Speaking from experience here: Long-term marriage does not a vibrant sex life make. Dating is amazing, a wild, beautiful blur of crisp dresses and fancy dinners; candlelit lovemaking; manicures; waxes; blowouts; everything impromptu and perfect and new. This gives you excitement and a glimmer of your past life. Every once in a while, go out and allow yourself to experience the open-endedness that reconnects you to the sense of possibility and freedom. I love it.

Sex does not have to get boring in a long-term marriage. As the years go by and you get older, your intimate relationship should get better. Sex with your partner can become more satisfying because you know each other's likes, dislikes, habits, and preferences. We know that life can get in the way. Chores, kids, finances, and other issues can put a damper on romance. These everyday factors can interfere with both your desire for sex and finding the time to put in the effort.

Learn about our expanded patient care options and visitor guidelines. Intimacy is key to having a healthy, functional and overall happy relationship. Intimacy tends to follow a pattern as a relationship evolves. Couples newly in love typically experience feelings of closeness and excitement and have regular sex, says Kraft.

When they started dating, there was an automatic flurry of sexual sparks. They fucked like bunnies — every night, and every morning. Maybe they moved in together after months of being together. Everything seemed smooth and rosy. And it seemed like this effortless sexual connection would go on forever, without reprieve.