The mid-life sex-drive crisis

TWO in five older women are unhappy with their sex lives, the survey found.

Some 38.8 per cent of 55 to 64-year-olds said they had lacked interest in sex for at least the past three months.

The figure was only slightly lower for the 45 to 54 age group, of whom 3 .9 per cent had lost interest.

However, the survey suggested women become more content with their sex lives as they get older. Among the 65 to 4 age group, only 34.2 per cent said they lacked interest in sex.

One possible explanation is the menopause, which hits women around the age of 51 and causes a loss of libido, as well as other often debilitating symptoms.

Experts also say that middleaged women are under more stress than other groups, with the competing pressures of family life and work.