There's a bit of truth in sexcuses

There's no doubt that being turned down for sex can be a massive blow to one's ego in a relationship.

Sometimes people are generally not in the mood, and this can be hard to hear for a partner who is geared and ready to go.

This is perhaps the reason why people often try to cushion the blow with some excuses masked with white lies as to why they cannot partake in the horizontal mambo at the time.

There's the infamous "I have a headache" line, which has been used so often it has become a classic excuse.

Here are five other commonly used lines that people use for turning down sex.

Sexologist Elvis Munatswa surfs through them and gives us his verdict on whether they are valid or not.

Sexy games to jump-start your bedroom firesAdding that extra spice in the bedroom is something that couples are always on the lookout for. 

Many people have probably heard this one, when their partner tells them that they are too exhausted to have sex. Most partners do not believe that you can actually be too tired for sex, and that it is a silly excuse. But is it?

Munatswa says that it is not.

"Being too tired is most definitely a valid reason not to want to have sex. When people spend all their energy working all day to survive, it is common that by the time they meet with their partner, they are genuinely tired."

Ever been out with your partner, only for them to roll over when they get home and claim to be too drunk to do a bit of adult play? While some people enjoy drunken sex, Munatswa says that anyone who says that they are too drunk for sex should be taken seriously.

"It speaks to the issue of consent, and may have dire legal consequences if you force the issue. If one partner says that they are too impaired to have sex, it is in the other partner's interest to drop the issue, because the intoxicated partner may claim that they were too impaired to consent to sex, which could constitute rape."

Can you ever really have too much on your mind to engage in lovemaking with your partner?

Yes, according to Munatswa. "People often think that thinking isn't a distraction where sex is concerned. Wrong!

"When people are fixated on an idea or emotion, it acts as a distraction. It is almost impossible to diversify your thoughts to include pleasure and sex when something pertinent is lingering in one's mind.

"The chances are that the partner may get aroused, but find it difficult to maintain the arousal.

"The ability to have and maintain an arousal is primarily based on the ability to concentrate on the task at hand and to associate."

Some people are adamant that they cannot have sex while mourning. But is this really true?

"Different cultures have different values on the body, particularly different cultural rites. Mourning is considered in other cultures as a process that requires the cleansing of the body.

"It takes some time for people to get through the mourning period to then engage in sexual activity. If your partner's culture calls for abstinence during this period, be a respectful and supportive partner and give it some time."