Lack of sex contributes to depression in women, study reveals

A new study has shown that the lack of sex negatively affects the mental health of women in South Africa.

The poll which was carried out by a pharmaceutical company, Pharma Dynamics, on 700 women (between ages 18 - 55) from different walks of life, reveals the effects that sex or the lack of it, have on their mental well-being.

Pharma Dynamics spokesperson, Tumi Motsei said: "More than 70% of women surveyed, said the absence of sexual intimacy in their relationships made them feel depressed and led to doubts about self-worth. As many as 64% measured their self-esteem, femininity and desirability directly to how their partner responds to them sexually.

"When a man starts to withdraw physically, it is natural for a woman to believe that her partner is losing interest in her, thereby impacting self-esteem and feelings of attractiveness. Women who measure their self-esteem by how men respond to their sexuality are particularly vulnerable to fears of rejection".

Motsei also offers the following coping mechanisms to aid women in dealing with sexual rejection:

Don't take it personally – remind yourself that your partner's lack of interest in sex may not be about you.
Focus on what makes you happy, for example, spending time with friends, starting a new hobby, joining a sport or dance club etc. If he sees you focusing on yourself rather than your sex life, he might want to become more involved in 'every' aspect of your life.
Examine your relationship and ask yourself what was different about the times when your partner was more interested in sex and try to somehow recreate those conditions.
Try a new approach. Don't initiate sex for a while and see what happens.