Women in romantic relationships are more sexually satisfied than men, a new study claims.
Researchers have discovered that – contrary to common assumptions – women report higher levels of enjoyment in the bedroom compared to their partners.
The findings challenge long–held beliefs that women face more obstacles that inhibit their sex lives.
And it could be because men get bored between the sheets over time, they suggest.
The team, from Sweet Briar College in Virginia, analysed data collected on more than 10,000 people across dozens of previous studies.
‘The current research joins a growing body of literature suggesting that prevalent perceptions regarding gender differences in sexual experiences are often incomplete,’ they wrote in the journal Archives of Sexual Behavior.
‘Specifically, despite the prevailing view that women are likely less sexually satisfied than men, the current research suggests that women report slightly greater sexual satisfaction than men in the context of romantic relationships.’
They said that although the observed differences were not especially large, they are ‘still surprising’.
Researchers have discovered that women report higher levels of enjoyment in the bedroom compared to their partners
A closer analysis of results showed that the gender gap in sexual satisfaction was mostly seen in older adults.
And it was more apparent among couples who had been together for longer periods of time.
This difference, the researchers say, could be because men’s sexual satisfaction tends to be more strongly influenced by novelty.
As a result, their levels of enjoyment decline as the exciting ‘newness’ of a relationship fades away over the years.
The team said their findings were not affected by the frequency of sexual encounters or overall relationship happiness.
However, they said that even though the participants responded to questions about their sex life in confidence, ‘it is possible that women may…simply be less willing to disclose a lack of sexual satisfaction than men’.
Commenting on the findings evolutionary psychologist Dr Robert Burriss said: ‘Who is more satisfied with their sex lives: men or women?
‘Ask 10 of your friends that question and most – perhaps all – will answer “men”. But would they be correct?
‘Contrary to lay assumptions, partnered women were slightly more sexually satisfied than partnered men.
‘When asked to rate their enjoyment of sex and their satisfaction with their sex life, women, compared with men, tended to give higher scores.
‘Men, meanwhile, reported greater sexual arousal as well as greater sexual inhibition.’
Ashlyn Brady, one of the study authors, told PsyPost: ‘I hope people take away that social norms and expectations may not always reflect actual experiences among people within society.
‘Although there are many valid reasons why men may be more sexually satisfied than women, that doesn’t necessarily mean that they always are.’
Dr Brady also emphasized that the findings do not mean women experience a ‘perfect’ sex life without obstacles.
Women still report higher rates of pain during sex and fewer orgasms than men – a phenomenon known as the ‘orgasm gap’.
