It's renowned sex therapist, Victoria Lehmann, who is at the root of this dastardly news. Research compiled on her behalf reveals that the majority of British women are 'desperate housewives' who feel their love lives could be much better. Only a third of British women say they're very satisfied with the quality of their sex life, while a fifth of women don't think they're having enough sex at all.
The study also revealed that, for British women, sex really doesn't improve with age – whether it is the quality or the quantity! While one in ten 30-something women said they were unsatisfied with the quality of their sex life, a quarter of 50-somethings aren't happy. And twice as many women in their 50s as those in their 30s said they were dissatisfied with the amount of sex they have.
Victoria found that when asked about which elements of their love life they would most like to improve, the number one choices for British women revealed eerily interesting parallels with the lifestyles of the four lead characters from the hit US show 'Desperate Housewives'...
41% of British women want to make more time for sex
Almost half of us feel like the frazzled Lynette whose job and demanding children and husband mean she has little time to enjoy romance or intimacy and is too exhausted for sex.
Victoria's tip: Remember that men can also suffer from exhaustion and health problems that can affect their libido and performance. If either of you suffer from such problems, these should be addressed together. Talk. If the problem is medical, visit your GP - whatever you do, try to prioritise your relationship rather than letting tiredness get in the way of your sex life.
30% want more romance
Almost a third of British women are hopeless romantics like Susan. These women like courtship, being wined and dined, and being made to feel special. For them hugs and kisses are just as important as sexual intercourse.
Victoria's tip: Every relationship should make time for romance. Even after years of living together it is vital to spend time hugging, kissing and touching. Many men experiencing problems having an erection are anxious about being intimate if they feel that they will not be able to actually have intercourse. But there are so many effective treatments these days - get him to the GP and you stand a real chance of being able to bring back the romance and the erection. Or go to lovelifematters.co.uk for information on how to deal with erection troubles.
Almost a fifth of British women want more spontaneity
One in five of us would like to act more on impulse, dropping everything like free-spirited Gabrielle to engage in a spot of impromptu sex (though probably not with a teenage gardener).
Victoria's tip: Spontaneity and fun is vital in a long and happy relationship. Just imagine if we served up the same meal every day for 20 years, we would stop feeling very hungry and probably eat elsewhere. Sex is just the same - we need to be more creative, and as we get older it is even more important. One sexual position with the light off is not going to keep many sexual relationships active. Buy a reputable sex manual to give you ideas for new options if you're both out of ideas.
Only one in ten British women want their partner to be more adventurous
The majority of us would empathise with Bree if confronted by a pair of handcuffs!
Victoria's tips: Communicating is essential in any strong relationship. We spend so much of our time at work re-negotiating contracts and doing appraisals - why don't we challenge our relationships and do exactly the same. Every year (or why not every month) we should sit down and talk about what works well in the relationship, and what needs to be different. As a couple you always need to talk about what is best for the both of you.
Victoria's survey also revealed an interesting geographical split of desperate housewives with the South East being home to the least satisfied women in the country. At the other end of the spectrum, almost 50% of women from the North East said they are very satisfied with the quality and amount of sex they have been getting over the last couple of years.
'Everyone deserves to have the chance of enjoying intimacy and have a satisfying love life, whatever their age,' says Victoria. 'One of the best times of life to really enjoy your love life is actually after 40 when, for many couples, children have flown the nest and they have more time to dedicate to each other.' Roll on!
