IF you are not having as much sex as you would like, there could be a passion killer hiding in your bedroom.
Scientists have warned keeping a mobile on a nightstand could distract couples during romps.
10
Dr Stuart Farrimond said: “When we have our phone, it is basically a door on the outside world. It is like having sex by the front door. We need to be relaxed so we can engage.”
But phones are not the only thing that put a dampener on romance.
From your wall colour to messy bedrooms, Katy Docherty looks at the science behind what is turning you off.
WALL COLOUR
The type of paint or wallpaper you pick could set the tone for your sensual evening.
Pastel colours and soft shades made respondents relax, a study carried out by The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, in Australia, found.
Despite its suggestive name, hot pink and other bright colours made people tense and irritated.
10
DRAUGHTY WINDOWS
A cold room can make for a frosty sex life, according to scientists.
The University of Groningen, in the Netherlands, found having cold feet means it is harder to achieve an orgasm.
In the study, only half of couples climaxed – but this increased to 80 per cent when given socks.
10
NO SNACK RULE
You might want your bedroom to be a crumb-free zone but there are benefits to keeping a chocolate bar on the bedside table.
Philadelphia’s Drexel University found the way to a woman’s heart is having a full stomach.
In the US study, brain scans showed that young women who had eaten chocolate cake had more extreme responses to their love cues.
10
BORING NIGHTIES
Baggy pyjamas may be comfy – but a red negligee will get his blood pumping.
A study by the US University of Rochester found men rated women as more attractive if they were wearing a shade of crimson – which has long been thought of as the colour of love and passion.
Women also found men more appealing in red.
10
CLUTTER
An untidy home might make a mess of your love life too.
Scientists at UCLA, in the US, discovered women who saw clutter in their homes had increased levels of stress hormone cortisol.
A University of Texas study found high stress can lead to a low physical libido in women – so it might be worth picking those socks off the floor.
10
DIMMING THE LIGHTS
It might be romantic to dim the lamps – but in fact more light in the bedroom is better for your sex drive.
The University of Siena, in Italy, found that bright light boosts testosterone levels in men with low sexual desire.
The study saw a three-fold increase in satisfaction for men who used a light box in the mornings.
10
TV
Watching the telly from bed is a sure-fire way to switch off your sex drive.
Those who have a set in their bedroom enjoy six per cent less love making than those who don’t, says the US National Bureau of Economic Research.
But a separate survey found a scary movie before bedtime can actually increase sexual desire.
10
THE KIDS
If it is always mum putting the children to bed, then you are not likely to have a happy love life.
Georgia State University in the US found heterosexual couples who split childcare duties had “more satisfying sexual relationships”.
Women with partners who do the majority of childcare were the happiest with their sex lives.
10
A CLOCK
Do not get into a sex rut by sticking to the same routine.
Indiana University and Rutgers University in the US say it could be putting you off being passionate.
A study found mixing up when and how you have sex is essential for both men and women.
Try romping in a different location or time of the day, and vary the positions.
10
KNOCK THE SPOTS OFF
How to get rid of acne scars – from vitamin C serums to exfoliating
HORROR HOUSE FIRE
Mum burned while saving her kids from a raging fire recalls her skin MELTING as she tried to escape
MOTHERS’ RUIN
These are the three types of mums most likely to raise a murderer… is yours one of them?
CANCER SCARE
Most deadly skin cancers DON’T start in existing moles – here’s how to spot the signs
FAMILY AFFAIR
Mum who was raped and beaten by her dad from the age of ten hired a hitman at 16 who MURDERED him
LATE NIGHTS
It might seem counterproductive but the best thing men can do in the bedroom for a sex life is let their partner snooze for longer.
Poor sleep or lack of shut-eye can affect a woman’s testosterone levels, which interferes with her sexual response.
The University of Michigan Medical School, in the US, found just one extra hour of sleep increased the likelihood of having sex the next day by 14 per cent.
GOT a story? RING The Sun on 0207 782 4104 or WHATSAPP on 07423720250 or EMAIL exclusive@the-sun.co.uk
