Top 5 things couples do to avoid having sex

Not in the mood? Research shows the biggest alternative to sex is food!

Scantily-clad women on huge billboards promoting the benefits of push-up bras and celebs like David Beckham posing in their underwear for high street advertising campaigns. There's no doubt that sex sells, but when it comes to sex in long-term relationships, are we actually doing it?

According to research, sexual intercourse takes place around 100million times a day in the world. That’s pretty good going, but it got us wondering, for all those 100million acts, how many acts of avoiding the issue are there?

Let's be honest, when it comes to getting down to it, there are plenty of times when it just all seems like too much effort.

Here are the five most popular things we do to avoid having sex...

1. Eat food

Do you eat to avoid sex? Research shows most couples do.

Sometimes the thought of jumping into bed with your loved one is more than you can face; all that physical exertion, getting naked business, and mess to sort out afterwards. It’s no surprise then, that forgoing sex for food is high up on those displacement activities.

Chocolate anyone? Or would you rather scoff a whole pizza?

2. Watch movies

When movies like 'Shame' and 'Nymphomaniac' exist, why waste your own energy doing the deed when you can get your kicks watching other people? Or you may prefer something altogether less sexy, and opt for the Harry Potter collection. Either way, snuggling up on the sofa in your favourite pyjamas and enjoying a good film, always makes a good alternative.

3. Play games online

Why waste time in the bedroom when you could be winning thousands on a game?

The thrill of winning, the possibility that you could walk away thousands of pounds richer, and the fun of it all - playing online games has soared in popularity in recent years. Is poker better than sex? Bingo better than a good old fashioned snog?

We guess it depends on your particular mood, but online games can quickly have you hooked.

4. Think about sex

Sometimes it's just not possible to engage in sex with your partner when you fancy it. After all, we do have other things we have to do, like a day job, housework, cooking, socialising, ferrying the kids from A to B… so thinking about sex instead of actually doing it, isn't that odd.

In fact, men apparently think about sex every seven seconds, so it's a wonder they get anything else done at all!

5. Selfie sex

Other people. They're great and everything, wonderful even, but there are times when we just want to be alone. Selfie sex involves none of the hassle of partner sex, no-one's fighting to get what they want first, no-one's getting it wrong, and there’s much less actual hardcore exertion involved; which makes it a great option if you 'sort of fancy it' but can’t really be bothered.