Doing housework has its rewards

Dear Annie: I recently saw the results of a survey that said the more work men do around the house the less sex they get. I have seen many comments in your column from women who stated the opposite – that if a man did more around the house, he might “get more” in the bedroom.

I have always helped out with cooking, mopping floors, doing laundry, cleaning the bathroom, etc., and never once did I consider that the point was more sex. But this information confused me. I mentioned it to my wife, who said, “Sorry.”

So, I asked another woman her thoughts on this subject, and she said men would get more sex, but she had a little smile on her face that told me different. Another woman’s answer was “maybe, maybe not.” So what’s up with the conflicting statements? Should I not help out as much? – Confused Husband

Dear Confused: Cute. No. Like it or not, the amount you help around the house should not be tied to how much sex you get. You should help because it’s the right thing to do, and, as a partner in a relationship, you should do your share. If it also makes your partner feel appreciative and less exhausted, that often translates to more sex. But there are so many factors that go into the desire for intimacy that you’d have to discuss it more thoroughly with your wife to find out what she needs and wants from you that will make her feel desirable and interested.

We can guarantee you, though, that if you watch TV while she does all the housework, there is likely to be no sex at all.