Sex Survey Says...

Sex. A new survey finds that 83 percent of adults believe it's a very important or somewhat important piece of a relationship. But those surveyed say their love lives frequently are affected by the demands of work and family.

Bruskin Audits & Surveys polled 1,020 adults for the Vagisil Women's Health Center. Eight out of 10 people surveyed say the three most important factors affecting a couple's sexual relationship are how well they get along, how often they can be with each other, and sharing common interests and goals.

What'd they find?

• Nine out of 10 respondents between the ages of 35 and 49 said work demands impact a couple's sexual relationship a great deal or somewhat. Eighty-seven percent of those responses came from people in the $50,000 plus income bracket.

• Three in four of all respondents say that money affects a couple's sexual relationship somewhat or a great deal. Most of these positive responses came from people earning $30,000 to $40,000.

• Eight in 10 of all those surveyed named children as having an affect on a couple's sexual relationship.

• Fatigue, stress and anger were the top three factors people cited as inhibiting sexual relationships. These were followed by time pressure, lack of interest or not being in the mood, and health problems.

So, what's the solution to getting around these sex-inhibitors and getting some quality loving in the bedroom? Survey respondents said that when problems or sexual issues crop up, they talk with their partner first, followed by a friend, then a doctor. When seeking help to improve a sexual relationship, reading articles was the first choice, followed by watching programs on TV, then listening to radio. Last was checking information on the Internet.

Turns out that communicating stress, frustrations and finding information are popular ways to bring back that loving feeling.

But, discussing your sex life with your partner is challenging. Get expert advice from Dr. Betty's guide to improving intimacy and tips for expressing difficult feelings.