How important is sex in a relationship?

Working hard is causing mayhem for parents’ love lives, according to a new survey by family website Care.com.  Over 60% of working parents say they are too exhausted and stressed to have sex, especially before their children were school-age.

But what does this mean for relationships? Is lack of sex a problem or just part of a different stage of our lives?  Does sex play an important role in keeping a relationship healthy or is it natural that, further down the line as a couple, sex takes a back seat while other concerns take up your attention?

Whereas sex may once have been all Mills and Boon-esque passion between a couple, things tend to change a few years into a relationship when the pitter-patter of tiny feet or long hours at the office take their toll on libido.  Couples often find that a sexless relationship becomes a big issue between them, and one that is very hard to openly discuss.  Sex may be everywhere – in magazines, on TV and an everyday topic of conversation – but the more you think the rest of the world is doing it, the less likely you are to admit to your partner (or yourself) that your love life isn’t quite what you pictured it to be.

But is it really sex that is causing difficulties in the relationship?  It could be the absence of the intimacy which normally goes with it that affects us more than anything.  Some couples report never having sex and being completely content with their relationship, but stress that physical closeness still plays a crucial role.  The idea that physical affection could potentially replace the bonding role sex plays is supported by scientific research showing that the feel-good hormone released during sex, Oxytocin, can also be triggered by skin-to-skin contact.

So could hugs and kisses be all you need to keep your relationship above water?  Or is a sexless relationship one headed for trouble?

How important do you think sex is in a relationship?  Do you think a sexless couple are really happy with their situation or have they just accepted it? Is a lack of sex the real problem or is relationship dissatisfaction more to do with a couple not being as physically affectionate with each other? Share your opinions in the comments section below.