Sex afterglow can refer to that initial blush and rosiness that people get after they have an orgasm. Sex afterglow can also mean the general idea that having more sex, whether it’s by yourself or with a partner, can give you better skin. Is It Real? Yes, having sex and masturbating may help improve your…
Health
What Is Inflatable Penile Prosthesis (IPP) Placement?
An estimated 50% of people with penises between the ages of 40-70 have erectile dysfunction (ED). The prevalence may be even higher as many people don’t seek help out of shame, embarrassment, or lack of access to medical care. Erectile dysfunction can not only impact someone’s sex life, but also their self-confidence, relationships, and overall…
The Science Behind Arousal Serums
If you’ve never used an arousal gel before, you’re probably wondering – how does arousal gel work, and what does it do? You can find arousal serums at every sexual wellness shop, and yet not many people consider arousal serums to be an essential part of their sexual routines. There is a lot of mystery…
How Many Calories Does an Orgasm Burn?
Although sex and masturbation don’t always lead to orgasms, they often do. Besides feeling amazing, having an orgasm can also burn calories. That brings us to our question of the day – can having an orgasm burn calories? Orgasmic Fitness Much like other forms of exercise, the number of calories you burn during sex depends…
What’s So Great About an Orgasm?
What’s so great about an orgasm? If you said that “reaching the pinnacle of ecstasy” is pretty damned great (or some variation on the theme), you’d be correct. Honestly, what more can one ask for? That said, researchers have determined that orgasms are actually great for a bunch of other assorted reasons. According to the…
Can I Have Sex if I Have Heart Problems?
Not to start this out on a somber note, but cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death globally. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), cardiovascular disease takes an estimated 17.9 million lives each year, the majority due to heart attacks and strokes. It’s hard to get an accurate number on how many people…
Penis Perils: 8 Afflictions to Avoid!
This article was medically reviewed by Dr. Justin Lehmiller, a social psychologist, researcher and award-winning educator. For more information: Website | Publications | Instagram Sensitive souls might like to look away now – particularly if they have a penis. Thing is, there’s a reason some guys call it their ‘crown jewels’: their penis is precious,…
Does Stress Affect Fertility?
It’s generally accepted by the medical community that chronic stress can lead to wide-ranging physical and behavioral health issues. When we experience any kind of upset, our nervous systems trigger the “fight-flight-freeze” response. That’s a protective function. But when it happens too frequently, and if we aren’t able to manage symptoms, we’re at increased risk…
So, When Do I Get My Pap Now?
It used to be so simple. You went to see your gynecologist once per year. Your breasts would be checked, you’d have the dreaded pelvic exam that included STI testing and the pap, and then you’d be on your merry way. Phew, check that off the list until next year! But in recent years, things…
I Love to Laugh: A Meditation Guide
There are a lot of different types of meditations to choose from and one of them is Laughter Meditation. Laughing comes from deep inside us and there’s always a healthy supply. You may be self-conscious at first but laughing out loud, not texting it (lol), breaks up tension in the body as it relaxes the…
Pelvic Floor Exercise: Why & How To Tone Kegels
This article was scientifically reviewed by Human Sexuality expert Dr. Laurie Mintz. She is a professor, researcher, private practitioner and Fellow of the American Psychological Association. With all the lifting, stretching, running and sweating so many of us do at the gym however many times a week, we’re here to tell you about one muscle set…
What Is the Purpose of a Pap Smear Test?
Navigating your healthcare with autonomy and empowerment means knowing what your options are and what the purpose is of different procedures. One test that is commonly recommended for people cis-women and people with vaginas is the pap smear. Pap smears are an essential part of reproductive health care, giving providers vital information about your cervical…
It’s Time to Love Yourself This Valentine’s Day
Learning to love yourself may be harder than learning to love someone else. And having a great sex life when you don’t love yourself – well that can be tricky. So here are some things to think about as we approach Valentine’s Day: Be your own best friend: When you start putting yourself down for…
Resolve Nothing
As a new year begins, we often here people speak about their “New Year’s Resolutions.” More often than not these resolutions are about changing something about yourself. Popular ones include: losing weight, getting to the gym more often, eating healthy, etc. But what if we stopped and thought for a moment about what we like…
Unleash Your Sexual Tiger with Cold Water
Cold showers are traditionally considered a method for curbing your lust, but their actual impact on your performance and libido might be just the opposite. Of course, if you’re male and have an erection, a cold shower will definitely kill it, but your lust might not necessarily be impacted. The reason is simple – when…
The Keto Diet and its Effects on Sex
There are so many things that can affect your sex drive and libido. From the way you’re feeling, the things you eat, to your hormones, the list is seemingly endless. Which is why there’s no reason to feel somewhat strange or even ashamed about your sex drive, whether you consider it to be high, low,…
Autism: Relationships, Sex & Sexuality
It’s true that autistic people face certain challenges when it comes to communicating, learning, behaving, and interacting in social interactions. Not just that, but there are challenges in sex and relationships. Regardless, this is not to say that an autistic person cannot have a fulfilling sex life. Autism, Sex & Sexuality The thing about autism…
5 Remarkable Health Benefits of Hugging
For some, hugging is done out of habit. It’s a sign of affection, endearment, or even a greeting that’s easily practised without blinking an eye. For others, hugging can be quite intimidating. The feeling of two bodies pressing up against each other, after all, is quite an intimate act. To further prove this point, hugging,…
People’s Agonizing Experiences With Monkeypox
“It felt like someone shoved a corkscrew with spikes up my ass and mercilessly kept twisting,” River Mitchell, a 30-year-old OnlyFans creator from Texas, remembers of their agonizing 21 days with monkeypox. “The pain was excruciating, I’ll never forget it. There were days that I would just lay on the floor sobbing.” Mitchell suspects he…
A How-To Guide on Doing a Breast Exam at Home
While many medical establishments advise that you should go for an annual mammogram from the age of 50, this doesn’t mean that there aren’t any risks involved for those who are younger than 50. And for that reason, at-home breast exams are an absolute must for women of nearly any age. In fact, it’s recommended…
Vasectomy as Birth Control Method: Should Your Man Get a Vasectomy?
“I’ll get a vasectomy if needed.” Those words stunned me to silence for a moment after my new sexual partner said it to me. We were having a conversation about which form of birth control we want to use when we have sex. I’ve never been on hormonal contraceptives, and the idea of getting an…
Marijuana and Sex: Does It Enhance Your Sexual Experience?
Countries throughout the world are slowly but surely legalising weed, be it for personal or medical use. And what was once considered a huge taboo, a bad drug that shouldn’t be used, is now seen as somewhat of a marvel in a multitude of areas. And while we love the fact that we have the…
Sex and Smell: Things that Can Affect Your vagina’s Scent
When you combine two (or more) sweatin’ and gruntin’ people doing sexual things to each other, there is bound to be some funky smells filling up the room. HOWEVER, much of that smell is emanating from your genitals, because – while we are not saying that they stink – they most certainly do give off…
How to Talk to Your Children About Porn
If you grew up in the early 80’s or before, you’ll know how difficult it was to obtain any kind of racy material. Looking at lingerie ads, finding Playboy magazines on the shelf of your local store, or even hidden somewhere in your home. But since the invention of the Internet, there’s been a brand…
Being Empowered During Menopause
For many, menopause is a period of time that’s daunting, dreaded, and seen in a negative light. We’re bombarded with messages that lead us to believe that it’s a horrible phase filled with hot flashes, vaginal dryness, mood and bodily changes, as well as sleepless nights. And while yes, there are some negative side effects…
Why Can’t I Orgasm?
A loaded question, and one to which the answer can vary greatly from person to person. But, by looking at the various causes as to why one can’t orgasm, it may give them insight. In this way, we hope to shed light on the different reasons why some find it difficult to orgasm, the reasons…
Finding Sexual Fulfilment While Living with Depression
Luckily, we’re living in a time where mental illness is being recognised and treated more humanely. In fact, the earliest written accounts of depression was in the second millennium, and meant that one was possessed by demons and evil spirits. The treatment? Being Beaten, physically restrained, and/or starved in an attempt to drive the demons…
Scent as a Sense of Sexual Attraction
Your sense of smell is a very powerful emotional trigger. Think of how, upon entering, the smells of your childhood home can immediately affect you and send you back to the emotional state you were in as a child–for better or worse. This is because scent is tied very closely to memory, and specifically tied…
Gyms are Getting Hot! Best Workouts to Improve Sexual Stamina and Flexibility
With spring just around the corner, it’s the perfect time to start working on spicing things up in the bedroom. And one of the best ways to do it is to improve your sexual stamina and flexibility with easy workouts you can do at the gym or home. Looking to increase penis stamina? LELO is…
Penis Fracture Is Real And Surprisingly Common
How can you fracture something that has no bone? It may sound like a riddle, but we are here to explain just that. Penis is entirely made of soft tissue, yet it gets fractured more often than we’d like to admit. I won’t deny that broken dick has somewhat of a comedic quality to it,…
Vitamins for Better Erection Health
Erectile dysfunction is something that, at some point of their lives, will have to contend with. Even outside of erectile dysfunction, a man should also consider the overall health of his penis and the quality of the erections that it can achieve. The issue can be considered erectile dysfunction if you are either not able…
5 Things that Attract Us Others, According to Psychology
Whether you’ve got a fabulous bestie, are partnered up, happily married, enjoying a bit of fun with someone, or crushing on another person, what exactly is it that attracts you to them? Maybe you can name one or more reasons straight off the bat, or maybe you simply believe that they’re special and deserve some…
Play Safe: Here’s Why High Quality Sex Toys are Way Better for Your Health!
While there are too many different sex toys out there to count, you’ll really notice the difference when you decide to prioritise high quality sex toys. Sure, you could buy a super affordable pleasure product you’ve spotted. And sure, it’ll probably bring you all kinds of sexy sensations. But once you decide to invest in…
The Link Between Endometriosis & Painful Sex, and How to Ease Discomfort
Perhaps you’ve been diagnosed with endometriosis and you’re living with some the dreaded effects, aka painful sex. Or maybe you’ve yet to visit your healthcare provider, but are having some difficulty during intimacy, creating some anxiety and discomfort. Unfortunately, there are many women who have endometriosis, and may not even know it. If you identify…
How Does Your Vagina Change with Age?
As we worry about the ways that time changes our appearance in terms of crow’s feet and laugh lines, do we ever consider what kind of effect it’s having on our privates? Just like everything else about our bodies, our genitals will also bear some of the signs of aging, for good and for ill.…
Thinking of Getting a Hood Piercings? Here’s Everything You Need to Know
The female genitalia is a wondrous thing, and it becomes even more marvelous when you realize that you can bedazzle your bits with jewelry. There are actually a few different places on the vagina that can be pierced, but the most popular of them all is the vertical clitoral hood (VCH from here on) piercing…
Precum 101: The Ultimate Guide to Pre-Ejaculate and Everything You Need To Know About It
Precum or pre-ejaculate is a fluid that comes out of a penis when the penis owner becomes aroused. It can show up at any time during foreplay or during masturbation, and some people notice it, while others don’t. It’s a very natural part of penis-owner anatomy, but there is still a lot of misconception about…
Getting Wet: Let’s Talk About Vaginal Discharge and What It Is
Vaginal discharge, arousal fluid, squirting fluid, and cervical fluid. So many different vagina fluids that it can be hard to keep track of and understand the differences between each, right? But it doesn’t have to be — once you understand the purpose of vagina fluids and why our bodies produce them, the difference becomes clear…
Paralysed Sex: What You Need To Know About Sex and Spinal Cord Injuries
Physical disabilities can have an important impact on many different aspects of daily life, including sex. Unfortunately, however, sex and disability is a taboo topic of discussion that is rarely addressed, even by healthcare providers. It is important to break down the barriers to discussing sex and disability because everyone—regardless of their ability status—is deserving…
Why is Lube So Important for Anal Play & What Lube Should You Be Using?
So you love a bit of anal pleasure? Fabulous! Those who embrace this kind of play are welcoming a whole new world of delicious sensations to their sexual experience. If anal isn’t for you though, that’s fine! Whatever floats your boat! But if you are either active or intrigued when it comes to this kind…
Happy Earth Day! 5 Ways LELO Stays Green
In honor of Earth Day and the importance of taking care of the planet, we’re sharing how we take green measures for your eco-friendly pleasure. The extra time and care that go in to our designs not only allows us to leave the smallest environmental impact possible, but also ensures that you get to enjoy…
Sex-fit: Exercise and sex
Being fit takes you a long way in terms of sexual performance, but not every exercise is the same. Some types will do a much better job preparing you for sexual mastery. Fit for Sex One of the most obvious signs that you need to improve your fitness is feeling shortness of breath. Also, you…
Brainsex: Which Bits Do What?
A lot of what we have learned about how our brain controls our sex lives comes from research done on animals, typically rodents and small mammals. Although the use of animal models is obviously limited given the significant differences between animal and human sexuality, there is a relationship between the particular brain regions implicated in…
The Science Of Attraction
When it comes to sex and mating, what do you find attractive? As Daniel Conroy-Beam puts it, “All humans have a psychology of short-term and long-term of mating,” and some researchers in the field of evolutionary psychology study this issue in a variety of creative ways. Attraction is an incredibly personal issue. Even though there…
Tips for Preventing Holiday Stress and Depression
Taking control of the holidays is no easy feat. A popular misconception that has been debunked in recent years is the false connection between increased suicide and winter months (there’s actually a spike in the Spring), but things like seasonal affective disorder , failed expectations, and loneliness still weigh heavy amongst a lot of people…
Destigmatizing Sex Toys: Why & How (with Dr. Zhana)
The more you use a vibrator and the stronger, does it eventually desensitize you? Do vibrators desensitize the clit? If I stimulate my clit with my toy too much can it cause any damage? Can a sex toy harm your private parts (ex. intense hard vibration on [the] clitoris)? Can you get addicted to us[ing]…
What Do You Want from Volonte? Help Us, Help You
So many amazing, challenging and sometimes funny questions roll through our inbox each week, and whenever we pick up on a pattern, we know it’s time to write an article covering the recurring topic. Volonte was created in 2011 with the sole purpose of offering sexual wellness advice based on the interest of our readers.…
It’s Time to Go Topless
We know what you think, but we’ll stop you right there – you’re only half correct. Let us show you how going topless this summer can do more for you than just get rid of your tan lines. Ah, cleavage – it brings us such joy… Most of the time. Aside from being a source…
Get it On! Virtual Sex for Couples & Singles During Self-Isolation
The current situation is enough to make anyone go crazy. Whether you’re cooped up in your home, at work during these trying times, or have been affected personally with the CoronaVirus pandemic, it’s fair to say that almost everyone, worldwide, is feeling the pinch, devastation, and frustration. And for couples who have decided to self-isolate,…
Masturbation & Sickness: Can You Beat a Cold by Beating Off?
It’s the time of year for runny noses, sniffles and coughs. If you’re feeling the effects of a cold or flu, you probably don’t feel much like getting intimate with a partner or practicing self-love while you’re in that state. However, if you’re like this author and believe that an orgasm a day keeps the…