Women aged 25 to 34 are the least satisfied with their sex lives

NEARLY half of women are unsatisfied with their sex lives – but over 55s are the least likely to complain, according to new research.

The report by Public Health England (PHE) shows that those aged 25 to 34 are the least satisfied in bed – with 49 per cent complaining that they lacked sexual enjoyment.

Those aged 55 to 64 were least likely to express dissatisfaction – but it was unclear whether this was because they enjoyed good sex, or because they had less of it, or minded about it less.

In total, 29 per cent of women in this age group said they lacked sexual enjoyment. Across all ages, 42 per cent were dissatisfied.

Health officials said having a good sex life was important for mental health.

Dr Sue Mann, public health consultant in sexual and reproductive health at PHE, said: “Enjoying a fulfilling sex life is important for women’s mental and emotional well-being. Our data shows that sexual enjoyment is a key part of good reproductive health and that while many women are reporting sexual dysfunction, many are not seeking help.”

The report, based on a poll of 7,367 women aged between 16 and 64, also found that across all ages almost a third of women had suffered severe reproductive problems – such as painful periods or menopausal symptoms – in the past year.

Dr Jane Dickson, vice president of the Faculty of Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare, said: “The importance of having a healthy, enjoyable sexual life cannot be overstated as this strongly contributes to general well-being. However, there is still much stigma and embarrassment when it comes to sexual function – especially when we are talking about women’s sexual pleasure. Society still relegates women’s sexual pleasure to the background.”

She said women with poor sex lives should be able to get professional help.

“If women lack sexual enjoyment, they should know that they can talk to a specialist and get support from psychosexual services in sexual and reproductive healthcare clinics. Here, we are trained to provide non-judgmental care, encouraging women to open-up and discuss these issues.”

Previous studies have shown that 12 per cent of women have taken a day off work due to menopause symptoms, and 59 per cent have lied to their boss about the reasons for their absence.

The research found that women wanted such problems to be discussed more openly, including in the workplace.