Want to improve your sex life? Scientists believe they have once again discovered an important factor in a woman reaching her sexual peak. According to a study conducted by the Department of Twin Research and Genetic Epidemiology at King's College London, emotional intelligence in a woman (or the ability to monitor her own and others' feelings and emotions) appears to increase the number of orgasms she can have.

On the other hand, if you have low emotional intelligence you may be more at risk for female orgasmic dysfunction, which means you may not be able to have an orgasm, or you may have more difficulty achieving one. This is one of the most common sex complaints women seek counselling for.

For the study, which was published in The Journal of Sexual Medicine, the researchers recruited 2035 female volunteers between ages 18 and 33. They completed questionnaires detailing their general sexual behavior and functioning, and a validated questionnaire on emotional intelligence. The study results revealed a significant association between emotional intelligence and the frequency of orgasm during masturbation and intercourse.

The research team concluded that a high emotional intelligence level plays a role in being able to have orgasms more frequently. Andrea Burri, a psychologist at King's College London and lead author of the study says, "Emotional intelligence seems to have a direct impact on women's sexual functioning by influencing her ability to communicate her sexual expectations and desires to her partner."

This study echoes findings of an Australian study that found a similar link between another type of intelligence and women's sex lives. In that study, researchers found that when a woman had a higher level of education she was more likely to have orgasms.

What Does the Study Mean for You?

So is your sex life doomed if you fall into the category of "low emotional intelligence?" Probably not, in fact, there may be more help on the horizon for female sexual problems. Tim Spector, director of the Twin Research Department and co-author of the study, adds: "These findings show that emotional intelligence is an advantage in many aspects of your life, including the bedroom. This study will help enormously in the development of behavioral and cognitive therapies to improve women sexual lives."

But, there's still more to consider regardless of whether you have a high or low EI. Several factors can affect your sex life including your desire and ability to have an orgasm - weight, physical problems, diseases such as cancer or depression, and premenstrual symptoms. A high EI isn't magically going to solve your sexual problems any more than a low EI is going to limit your ability to improve your sex life.

Also, according to EI experts, women generally have more emotional intelligence than men. This suggests that influencing your partner to improve his EI - not just your own - may boost your sex life even more.

If individual therapy to improve your EI - and your sex life - is out of the question, look for workshops in your area on building emotional intelligence and competence. Many organizations also provide EI workshops and seminars for their employees. Or, check out any of the following resources.

Emotional Intelligence Resources

The Other Kind of Smart: Simple Ways to Boost Your Emotional Intelligence for Greater Personal Effectiveness and Success, by Harvey Deutschendorf (Amacom, 2009).

The Language of Emotional Intelligence: The Five Essential Tools for Building Powerful and Effective Relationships, by Jeanne Segal, Ph.D. and Jaelline Jaffe, Ph.D. (McGraw-Hill, 2008).