Is sex once a week ENOUGH?

With Dame Jilly Cooper saying we should be doing it as much as possible, it has reignited an age-old debate...

We all know how difficult it can be to keep the passion alive in a relationship with so many other things taking up time and energy in our lives. And whether you're happy with your lot or going through a bit of a slump, it's only natural to wonder how often other couples are having sex, yet it's something we don't tend to talk about openly.

The age-old debate of how often is enough hit the headlines again recently when raunchy author Jilly Cooper weighed in, urging couples to get intimate as often as possible. Jilly, 87, famous for her sexy fiction books, including Rivals which has been adapted for TV and launches this week on Disney+, said: 'Life is quite short of joy and I think sex is heaven. I think one should have as much as you can.' Forty-nine per cent of Brits have sex at least once a week, while 19% do it two or three times, according to a survey by Ann Summers. However, one in 10 said, despite being in a relationship, they never have sex at all. Age can be a factor though research shows a decline in how often couples have sex from age 40.

So, is there a magic number when it comes to sex? We talk to two women with very different expectations.

I HAD A LITTLE WIGGLE IN MY STEP AGAIN'

Emma ParsonsReid, 57, lives in Cardiff with her husband Kev, 63 I think a lot of women assume their sex drive will die with the menopause but I'm proof that you can still have great sex - and lots of it, once you come out the other side.