Cheating: Seven-year itch theory dispelled by new research

• 72% of cheating men find their partner less attractive than before they committed to the relationship

• The biggest lull in sexual attraction occurs between the 3rd and 6th years of a relationship

• Lack of attraction is likely to end more than 60% of relationships

A recent survey conducted by Victoria Milan – a leading website for attached people looking to cheat – reveals when the spark in relationships is most likely to burn out – and it happens well before the notorious seven-year mark.

More than 3,600 male cheaters who are active members of Victoria Milan answered questions that delved into the ups and downs of their long-term relationships.

45% of cheating men say the honeymoon period didn’t start to wane until the third year of marriage – it was at that point that they stopped enjoying sex with their significant other. 

One quarter of unfaithful men claim it is between the third and sixth year of a long-term relationship that they are the least sexually attracted to their partner.

The sixth year is when the fire lights up again – dispelling the infamous theory that the seven-year mark is when infidelity is most likely to occur.  30% of men claim that after the sixth year of marriage, things really start to heat up.

CEO and Founder of Victoria Milan, Sigurd Vedal, said the results indicate that while it’s fun to have a daring and dirty dalliance from time to time, long-term relationships are often forever.

“Often, it’s having affairs that rekindle the spark in a cheating couple’s relationship. Perhaps they appreciate each other more after trying what’s out there – maybe they are turned on by their partner’s ignorance to the secrecy and sexiness of the forbidden fruit they taste, and the risks associated.  Either way – at Victoria Milan, we know they aren’t waiting seven years to find out what it tastes like,” he said.

For ladies out there concerned that their man might be preparing to stray, Victoria Milan has the answers from cheaters who no longer find their partner attractive. 

Nearly half of cheating men (47%) say they would like their lady to be more feminine and wear high heels, while 32% said weight-loss and diet would go a long way in heating up the relationship.  Save that trip to the salon and shopping mall – a haircut will only get 12% of men interested again, and a fashion make-over will nab you 9%

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Heart conditions affecting over a million people's sex lives

More than one million people in the UK could have stopped having sex lives altogether as a result of a heart condition, a leading charity has said.

Heart patients and their GPs should talk openly about sex issues, the British Heart Foundation said, after its survey found nearly a fifth of people with heart conditions, or 19%, found sex impossible and nearly a third, or 32%, have had sex less often as a result of their condition.

One in five respondents said they were worried about having a heart attack or cardiac arrest during sex.

The survey of 1,511 patients for the BHF magazine Heart Matters found 14% had lost interest in sex because of the emotional impact of their condition. Nearly half the men surveyed, 46%, said medication for their condition had caused erectile dysfunction.

The charity said more than seven million people in the UK suffer from heart and circulatory conditions including stroke and the heart rhythm disorder atrial fibrillation.

Based on the survey results, it estimated that more than one million people could have stopped having sex because of their heart condition.

In spite of the widespread problem, the charity said 30% had not discussed the issue with anyone including their doctor and 8% said they would have liked to get professional help but could not.

Doireann Maddock, senior cardiac nurse at the BHF, said: "Sex is a hugely important part of life, but isn't getting the attention it deserves in the consultation room.

"We're hearing loud and clear from Heart Matters readers that they need better support and information on how to deal with issues affecting their sex lives.

"Problems like erectile dysfunction can often be tackled and rectified, but the first hurdle is identifying people who need that help.

"We'd like patients to feel comfortable and empowered to raise these issues, and for the NHS to proactively offer support in this area to everyone who needs it."

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Men are more emotional than women, according to new research

MEN are more emotional than women, despite their protestations to the contrary, a "scientific experiment" of British fathers and mothers has found.

Men experience greater levels of emotion than women when presented with heart-warming material, according to the study for Royal Mail, which has used the findings to produce the "definitive" list of phrases for a successful Father's Day card.

A group of 15 fathers and 15 mothers were presented with images and videos categorised into blissful, funny, exciting and heart-warming scenarios, such as a soldier returning from service and reuniting with his daughter, while their physiological reactions were measured using skin conductance electrodes.

Men demonstrated a marginally higher emotional reaction to the blissful, funny and exciting content compared to the women but responded twice as strongly as women when presented with heart-warming content.

An accompanying questionnaire found that even though the men reported feeling less emotion than the women, their physiological changes showed they felt emotion more strongly.

Mindlab founder and chairman Dr David Lewis said: "Gender stereotypes about men being stoic and women being emotional are reinforced by our day-to-day consumption of media and our social interactions.

"We tend to oversimplify and exaggerate the perceived differences between men and women and are more likely to focus on evidence that supports our existing gender stereotypes.

"This study suggests that men feel emotion just as much as women, sometimes more strongly, but are less willing to express these emotions openly due to expectations put on them by society."

Royal Mail's list of phrases for Father's Day cards "that will tug at fathers' heart strings" are 'number one dad,' 'you're my favourite person in the whole world,' 'I love you,' 'you're the best,' and 'thanks for everything you've done for me.'

A survey of 2,000 men to support the experiment found 67% thought they were more emotional than they appeared.

Some 40% of 18 to 24-year-old men said they had cried in the last week and 64% of all those questioned said they were surprised at how much emotion they felt when their child was born.

Stephen Agar from Royal Mail said: "What our research has shown is that underneath a stereotype of a tough exterior, men are really emotional but they don't like to admit it.

"We've created an ultimate list of phrases that have been scientifically proven to move dads and really pull at their heart strings.

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