Six out of 10 couples 'unhappy in their relationship'

By Daily Mail Reporter
Updated: 17:19 EDT, 31 May 2010

It's perhaps inevitable that some of the romance will go out of a relationship as time passes.

And for some couples that spontaneity is replaced by a steady and deepening affection.

But not for as many as we would like to think. In fact, most couples are unhappy in their relationship, say researchers.

Couples blamed a lack of sex and spontaneity in their relationship as a major cause of their unhappiness. (Posed by models)

More than six out of ten adults in a relationship admit there is a lot they could do to improve their love life  -  and four out of ten admit they have considered leaving their partner. One in ten no longer even trusts their partner.

A study of 3,000 couples also showed a lack of sex, spontaneity, affection and romance makes it hard to maintain a loving relationship.

In fact, most couples only rate their sex life as being six out of ten  -  and 25 per cent claim activity in the bedroom is more perfunctory than perfect.

More than half of those polled said their partner was no longer the 'affectionate and giving' person they were when they first started dating.

And for 33 per cent acts of spontaneity  -  such as booking romantic trips away, cooking a favourite meal or bursting in with a bouquet of flowers  -  are all but dead-and-gone.

'The sad fact of the matter is that when people first start dating, they go to great lengths to appeal to each other by being sexy, romantic and giving,' said David Brown of website UKDating.com.

'Daters will go that extra mile  -  planning special trips to nice places, showering the object of their affection with gifts, and paying lots of attention to everything their loved one has to say.

'But once that honeymoon period is over, it is all too easy to start taking each other for granted. Once couples fall in love and settle down, they fall out of the habit of making an effort.' The survey also revealed

13 per cent of couples no longer want the same things for the future and 19 per cent don't give each other enough time or attention. For 16 per cent a lack of time to talk is a bone of contention, whereas 7 per cent simply don't fancy each other any more.

Half of those questioned believed they were stuck in a rut with their sex life and had no idea how to re-create the passion they once enjoyed.

Forty six per cent of people wished their loved-one initiated sex more often and 45 per cent said they would like it if they were more adventurous in the bedroom.

Three quarters of couples don't have anywhere near as much sex now as they did when they started dating.

Mr Brown added: 'Although respondents agree that factors such as making each other laugh, trust, honesty and having time for each other are important for a lasting relationship, great sex is also a really big deal for many.'

The survey wasn't entirely gloomy. Six out of ten said their loved one was kind, four out of ten still find them good looking and six out of ten love the fact they are funny and have a good personality.