As far as excuses go, turning down an intimate night of passion with a woman to watch an episode of a soap opera, may not rest easy in some households.
But incredulously, it seems men are just as likely as women to make up excuses for not having sex - blaming the weather or being too busy watching EastEnders.
New research has found that 60 per cent of men have told their partner they are too tired for sex, while nearly half said they were not in the mood.
Some men would rather watch TV - even if it is EastEnders - than have sex with their partners, research has shown
However the survey of nearly 2,000 people also found that seven per cent of men stated that they never get an erection any more - and many may be avoiding sex to hide their erectile dysfunction.
Furthermore, just 16 per cent of women realise that their partners have been affected by erectile dysfunction, according to the poll by Lloyds Pharmacy Online Doctor.
Other excuses dreamed up by men to avoid sex included being put off by peeping cats and dogs, being too busy playing the computer game Call of Duty, and being too full after a large meal.
However, medics warned that, in reality, the reason could be down to the fact that a quarter of men admit they have been affected by erectile dysfunction at some point in their lifetime.
The research, released to mark the broadcast of the first UK TV advert to promote an erectile dysfunction service, highlights how much pressure men can put themselves under in the bedroom.
Experts believe some men avoid sex to hide erectile dysfunction
Almost a fifth of the men surveyed (17 per cent) said that they thought being unable to get an erection immediately after starting sexual activity signified a problem.
Half of the men said that anything between one and five minutes could be a sign of erectile dysfunction.
Nearly one in four men say they no longer have sex at all, a figure that increases to 42 per cent for those aged over 55.
Although 47 per cent of men said they would turn to a medical professional in their time of need and 24 per cent would talk to their partners, there still seemed to be some reluctance to broach the subject of erectile dysfunction.
Other excuses dreamed up by men to avoid sex included included being put off by peeping cats and dogs
Worryingly, 21 per cent of men said they wouldn’t feel comfortable talking to anyone about the condition.
Despite many people believing that erectile dysfunction is most likely to affect men aged 56 to 65, Lloydspharmacy Online Doctor, Dr Tom Brett said: 'Erectile dysfunction can affect any man at any stage in his life, but it doesn’t have to mean the end of intimacy.
Other excuses dreamed up by men to avoid sex included being too busy playing the computer game Call of Duty
'Despite remaining a taboo among men, it’s more common than people realise, and can be brought on by many different circumstances.
'It’s important that men feel comfortable talking to a medical professional about their ability to achieve and maintain an erection.
'Not only is there a wealth of effective treatments available, but erectile dysfunction can be symptomatic of a more serious undiagnosed underlying health problem, such as diabetes or heart disease, so it’s worth getting it checked out.'
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2270252/The-excuses-MEN-avoiding-sex.html#ixzz2JTjZL5TV
Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook
