How Many Times A Week You Should Have Sex, According To Science

There are probably a ton of habits you complete every week, from exercising to food prepping to budgeting. But there’s one activity you may want to start penciling in your agenda on a regular basis. As it so happens, you can even figure out how many times a week you should have sex (according to science). Who knew?

Don’t worry, most studies have very reasonable recommendations. No one expects you to go at it twice a day every day, or to perform exceptionally acrobatic feats in the bedroom. In fact, putting pressure on yourselves to have sex too often can actually hamper the relationship. As Amy Muise of the University of Toronto Missisauga said in Metro UK, “couples can end up feeling pressure to try to engage in sex as frequently as possible.” And if there’s one thing that isn’t sexy, it’s pressure. Nothing zaps passion quite like making sex just another barrier between you and sleep.

Thankfully, the recommended amount is something that most couples can manage, even those dealing with exceptionally hectic schedules. It’s an easy way to keep your relationship strong without putting undue pressure on yourselves. So what is this magical amount of sex for couples in established relationships?

According to a recent study in the Society for Personality and Social Psychology, couples who enjoy sex once a week are consistently the happiest. "Although more frequent sex is associated with greater happiness, this link was no longer significant at a frequency of more than once a week," said lead researcher Amy Muise. Isn't this news kind of a relief? Instead of pressuring yourselves to burn up the sheets when you're both zapped from a tough workday, this study (of more than 25,000 Americans) shows that just going at it weekly is plenty for most couples. Whether you have an understanding that Saturday night is reserved for your couple time, or you just pick a random day during the week that works for you both, this shows that you don't have to overtax yourselves to maintain a happy relationship. And on those other six nights of the week when you'd rather just collapse into bed and sleep? Go for it!