Married Couples Show Wide Range in Sex Frequency, No One-Size-Fits-All Benchmark

New NORC General Social Survey data from 2024 (1,893 married respondents) show married Americans report a wide range of sexual frequency—from not at all to two-to-three times a week—with the average adult about 53 sex acts per year. While marriage often correlates with slightly lower frequency than singles, there’s no universal “ideal” quota. Frequency tends to decline with age and life stress, and libido can be affected by hormonal changes, thyroid/metabolic health, stress, and medications like SSRIs. For mismatched desire, doctors recommend open discussion and a medical check of hormones, medications, and overall health.