This is why you should stop worrying about your sex drive

Stop worrying about your lack of sex drive – the entire concept is meaningless.

That’s according to sex educator Dr Emily Nagoski who told the New Scientist "when it comes to sex, there just isn't any physical evidence of a drive mechanism".

A drive is a motivational system to deal with life-or-death issues, like hunger or being too cold. You're not going to die if you don't have sex.

Dr Nagoski, the director of Wellness Education at Smith College in Massachusetts, said not everyone experiences “spontaneous desire” for sex – some people will only want to have sex in response to someone stimulating them. Around 70 per cent of men and 10-20 per cent of women experience spontaneous desire.

If you don’t, her advice is to stop worrying: “Spontaneous desire is totally fun. But you're not broken just because you're not experiencing it. Spontaneous desire isn't necessary for sexual pleasure.”

So now you know.

More: What one of Britain's leading academics can teach us about sex