Love Makes Sex Physically More Satisfying for Most Women

First Posted: Aug 20, 2014 05:22 AM EDT
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For women, sex is physically more satisfying when it is accompanied with love and commitment, a new study reveals.

In the study led by Penn State researchers, 95 heterosexual women who are residents of Pennsylvania, New Jersey and New York were interviewed between September 2008 and July 2011. Each in-depth interview lasted for 90 minutes. All the women were aged between 20-68 years.

According to the heterosexual women, love was important for maximum satisfaction in both sexual relationship as well as marriage, and the benefit was more than just emotional.

"Women said that they connected love with sex and that love actually enhanced the physical experience of sex," said Beth Montemurro, associate professor of sociology.  "Those who loved their sexual partners were also more willing to explore their sexuality. When women feel love, they may feel greater sexual agency because they not only trust their partners but because they feel that it is OK to have sex when love is present."

Nearly 50 participants believed love was necessary for sex and just 18 percent felt that love was not needed in a sexual relationship. Older women strongly believed the relation between love, sex and marriage stayed crucial throughout their lifetime. This connection shows that women view sex as an expression of love.  

Despite awareness being raised on women's sexual desire, the girls and women who indulge in sexual relationship outside of committed relationships are looked down upon most often. Media plays a key role in imposing this cultural message.

"On one hand, the media may seem to show that casual sex is OK, but at the same time, movies and television, especially, tend to portray women who are having sex outside of relationships negatively," said Montemurro.

The study was documented at the annual meeting of the American Sociological Association.

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