New research has revealed significant intimacy and communication challenges affecting relationships across the UK. According to the survey of 2,000 people, nearly 1 in 5 people in the UK (18%) are unsatisfied with their sex lives, and around 1 in 7 (14%) do not feel comfortable communicating their sexual needs and desires to their partner.
As a result, Superdrug Online Doctor, who conducted the study, created an ‘Intimacy Ally’ tool, an interactive companion designed to help couples and singles address intimacy issues and enhance emotional and physical satisfaction in their relationships.
Men (23%) report higher dissatisfaction than women (14%). Meanwhile, 27% of those asked rate their partner’s sexual performance as very poor, poor, or average, and 32% say their sexual needs are often unmet. Despite this disappointment in the bedroom, more than 1 in 5 (23%) never give feedback about their sexual experiences, leading to a cycle of unmet needs and unaddressed issues.
What is the leading cause of sexual dissatisfaction in the bedroom?
Fatigue is the leading factor affecting the sex lives of Brits, with 19.41% identifying it as the top cause of dissatisfaction. For women, this percentage rises to 21.82%, making it their number one challenge, while men report mismatched libidos as their biggest struggle (18.37%). In addition to tiredness, women often face obstacles like body image concerns and low self-esteem, as well as difficulty getting into the right mindset. Men, on the other hand, rank relationship dynamics as one of their top three challenges in the bedroom.
Dr Babak Ashraif explains the important role sleep plays in our sex lives:
“Good sleep is essential for maintaining a healthy sex life mainly due to the regulation of hormones like testosterone and oestrogen, which influence libido and arousal. For men, adequate sleep helps maintain healthy levels of testosterone, which is critical for libido. In women, sleep influences levels of oestrogen that plays a role in sexual desire and arousal.
Women tend to experience more pronounced effects of sleep loss on stress levels, partly due to higher sensitivity to cortisol, the stress hormone. A lack of sleep elevates cortisol, which suppresses the production of sex hormones like oestrogen and progesterone. High cortisol also leads to increased fatigue and anxiety, further diminishing interest in sex.”
Brits are keen to try out new positions and solo play
When asked about which new sexual experiences they’d like to explore with their current or future partners, trying new positions emerged as the top choice for both men and women (21%). This was followed by incorporating sex toys (14%) and engaging in mutual masturbation or solo play in front of each other (13%).
While men showed a bit more enthusiasm for sex toys than women, the most noticeable gender differences appeared with activities like having sex outdoors or in public places (15% of men), watching erotic videos together (15% of men), and role-playing different fantasies or characters (14% of men).
For women, after trying new positions (19% of women) and sex toys (13% of women), the next most popular interest was experimenting with different types of sensory play, such as using blindfolds, feathers, or ice (11% of women).
To address intimacy concerns, Superdrug Online Doctor collaborated with relationship and sex experts to create the ‘Intimacy Ally’—an interactive tool designed to foster open conversations and deeper emotional connections. It offers personalised questions, scores, and actionable feedback to help individuals and couples overcome barriers and enhance intimacy. The tool promotes honest communication and provides practical tips, such as reconnecting emotionally, planning meaningful experiences, and exploring new ways to express needs and desires.
Take the Intimacy Ally quiz, find out your score, and read all the research and expert advice here: https://onlinedoctor.superdrug.com/the-intimacy-ally.html
