It is believed that one third of young and middle-aged women and one half of all older women have sexual problems to varying degrees, including a lack of sexual desire, pain during intercourse and difficulty in achieving orgasm.

Following a seven-year study, researchers at the University of Turku and Abo Akademi University in Finland believe they may have the answer to why so many women are afflicted with sexual dysfunction.

Using questionnaire results from the Female Sexual Function Index, the researchers analyzed the answers of 2,173 premenopausal women; one from a 2006 survey and the other from 2013.

The findings, which have been published in the scientific journal Psychological Medicine provide some insight into the problem.  It was observed that while women’s ability to orgasm was the most stable over the seven year period, sexual satisfaction was a completely different story.

The study grouped women into three categories: those who (a) ended the seven-year period single, (b) those who had partners in 2006 and different ones by 2013, and (c) those who had stayed with the same partner over the seven-year period.

Overall, the ability to achieve sexual satisfaction improved in all three groups, though single women experienced the greatest improvement. Women with new partners had slightly less improvement, but those who had remained with the same partners over the seven-year period reported the least improvement in sexual function.

But does this mean monogamy dampens the libido?

Not entirely.

Fortunately, the authors of the study identified certain limitations to their research. Despite the large sample size used, the research did not take into account fluctuations in sexual function, preexisting sexual dysfunction, cohabitation or duration of singlehood.

Conclusion? If you are in a good relationship, just stay put.

According to WebMD, 43% of women and 31% of men report some degree of sexual difficulty.

Source: Independent