More sex in a marriage doesn’t necessarily equal happiness, according to a study published by the Society for Personality and Social Psychology.

Couples who constantly have sex aren’t necessarily happier. In fact, having sex once a week is just about perfect. In other words, Sex is not the secret to a happy relationship.

That’s the takeaway from a new study, based on surveys of more than 30,000 Americans gathered over 40 years.

Researchers found that while couples who have sex once a week are happier than those who have sex less often, “having sex more frequently than once a week was not associated with greater well-being.” The findings held regardless of gender, age, or the length of a relationship.

“It isn’t sure why having sex once a week seems to be ideal, but it may “be the frequency that people feel is enough to maintain their intimate connection,” says lead author, Amy Muise.

The “big problem” one researcher not involved found with the study is that it identifies correlation, not causation.

“People are basically having as much sex as they want, and for some reason … [those who do it] about once a week seem to be happier,” George Loewenstein tells the Guardian.

As for single people, Muise says researchers found no link between sexual frequency and happiness among that group. (It turns out men and women want sex at different times of the day.)

So to the question, how often should a couple have sex in a relationship, I will say once a week is very ideal but this decision highly depends on you and your partner’s libido. If having it everyday work for you both, then good luck with that and if twice, thrice, or weekly works, it’s all good. This simply adds ‘libido‘ as one vital pointer for those engaging in premarital sex while searching for a partner…shhhhh

If you are not abstaining (which is more advisable), it is important to not allow your relationship drift to the point where all that matters is sex. Once it gets to that point, even the sex will soon become boring.

Good luck!