It is often seen as a taboo subject, but a new survey is finally lifting the lid on our sex lives.
Experts from Superdrug surveyed 2,000 sexually active adults from across the UK about how often they have sex - and how often they would like to.
The results revealed a clear 'pleasure gap' in the UK.
On average, Brits have 105 sexual encounters per year, equating to roughly two a week.
However, their ideal frequency is 144 times a year - about three times a week.
'In Britain, our sex lives are going through a big transformation,' Superdrug explained.
'We wanted to understand if people are satisfied with their sex lives.
'The majority of people said they weren't satisfied with the frequency of their sexual activity, with only 22% of women and 26% of men saying they were "always" satisfied with the amount of sex they were having.'
The insights come from Superdrug's Great British Sex Report 2026, which set out to understand what our sex lives will look like this year.
'Surveying over 2,000 sexually active adults from across the UK, we explored not only what people are actually doing, but what they want in the bedroom and why behaviours, preferences and attitudes to sex might be changing,' Superdrug explained.
The results of the survey revealed that the so-called 'pleasure gap' is particularly strong amongst men.
'Men were more likely to want to have sex 2-3 times a week, with almost 40% saying that was their ideal frequency,' Superdrug said.
The report also found that only one in three Brits reported that they always orgasm during sex with their partner.
Again, there was a stark gender difference here.
Men were almost twice as likely to orgasm during sex than women - with almost half (48 per cent) always experiencing orgasm during partnered sex, versus just under a quarter (24 per cent) of women.
While many Brits wish they were having more sex, Sex and Relationship coach, Gemma Nice suggests focusing more on quality over quantity.
'There's a growing shift towards being more intentional about sex and creating space to truly explore intimacy,' she explained.
'As wellbeing becomes more central to younger generations, people are bringing mindfulness into the bedroom; slowing down, staying present, and tuning into how they actually feel.
'This shift may mean fewer one-night stands and more purposeful connections, driven by a deeper need to feel seen, heard, and genuinely connected.
'Intimacy is no longer just about sex itself, but about what the experience means emotionally and mentally.
'People are becoming more confident in standing up for what they believe in, asking for what they need, and prioritising intimacy that supports their overall health and happiness.
'And of course, we're naturally drawn to novelty.
'Trying something new in the bedroom can trigger a surge of dopamine and serotonin, the body's feel-good hormones, making experiences more pleasurable and exciting.
'Embracing new trends or mixing things up can reignite desire, deepen connection, and help keep intimacy feeling fresh rather than routine.'