'Dead Bedroom' Relationships Are Super-Common

Marissa Gainsburg

August 26, 2019 12:03 AM

‘Dead Bedroom’ Relationships Are Way Common

A "dead bedroom" relationship is when a couple is in a sex rut and hasn't had sex for an extended period of time.
Dead bedroom relationships are incredibly common: More than half of respondents in a recent survey said they have been in a sex dry spell.
Common causes for sex ruts include work stress and weight gain, according to the survey.

The newly coined term dead bedroom describes a relationship that remains sexless for an extended period of timeas in, months or, yikes, years. And its incredibly common.

Not only is there an entire (very active) reddit thread devoted to "dead bedroom," but 51 percent of respondents (18 to 65 years old) in a recent survey by BodyLogicMD reported a dry spell that ended within a year. What's more, 39 percent reported theirs lasting between one and five years.

Whats even more eye-opening? The causes: Stress at work topped the list of reasons why people got into sex draughts, while weight gain came in second. But both problems can be fixed by addressing the third culprit: a lack of communication.

If youre overwhelmed at the office or down on yourself, talking to a therapist can help lift confidence and ease worries so you not only feel sexier but can better express your needs.

Sensing that you and your partner are out of touch? Consider seeing a professional togethermutual support breeds emotional intimacy, which breeds, well, the physical kind.

A version of this article appeared in the September 2019 issue of Women's Health.