“Sex within marriage is legal and religiously accepted [in Egypt], so it’s supposed to be free and without complications. But it has so many complicated issues—it is not a free ground,” says Egyptian filmmaker Amr Bayoumi.

In researching the female orgasm for an original film idea, Bayoumi realized there wasn’t much information on “normal” sexual relationships in Egypt—although he was able to find tons on prostitution and child abuse, but nothing on marital sex. So, Bayoumi decided to make Sex Talk, a documentary about the sex lives of married Egyptian couples. In the film, men and women discuss many issues they’ve encountered—including female circumcision, however, sex is such a taboo topic in Egypt, Bayoumi says, that, despite their anonymity, he couldn’t use all the interviews because some of the interviewees did their best to avoid the subject.

And therein lies the problem, notes Dr. Heba Kotb (a.k.a. “The Muslim Dr. Ruth), the first licensed sexologist in the country, who also hosts a Cairo-based sex advice show, The Big Talk.

The present divorce rate in Egypt is nearly 40 percent. Kotb believes about 80 percent of that figure is due to married couples who are afraid to broach the subject of sex with their spouses. And you thought the Riddle of the Sphinx was complicated…

Really though, this issue isn’t isolated to Egypt. Couples of all nationalities still have trouble articulating what they need from their partners. So, hats off to you, Mr. Bayoumi. Let’s hope that through your example, we all find the courage to talk to our spouses about sex.

(More Sex Feed)