No, it doesn't seem to be working. Neither does anything else these days because everybody wants and expects it all. There are times when you must deny your sexual needs, even if you aren't a Christian.
Let's keep mandatory clerical celibacy and general sexual morality separate for the purpose of this discussion. If every priest had a lover, it wouldn't change the original intent and message of Christianity. Sex outside of marriage was wrong. Now that we can easily prevent pregnancy, sex outside of marriage doesn't seem to be working very well for males or females.
It's a real grab bag, no pun intended, and fortunate are those who have a loving, loyal spouse.