Not a night to remember

A study says mutual boredom is setting in dangerously fast among today's young couples, writes Vijaya Sharma.

Remember the time when George Michael famously sang "Sex is natural, sex is fun".

But it certainly does not seem so between a husband and wife. A recent survey conducted by a research body for a leading weekly magazine in India repeats what has been oft-stated. Couples lose interest in sex after a few years, nay just a few months of marriage. The study says that whereas this lack of sexual appetite was earlier found in middle aged or older couples, the malaise is rapidly affecting even young, newly-marrieds, who in fact should be singing "the only thing that looks good on me is you."

It goes on to say that the problem is not peculiar only to India but is largely found in western nations also and hence, books such as by Sheila Wray Gregoire which probe the subject have been instant sell-outs. (Incidentally for those who might be interested in reading the book, it gives practical and humorous advice for the vast majority of women who, at the end of a long day, would rather eat chocolate and soak in a bubble bath - alone - than make love.)

It's not that the desire has died. But in a marriage, increasingly, the couples have begun to find their partners boring, routine,unexciting, non-experimentative or more often than not the lady feigns a headache when the man is raring for a romp in the bed.