Nearly 10 percent of the total divorce cases in Chongqing are due to an inactive sex life, according to statistics from Chongqing Jiangbei Court, a municipality in southwest China.

Chongqing Evening News reported that spouses no longer feel ashamed about talking about sex in public, and they are happy to ask judges for help to end their miserable marriages.

Wu Meiying, who has been married for 30 years, sued for divorce at the Jiangbei court.

"My husband and I haven't had a normal sex life since I discovered my husband had a relationship with another woman 10 years ago," Wu stated.

"He also has been violent and dictatorial at home sometimes," she added.

Her husband, Wang Cengang, said his wife doesn't fulfill her duties. "She always goes to bed before dark and then gets up to watch TV at midnight," Wang complained, "she even asks me not to disturb her!"

In early March the court granted a divorce to the couple, on the grounds that neither of them was fulfilling their conjugal obligations.

Zhao Bo, a husband who's dissatisfied with his marriage, claimed he did not have a harmonious sex life because he and his wife married in haste and didn't know each other well.

"We have had little communication for a long time, and the word 'couple' is just a title for our current status," Zhao explained.

Xiang Ying complained that her husband frequently had extramarital affairs after she developed health problems, which she said may have had a negative effect on their sex life.

"He actually asked me to do things that performers do in pornographic videos," Xiang said, "I don't understand his behavior."

She firmly refused to divorce her husband because she thinks there is still passion between them.

The judge turned down her husband's divorce case because he believes the couple is likely to be happy if they are able to respect, understand, and show more consideration for each other.

Statistics indicate that 10 percent of a total 138 divorce cases brought to the court during the first three months of this year concern the issue of sex in marriage.

An unnamed judge said since 2004, an increasing number of people has been suing for divorce because they want a better sex life.

The judge, who has a lot of experience in civil cases, said in the past few spouses sued for divorce on the grounds of a poor sex life, but now people are more concerned about the quality of their married sex life.

"This shows that ordinary people are becoming more aware of their own rights," he said.

"We should show respect for their right to seek happiness in their sex life, and help them if there is sufficient evidence," he added.

(China Daily March 29, 2006)