Aanand L Rai: Captured Haryanvi Women"s Confidence in Kangana"s Role

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The box office success of Queen, Piku and Tanu Weds Manu Returns may point towards an increase in acceptance of women-centric films, but director Aanand L Rai said that such movies, though few and far between, always did well.

 

The director, known for his opinionated and headstrong female characters be it Raanjhanaa‘s Zoya (Sonam Kapoor) or Tanu Weds Manu‘s Tanuja (Kangana Ranaut) and now her lookalike Datto, said viewers were always receptive to such stories, it is just that filmmakers stopped making them.

 

“I think we have started believing in our audience now. We have always underestimated them. Such movies were always there be it Mother India, Chalbaaz or Chandni Bar. We don’t make such stories but whenever we do, they are successful. The audience wants to watch a good story. You need to tell it properly,” he told PTI.

 

Though actresses in Aanand L Rai’s films have equal screen space as their male counterparts, the director said he does not do it consciously.

 

“I tell a story. If I start thinking that I have to bring equality between male and female characters in my films then it means I am actually not considering them equal. Women are equal to men and there should be no debate over this. I know there are problems but they are everywhere. We just have to get together, protect our society and see women in correct light,” he said.

 

For his latest film, starring Kangana and R Madhavan, he travelled to Haryana as the actress also played the role of a young Haryanvi girl studying in Delhi University and the director was amazed to see the confidence and spirit of women there.

 

“They are very confident. We look at them from here and think that they are poor and helpless but they’re fighting. In fact, they have fought most of their battles without anyone doing anything for them. They have a great sense of humour. They will make you laugh. I captured that spirit and put it in Kangana’s role,” he said.

Categories: director, equal, female characters, kangana, nbsp, tanu weds, weds manu, Women

Cannes Shoegate: Festival Apologises But Women Are Still Complaining of Flat Shoe Ban

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Women attendees are still complaining of being turned away from the Cannes red carpet despite a denial and then an apology from festival director Thierry Fremaux.

 

The BBC reports that producer Valeria Richter was barred by red carpet officials, who allegedly pointed to her feet and said, “No, no, this won’t work. You can’t get in like this.” Part of Ms Richter’s left foot is amputated and she said she finds it hard to balance in heels. She was eventually let in.

 

Filmmaker Asif Kapadia, director of the documentary Amy which was screened at Cannes over the weekend, also reported that his wife had been given a hard time over her shoes but was later allowed in. Actress Shabana Azmi, who has served on the Cannes jury in the past, criticized the alleged ban on Twitter:

Shocking report that Cannes bans flats on red carpet!Director of Amy Asif Kapadia says his wife was given rough time 2.Unacceptable surely.

Azmi Shabana (@AzmiShabana) May 20, 2015

 

After Britain’s Screen Daily reported that a group of women were not allowed into the screening of Cate Blanchett’s film Carol, Thierry Fremaux insisted in a tweet:”The rumour that the festival requires high heels for the women on the steps is baseless.”

 

At a dinner on Tuesday night, he told AFP, “We apologise,” adding that “there was perhaps a small moment of over-zealousness,” apparently referring to the security guards.

 

The festival also released an official statement that read: “Regarding the dress code for the red carpet screenings, rules have not changed throughout the years (tuxedo, formal dress for Gala screenings) and there is no specific mention about the height of the women’s heels as well as for men’s.”

 

As the row over high heels erupted, actress Emily Blunt said on Tuesday, “Everyone should wear flats to be honest. We shouldn’t wear high heels anyway. That’s very disappointing. You think there’s these new waves of equality.” Emily’s film Sicario premiered at the film festival on Tuesday evening and her director Denis Villeneuve joked that he and the film’s male co-stars, Benicio Del Toro and Josh Brolin, would climb the ‘stairs in high heels’ in solidarity.

 

Categories: asif kapadia, cannes, festival, heels, high heels, nbsp, red carpet, thierry fremaux, Women

At Cannes, It"s "Year of Women." Just This Year?, the Women Ask

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This year’s Cannes Film Festival has been dubbed the “Year of the Women” for its focus on female issues and filmmakers, but many of the women in question seem keen to fight back against the label.

 

The festival on France’s south coast – like the wider film industry that feeds it – has a reputation for male domination, so there was some relief that this year’s official selection opened things up a bit.

 

A female director, Emmanuelle Bercot, opened the festival for only the second time in its history and Agnes Varda will be the first female recipient of the honorary lifetime achievement award.

 

The competition includes two women directors where often there are none, and the most critically lauded entry so far – Carol starring a lavishly praised Cate Blanchett – focuses on repressed lesbian love.

 

Even the action films – Mad Max: Fury Road and drug war thriller Sicario — have female leads in the form of Charlize Theron and Emily Blunt.

 

Despite all this, the women in question have pushed back against the idea they should feel grateful for the supposed largesse.

 

“They say it’s the ‘year of the women’”, said Cate Blanchett at a press conference. “You hope it’s not just a year – not just some fashionable moment.”

 

Emmanuelle outright rejected the idea that the choice of her film as festival opener was some sort of victory for female empowerment.

 

“It’s the selection of the film that’s an honour,” she said. “I don’t feel I’ve been a given a gift because such a prestigious slot went to a woman.”

 

Complete imbalance

To make matters worse, the festival’s supposed embracing of females was undermined by claims on Tuesday that women were being turned away from the red carpet for not wearing high heels.

 

Emily said the reports were “very disappointing… everyone should wear flats to be honest.” She went on to criticise the obsession of reporters with her “tough” characters. (Also Read: Cannes Festival Organisers Apologise But Women Are Still Complaining of Flat Shoe Ban)

 

“I get asked a lot about playing tough female roles, but I don’t really see them as tough,” said the British actress. “There are plenty of strong women out there and I don’t think they can be compartmentalised as one thing – oh, you’re tough. Why? Because I have a gun?”

 

Oscar-winner Natalie Portman, who has been all over the seaside Croisette promoting her directorial debut A Tale of Love and Darkness this week, said women-led productions were still being written off as “vanity projects”. (Also Read: Shabana Azmi ‘Shocked’ by Reported Ban on Flats at Cannes)

 

“I remember as a kid when Barbra Streisand would make movies that she was in and people would say, ‘oh it’s vanity, it’s a vanity thing’,” said Natalie, criticising the “completely imbalanced” industry that means women direct only a tiny fraction of Hollywood pictures.

 

A talk about gender on the sidelines of the festival opened with the statistic that only 4.6 per cent of US studio films were directed by women last year, and not one Oscar best picture nominee featured a female protagonist.

 

Speaking at the talk, Salma Hayek argued real change would come not from token gestures at festivals but from a realisation that women can bring in the bucks.

 

“The only thing we can do is show them we are an economic force,” said the Mexican actress and producer.

 

“Nothing else will move them. The minute they see money, things will be instantaneously different.”

 

That shift is already happening. In the industry marketplace that runs alongside the festival, sales have been increasingly focused on women viewers this year.

 

“It used to be all about action-driven things with a male demographic, the Stallone-Schwarzenegger type movie,” said Scott Roxborough, a journalist with The Hollywood Reporter.

 

“Everyone now is trying to get women on board to try to appeal to a female audience and not just grab teenage boys. Teenage boys don’t go to movies – they either watch them on the Internet or play video games,” he said.

 

Cate said she was exasperated that this discussion was still happening in 2015. “I want it to not be discussed anymore,” she told Variety. “But it needs to be discussed.”

 

Categories: cate blanchett, female, festival, nbsp, teenage boys, Women, year

Deepika Padukone Bats for Women Empowerment in Short Film My Choice

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Bollywood star Deepika Padukone, along with 98 other women from Mumbai, has featured in a short film titled My Choice and voiced equality for women in all spheres of life.

 

The video, which lasts a little over two minutes, is directed by Homi Adjania, with whom Deepika worked in films like Cocktail and Finding Fanny.

 

The black-and-white video, produced by Dinesh Vijan, features the 29-year-old actress calling for a change in the “caged” mindset of men about women and asking them to stop judging women for their choices of clothes, profession and life.

 

“It is my choice to live life the way I want, to wear clothes I like, to decide how I want my body to be, when I want to get married or if I ever want to walk down the aisle, to decide if I want to be straight or a lesbian,” Deepika said in the film.

 

Other known faces in the film include actor Farhan Akhtar’s wife, celebrity hairstylist Adhuna Akhtar and sister Zoya. Director Homi’s wife, Vogue India’s fashion director Anaita Shroff, is also a part of the film. All the 99 women are dressed in black outfits.

 

The short film is a part of #VogueEmpower, Vogue’s social initiative on women empowerment, and is penned by Kersi Khambatta, the co-writer of films like Being Cyrus and Finding Fanny.

 

 

Categories: deepika padukone, fanny nbsp, film, finding fanny, life nbsp, nbsp, short film, Women, women empowerment

Hunterrr Does Not Objectify Women, Says Gulshan Devaiah

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While the trailer of Hunterrr is already raising eyebrows for its bold dialogues and content, film’s lead Gulshan Devaiah said that the upcoming movie does not objectify women.

Hunterrr, directed by Harshavardhan Kulkarni, revolves around a man’s lustful journey in life.

Gulshan posted on Twitter:

#Hunterrr does not glorify the pursuit of carnal pleasures nor does it objectifies women. It’s a coming (no pun intended) of age film.

— supergullu (@gulshandevaiah) March 11, 2015

Hunterrr, releasing on March 20, also stars Badlapur actress Radhika Apte and Marathi beauty Sai Tamhankar in prominent roles.

The trailer of the film was released on January 17.

 

Categories: film, gulshan, gulshan devaiah, hunterrr, march, objectify women, Women

The new gel that boosts a woman"s sex life after the menopause

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By Jenny Hope, Medical Correspondent for the Daily Mail

 

A new once-daily hormone treatment has boosted the sex lives of older women.

 

Using VagiCap increased by a third the number of women getting sexual satisfaction, say findings from a trial.

 

The treatment, which is not yet available, is aimed at women who experience pain during sex and other symptoms caused by the menopause.

 

More than half of post-menopausal women suffer vaginal dryness that can make sex uncomfortable because of a lack of the hormone oestrogen.

A new gel claims to be able to boost a woman’s sex life after the menopause – by relieving the pain and discomfort associated with a  lack of oestrogen

 

The new treatment is a tear-shaped softgel capsule designed for easy insertion once a day, alleviating local symptoms.

 

However, the oestrogen has less effect throughout the body than hormone replacement therapy (HRT) which should lessen any side effects.

 

Dr Sheryl Kingsberg, chief of the Division of Behavioral Medicine Department at UH Case Medical Center in Cleveland, presented the trial at the International Society of Women’s Sexual Health Annual Meeting, in Austin, Texas.

 

Dr Kingsberg said: ‘Menopause is typically associated with hot flashes (flushes), but there are other common and distressing symptoms such as pain and discomfort during sex due to lack of oestrogen.

‘Approximately 30 million women in the United States experience this condition, which can really impact their quality of life.’

 

She said the VagiCap, if approved by regulatory authorities, could be a treatment that women ‘may find to be convenient and easy to use’.

 

At least half of menopausal women experience uncomfortable, often distressing symptoms such as dryness -making sex painful.

 

In the UK, the average age of the menopause is 51 years, when periods stop and oestrogen hormone levels decline.

 

Research earlier this week found at least half of menopausal women experienced uncomfortable, often distressing symptoms for more than seven years on average and often much longer.

 

The latest study involved women between the ages of 40-75 who were assigned to use the VagiCap once daily – usually at the same time in the morning – or a placebo (dummy) treatment.

 

A qualitative survey by the researchers found that 63 per cent of women on the VagiCap reported an improvement in quality of life after only two weeks of therapy treatment, compared to 48 per cent on the placebo.

 

Dr Kingsberg said: ‘For many women, symptoms such as these have a major impact on frequency and spontaneity of their sexual activity.

 

‘It is essential that health care attendants routinely engage in open and sensitive discussions with postmenopausal women to ensure that symptomatic atrophy is detected early and appropriately managed.’

 

New treatment options have the potential to improve satisfaction for these women, she said.

 

‘There is medical consensus that oestrogen administered locally is the preferred mode of treatment for both symptom reduction and restoring and maintaining healthy vaginal tissue and sexual function’ she added.

 

TherapeuticsM, manufacturers of the VagiCap, began a phase three trial in September 2014 which is investigating 4 mcg, 10 mcg and 25 mcg doses of oestrogen as different options to meet women’s treatment needs. 

 

Categories: distressing symptoms, dr kingsberg, menopausal women, nbsp, nbsp dr, original site, sex life, treatment, Women

High-dose vitamin D not effective for helping women with repeat reproductive tract infections

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Women with the reproductive infection bacterial vaginosis (BV) do not benefit from high-dose vitamin-D supplementation, according to new research. The findings add to a body of conflicting data about a possible link between vitamin D — a powerful immune system regulator — and BV, which is the most common vaginal infection among women ages 15-44 around the world.

“Earlier studies observed that women with low vitamin D levels were more likely to have bacterial vaginosis, and we hypothesized that vitamin D supplementation might reduce BV,” said the trial’s lead author Abigail Norris Turner, PhD, an infectious disease expert at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center. “However, our study found that high-dose vitamin D supplementation wasn’t helpful in preventing recurrence of BV.”

BV is caused by an imbalance in the bacteria that normally populate the reproductive tract, and is not sexually transmitted. Initial antimicrobial treatment is usually successful, but many women go on to have repeat episodes of BV. Some women don’t have symptoms, while others have symptoms that sufferers say are embarrassing and detrimental to their sexual relationships.

Beyond embarrassment, BV has much more serious health implications: in pregnant women, it can cause spontaneous abortions, and women who have BV are more susceptible to acquiring and transmitting HIV. In the United States, 21 million women are diagnosed with BV each year, and black women are almost twice as likely to have the condition as white women.

“BV is a very real health issue for millions of women, many of whom have limited access to medical care,” said Turner, who was originally an HIV epidemiologist before turning her focus to women’s reproductive health more generally. “Finding a low cost, simple way to help women with recurrent BV would be a major global public health win.”

Turner and her research mentor, Rebecca Jackson, MD, emphasize that while vitamin D may not be useful for treating women with recurrent BV, the jury is still out on the vitamin’s ability to prevent BV from initially developing.

“Vitamin D is critical to a healthy immune system, so there may still be a role for it from a prevention standpoint,” said Jackson, a women’s health expert and Director of the CCTS. “And certainly, women of all ages should make sure they are getting adequate amounts of vitamin D through diet, daily exposure to sunlight or supplementation.”

Turner says that while she is able to rule out vitamin D as a solution for recurrent BV, the disappointing results have pushed her to pursue a different track.

“I think we need to go back to why people studied vitamin D as a BV risk factor initially — and that’s the immune system and immune response,” said Turner. “Most women have continually fluctuating concentrations of ‘good’ and ‘bad’ bacteria in the genital tract. What immune factors lead some women to develop BV, and others to more effectively regulate the balance of bacteria in the vagina?”

Turner is in the process of developing a grant proposal to explore her hypothesis further.

Categories: bacterial vaginosis, dose vitamin, high-dose, recurrent bv, reproductive tract, science daily, turner, vitamin, Women

Lesbians Are Having More Orgasms Than Straight Women

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Lesbians are apparently having better sex than straight women.

 

A recent study published in the Journal of Sexual Medicine focuses on how sexual orientation associates with orgasm frequency in single men and women. Researchers collected responses via a 2011 online questionnaire from 6,151 men and women between the ages of 21 and 65. They then only analyzed those response of a smaller subsample of 2,850 singles — including 1,497 men and 1,353 women — who had sex within the past 12 months.

 

Participants were asked to identify their gender, sexual orientation and percentage of time they orgasm with a familiar partner on a scale of zero to 100.

 

Although responses from the male participants did not vary much based on sexual orientation — heterosexual men reported an 85.5 percent orgasm rate, gay men 84.7 percent, and bisexual men 77.6 percent — responses from women showed notable variation. While heterosexual women reported orgasming 61.6 percent of the time and bisexual women reported 58 percent, lesbian women had the highest orgasm rate at 74.7 percent.

 

In the study text, the researchers posit the higher lesbian percentage could be attributed to factors such as “self-identified lesbian women are more comfortable and familiar with the female body and thus, on average, are better able to induce orgasm in their female partners.” Other reasonings include: length of the sexual encounter, attitude towards gender, sexual roles during intercourse and possible hormonal differences.

 

Author Justin R. Garcia, MS, PhD, who is an assistant professor of gender studies and a director at the Kinsey Institute at Indiana University, explained the implications of the findings further in an email to The Huffington Post.

 

“Little is known about orgasm occurrences among women and men of varied sexual orientations across the adult lifespan,” he said. “Understanding the factors that influence variation in orgasm occurrence among sexual minority populations may assist in tailoring behavioral therapies for those of different sexual orientations.”

 

Such a study could offer better insight into better orgasms for all couples, he said.

 

“Moreover, to the extent that lack of orgasm is seen as a common and unwanted problem, learning more about orgasm in same-sex relationships may inform treatment for men and women in both same-sex and mixed-sex relationships. Consequently, these findings may contribute to promotion of a more informed and positive sexual health care.”

 

Categories: gender sexual, lesbian women, orgasm rate, sex relationships, sexual orientation, sexual orientations, straight women, Women, women reported

70% Of Women Say Low Libido Affects Their Relationship. So Why Aren"t They Seeking Help?

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The BDSM bestseller, 50 Shades of Grey, titillated the interest and expanded the sexual imaginations of millions of American women. Yet the results of a new sex survey reveal that many of those very women, in their own lives, in their own beds, are saying no: “Not tonight.” “I’ve got a headache.” “I’m just too f-ing tired.”

 

According to the 450-women survey, 27% of premenopausal women and 34% of postmenopausal women are very dissatisfied with their current level of sexual desire. And while more than 70% of those women say their relationships have suffered as a result, very few have sought help for it.

 

“The women in the survey didn’t even know [low desire] was an actual thing,” says Sheryl A. Kingsberg, PhD, professor of both reproductive biology and psychiatry at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine in Cleveland and author of an upcoming Journal of Women’s Health article on the survey. “They didn’t realize that low sexual desire is a medically recognized condition with a name—Female Sexual Interest and Arousal Disorder—and that there are places to go for treatment.”

 

It is and there are, stresses Kingsberg—sort of.

 

Yes, Female Sexual Interest and Arousal Disorder is in the latest edition of the diagnostician’s Bible—the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, or DSM for short—and by all indications, it’s alarmingly prevalent. And while psychotherapy can be very helpful for women for whom flagging desire is psychological in origin, there are no FDA-approved drug treatments for low female sexual desire that’s biologically driven—no pink Viagras. And Kingsberg says, that makes many family docs loathe even to bring up sexual health during a routine exam. “They don’t have anything to offer patients, so the attitude is, ‘Why talk about it?’ ” she says. “Often, they don’t.”

 

Which means it’s up to you to bring it up.

 

“Low sexual desire truly is a silent epidemic among women,” says Louann Brizendine, MD, founder and director of the Women’s Mood and Hormone Clinic at the University of California, San Francisco and author of The Female Brain. “Women feel they will be rejected by their partners and even judged by their friends if they tell the truth. They live in deep, deep shame.” The only answer for them personally, says Brizendine, and for women’s health in general is to break the silence. “Talk to your doctor, talk to your friends,” she says. “The problem deserves the attention—and you do, too.”

 

Brizendine recalls when Viagra hit the market 15 years ago: “Droves of men went to their GPs—doctors whom they had been seeing for 20 years or more—asking them for Viagra. The GPs had no idea their patients were having erectile dysfunction, because they had never asked and the guys had never volunteered the information—the fact that there was a solution broke their silence.” Brizendine says we need to break our silence now so that the FDA knows there’s demand for a solution.

 

Your first step: Stop by eventhescore.org—a website created by numerous women’s-sexual-health-concerned nonprofits to alert the FDA to the fact that there are now 26 drugs on the market to address male sexual dysfunction and not a single one for women. Your second: pop in to see your own doctor, and, if you need to, raise the issue. This is not something you need to suffer in silence.

 

In the meantime, these 20 just-for-women tips can help you start to want sex again.

 

 

Categories: arousal disorder, desire, female sexual, nbsp, sexual, sexual desire, sexual health, silence, Women

Gender and the Brain: NHS Cut Through Media Hype

If you ever wondered if there was a difference between male and female mental wellness, a new study suggests there might be. The research, published in the peer-reviewed scientific journal Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews, pooled the results of 126 studies examining the differences in brain size between men and women, and found that, overall, men had larger brains than women. The results of the study also revealed differences between men and women in the volume of many different regions. Men, for example, tend to have larger volumes in brain regions associated with survival instincts, memory and learning, while women often have larger volumes in areas of the brain dealing with language and emotions.

 

The results of the study, which came from researchers from University of Cambridge and University of Oxford, have many media outlets reporting that men have bigger brains than women, which may imply a certain degree of higher intelligence. However, according to the NHS website, ‘You could make a case that this differing mix of abilities means that it is mutually advantageous for the sexes to co-operate…However the media’s preoccupation with brain size is probably something of a distraction. The link between brain function and brain structure or size is still not clearly understood; so we can’t reliably conclude from this study how the differences in brain size influence physiology or behaviour.’

 

The NHS continue, ‘Gender is influenced by both biological and social factors and it’s not yet clear how these interact to influence behaviour, personality or disease risk…It is also probably simplistic to assume that there is a direct link between brain size and intelligence. It is thought that it is the complexity of the connections between individual brain cells that underpin cognitive ability and not the total amount of brain tissue. For example, elephants have huge brains, weighing around five kilos. And while elephants are certainly bright creatures, renowned for their memory, it would be a bit of stretch to describe them as geniuses.’

 

This study is interesting as it is reportedly one of the first to systematically search the global literature to identify published studies that have examined the differences in brain structure between men and women, and then combine these results in a meta-analysis. However, the NHS website points out that the study ‘finds evidence that men have a slightly larger overall brain volume than women, with a brain size around 8% to 13% greater. This may be a result of their larger general size. They also find differences between men and women in the volume of many different regions.’

 

The NHS add that while the differences found in the brain regions may reinforce some commonly held gender stereotypes about the historical roles of men and women, ‘it would be simplistic to think other factors, such as social pressures and environment, do not also play a role in how each gender may tend to think and behave.’ But what did the researchers say? After examining the results, the researchers were led to conclude that the findings ‘suggest candidate brain regions for investigating the asymmetric effect that sex has on the developing brain, and for understanding sex-biased neurological and psychiatric conditions.’

 

Moreover, the researchers surmised that there may be differences during different stages of your life, such as when your brain develops during childhood and your teens. Still, the NHS warn, ‘This is not possible to say for certain, given that very few studies have been conducted outside of the adult age bracket. Overall this review contributes to the body of studies examining how the different brain structure of men and women may contribute to their propensity to different neurological and mental health conditions. Findings may suggest that both genders work best when they co-operate on a common goal, rather than engaging in a “battle of the sexes”.’

Categories: Brain, brain regions, brain size, brain structure, Differences, Gender, nhs website, Research, size, studies examining, Women

7 Secrets to Men’s Sexual Needs You’d Never Expect

You may think your partner is pretty simple when it comes to sex, but men actually have a lot more going on behind that “wham, bam, thank you mam,” façade. Here is everything your guy wishes you knew about his sexual wellbeing:

 

1. He Responds to Praise: According to sexual health and wellness writer Brendan Tapley, ‘It’s believed that men are so consumed by our libido that we have no self-consciousness surrounding sex. But men are no different from women when it comes to compliments as catalysts for sexual confidence. This praise can be delivered before reaching the bedroom (give us the once-over and tell us how buff we look), and after (give us the once-over and tell us how buff we look naked). Along those lines, men worry about the size of their guts (and other measurable organs), their hair (or lack thereof) and other attributes. Try to be extra affirming about those sensitivities.’

 

2. He Fears Intimacy…But Not for the Reason You Think: Tapley details, ‘Studies have shown that boys are more affectionate, even more expressive, than girls until they reach school age. At that time, social repression begins—of words, thoughts, feelings—and our desire for human connection goes underground. So taboo is this desire for intimacy that its possibility can terrify men—not because it’s smothering, but because we realise how desperate we are for it. What’s a woman to do? First, understand that your guy’s hasty retreat post-sex may be about his own shock at how much he craves a connection with you (and how much he’s denied it in life). Then, retreat a little yourself. This gives him time to see that his boyhood habits are, in fact, perfectly manly.’

 

3. He Appreciates Sex for Sex’s Sake: Psychotherapist and sexologist Joe Kort, PhD, notes, ‘Men want their wives to enjoy raw sex, not just endure it or take it personally. For men, it’s not about dominating a woman, but ravishing her.’

 

4. He’s Not Just His Penis: Men have ‘many erogenous zones,’ says psychologist Melodie Schaefer, PsyD. ‘Men tend not to correct women because they’re afraid women will shut down and not touch them at all. But there are many places a woman should touch.’ Tapley advises touching ‘the chest, the inner thighs and face. Two other key areas: Gently gripping a man’s testicles can be a real turn-on, as it blends control with release. Also, stimulating the perineum, the area between the scrotum and anus, will heighten pleasure during oral sex.’

 

5. He Encourages Fantasies: Dr. Kort points out, ‘Men want to share their fantasies but worry their wives will shame or judge them.’ Tapley adds, ‘Men wish women would reveal their imaginings. Want to open yourself to these possibilities? Try making a game of it. First, and most important, promise not to judge the other; then, privately write out scenarios that have tantalized you and place them in a box. When you are next intimate, pull one out. If you’re both comfortable, give it a shot. If not, [ask] the author a key question: What about this fantasy do you like? Sometimes, its themes can be addressed in different, more comfortable scenarios.’

 

6. He Likes It When You Talk: ‘Talking during sex stimulates more than our ears,’ Tapley explains. ‘What kind of talk? Dirty, praising and instructive are great starts. As amusing as it may sound, a woman’s words can make a guy feel as potent and virile as a Roman gladiator, even if he’s a suburban banker.’

 

7. He Needs Your Honesty: Tapley comments, ‘Sex can solve the stresses of a relationship, but it’s often where the stresses show up. If we complain about a lack of sex (or your doing certain things only on our birthday), we may be overlooking serious issues that underpin such withholding. We need you to enlighten us. The male ego is often tied to sex, so it’s easy for us to dismiss bedroom problems as female disinterest rather than issues we have a part in. Avoiding these problems, however, only perpetuates your feeling unseen and our frustration.’

Categories: Dirty Talk, Fantasies, Intimacy, nbsp, sexual, tapley, woman, Women

Six Worries Women Have About Sex After Pregnancy

Having sex again after you’ve had a baby can be a concern for a lot of women, as there are many fears about what the experience will be like. According to sexual health and wellness expert Macki West, founder of Cool Mom Tips, there’s ‘no need to fret, most of us are scared to dive back in [to sex]. Some common thoughts are: Will my vagina feel loose? Will it hurt? I feel gross and unattractive. Being touched is the last thing I want right now. All of these thoughts are all totally normal.’ That said, while it’s normal to have such thoughts, some of them are unfounded. There are many myths surrounding sex after pregnancy, so let’s debunk a few of them:

 

1. Your Vagina Will Be Loose: ‘No it won’t,’ says West. ‘Your partner will not be “tossing a hot dog down a hallway”. If that were the case then there would never be kid number two. My husband is honest with me and I straight up asked him if there was a difference. He told me I feel just as tight, but that women actually feel differently all the time, from one sexual encounter to the next. I trust my husband and since he keeps coming back for more, I know I’m just fine down there.’

 

2. You’ve Had A C-section So Sex Won’t Hurt: West asserts, ‘That’s a flat out lie. Ok, I’ve never had a C-section, but plenty of my friends have and they have experienced just as much if not more discomfort post baby.’

 

3. You Don’t Need Birth Control: West advises, ‘Unless you want to have your babies very, very close together, you do need birth control, even if you are breastfeeding. You will ovulate BEFORE your first period so it could be too late before you decide to use a contraceptive. Talk with your doctor before giving birth about your birth control options. If you are breastfeeding your options are limited to condoms, IUD, or mini pill. Another myth is that you won’t get your period while you are breastfeeding. I did with my first two kids and I’m just waiting for the old period to rear it’s ugly head this time around.’

 

4. You’ll Be as Dry as the Sahara: Unfortunately, there’s some truth to this one. West explains, ‘Your hormones are all wacked and your oestrogen levels are low which means there’s less natural lubrication in your vagina. Make sure to have lots of foreplay, read: oral sex or use a store bought lubricant. If you are not comfortable buying lubricant, just get some online.’

 

5. Sex Won’t Be as Good as it was Before: ‘Some women actually have more intense orgasms post baby,’ says West. ‘It’s true. It has been known that some women have sex within a week of giving birth and enjoy it immensely. I’m not one of them and I don’t feel badly about it one bit. It takes me a few months to get back into enjoying it and that’s OK. Once the baby is sleeping through the night you will have the opportunity to get your sexy back.’

 

6. Touching is Too Much: ‘Many women feel over-touched,’ West admits. ‘Oh yes, we do. Just the other night my husband decided to “enjoy” my breasts. He may have enjoyed it, but I had to stop him and gently tell him that I’ve got my fill of breast touching and nipple sucking. He laughed and totally understood and moved on to something we would both enjoy. With all this baby holding and breastfeeding and intimacy with your baby, sometimes it’s hard to turn that off and turn on the sexual intimacy. Or you are just touched out and would prefer to be in bed with no human contact, I’ve had those nights.’

Categories: Baby, Birth Control, c-section, feel, giving birth, Myths, nbsp, post baby, sex after pregnancy, sex won, west, Women

Why Women Need to Start Talking More About HPV

Although most will never know it, four out of five women are likely to be infected with human papillomavirus (HPV) at some point in their lives. Using a condom doesn’t always protect your wellbeing against HPV, which is a major concern – not just to your sexual health, but to your overall wellness. HPV is the cause of virtually every case of cervical cancer, and yet a woman who finds out she has an HPV infection is not likely to tell even her closest friends. But why?

 

As HPV is a sexually transmitted disease (STD) there is a certain amount of social stigma attached to it, meaning that women would rather keep schtum than get help. However, having HPV is a lot more normal than you may think, so there’s no real reason to stay silent. Plus, knowing your HPV status can help you identify your risk of cervical cancer – which is highly preventable if caught in time. Usually, the virus is harmless, with most of the 6 million new cases of HPV in the United States each year clearing up on their own. If you have HPV, it does not mean that you have had a lot of partners, although having multiple partners does increase your risk. However, unless you have been vaccinated, it’s quite likely that you will get a HPV. A study of women with just one partner found that 50% had HPV infections three years into their monogamous relationships.

 

That is not to say that having HPV means you have been unfaithful. There is a good chance that you could have contracted the virus years or even decades ago, but the HPV has been hiding out in your system before developing into changes in cervical cells. There are plenty of stories from couples who have been married for 10 or 20 years and found themselves upended by HPV. It is impossible to know when and where you have contracted the disease, so don’t jump to relationship-rattling conclusions. You don’t even need to have sex to transmit HPV; the virus can be transmitted through skin-to-skin contact, meaning that contact with the hands and oral sex can also spread the infection.

 

You may be worried about letting your teenagers have the HPV vaccination because it opens them up to the idea that they are about to have sex. However, getting the HPV vaccine isn’t about sex; it’s about cancer. The reason why it’s given to young people is to ensure they are vaccinated well in advance of their first sexual encounter, which, for some kids, can be age 13. Moreover, the body’s antibody responses are highest between the ages of nine and 15, which means the vaccine is at its most effective during that window. There are four HPV types that are responsible for 70% of cervical cancers and 90 percent of genital warts, and the current vaccines, which are recommended for young girls and boys, protect against all of them.

 

We cannot ignore HPV, in spite of the stigma attached. If more people were to turn to the vaccination, we might soon speak about the virus in the same way we do about polio or smallpox. However, letting HPV reign in our lives can be life-threatening. While most infections go away without any treatment, some infections with specific types of HPV can persist and develop into cervical cancer over years or even decades. Therefore, there are many good reasons why you need to talk about HPV – and schedule your annual OB/GYN exam if you haven’t done so yet.

Categories: cancer, cervical, cervical cancer, HPV, nbsp, stigma, stigma attached, Vaccine, Virus, Women

Six Absolutely Ridiculous Sex Tips Men Should Ignore

There’s a lot of bad sexual wellness advice out there, most of which is aimed at women. However, whether they get it from films, magazines or dodgy websites, men also have some fairly shocking sex tips thrown their way. We’ve taken a look at the worst offenders to your sexual wellbeing, and asked sexual health and relationship expert Anna Pulley to comment.

 

1. Get Down and Chocolatey: Maxim UK once instructed readers, ‘Pop your chap in a jar of Nutella, then present it to your lady. Be rewarded with a very enthusiastic blowjob.’ However, Pulley comments, ‘We’ve been known to joke about boning Nutella before, so we can’t harp too much, but if you present your lady with a brown, gooey dick, she’s going to have questions, and none of those will be, “May I enthusiastically blow you?” Also does this work in reverse? ‘Cause this Hot Pocket in my vagina’s not gonna eat itself.’

 

2. Sexy Saliva: Men’s Health recommended, ‘After your workout, reinforce her rising T with a sweaty make out session: male saliva has 10 to 15 times more testosterone than the female’s does… So prolonged French kissing may give a woman enough of a boost in testosterone to stimulate her interest chemically.’ But according to Pulley, ‘Yes, it’s definitely your testosterone-laden saliva that’s making us “chemically interested.” If the prolonged French kissing doesn’t seem to be doing the trick, try spitting in her face.’

 

3. Doggie Style: ‘A woman may want financial and family security, but she does not want passion security,’ says pickup artist site Cheateau Heartiste. ‘In the same manner, when she has displeased you, punish swiftly, but when she has done you right, reward slowly.’ Pulley points out, ‘It works for the Dog Whisperer so it must be true.’

 

4. The Three Day Rule: Most of us have heard about the three-day rule – ‘Wait three days to call her’ – but it’s often attributed to the movie Swingers. However, Pulley warns, ‘For the love of god, she’s not a sourdough starter. At its core, the three-day rule, enacted so you don’t seem too desperate or eager, makes some sense. Except who calls people anymore, except when you’re locked out of your house or your face is on fire? What if she texts you? Are you going to ignore it until Wednesday because of advice Vince Vaughn gave in the mid-’90s? We know you’re playing it cool, man. We get it. Just tell us when the next bowling date is going down. That’s all we want to know.’

 

5. Flirt With Other Women: Here’s another corker from Cheateau Heartiste: ‘Flirt with other women in front of her. Do not dissuade other women from flirting with you. Women will never admit this but jealousy excites them. The thought of you turning on another woman will arouse her sexually.’ Pulley admits, ‘Of course women (and men) want their partner to be perceived as desirable to others. But intentionally trying to make your partner jealous is a pathetic power trip used by the most insecure. And no, women “will never admit” it because it’s not true. Just like men “will never admit” they love surprise anal.’

 

6. Give Less: ‘Give your woman two-thirds of everything she gives you,’ advise Cheateau Heartiste. ‘For every three calls or texts, give her two back. Three declarations of love earn two in return. Three gifts; two nights out. Give her two displays of affection and stop until she has answered with three more. When she speaks, you reply with fewer words. When she emotes, you emote less… In her deepest loins it is what she truly wants.’ It’s not hard to see how this advice is utter rubbish. As Pulley notes, ‘Treating every exchange with women like a manipulative math problem is ¾ stupid, ⅝ sad, and 100 percent guaranteed to make you into an ex variable. Also, did he just call my loins shallow?’

Categories: Bad Sex, cheateau heartiste, day rule, Flirting, french kissing, men, nbsp, prolonged french, pulley, sex tips, woman, Women

Older Women Are Having More Sex Than Younger Ones

Middle aged women are often thought to be beyond their sexual prime, but a recent study has shown that the sexual wellness and wellbeing of this age group is likely to far exceed that of younger women. Those who are sexually active during middle age are also likely to keep having sex as they get older, even if they have been diagnosed with some form of sexual dysfunction.

 

Based at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Centre, the team of researchers looked at data from a group of 602 women aged between 40 and 65 which reported on their sex lives, how sexually active they were and how important they felt sex was to their lives.

 

The lead author of the study, Dr. Holly Thomas, said that there was a popular preconception in the public that when women get older, sex becomes less important, and also that women stop having sex as they get older. Based on the study, it appears that most women continue to have sex during middle age.

 

Sexual dysfunction is a label that is frequently applied to women in this age group, but doctors and psychologists have long debated how useful it is to use this label at all. There is a test called the Female Sexual Function Index which is meant to test women’s sexual problems. There are 19 questions in the test, centring around orgasm, arousal, vaginal lubrication and any pain felt during sex.

 

As part of the recent study, the middle aged women who were sexually active took the test and then took it again four years later. Over 85 percent of the women who reported that they were sexually active when they first took the test, were still sexually active when they took the test again the second time.

Categories: age group, aged women, Dysfunction, female, middle age, Middle-Aged, sexual, sexual dysfunction, sexually active, Test, Women

Breast Cancer: Do You Know How To Test For It?

Breast cancer is a condition which is becoming more common, which experts say could be attributed to the fact that women don’t catch it early enough to treat it effectively. There are a number of things to be aware of in order to catch breast cancer as early as possible, from screening tests and knowing who to go to when you get tested.

Get a mammogram when you are younger, rather than when you are older

If you’re over 40, it’s time to start getting regular mammograms According to the American Cancer Society, women should get annual mammograms from the age of 40 as this is the best way to spot breast cancer early – an early detection offers the best chance of curing the disease.

Choose the right man for the job!

You can get a mammography at any hospital, but getting the right diagnosis after the test is incredibly useful in increasing your chance of detection when needed. Be sure to choose a doctor who is experienced in reading mammography and has worked with a number of patients previously, as their experience provides them with an added advantage of identifying any problems in your reports. This is where an inexperienced physician may fail.

Pick digital over conventional

A digital mammography is far more accurate when it comes to detecting any problems in women with dense breast tissue This is especially the case when found in women below the age of 40. Furthermore, digital scans do a better job of detecting cancers when compared to the traditional film mammography. – so always choose digital!

Schedule the date for your test carefully

Many women are put off by the idea of getting a mammography because they think it will be painful – but it’s important to remember that this test shouldn’t be painful in any way . In order to reduce the risk of pain, try to schedule your test after your period so that the breast tissue is less sensitive. During the test, if you do experience pain and discomfort, be sure to tell the technician about it so that they can help you feel more comfortable. If the test has really gone really badly, you could try taking medication available at a pharmacy to help relieve some of the pain and inflammation. If you’re worried about the level of pain you’re experiencing during your test, speak to your GP or technician about your worries and they will be able to find a way to make the test less uncomfortable for you.

Don’t let the fear of cancer stop you

Everyone getting a test regarding their health is scared by the result; that much is expected and perfectly natural. But a large number of women fear what the results may be so much that they don’t get tested at all – this is not a reason to avoid testing. If your test is abnormal in any way, you may be called to repeat the test but this doesn’t automatically mean that you have cancer. There are a number of reasons why  your test results may have been out of the ordinary, so there’s no reason to worry – your technician will discuss the results with you and explain what they mean. But not all abnormalities mean you have cancer.If you have any worries about your risk of breast cancer and think you may have symptoms, speak to your GP as soon as possible.

Categories: Breast, breast cancer, breast tissue, cancer, mammography, Test, tests, Women

The HPV Vaccine: Why the Internet is Lying to You

The internet has a lot of power these days, with any crazy person with a Wifi connection able to target anyone, anywhere. It’s easy to see how this might affect your emotional wellbeing – but what about your sexual health? Wellness expert Shaun Dreisbach notes, ‘Imagine a vaccine that helps prevent cancer. Now imagine that it’s going unused because of myths circulating online. That’s what’s happening with the HPV vaccine: A debunked article from 2009, which claims the shot doesn’t work and that it has led to dozens of deaths, went viral again late last year, and University of Maryland researchers have found that 52% of the HPV-vaccine-related videos they examined on YouTube had a negative, disapproving tone.’ But how can one article do so much damage?

 

‘Some experts fear these rumours are contributing to “horrifically low” vaccination rates for HPV—a sexually transmitted infection that affects nearly all adults and can cause genital warts and cancer,’ Dreisbach warns. ‘The Centres for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that this lifesaving vaccine could prevent 15,000 cases of HPV-related cancers each year, but a new study says that only 28% of women 18 to 26 report having started the three-dose series. As with any immunisation, there can be side effects, but out of the 57 million doses given in the US, less than 2,000 cases of serious reactions have been documented—and some of those haven’t been conclusively linked to the vaccine.’

 

Katharine O’Connell White, MD, chief of the division of general obstetrics and gynaecology at Baystate Medical Centre in Springfield, Massachusetts, argues that the HPV vaccine is ‘as safe as the flu shot. The most common side effects are pain and redness at the injection site; “more serious” symptoms include nausea and fainting. You have to balance the vaccine’s risks against what’s possible if you don’t get it, which is cancer.’ Dreisbach admits, ‘Though some deaths have been reported, the CDC has investigated each case and found no evidence the vaccine was to blame. And the shots are effective. Gardasil, the most popular and widely available vaccine, offers nearly 100% protection against the 2 types of HPV that cause about 75% of reported cervical cancer cases. The vaccine also protects against other strains that cause genital warts.’

 

But you’ve probably missed your chance now, right? ‘You can still get the shot if you’re already sexually active,’ says Dreisbach. ‘The vaccine is usually recommended for girls between ages 11 and 12 because it works best prior to HPV exposure. But some experts say adult women should also get it, even if they’ve already had HPV…While the FDA has yet to officially recommend the vaccine to women over age 26, many doctors do prescribe it.’ Dr. White explains, ‘Your body could naturally fight off the infection, and then you can get HPV again. Getting vaccinated now may safeguard you against future infections…If you’re not monogamous, you’re probably going to see more penises!’

 

And make sure you get all of your doses, says Dreisbach: ‘One study found that only 17% of women, on average, get all three doses of an HPV vaccine, which are supposed to be administered over a six-month period. Although that’s better than nothing (National Cancer Institute research shows that one or two doses still help women develop higher anticancer antibody levels than unvaccinated women), a partial series may not be enough to keep you cancer-free, so it’s best to follow up and get all the shots.’ And, if you need more information, don’t trust everything you read on the internet. As Dr. White says, ‘If you still have questions about the HPV vaccine, hit up your gyno—not Google.’

Categories: cancer, cancer dreisbach, cervical cancer, dr white, dreisbach, genital warts, HPV Vaccine, nbsp, Rumours, Vaccine, Women

The G Shot: How Is It Transforming Sex Lives?

Everyone these days has heard of the G-spot, and yet many men have never witnessed a G-spot orgasm and women often scoff at the idea of one even existing. If you’re involved with a woman who feels this way about this mystical area of the body, you may both be converted by the concept of the G-shot. Scientists in the USA have found a way to increase a woman’s G-spot with a small injection, making it virtually impossible to miss during sex or foreplay. But how does it work and how much does it cost? The G-shot is a trademarked collagen injection which is intended to increase the size of a woman’s G-spot – it’s being touted as the next big thing. In fact, it’s becoming so popular that women are using their lunch break to drop in on their gynaecologist in America for this nifty treatment. The procedure takes around 30 minutes from start to finish, and will set you back around $1850 for the injection, which only requires local anaesthetic to take place.

Once you’ve had it done, the G-spot is supposed to increase to an amazing inch-wide diameter with a quarter-inch height. That’s pretty large when you consider that G-spots often go completely unnoticed due to their size. The results are immediate and sex is possible within as little as four hours after the procedure. So what are the benefits? The most obvious one is that having the G-spot enlarged to such a size means that it is practically impossible to miss during sex, so the amazing orgasms reported when it’s involved in sexual play are possible to women who have this procedure. Many women report that orgasms reached in conjunction with the G-shot are far better than normal orgasms, particularly where intensity and length of duration are concerned.

The G-shot is also said to increase libido in some women, increasing their sense of sensitivity and even arousal itself. Some women even feel as though the G-shot has revolutionised their sex life, which was considered frustrating beforehand. The results of this procedure last just four months though, so anyone looking to sustain these results would need to keep up with the injections. The man who invented the shot, Dr David Matlock, advertises that the procedure an 87 per cent success rate in terms of women who feel as though the treatment has revolutionised their sex life. His website is keen to state, though, that the G-shot is only intended for women who don’t currently suffer with a sexual dysfunction – it’s only meant as an enhancement rather than a cure for any problems they may have. If you cannot reach orgasms via a normal sexual routine, the G-shot is probably not going to make much difference. The same can be said of women with a low sex drive or a similar condition, as the G-shot is unlikely to increase your sex drive by any significant amount.

The G-shots primary purpose is to make the area large enough that it’s easy to find when you’re having sex with your partner.The testimonials for this treatment almost speak for themselves, but as with any procedure, you should speak to your GP before making any changes, particularly if you’re suffering with some form of sexual dysfunction. If you are, you may find it more beneficial seeking medication for your complaint as this may be more effective in improving your sex life.

Categories: G Spot, increase, procedure, Sex, Sex Drive, sex life, sexual dysfunction, shot, spot, Women

How to Improve Your Partner’s Performance in the Bedroom

When your man underperforms in the bedroom, you can be left wondering what to do. According to sexual health and wellness writer Holly C. Corbett, Talking about his bedroom problems can be incredibly awkward, but for the sake of your relationship—and for maximum personal pleasure—it’s worth it…Working through these situations will help you turn a mortifying moment into a mind-blowing sex life.’ So which of his little issues are impacting your sexual wellbeing, and how do you fix them?

 

1. He Comes Too Soon: Sex therapist Bill Bercaw, co-author of the upcoming From the Living Room to the Bedroom: The Modern Couple’s Guide to Sexual Abundance and Lasting Intimacy, explains, ‘His fear of coming too soon causes him to clench his pelvic muscles, which accelerates him toward the point of no return. The key to getting more in sync is to help him learn how to relax…Try experimenting with different positions to find the ones that make him last longer. Female on top is great for women because there’s direct clitoral stimulation, which most women need to orgasm, and you get to control the thrusting.’ Corbett adds, ‘Press pause on the thrusting action when he’s nearing his peak to give him a break as he keeps stimulating you with his fingers or tongue. Then start up again and keep pausing intercourse until you both are ready to finish. Not only will this help sex last longer, it will also help him develop more control over his ejaculatory response.’

 

2. His Size Kind of Does Matter: Corbett points out, ‘The average erect penis is between 5.1 and 5.8 inches long. If your guy comes up a little short, try doing it doggie style: It will make you feel fuller because his penis will be hitting your G-spot, and he can also stimulate your clitoris with his hand to help you get there.’ Ginger Bercaw, wife of Bill and the other co-author of From the Living Room to the Bedroom, suggests, ‘On your end, the vagina is a muscle that can be tightened to help increase your arousal, so try strengthening your pelvic floor by doing kegels.’

 

3. He Can’t Get (or Keep) It Up: ‘Many women feel inadequate or rejected when their man can’t get it up, but his erection or lack thereof is not about you,’ says Bill. ‘Tell him what you want him to do with you that does not require an erection. This demonstrates that having a satisfying sex life is not solely dependent on his erection, which could help shift his focus away from what his penis is doing.’

 

4. He Suffers Low Libido: Ginger asserts, ‘The best kept sex secret in America is male low desire. Women are ashamed to talk about it because they feel inadequate, and men also feel ashamed out of fear that they’re not keeping up with their lover’s expectations. Many of us think we shouldn’t have to talk about sex because we want it to work naturally, but talking about it is the only way to improve your sex life. Tell him you love making love to him and want to find a number or a range that you both can agree upon. Flexibility is key, so say you’re shooting for two to three times a week, with the lower number being the minimum of what you’re okay with and the max number being an excellent week.’

 

5. You’re Uncomfortable with His Sex Fantasy: Corbett comments, ‘Few things are more awkward than when your guy makes like Adam from HBO’s Girls and asks you to do kinky things, like pretending to be an underage girl. If he springs an idea that feels degrading or makes you uncomfortable, wait a second…Talking about fantasies before playing them out is key. Because it’s a risk to share what’s going on inside your head, that shared vulnerability can bring you closer. Of course talking doesn’t mean you have to play out the fantasy, but you may consider meeting in the middle.’

Categories: bedroom, corbett, Fantasies, feel inadequate, living room, low libido, nbsp, sex life, sexual performance, talking, Women

The Sexy Battle of the Sexes: How Sex Benefits are Different

Sex has many benefits to your wellbeing, but those benefits are different for men and women. While both sexes can stand to gain a healthier immune system and better mental wellness from having sex, there are some sexual health benefits that are just for the lads, and just for the lasses.

 

MEN

 

1. Prevents Prostate Cancer: According to an Australian study, men who ejaculated more than five times a week were a third less likely to develop prostate cancer. Clinical sexologist Gloria Brame, PhD, explains that this is because disease-causing toxins build up in your urogenital tract, but you flush those bad guys out of your system when you rub one out.

 

2. Strengthens Your Manhood: You naturally lose muscle tone as you age, and that still applies to your package. However, just like lifting weights can help you retain and build muscle mass, having sex or masturbating regularly gives your pelvic floor muscles a good old-fashioned workout. If you really want to prevent erectile dysfunction and incontinence, you should aim to ejaculate three to five times a week.

 

3. Strengthens Your Boys: A review published in Sexual and Relationship Therapy found that the semen you produce as a result of actual intercourse is of a higher quality than the swimmers you get from masturbating. However, the review also points out that if you don’t ejaculate for a period as short as five to 18 days, the quality and quantity of your sperm can decrease.

 

4. Helps You Last Longer: You learn control by mastering your own body. Brame notes, ‘Masturbating an hour before a date will give you more control.’ Ava Cadell, PhD, founder of loveologyuniversity.com, recommends timing how long it takes you to orgasm. If you usually take two minutes when you’re by yourself, Cadell suggests trying for three minutes next time. Alternately, you could try counting how many strokes you need to get to your happy place. If you’re spurting after 50, shoot for 60. Cadell details, ‘Most men can double the number of strokes and the time within one month.’

 

 

WOMEN

 

1. Helps Prevent Cervical Infections: When you orgasm, the orgasms ‘tents’ or opens your cervix and studies are showing that this can provide protection against cervical infections. Joann Ellison Rodgers describes this process in her book Sex: A Natural History, noting that the tenting stretches and pulls the mucous within your cervix, and this allows for a rise in acidity in your cervical fluid. When your cervical fluid is more acidic, more of it can move into your vagina and this increases ‘friendly’ bacteria. Altogether, this lubricates your vagina – which improves sex – and flushes out the unfriendly organisms that can cause infections.

 

2. Helps Relieve Urinary Tract Infections: If you’ve ever felt a UTI coming on, you may have felt the desire to masturbate. This is because having an orgasm helps to relieve pain and it flushes the old bacteria from your cervix. So masturbating is your body’s way of getting the bacteria out.

 

3. Lower Risk of Major Health Concerns: Having sex has been associated with improved cardiovascular health and lower risk of type-2 diabetes. A number of studies have found that if you experience more orgasms than average – as well as an overall greater frequency and satisfaction with sex – you are more resistant to coronary heart disease and type-2 diabetes. This is the case whether you enjoy sex with a partner or you go it Han-style (Solo).

 

4. Increases Pelvic Floor Strength: Ok, this one is similar to the boys, but it’s still worth mentioning. There are many health benefits to having a strong pelvic floor, but the most fun one is that it enhances your sexual satisfaction. So, the more you do it, the more satisfaction you’ll gain.

Categories: Benefits, cervical fluid, cervical infections, Health Benefits, helps, masturbating, men, nbsp, pelvic floor, prostate cancer, Women