors of life show up.” For others, she said, there may be less of a spark due to attitudes toward marriage: “For some, there’s not the same anxiety or excitement that was there during the dating time period. People can take for granted that they’re married.” 

It took an average of four years of marriage to experience a sexual slowdown. But only 50.5% of people even spoke to their partners about it. And more than a third of married respondents said they did “nothing” once their sex life took a sharp turn. 20.6% used simple research to find ways to recharge their sex lives and 12.1% tried sex therapy.

To keep their sex lives interesting, most respondents did “nothing in particular.” This uninspired group, although large, was also the least likely to be sexually satisfied – so let’s look at those who did choose to try to keep the spark alive. 

Thirty-four percent flirted with their spouse, and another 28.1% planned romantic getaways. All of these things led to increased satisfaction, but it was some of the rarer choices that most heavily impacted a couple’s sexual satisfaction.