Revealing her dilemma to a New Zealand-based relationship columnist, Robyn Salisbury, the woman said while the couple loved each other, they'd hit a difficult patch in their relationship.

'We used to have a very active, satisfying sex/love life. We are in our mid-50s, and "things" have started to go awry,' she wrote. 

The pair had tried a range of techniques to spark the flame including dirty talk and a visit to the doctor for her husband to discuss medication for erectile dysfunction - but to no avail. 

The woman said she also had raised the possibility the couple visit a sex therapist to get help, however, this suggestion had been met with a lukewarm response.

As a 'last resort', the frustrated wife said she told her husband she was considering 'outsourcing' sex but he'd barely registered the comment, and said little more about this than 'Yes M'Dear'.

After laying out the nature of the problem, the woman asked how 'one goes about outsourcing', adding also she wanted to know if there was a way this could be done safely.