Forget the romantic notion of snuggling up to survive the long winter. Compared to other countries, Canadians are having sex less often — and are quite good at making excuses to avoid it, says a newly released international poll.

For the online survey*, researchers looked at 13,000 adults in 13 countries, including Austria, Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, Mexico, Portugal, Romania, South Korea, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the United States. Each country had a minimum of 1,000 participants.

The findings indicated that Canadians between the ages of 46 and 60 have sex an average of 1.35 times a week. This compares with a global average of 1.41.

And who is having the most sex? According to the survey, people living in Portugal have it 1.96 times a week, followed by Mexico at 1.89 times.

“Sorry darling, but I have a headache”

Further, more than 40 per cent of Canadian respondents admitted to coming up with excuses to avoid sex. Some of the top excuses included fatigue (71 per cent), pain and muscle aches (29 per cent), and headaches and joint pain (29 per cent).

And when it comes to having sex, Canadians also showed less spontaneity than other countries. Internationally, 86 per cent of the respondents viewed sex as a spontaneous act, but in Canada that number fell to 79 per cent.

“This research reveals important information about the sexual behaviour of Canadians. When you compare our results to other nations, it’s clear that Canadians aren’t necessarily experiencing the most active or vibrant sex lives,” said Dr. Gerald Brock, Professor of Surgery, Division of Urology from the University of Western Ontario, in a news release. “While work and family pressures are likely to be a factor in this equation, medical problems such as erectile dysfunction may also be playing a role.”

Erectile dysfunction (ED) affects approximately 40 per cent of men over 40, according to the survey.

“While there is no cure for ED, almost all cases can be treated, and newer medications including daily and on-demand therapies are helping men and their partners return to the unconstrained intimacy they previously enjoyed,” Dr Brock added.

(*The online survey was conducted in August 2011 by SKIM Healthcare on behalf of Eli Lilly and Company.)

Bringing back the romance

Sex can provide a myriad of emotional and healthy benefits. In fact, studies have shown that sex can help you look and feel younger, foster intimacy, reduce stress, boost immunity, and improve cardiovascular health. And that’s not all. Research has also indicated that frequent sex can also reduce risk for certain cancers, lower blood pressure and lead to a longer life.