How Much Satisfaction?

How much do you think a good sexual relationship adds to overall relationship satisfaction? 5%? 10%? Most people - especially those who don't care if they ever have sex again - underestimate the role of sex in reported levels of happiness in a relationship. Maybe that's because we all know that good sex, alone, does not create relationship nirvana.

A lot of you have probably had an incredible sex partner somewhere along the way who was absolutely worthless outside the bedroom. Which may lead you to conclude that sex isn't that important when it comes to the person you want by your side when you're raising children, caring for elderly parents, or dealing with a flooded basement.

Just because sex isn't the bedrock of a good relationship doesn't mean it is insignificant in the whole relationship picture. Most surveys show that sex adds 20-25% to relationship satisfaction. But even more compelling is what happens when you take sex out of the picture. Then its role in satisfaction levels jumps to 50-75%! Obviously, not having sex is a major relationship drain - and source of conflict.

You might want to ask yourself how much your sex life adds or subtracts from your relationship. And then ask your partner.