‘We have not had sex since the dog came into our lives’

— When pets affect human relationships From prophetic pooches to clingy cats, Guardian readers share tales of how pets have influenced their love lives, for better and worse By Doosie Morris While humans have kept domesticated animals for tens of thousands of years, there’s no evidence that anyone was ever driven out of a cave …

10 must-read books that reimagine sex and power in 2024

— Dive into diverse perspectives on sex, relationships, and reproductive rights with these 10 thought-provoking reads for a sex-positive year. By Annabel Rocha If one of your new year’s resolutions is to read more books, Reckon has you covered. Whether you’re looking for a way to introduce healthy sex discussions to your children, or learn …

20 Hot Ways to Spice Up Sex When You’re Craving Something Naughty and New

— Let’s get you out of this rut, shall we? By Rachel Varina We all know that finding love (or at least something like it) is the reason so many folks are swiping on dating apps and going on Love Is Blind—well, besides to get IG followers, ofc. But what happens when you finally find …

Why the Holidays Are a True Test of Your Relationship

— Making it through the festive month of December is harder than it seems. By Gina Cherelus Philip von Hahn, a 30-year-old tech investor on the Upper East Side, attended a holiday party on Sunday night to take his mind off the recent dissolution of his three-year relationship. “We’ve been weighing it for the past …

How Lube Helped Me Unlock A New Level Of Sexual Pleasure

By Hilary Shepherd I recently located my clitoris, which, at 33 years old, sounds way overdue. Alone, inspired by a conversation I had with a sex therapist, and apparently horny on a Saturday night, I decided to forgo my rotating collection of vibrating sex toys, which I’d always enjoyed while watching porn and wearing underwear …

The surprising reason why mammals engage in same-sex mating

— A new paper suggests same-sex activity may help mammals’ social relationships By Maggie Penman Same-sex sexual activity pervades the animal kingdom — it’s been observed in at least 1,500 animal species, from crickets to seagulls to penguins — but it’s still not well understood. A new paper suggests one explanation: Same-sex sexual activity may …

Overcoming Adult Toys Stigma

— Embracing Pleasure Without Shame In today’s society, the stigma surrounding adult toys can often prevent individuals from fully embracing their sexuality and exploring pleasure without shame. This unnecessary guilt not only suppresses personal growth but can also impact one’s overall mental and physical well-being. Adult toys, when used responsibly, can provide numerous health benefits. …

Study on evolution of same-sex animal behaviors underscores stigmas in research

By Swati Thapa A new study tracing the evolution of same-sex sexual behavior in mammals, using phylogenetic analyses, suggests these behaviors may have evolved in part to strengthen social bonding and relationships. Same-sex sexual behavior was observed in 261 species, which constitutes 4% of all mammal species; the research adds to a growing list of …