Owing to such complacency, and usually unintentionally, you put sex off. But dry spells have nothing to do with becoming disinterested in sex. Nor are such periods of chastity only obvious amongst the promiscuous. They're part of being single and getting older, and they happen to almost everyone at some point throughout our 20s.
Akin to why it's hard to make friends after 25, we get to a point where we become choosier about our potential partners. We become picky with old age; or rather, we develop a palate. No longer is the sole goal of going out at night to bed someone - anyone, as long as they have a pulse and consent.
That's not to say we all develop a "type" (some don't), but most of us lose any feeling of satisfaction if it must result in smelling like latex and crusty sheets.
Our work lives make it harder too. Few are yet of a senior level able to leave at a reasonable hour. When the threshold of home is finally crossed on a Friday night, we're obsessed with the need for "alone time". Sometimes many weekends in a row, this leads to unwitting hermitism; the practice of retiring from public life until contractually obliged to return.
There's also a wonderful sense of righteousness in alone time - your hours are now too precious to waste fending off fodder down the Viaduct. Besides which, your going-out sexy underpants get increasingly uncomfortable with infrequent wear.
The unfortunate consequence of overdoing it on the alone time, which further withers the loins into the driest of spells, is the subsequent First World, self-diagnosed, pseudo-depression that comes with being in your head for too long. It's nothing serious enough to require help; just pathetic enough to see you preferring a half-tub of Cookies and Cream to actual human companionship.
So, we're six months down the track and the memories of ugly-bumping are nearly lost.
The longer you go without sex, the less you think about it. You might think about sex every few hours, or maybe just once or twice in the day. But opportunity isn't around you, so you let the feeling subside.
It's not usually until you admit to your dry spell, out loud and in public to your friends, that you realise something must be done. Once you've heard the words, "Six... going on seven months" come out of your mouth, you realise that it's time to shake off your granny-pants.
It's not always a quick transition back to a regular and healthy sex life. It might start with wearing your sexy undies more often. You go out with friends, and start looking around the bar a little more.
All of a sudden, without planning or over-trying, you're finally naked with another human being: breathless, tingling, and wondering why the hell you waited so long. Is it fate? Is it fantasy? None of the above - you've just broken your spell and returned to the wondrous world of sexual wellness.
Don't throw caution into the wind once you're back on form, however. With dry spells we forget about the dangers of STIs, but they're still out there (and potential for contraction is too easily neglected if you haven't had safe sex on your mind for ages).
So, don't forget your gloves when you're back in the ring, if you know what I mean.
