Light a candle. Unsheath that Barry White LP. Slip the cork from a bottle of Beaujolais. This week, researchers at the University of Texas slid another layer of mystery off the shoulder of human sexuality.

And yes, yes, YES!?!, the study was comprehensive, uncovering the top 237 reasons we have s-x. Our most popular motivations are predictable enough: “The person’s physical appearance turned me on” topped the list, “it feels good” came in at number 10, while “I wanted to improve my sexual skills” arrived a little hurriedly at number 13.

But here at Crikey, we think the bottom 37 reasons are more revealing than anything found in the staid and rather straight-laced top 37. (Run your finger down the the full list here).

200. I wanted him/her to stop bugging me about s-x

201. I wanted to make myself feel better about myself

202. I was feeling lonely

203. I wanted to keep my partner from straying

204. I wanted to feel good about myself

205. I wanted to feel loved

206. I wanted to get my partner to stay with me

207. My partner kept insisting

208. I wanted to raise my self-esteem

209. I wanted to decrease my partner’s desire to have s-x with someone else

210. It was the only way my partner would spend time with me

211. I thought it would help “trap” a new partner

212. I was physically forced to

213. I wanted to “possess” the person

214. I wanted to keep my partner from straying

215. The person demanded that I have s-x with him/her

216. I wanted to make my partner feel powerful

217. I felt sorry for the person

218. I was trying to “get over” an earlier person/relationship

219. I felt rebellious

220. It just seemed like “the thing to do”

221. I wanted to stop my partner’s nagging

222. I wanted to submit to my partner

223. I wanted to ensure the relationship was “committed”

224. I wanted to make the person feel better about herself/himself

225. I wanted to feel older

226. I wanted to prevent a break-up

227. I wanted to display submission

228. I wanted to manipulate him/her into doing something for me

229. I wanted the attention

230. It was just part of the relationship “routine”

231. I had no self-control

232. I wanted to “gain control” of the person.

233. I wanted to feel feminine

234. I wanted to forget about my problems.

235. I wanted to feel young

236. I wanted to fulfill a previous promise to my partner

237. My friends were having s-x and I wanted to fit in