Couples who do not have sex often will end up having even less, according to a German study.
Lack of sex is likely to increase stress, making it less likely that couples will find the time for loving.
The researchers on the Theratalk Project found that a downward spiral can occur, worsened as couples vent their sexual frustration by taking on more work commitments, limiting their time to get intimate.
The team had statistics to back this up, reports Spiegel Online. Some 36 per cent of men and 35 per cent of women who have sex once a week were found to take on extra work, while 45 per cent of men and 46 per cent of women who never have sex with their partner were inclined to fill their time with work.
Ragnar Beer, who led the survey of 32,000 people, said: "One commonly takes on obligations that aren't easy to let go of, like leadership positions in a club, for instance.
"That takes away from the time spent on the relationship, which again negatively contributes to sexual satisfaction. Unobserved, the frustration often becomes deeply ingrained."
He also warned: "It's important for couples to keep a close watch on their sexual satisfaction rather than wait until it's too late."
