Sometimes, we are so turned on, so turned up, so tuned in that our bodies are not our own. We want be one with another (or, a good vibrator). The need to have sex – but mostly to get off – is primal, and occasionally a quickie is just what the hormones ordered. But please,…
intimacy
How Does Affection Affect Long-Term Relationships?
When a relationship is new, it’s filled with excitement, warmth and goodwill. Most people – even those who aren’t touchy feely – enjoy some type of physical connection that isn’t necessarily sexual. Holding hands, arms around one another, hugs, playing footsie – all of these behaviors signal “hey – I really want you in my…
Spice It Up: It’s All About the Novelty
It’s inevitable – long-term partners are gonna get bored. Maybe it’s the conversation, your daily routine or the same old weekend plans. At some point, sex might also morph into a yawn-apalooza. Being with a long-term partner can mean a lifetime of love, connectedness, commitment and care. And contrary to popular belief, it can also…
How Trauma Can Affect Your Relationship
If you’ve experienced trauma – whether as a child or an adult – and if you haven’t received the support you need in order to process it thoroughly, relationships can be tricky. Before we jump into the interpersonal, let’s get a sense of what trauma is. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Service Administration (SAMHSA)…
Top 5 Foods for Men’s Peak Sexual Health
If your sexual health isn’t what you’d like it to be, your daily habits could be to blame. Things like tobacco, alcohol, and obesity will all decrease your fertility and negatively affect your sexual functioning. Fortunately, there are many simple things you can add to your lifestyle that will get you back on track toward…
Is Porn Cheating?
How do you feel about porn? Now, how do you feel about someone consuming porn while in a committed relationship? Porn is one of those things that can be quite variable depending on the individuals involved, communication between those individuals, past behavior, and current relationship conditions – even the type of porn can be a…
So You’re Thinking About Getting a Vasectomy
Considering this procedure? Then you’re in very good company. In fact, it’s becoming more and more commonplace, particularly here in the United States. While it can bring to mind words such as impossibly painful and very permanent, these are old school characterizations. Urologist Justin K. Houman of Cedar-Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles gets it. “Because…
Hottest Gift of the Year? It’s Not What You Think
Tis this season, and as the 300 Hallmark holiday films (seriously – they’ve made 300 of them!) inevitably feature – it’s snowflakes and sugar cookies and lights all aglow. And it’s oh so romantic, lest we forget. What happens when daydreams turn from peppermint mocha everything to cuffing and cozying and curling up with your…
The Role of Laughter in Sex and Attraction
Seeing an attractive woman with a below-average guy inevitably draws all sorts of conclusions (often unfair ones), such as: he’s probably rich, she might be insecure, he must be good in bed or especially well endowed below the waist… However, the truth might be much simpler than that – maybe he’s funny. Science increasingly shows…
Two Ways to Boost the Emotional Safety in Your Relationship
Emotional safety is one of the most important elements of any happy and healthy relationship. Yet there are so many ways it can be compromised. Sometimes it happens inadvertently and other times it’s a more direct assault on the foundation of the relationship. When a couple has a high level of emotional safety they usually…