What a leather convention can teach everyone about sex and consent

By Garrett Schlichte “Hotel is closed for private event” read the signs affixed to the front of the Hyatt Regency on Capitol Hill last weekend. A steady stream of people, mostly men, many in leather harnesses, some in collars and on leashes, and some simply in jeans and sweaters, walked in and out in an …

For Some With Intellectual Disabilities, Ending Abuse Starts With Sex Ed

by Joseph Shapiro [I]n the sex education class for adults with intellectual disabilities, the material is not watered down. The dozen women and men in a large room full of windows and light in Casco, Maine, take on complex issues, such as how to break up or how you know you’re in an abusive relationship. …

9 Sex Resolutions Every Woman Should Make for the New Year

By Danielle Friedman For those of us who make New Year’s resolutions, we too often focus on doing less—eating less sugar, drinking less booze, spending less time in pajamas binge-watching The Crown. And while those goals may be worthy (though, really, The Crown is pretty great), this year, we’d also like to encourage women to …

The 3 Sentences That Have The Power To Take Your Sex Life To The Next Level

So simple, yet SO hot   by Jamie Hergenrader [I]f only a boom box and the sweet, sweet vocals of Peter Gabriel could fix all that ails your coupledom. But it takes far more direct communication. So we asked top therapists (and a few of our bros at Men’s Health) for specific scripts and phrases to …

5 Simple Sex Positions You Actually Haven’t Tried Yet

By Anthea Levi [T]rying something new in bed can be intimidating. But attempting the unknown between the sheets comes with thrilling benefits. Besides giving you the chance to discover new erogenous zones and orgasm triggers, “it’s a great way to practice asking or telling your partner what you want,” says Nicole Tammelleo, a psychotherapist specializing in …

Why do half of women have fantasies about being raped?

By Ellen Scott [T]here’s a wide range of sexual fantasies people have, ranging from entirely unrealistic to applicable to real life, sex with Superman through to banging on a plane. But the fantasy of being raped, also known as nonconsent and forced sex fantasies, is common. Sexual fantasies let you explore your sexuality, they’re what …

Japanese macaques grinding on deer can teach us to be more open-minded about sex

by Lux Alptraum [I]f you grew up in America, there’s a good chance that you learned that sex is, first and foremost, a reproductive act. Sure, it feels good, but that’s just a way for our bodies to trick us into breeding. Many church doctrines will inform you that any sexual experience that doesn’t stand …

Our shame over sexual health makes us avoid the doctor. These apps might help.

By Stephanie Auteri [W]e’re taught to feel shame around our sexuality from a young age, as our bodies develop and start to function in ways we’re unfamiliar with, as we begin to realize our body’s potential for pleasure. Later on, women especially are taught to feel ashamed if we want “too much” sex, or if we want it …

People who practice polyamory say the lifestyle can be rewarding

By Anna Orso [A]ntoinette and Kevin Patterson thought they’d stop dating other people once their relationship got really serious. They didn’t. Maybe, they said, after they got married. When that didn’t happen, they assumed after they had kids. Not then, either. Today, Antoinette, 35, and Kevin, 38, still date other people. The parents of two …

STI symptom checker: Do I have gonorrhoea, chlamydia or syphilis? Signs of sex infections

STIs – or sexually transmitted infections – can be passed on via unprotected sex. These are the symptoms of gonorrhoea – commonly misspelt gonorrhea – chlamydia and syphilis to look out for. By Lauren Clark [S]TIs – the common abbreviation for sexually transmitted infections – can be passed on via unprotected sex. Common STIs include …