The honeymoon effect on marital coitus

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Abstract
To investigate the rate of the decline of marital coital rates with duration of marriage longitudinal recorded data abstracted from diaries and calendars kept by 21 couples were examined. A substantial decline in coital rates during the first year of marriage, at least in couples who had no premarital intercourse, was found. Coital rates were only about half as high after a year of marriage as they were in the first month of marriage. Thereafter, there was a slower rate of decline with increased marriage duration. It seems likely that the rate of decline in the first year is partially dependent on whether premarital intercourse had occurred. It is suggested that the “honeymoon effect” occurs in each marriage contracted by a person. The arrival of a baby seems to depress (perhaps permanently) the coital rate of its parents. A tentative mathematical description of the decline is offered.