What Happens to Sex After Marriage?

Most people would agree that sex after marriage changes. It’s easy to see why. If you ate crème brulee once in a while you’d look forward to it, dream about it, desire it. But if you had it every night, well, it would be less exciting. You’d take it for granted.After marriage, life settles into a routine.  Couples become more comfortable, some let themselves go.  Hormones and bodies change, sex becomes less of a priority and new responsibilities abound. Everything comes before sex - careers, children, housework, meals, laundry and bills. Energy is stretched, time becomes a precious commodity. When you can catch a breath, you wonder, how connected are we? Am I still attractive to him? Will I get rejected if I ask for sex and on and on.It’s vital for couples to recognize and understand the reasons that sex after marriage will inevitably change. So what is a couple to do?

• Most importantly, talk about it, take it on, address it, communicate
• Go on dates to focus on each other and reconnect
• Do connecting acts of love every day
• Carve out time for sex and schedule it if you have to
• Plan short trips to get away from the routine
• Remember studies show, “the more you do it, the more you’ll do it.”

Sex in a committed relationship is a crucial part of the head, heart, hormone connection. With consciousness, communication and caring, loving intimacy in a committed relationship can last forever. And, by the way, it gets better after the kids launch, that is, if you have stayed connected. So hang in there.We recommend the following books to help deepen you and your partner’s sexual connection:

• Discovering Your Couple Sexual Style: Sharing Desire, Pleasure, and Satisfaction by Barry and Emily McCarthy
• The Return of Desire: A Guide to Rediscovering Your Sexual Passion by Gina Ogden
• Getting the Sex You Want  by Tammy Nelson
• Mating in Captivity: Unlocking Erotic Intelligence by Esther Perel
• The Sex-Starved Wife: What to Do When He's Lost Desire by Michele Weiner Davis

To Your Relationship,Lori and Bob Hollanderwww.RelationshipsWork.comA SPECIAL TELECLASS EVENT:If you’re committed to taking your relationship to extraordinary in 2013, you won’t want to miss this month’s FREE Relate 360 TeleClass: 5 Keys to Re-Ignite Your Intimate Relationship. It take place on Thursday, January 31st at 8PM ET | 7PM CT | 6PM MT | 5PM PT.  LEARN MORE HERE.Sign up today and you’ll receive Why Take the Journey to Extraordinary? as our thank you.  Sign up for our monthly eNewsletter, Radical Relationships, to receive more tips and articles from us about relationships.