Marriages, they say, are made in heaven, but if psychiatrists are to be believed, they end in the bedroom.
An increasingly high number of women are opting for divorce because their partners are unable to satisfy them sexually. Though this is not the only reason — incompatibility, physical and mental harassment are others — it is a major one for couples deciding to go their separate ways.
According to city psychiatrists, in the last three years, the number of women quoting sexual dissatisfaction as ground for divorce has doubled. Advocate Kranti Sathe gives the statistical backing to this, saying there has been an at least 10% annual rise in such cases. Dr Rajan Bhonsle, professor and head of the department of sexual medicine, KEM hospital says, "Sexual dissatisfaction is one of the prominent reasons for divorce initiated by women. They are very vocal about their feelings and needs these days."
Dr Parul Tank, head of the department of psychiatry at Rajawadi hospital and consultant psychiatrist at Fortis hospital, Mulund, says, "I am seeing at least three to four cases every week. Divorce due to sexual dissatisfaction is no longer a social stigma."
The Bandra family court has seen an overall 13-15% annual rise in divorce cases; lawyers and psychiatrists agree that a major reason for the rise is women becoming more independent, financially and emotionally. "Last week, I had a case… During counselling I found out that the woman's husband didn't give much time to her. She didn't show the slightest hesitation in saying that she wanted divorce because she was sexually dissatisfied," adds Tank.
Dr Gurvinder Kalra, assistant professor, consultant psychiatrist and sex therapist at the LTMG Sion hospital says, "Women are getting much bolder in expressing themselves. They are also coping with divorce-related depression faster."
Advocate Paresh Desai, who practices at Bandra family court, says, "There are cases where women have cited sexual dissatisfaction as the reason for wanting divorce, but it cannot be the sole reason, as in court it doesn't hold any merit. Such cases are either mutually sorted out or mental cruelty and other such factors are incorporated in to make the case stronger."
Agreeing with Desai, Sathe adds that a majority of these cases involve the younger population.
