Many couples fall into periods of sexlessness over the course of a marriage. In fact, psychologist and sex therapist Shannon Chavez told HuffPost that its more common than not for couples to experience a dry spell. And yet sexless marriages are still treated as a taboo subject.

Over time, spouses may start feeling more like roommates than sexual partners. And it can become a cycle in which not having sex breeds more sexlessness and makes the thought of doing it more awkward or intimidating.

If youre stuck in a sexual rut or think you might be headed toward a sexless marriage, know that youre not alone . We asked sex therapists to share the common causes behind sexless marriages so you know what to look out for in your own relationship.

1. You cant talk about sex

In relationships, communication is key, certainly when it comes to the more intimate matters, like sex. Talking about your fantasies , your desires and your insecurities requires vulnerability, which can be uncomfortable for some people. But dont let that stop you from having these important talks: The more you open up, the easier these conversations will become.

Couples who are not talking about sex end up drifting apart and losing touch with what they want and need in their sexual relationship, Chavez said. They are not engaging and growing with the changes in their sexuality and may be out of touch with one another and their own sexual interests.

2. Youre under a lot of stress

When youre stressed, sex may be the last thing on your mind. Youre busy worrying about crippling student loan debt or taking care of the kids not getting busy. Chronic stress can lead to elevated levels of the hormone cortisol in the body, which can mess with your sex drive .

Whether its about children, work or finances, stress can play a huge role in reducing sex drives, reducing desire to have sex, reducing the energy we have to have sex and reducing the time we have available to have sex, said Jesse Kahn , sex therapist and director at the Gender & Sexuality Therapy Collective .

Being overly stressed or fatigued can make sex feel more like something you have to do rather than a pleasure activity, Chavez added.

During these busy or overwhelming times, consider scheduling sex instead of waiting around for the mood to strike.

Sometimes, sex needs to be planned, Kahn said. Which may require us pushing back on the false narrative that sex needs to be spontaneous.

3. You have mismatched libidos

Its normal for a couples sex drive to fluctuate over the course of a relationship, meaning you and your partner may not always be (or ever be) on the exact same page sexually. But if you can talk openly about your different levels of desire and reach a compromise that works for you, mismatched libidos shouldnt pose a major issue.

However, if left unaddressed, tensions may arise and give way to periods of sexlessness. Often, the higher libido partner feels rejected when their advances are denied and he or she may eventually stop initiating. The lower libido partner can feel put-upon by all of the requests or feel inadequate because they think they cant meet their partners needs.

Sometimes [mismatched sex drives] are managed and its working for everyone. And sometimes its not being managed, Kahn said. When the issue goes unmanaged and I dont mean solved, not all issues need to be or can be solved we start to avoid the conversation entirely and then avoid the activity as well.

4. Youre dealing with mental health issues

Physical health conditions can impact a persons sex drive or ability to have sex, but so, too, can mental health issues, such as depression, anxiety , past sexual trauma and others. Certain medications can also cause sexual dysfunction.

These concerns can impact desire and need for connection, Chavez said. Others include low self-esteem and body image issues. If you are dealing with these concerns, it can dampen desire and your willingness to be sexual with a partner.

5. Youve hit a rough patch in your relationship