Lesbian “Bed Death”

Lesbian “bed death” is the idea, whether real or simply feared, that for same-sex coupled women, their sexual desire and sexual activity begin to wane and even cease to exist over time. This topic is controversial among researchers, therapists, and the popular press, with some arguing that it is a real problem that lesbians face, and others arguing that the concept of lesbian bed death is inaccurate and should be put to rest. Despite the controversy surrounding the topic of lesbian bed death, it continues to be discussed and joked about in popular literature and television shows (e.g., The L Word) geared toward sexual-minority individuals.

The topic of lesbian bed death began to be popularized following a landmark study in the early 1980s by Philip Blumstein ...