The advent of the #MeToo movement has undoubtedly manifested with unmasking some men as sexual frauds, but one negative repercussion is that it has seemingly sullied sex itself, with many women denouncing even modest male advances as disrespectful and disparaging harassment.

There are no positives when females feel fear, rage and contempt towards many men, despite the possible secrecy of sexual misconduct. However, what is really lamentable is that consequently sex has been subverted by prudery, with enjoyable heterosexual sex apparently unthinkable, undesirable and unfashionable.

A recent survey by the UK Health Council found 42 per cent of women didn’t derive pleasure from sex and with increasing numbers of women in lesbian relationships, men as sex partners seem no longer wanted by many women.

Furthermore, in the December SBS documentary Is Australia sexist? presenter Yumi Stynes was reduced to tears when broadcasting several male responses on an online dating site as they were all overtly sexual. Is sex now a dirty word?

Why was Stynes so saddened, even shocked by the responses? Surely it’s better to know some men have a one-track mind to swipe them off your phone or isn’t hoping to meet someone for pleasurable sex on the agenda these days? Has sex been so shamed it cannot be mentioned, a renaissance of the puritanical perspective reminiscent of what I assumed was a bygone era? Perhaps many women want and need romantic and sensual seduction rather than an open and honest declaration of intent. Maybe that’s just fictitious fantasy.

Certainly, a sexual dalliance demands consent but women and men should both appreciate mutually enjoyable sex not only heightens our sensory sensations and pleasure, but greatly benefits our well-being, both physically and psychologically.

Negotiating to have good sex involves knowledge about our own bodies, feeling confident and comfortable about our sexuality and respecting our partner, be it a heterosexual or homosexual liaison. We don’t need to jettison sex, just develop a more insightful perspicacity about sexual relations at work, at home and at play, to avoid any problems.

It is easy to turn off sex because of some imagined rape or assault, but we should maintain our faith in sex not only for procreation, but to enhance our health, disposition and trust in others. Enjoying great sex should be paramount in our lives irrespective of some of the lascivious lust that exists and moreover, it transcends the need for any anti-ageing elixir inspiring revelry in a fountain of youth and peace and good will this Christmas.