Climax and orgasm are both parts of sexual activity. While many people use the words interchangeably, some believe they have different definitions. By these definitions, an orgasm is the buildup of pleasure just before a climax, while a climax is the peak of the orgasm, when the sexual pleasure is the most intense.
Most scientific researchers consider orgasm and climax to be the same thing. However, some people consider them to have two different definitions.
This article will look into the possible differences between climax and orgasm and tips on achieving orgasm.
Some people consider climax to be the feeling of intense pleasure a person feels at the peak of an orgasm. Other individuals consider climax and orgasm to be the same thing.
During climax, a person’s pelvic floor muscles contract repeatedly. Some people can climax multiple times during sexual activity, while others may climax once or not at all.
It can be typical for a person not to climax. However, they can speak with a healthcare professional if they have concerns about this.
There are various ways someone can achieve climax, such as through:
vaginal sex
oral sex
anal sex
masturbation
stimulation of erogenous zones, such as the nipples
However, everyone is different, and things that cause one person to climax may not work for another.
Certain people believe that an orgasm is the buildup of pleasure that occurs before a climax. Others consider orgasm to refer to the entire experience of sexual buildup and climax.
It is possible for a person to extend the time that they experience orgasm. This is known as edging. Some people believe that edging can lead to a more intense climax.
They then reduce stimulation, meaning they do not reach climax.
The individual then brings themselves back to the edge of climax.
They may then allow themselves to climax or reduce stimulation again.
This cycle may repeat multiple times.
Going by their separate definitions, an individual can achieve orgasm without climax.
Research from 2016 notes that, during sex, over 90% of menTrusted Source achieve climax. Additionally, around 50% of women climax during sex.
A person may find that they experience orgasm during sexual activity, but they do not reach climax. This can be enough for some people but frustrating for others.
If a person has concerns about being unable to climax, they can consult a healthcare professional.
According to the advocacy group Planned Parenthood, when a person climaxes, they may feel a wave of pleasure that starts in their genitals and travels through their body. Some people may experience climax more intensely than others.
When someone climaxes, their heart rate and breathing levels increase.
During climax, people may experience vaginal spasms and contractions of the uterus. This can accompany vaginal secretions. And while female ejaculation can also occur, this is typical, and the fluid is not urine.
Typically, the penis ejaculates. However, it is possible to climax without ejaculating, which is known as dry ejaculation.
The ISSM notes that dry ejaculation is usually nothing to worry about. If a person has climaxed several times in one day, it is possible for them to run out of sperm. Dry ejaculation can also occur due to certain drugs or surgery.
If a person has concerns about dry ejaculation, they can discuss this with a healthcare professional.
Following climax, a person may feel sleepy, happy, or relaxed. An individual’s clitoris or glans, the head of the penis, may be sensitive right after climaxing. Flushing of the chest, neck, and face can also occur.
In the buildup to a climax, a person may experience feelings of increasing pleasure. This feeling may build gradually or occur suddenly.
When someone starts to orgasm, they may feel a buildup of tension. They may also feel their toes curl or their hands clench.
As a person orgasms, they may achieve climax or experience a dip in pleasure levels. If this occurs, they may require a change in stimulation. This can involve increasing speed, slowing down, or changing positions.
It is possible for a person to orgasm and climax together. They may feel an intense wave of pleasure following the buildup of an orgasm. This wave is the climax of the orgasm.
A climax is usually more intense and pleasurable than an orgasm. However, this can depend on certain factors, such as:
how aroused a person is
how long it has been since they last climaxed
how much lubrication there is
their connection to other people involved
the type of sexual position
the type of sexual activity
whether they continue stimulation until the completion of the climax
After climaxing, a person may find that their genitals are too sensitive to continue sexual activity. However, some people can continue after climaxing and possibly achieve multiple climaxes.
Information from the ISSM suggests that around 15% of women can have multiple climaxes.
The concept of open marriage has long existed in society’s periphery. Couples consensually creating mutual arrangements that work for their needs is a good thing, but historically, the subject has been too taboo to be talked about openly. Thankfully, recent years have seen a shift in society’s attitude towards alternative relationship styles. Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith’s willingness to be candid about their open marriage—whether it’s on Jada’s web series Red Table Talk or in magazine profiles—and other celebs who’ve been outspoken about their flexible marriage agreements (like Mo’Nique and husband Sidney Hicks and Nico Tortorella and Bethany Meyers) have given way to a greater cultural understanding of open relationships or marriages. But still, misconceptions persist.
Sex educator, author, and therapist Lucie Fielding says open marriages get falsely characterized in all sorts of ways. For one, some people cast them off as desperate attempts to hold together relationships that are failing anyway. But Fielding says that’s far from what open marriage is about.
“There’s sometimes this misconception that you’re trying to fix something in your partner or in your relationship,” she tells Cosmopolitan. “It’s not about that. It’s about being honest, it’s about [creating] an agreement, it’s about growing with one another.”
She says some people fear open relationships because they fear jealousy. But Fielding says she believes the presence of jealousy is not actually a bad thing. “The presence of unprocessed jealousy is the problem,” she says. And opening up your marriage can help you work through some of those feelings together.
“When we think of open marriage, a lot of people assume it’s a free-for-all,” she says. But the truth is that open marriages often have tons of structure—it’s just structure that the spouses have created together, tailored to their specific needs, rather than a blind acceptance of the normative structure that defines monogamous marriages.
“More often than not, the [open] couple has boundaries around what takes place, when it takes place, and who they can engage sexually,” Hall explains.
There are plenty of reasons to open up a marriage, like exploring different desires, kinks, or sexualities. Maybe an open marriage is a way to make up for the discordance between aromantic and alloromantic spouses. But if you’ve only ever known monogamous relationships, it’s hard to know if an open marriage could be right for you. Read on for everything you’ve ever wanted to know about open marriages and why you might want to try one for yourself.
What is an open marriage, and what is it not?
Hall says an open marriage starts with “two individuals who’ve come together legally and spiritually” but who permit one another to engage in sexual or romantic relationships with other people.
“That’s just the baseline of what we think an open marriage is,” she says. “But there are specific boundaries that are put in place for each couple. The beauty of an open marriage is that it’s really up to the couple about what they consider an open marriage.”
She explains that open relationships of any kind—and open marriages especially—are a mix of rigorous boundary-making and total imaginative freedom. The limitlessness of an open marriage is grounded in a lot of hard work shared equally by the couple, and all parties should be aware of the expectations.
So what is an open marriage not? Static or binding. “What openness implies is there’s a possibility of closure,” Fielding says, meaning that, above all else, open marriages should be responsive to the needs of you and your spouse. If the two of you decide that, meh, this whole open marriage thing isn’t for you, you can close it right back up and carry on with your monogamous lifestyle.
The same way having kids is probably not going to repair a broken relationship, opening up your marriage is not a band-aid for other relationship problems. “Open marriage is never something to use to fix a relationship,” Fielding warns. “That will only exacerbate the issue.”
What are the different forms an open marriage can take?
To appreciate the many forms an open marriage could take, Fielding refers clients to the Relationship Anarchy Smorgasbord. It’s basically a big flow chart full of relationship characteristics, wants, and needs—everything from ways you like to be touched to ways you relate hierarchically or financially. You and your partner(s) get to mark up the chart with your yeses and your nos and your maybe-in-the-futures, filling up your metaphorical plate with all the goods that you mutually agree would make your relationship the most delicious.
Some open marriage agreements have names that we all recognize. Swingers, for example, are couples who choose to engage with other couples together. They might go to a swingers’ club or party where they’ll hook up with other couples and engage in some partner-swapping. In that instance, Hall says, their rules might stipulate that they only engage with other couples when they’re together, and not individually. “That’s still an open marriage,” she says.
Some couples prefer to open their marriages in different ways, allowing each spouse to “have a girlfriend, boyfriend, or sexual partner on the outside” that their spouse isn’t involved with at all, Hall says.
Some outside partner(s) may actually live with the married couple. “It may be what we think of as polygamy, but it’s not always,” she explains. “You could have a married couple that has a live-in girlfriend, boyfriend, or romantic partner. It really is how the couple is defining it.”
What’s the difference between open marriages, polyamory, polygamy, ethical non-monogamy, and just plain cheating?
Sometimes these terms are used interchangeably, but they describe different things. Polyamory, for example, typically involves more intimate, loving relationships between multiple people, whereas an open marriage could involve any kind of extraneous relationship on the attachment spectrum, from a deep emotional connection to a one-night stand. Where they overlap, though, is that both polyamory and open marriages are expressions of ethical non-monogamy. This, Hall says, means you have to inform your partner of your desire to open up your marriage, and they have to consent to it.
An open marriage without that mutual understanding would constitute cheating, unless you and your partner specified otherwise. “In an ethically non-monogamous open marriage, you have an agreement, you create boundaries,” she says, as opposed to “cheating” or “being manipulative.”
“If a person feels they have to do it in order to keep their partner—like, I have to engage in this threesome or I have to allow my partner to go out and sleep with people because that’s the only way they’ll stay with me—then you’re being coerced,” Hall adds. “That’s not consent.”
As for polygamy, while an open marriage may involve multiple loving, connected relationships, it does not always involve multiple marriages, which is what polygamy is. Fielding says there’s sometimes slippage in people’s understandings of polygamy and open marriages, but they’re typically two distinct relationship styles.
What if I’m interested in an open marriage but I don’t know where to start?
Fielding recommends that you educate yourself about open relationships and nontraditional relationship structures before you bring this desire to your partner. “Dig into the various structures that are possible and think of what feels best for you and your partner—the couple at the heart of this agreement,” she says. Browse through Liz Powell’s book Building Open Relationships, and Jessica Fern’s Polysecure. Scan online forums and groups like Ready for Polyamory. And once you feel ready to take your findings to your partner, be prepared to be flexible.
“The structure is developed in concert with each partner and what they need,” Fielding says.
If you need help navigating the transition with your partner—which, like, you’re trying something brand-new here! It’s totally chill to want some expert guidance—Fielding recommends seeking relationship therapy or coaching with a professional who specializes in non-monogamy, polyamory, and open relationships.
What if my partner and I don’t agree on opening up our marriage?
Sometimes, one spouse wants to open the marriage while the other doesn’t. Hall says this requires some compromise, which isn’t always even. “A lot of time, that compromise ends up coming from the person who wants to open things up,” she says. “That can cause problems and lead to resentment that spills into other aspects of the relationship.”
That being said, Fielding explains there’s a fine line between expressing your own relationship needs and pressuring a partner into opening a relationship. If one of you is resistant to opening the relationship, the goal shouldn’t be to convince the other partner, she says. “It’s not about setting an ultimatum because that’s exerting power and control over the relationship.”
She adds: “If you’re feeling coerced, there’s no agency or forum to process feelings, fears, anxieties, or jealousy. And that’s something to really look at.”
Not everyone is going to be open to the idea of an open marriage. But Hall notes that “there are plenty of partners who’ve successfully navigated the process of opening up their marriage.”
Some open up a marriage and quickly decide it’s not for them. That’s okay too. You can close it back up or adapt in whatever ways you and your spouse see fit.
“An agreement is a deep conversation between partners that is renegotiable over time, as things happen over a relationship,” Fielding says. “Our relationships are constantly going through transitions just as our bodies are. It’s an opportunity to grow.”
How can I know if an open marriage would work for me?
Because monogamy is the default dynamic for most couples, it’s normal to be curious about open relationships but unsure of how it might work for you.
It’s totally possible for marriages that started off as traditionally monogamous to transition into something open. If, as you grow as a couple, you see that your sexual or romantic needs aren’t being completely met by your spouse alone, then it might be time for a conversation about opening up your marriage.
“It’s never healthy to make your partner responsible for all of your sexual or romantic needs, wants, and overall happiness,” Hall says. “There are some things that your partner is not gonna be able to do for you all of the time, and you shouldn’t expect that.”
But in order to make your open marriage work, both spouses have to be willing to put in the necessary effort. “It’s a constant conversation. It’s not a ‘set it and forget it,’” Hall says. “Our relationships evolve, especially relationships we’ve been in for a long time.”
Opening up a marriage invites a lot of exciting possibilities but also a lot of emotional considerations. After all, an open marriage means you’re adding onto your existing dynamic. “When you’re inviting other people into your marriage, you’re also inviting other emotions and other personalities,” Hall says. “The people who we go and sleep with, they’re not our sex toys. They’re not just people that we use and dispose of. They have their own feelings, they have their own personalities that we have to manage as well.” How you handle and maintain those other relationships is also a conversation you should have with yourself, your partner, and everyone involved.
While, yes, there are a lot of moving parts, ultimately an open marriage is an opportunity to be honest with yourself and your partner about how best to meet both of your needs while still remaining committed to one another and the relationship you’ve built together. And that, in and of itself, can bring you closer.
“It’s important to remember that even within a monogamous or closed context there’s still a set of relationship agreements,” Fielding says. Open relationships just force you to outline them explicitly and intentionally—something every relationship could benefit from more of, no matter how you slice it.
In a newly revised book, an anthropologist dismantles harmful untruths about society, including notions about the nature of differences between men and women.
A few decades ago, author and family therapist John Gray published the first edition of his book Men Are From Mars, Women Are from Venus, which argues that to make male-female romantic relationships work, one needs to realize the natural differences in communication, emotion, and behavioral styles between males and females. More than 25 years later, this ideology of difference still reflects a common way people think about men and women.
The belief that men are by nature aggressive and belligerent but protectors—like the Roman god of war, Mars—and women are emotive, beautiful, vain, and fertile—like the goddess of love, Venus—is common. Such a belief is often rooted in stories about human evolution and offered as an explanation of why men and women have different jobs, different capacities, and different participation in politics and industry.
This is a dangerous myth.
What we actually know about men and women, and the nature of sex in humans, challenges popular views of these differences and denies any simplistic take on this topic. To bust the myths about sex and gender, we have to test core assumptions and refute them.
It is a common assumption that parts of the male and female brain have evolved to focus on different things: that men seek sex, competition, and status, and women seek protection and security, to be social and caretaking. There is near total agreement in this view; men and women want different things out of life and sex. This is a basis for misogyny, incels, and hate.
Because of the assumptions about how males and females differ in behavior, there has been an intensive search for measurable biological differences in men’s and women’s brains. The results, as neuroscientist Lise Eliot points out, are negligible:
“What I found after an exhaustive search was surprisingly little solid evidence of sex differences in children’s brains. Sure, there are studies that do find differences, but when I looked closely at all the data—not just the research that confirms what we already know about boys’ and girls’ behavior but a truly balanced collection of findings—I had to admit that only two facts have been reliably proven: boys’ brains are larger than girls, and girls’ brains finish growing earlier than boys. Overall male/female brain differences appear trivial and population-specific. The human brain is not ‘sexually dimorphic.’”
For example, for over 100 years the corpus callosum was supposed to be the Holy Grail of brain differences between males and females. The corpus callosum’s nerve fibers reach out like tendrils into the parts of the brain, acting as the mediator of signals between the left and right hemispheres.
University of California Press
In the 1990s, a number of publications purported to show size differences between men and women in the corpus callosum. Their assumption was that a larger splenium (the rear part of the corpus callosum, where it is at its thickest) would indicate a more robust set of connections and maybe reflect better kinds of social or empathetic skills. The argument was that women have a larger splenium than men, and thus better integrative, or holistic, thinking skills.
In 1997, psychologists Katherine Bishop and Douglas Wahlsten examined studies on the corpus callosum and came to the following conclusion: “A meta-analysis of 49 studies published since 1980 reveals no significant sex difference in the size or shape of the splenium of the corpus callosum, whether or not an appropriate adjustment is made for brain size.”
In addition, over the past few centuries there have been many studies of the brains of cadavers, and since the 1980s, researchers have been able to use various imaging technologies to examine the brains of living individuals. The end result is that aside from size (on average), there does not seem to be any clear pattern or consistent indication of structural differences that can be tied to biological male-female distinctions.
The bottom line is, as Eliot and colleagues note, the structures of the brain are no more “male” or “female” than are the liver or kidneys or heart. However, there are some patterns of differences in some ways in which brains respond to stimuli, especially in adults. This is because, as neuroscientist Gina Rippon notes, “a gendered world will produce a gendered brain.”
WHAT ARE SEX AND GENDER?
Recent work in biology and genetics clearly demonstrates that biological sex is not best envisioned as a binary (XX versus XY) but rather as a broad spectrum of developmental patterns and processes. To varying extents, many of us are biological hybrids on a male-female continuum.
Most of the variation is minor, and individuals more or less conform to a general division based on which genitals one has (which is not a definition of biological sex), but with a range of variation in things like hormone levels and function, physical developmental patterns, hair growth, and other physiological processes. This is a normal part of the biological processes of being human and reflects a flexible system of reproductive development.
Gender is a culturally influenced perception of the roles the range of sexes are expected to play. In many societies, gender is best conceived of as a continuum, not a dichotomy. “Gender” and “sex” are related, entangled even, but not the same thing.
Most recently the term gender/sex is used by researchers because the term recognizes that the biological and the sociocultural are typically inseparable. Humans are naturenurtural—a true synthesis and fusion of nature and nurture. It is best to think of gender/sex as a dynamic system of interaction rather than one physical part (biological sex) and one cultural part (gender); in humans, you can’t have one without the other.
BUSTING MYTHS ABOUT MALE AND FEMALE BEHAVIORS
Researchers know that men, on average, are taller and heavier. But are men and women really different when it comes to IQ or mathematical and scientific ability? Can evolutionary differences explain male-female differences in skill and behavior?
In groundbreaking work, psychologist Janet Shibley Hyde analyzed psychological studies to find out how much men and women actually differ in their abilities. In her 2005 study, she conducted an overview of psychological and standardized assessments of cognitive variables (math, verbal, spatial), communication (verbal and nonverbal), social and personality variables (aggression, negotiation, helping, sexuality, leadership, introversion/extroversion), psychological well-being, motor behaviors (throwing, balance, flexibility, et cetera), and a few others (moral reasoning, cheating behavior, et cetera.).
According to meta-analyses, one of the few large differences between men and women is in their grip strength.
Shibley Hyde examined 46 meta-analyses of male-female differences (published between 1980 and 2004), consisting of nearly 5,000 reports. In comparing the reports, Shibley Hyde used the d measure, which reflects how far apart the male and female averages are in standardized units. She found that in 78 percent of the meta-analyses, the d measures are close to zero or small.
Where are the large gender differences? Males scored noticeably higher in grip strength, sprinting, throwing velocity and throwing distance, masturbation, views on casual sex, physical aggression, and mental rotation of objects. Females scored higher on indirect aggression, agreeableness, and smiling.
Recently, psychologist Ethan Zell and colleagues retested and expanded on Shibley Hyde’s key assessments. They analyzed data from more than 20,000 studies involving over 12 million participants, and they concluded that “across most topic areas in psychological science, the difference between males and females is small or very small.”
WHERE DO GENDER DIFFERENCES COME FROM?
While we see infants through gendered eyes, infants do not have full-blown gendered behavior and perceptions at birth; instead, they have to acquire gender as they develop. In all societies, this process begins very young. By about 1 1/2 years of age, the gender schemata begin to develop, with gendered play patterns emerging by about 2 years of age.
The details of these patterns differ by culture, but one consistency is related to size and strength. Males start to play in a more rough-and-tumble manner than females at about this age (on average; there is a lot of overlap). By ages 3 to 4, children begin to display consistent culturally structured gendered behavior, and at 6 to 7 years, children form relatively fixed gender stereotypes and behave more or less in accord with them.
Each child develops their gender in the context of a given society, so the specifics of masculinity or femininity (or other gender characteristics not in a binary context) vary for children depending on societal norms.
Psychologists Wendy Wood and Alice H. Eagly looked at anthropological records of hundreds of societies and examined the gender roles, divisions of labor, and patterns of gender/sex differences over time. They found that there is variation in the roles males and females play across societies, with high degrees of overlap in many areas. There are greater differences in aspects of those societies that deal very directly with size and strength or giving birth and taking care of young children. Other patterns then become associated with, or emerge from, these differences.
Wood and Eagly suggest that many of the current social divisions of labor typically associated with gender emerge from both the biological facets of being human and human evolutionary histories, combined with our histories of resource use and distribution. However, these assertions are not fully supported by the fossil and archaeological record. Data from many studies show few major differences between males and females in sexual activity.
Recent work makes it clear that at least some percentage of those individuals we would classify biologically as females did engage in the kinds of physically demanding hunting often thought to be “men’s” domain. Archaeological evidence demonstrates that the bodies and capacities of those we classify as female show physical characteristics in some areas (such as upper arm strength in some early agricultural populations) that map to elite athletes of today, suggesting substantial physical exertion and likely different sets of gendered expectations around them.
It is highly likely that gender roles and divisions of labor have undergone substantial changes over the last few centuries as societies have transformed both structurally (through industrialization and technology) and socially (with shifts in politics, economy, and education).
In the areas of gendered aggression differences, it seems clear that males’ size and strength are important factors in their increased likelihood of exhibiting physical aggression. However, the details are quite complicated. Women also use physical aggression, at even higher rates than men, at least within heterosexual couples. However, males typically have potential to do greater harm. Might this be a reflection of our evolutionary past?
Yes and no. Male size and muscle mass are part of our evolutionary heritage, but this pattern did not evolve so that males could beat up or intimidate females. However, this difference can have an effect in our societies and our gender systems. In social structures where males have political and economic power, they can exploit this physical difference to help maintain these patterns of control. In this case, males’ use of physical aggression toward females is a cultural co-option of a biological potential and not a specific evolutionary adaptation in our species.
BUSTING MYTHS ABOUT SEXUAL ACTIVITY
The myth of male and female differences in sexual behavior is a dominant one. But the data from many studies show few major differences between males and females in sexual activity. However, one might argue that the real differences between males and females are not in sexual activity but in the expression of interest in the pattern of sexual behavior as it relates to mating.
This concept is called sociosexual orientation. It is measured via the sociosexual orientation inventory (SOI), a self-reported measure of individual differences in human mating strategies. These scores range from low (preferring monogamy) to high (preferring promiscuous mating). The assumption is that men should rate higher or more unrestricted on sociosexuality than women because of their evolutionarily based tendency to want to reproduce as much as possible and females’ tendency to look for the best mates rather than mate with many males.
When one looks closely at data about how many partners men and women want to have during their lifetimes, the numbers are remarkably similar.
In general, the major datasets reporting on this variable show that men across the globe tend to score higher than women on the SOI. In studies of the United States, men do tend to report higher interest in sexual activity and sexual fantasies, higher numbers of preferred or actual sexual partners, and desire for short-term versus long-term mating opportunities (on average).
But are those differences as great as many make them out to be? Psychologists David Buss and David Schmitt argued that there is a radical difference in male and female mating strategies based on self-reported ideal partner number over time. Males reported wanting an average of about 10 partners over their lifetimes, and females reported wanting about four.
However, if we look closely at the data and ask what the median was (the absolute true middle of the distribution of responses), the answer is around one for both males and females! No real difference. In fact, the large average differences seem to be brought about mostly by more males reporting much higher numbers (100 partners or more) than females; these outliers increased the average. Also, much of this data comes from college students across the globe—not really a great representative sample of humanity.
MOVING BEYOND MYTHS ABOUT GENDER/SEX
Men and women do not naturally want different things from life; we are all humans. However, some biological patterns combine with specific cultural and experiential contexts to create different desires, expectations, and patterns of behavior. We must realize that each individual may or may not match the ideas society has for gender/sex but that such variation is normal for humanity.
Understanding how humans are similar and different and the range of human variation gives us a broader notion of what is natural. There is no evolved battle of the sexes in humans. Nor are gender differences and similarities unimportant. But understanding how humans do and do not vary can help people move forward toward better societies.
There are so many potential reasons why sexual desire in a relationship may wane over time. You might fall into a sexual routine that fails to inspire much excitement, or you become parents and have little time or energy for anything outside of keeping the house running. Or maybe you just stop prioritizing sex altogether because other areas of life are taking precedence.
But recent research suggests there’s one factor that people don’t often consider—and this one can have significant implications for the relationship’s future.
Your perception of your partner may be changing in a bad way.
The link between sexual desire and partner perception.
In a recent study published in the Archives of Sexual Behavior, researchers had a hunch that sexual desire plays a specific, unique role in the maintenance of relationships. Sexual desire, they hypothesized, “serves as a gut-level indicator of partner mate value that motivates investment in valued partners.”
That is, sexual desire is an instinctive barometer of how valuable you perceive your partner to be, which includes the extent to which they possess the qualities of a good partner, how invested you both are in the relationship, and how easily you think they could find a new partner if you weren’t in the picture.
Moreover, past studies have shown that people who have sexual desire for their romantic partner are also more likely to engage in behaviors that will help maintain and strengthen the relationship overall.
“Sexual desire for current partners thus apparently tends to spill over outside the bedroom, enhancing the willingness to employ strategies that allow individuals to get closer to their partners and improve their relationships,” the researchers write in the paper.
The researchers wanted to see if all these dots were in fact connected, with sexual desire being an indicator of seeing your partner as valuable and—because of that—a motivator to nurture the relationship. A decline in desire, in turn, would align with lower partner perception and declining investment.
Testing the role of sexual desire in relationships.
To test their theory, the team, led by Gurit Birnbaum, Ph.D., a professor of psychology at Reichman University in Israel, conducted a series of experiments with a total of nearly 800 people in relationships (mostly college students, except for one experiment that included people up to age 60).
In one experiment, the researchers asked a batch of these romantically involved individuals to recall—in vivid detail—either an event in which they highly valued their partner or an event that made them value their partner less. Then, the participants were asked to rate their level of sexual desire for their partner and then to indicate how many spa treatments they wanted to transfer to their partner (out of five) in case of winning a lottery at the end of the experiment.
Partners who remembered a moment of highly valuing their partner experienced increased sexual desire for them, and those who had more sexual desire for their partner tended to gift them with more spa treatments.
In other experiments, the researchers actually tracked couples throughout their daily lives to see if these trends held true in real life. Over the course of six weeks (in one experiment) and then six months (in another), researchers asked both members of each couple to complete a daily or weekly diary recording their feelings about their partner and the relationship. They tracked their perceptions of their partner’s value as a partner (for example, rating their agreement with statements like “If my partner were single, he would have been romantically pursued by other individuals”), their desire to have sex with them (“I was very interested in having sex with my partner today”), and how positively they treated each other (“My partner behaved thoughtfully toward me today,” “I often put aside my own interests for the sake of my relationship with my partner,” and so on).
Consistently, the findings showed that, at times when a person perceived their partner as being more valuable, they also experienced more sexual desire for them. That increased desire, in turn, predicted a higher likelihood of doing things to nurture the relationship—including non-sexual things like being thoughtful toward the partner and making sacrifices for them.
What this means for relationships where desire is declining.
Past research has linked sexual satisfaction with relationship satisfaction; that is, when a couple is happy with their sex life, they tend to be happy with their relationship overall too.
This study by Birnbaum and her colleagues suggests that there’s a specific reason for this: Wanting to have sex with your S.O. is a manifestation of how positively you view them as a partner, and it’s a motivator to be more engaged in ensuring the relationship’s health.
“Reduced sexual desire, in contrast, may deny the relationship these benefits,” Birnbaum and her colleagues note. “Experiencing low sexual desire for one’s partner may stem from perceiving this partner to be less valuable as a mate, and second, may be translated into less investment in the relationship, which eventually might hurt the relationship and foretell its demise.”
Meaning: If you’re noticing you’re less sexually interested in your partner than you have been in the past, it may in part be because you’re valuing them less as a romantic partner in general. Your perception of them may be becoming more negative.
Viewing your partner through a negative lens has obvious destructive consequences in terms of how happy you are in your relationship and how you treat your partner accordingly.
Birnbaum and her team’s research shows that sexual desire is a mediating factor between valuing your partner less and disengaging from the relationship. In other words, it’s a bit of a canary in the coal mine situation: when desire for your partner declines, it may be a sign that overall investment in your partner is declining too.
What to do if you’re in this situation.
First of all, it’s important to again remember that sexual desire in a relationship can decrease for all sorts of reasons. You might have less interest in sex with your partner because of other issues in your relationship, stress, increased responsibilities in other parts of your life, or any other number of reasons.
“Perceived partner mate value is only one of the factors that may affect desire,” Birnbaum tells mbg. “Many psychological processes influence relationship quality and stability (e.g., interdependence, commitment, trust) and may contribute to decreases and increases in the level of sexual desire.” It’s also OK to not want sex from time to time, or at all.
That said, per this study’s findings, Birnbaum notes that declines in sexual desire in a long-term relationship may be driven, at least in part, by negative changes in perception of your partner’s mate value. “Such decreases are likely to be a prime factor in the well-documented decreases in relationship satisfaction that occur over time in marriage and other marital-like relationships,” she explains.
That means, if you notice you’re feeling less sexually interested in your partner than you have been in the past, it’s important to check in with yourself and your relationship to understand why that might be. Are your opinions about your partner overall changing? Is a negative bias beginning to cloud your view of them?
Maybe that doesn’t feel accurate to your situation. Or maybe it is.
The good news is, there are ways to build up positive regard for your partner again, if that’s what you want to do. “Make sure that you are paying attention to where your thoughts go,” licensed couples therapist Elizabeth Earnshaw, LMFT, recently told mbg. “While it is important to maintain a realistic understanding of our relationship—which does include having complaints and negative thoughts—we also need to make sure we are making room for the good things, noticing what we appreciate, love, and where our partner is doing things ‘right.’”
And as Birnbaum’s team write in their paper, working specifically on increasing sexual desire in your relationship again can also have a positive overall effect on the relationship by encouraging more investment and positive engagement with one another.
During the first year-ish of the pandemic, I counted down the minutes until I could crash into bed. But every night, as depleted as I felt, I stayed awake to indulge in a guilty pleasure best enjoyed alone: an hour of TV and my phone. So recently, when my husband’s New Year’s resolution coaxed him into bed at the same time I turned in, I was grumpy.
I assumed he would have opinions about what to watch during my sacred solo time. And what if he wanted to make out when I felt like passing out? Admittedly, I felt selfish about wanting to just lie there, streaming PEN15 and scrolling Twitter.
Conventional wisdom tells us technology is bad. Too much screen time disrupts our sleep and disturbs our focus. Casual social media use can turn into less-healthy doomscrolling. And research points to potential negative effects of technology on relationships. Take for instance, the phenomenon of “technoference,” or interruptions in couple interactions caused by technology use. Maybe it’s one person talking to another while they’re typing an email, or your partner venting about their day while you mindlessly scroll Instagram. Not surprisingly, a 2019 study of 173 couples in Computers in Behavior found that this type of behavior can have a significant negative impact on mood and how we feel about our relationships.
I can relate. When stay-at-home social distancing orders had us spending all day, every day together, my husband’s phones—yes, there are two—were always around: chirping ESPN notifications at dinner, lighting up in his pocket, demanding an email response, even if we were in the middle of a conversation or trying to get out the door for a neighborhood stroll. I started to think of his phones as unwanted third (and fourth) partners in our marriage. But did I tell him that’s how I felt? If you count my animated eye rolls and barely audible, “Here we go again,” when he reached for his phone, then yes.
But contrary to the technical interference in my relationship, some researchers think technology has been undeservedly criticized when it comes to intimate connection. And, with a little self-awareness, our devices have the potential to bring us closer to our partners. That’s why we consulted a couple of experts who specialize in the effects of technology on relationships. Read on for their practical tips on how to prevent tech from destroying intimacy—without giving up your devices, naturally.
1. Try to establish healthy tech boundaries.
“Technology was a connector, refuge, and even lifeline for most of us during the pandemic,” Michelle Drouin, PhD, psychology professor at Purdue University, writes in her recently released book Out of Touch: How to Survive an Intimacy Famine. But pandemic or not, there’s a pitfall to our ubiquitous connection: the technoference we mentioned earlier. These technological interruptions in our face-to-face interactions—like when one partner’s phone is at the dinner table and the other really wishes it wasn’t—can have a lasting impact. “Even if it’s only a momentary experience, it can feel like rejection,” Dr. Drouin tells SELF. “It sends a signal to your partner that you’re choosing your phone over them.”
The best thing to do if technoference is a hot button issue in your relationship? You guessed it: Talk to your partner. But Dr. Drouin emphasizes that we should avoid threats and accusations. Instead, try to use “I” statements. For example, “I feel sad when I’m lying next to you but I’m not the focus of your attention,” rather than, “You’re always on your phone and it’s ruining our relationship.” Obviously, the latter is more likely to cause the phubber (the phone snubber) to feel attacked and less open to adjusting their tech habits. Conversely, approaching the subject in a nonthreatening way can help you and your partner set tech boundaries that work for both of you. Think putting phones away at dinner or bedtime, or setting time limits for social media scrolling.
And it’s worth noting that phones don’t interfere in every relationship. “There are some couples who are perfectly fine that they’re both on the couch scrolling on technology while watching a show,” says Dr. Drouin. In other words, if screens aren’t preventing anyone from getting their needs met, then keep calm and scroll on.
2. Learn to read between the (text message) lines.
For the past couple of months, my husband and I have been going to bed and waking up together. Still, once the day starts, our communication is almost exclusively electronic: a texted grocery list, a reminder about which kid needs to be picked up, a scheduling confirmation for the coming weekend.
Mimi Winsberg, MD, a Stanford-trained psychiatrist and the chief medical officer at Brightside Health, calls texting “the lingua franca of love”—meaning that texting has become our primary form of communication, not just with friends and colleagues, but with our romantic partners.
And yet, Dr. Winsberg, who spent three years as Facebook’s resident psychiatrist, tells SELF, “You can be the most tech-savvy person in the world, but our brains are still catching up to the way we’re using technology in our closest relationships. We have a lot to learn.”
In her recently released book, Speaking in Thumbs: A Psychiatrist Decodes Your Relationship Texts So You Don’t Have To, Dr. Winsberg draws on 25 years of clinical experience and research—her own and others’—to help people understand how texting impacts our relationships. Why texting? Dr. Winsberg argues that each person has ways they want to express and experience love, and since double-thumbing phone messages has generally become the dominant mode of communication in modern relationships, those preferences clearly manifest in texts. Borrowing terminology from Dr. Gary Chapman’s popular The 5 Love Languages, Dr. Winsberg’s book introduces five text love languages: compliments, riffing (rapid-fire banter), spoon-feeding (sending an interesting read or meme, or little personal updates), nooking (sweet nothings, like “XO,” or sexting), and nudging (reminders that you’re thinking of them).
“I think it’s helpful for people to know how they like to communicate and be communicated with,” says Dr. Winsberg. That way, partners are more likely to feel like they’re getting their emotional needs met. If you can’t decipher each other’s preferences from your text thread, have a chat. For example, you could say, “I’m not very good at chatting during the workday, but I love a good text sesh in the evening,” or “I’d love a goodnight text.” Then meet your partner where they are—if they prefer compliments, keep them sincere, or if they’re into riffing, set aside five minutes when you’re both normally free and see if you can make them LOL.
3. Consider doing a self-diagnostic.
We can learn a lot by scrolling back over our texts and looking at how we interact with our partners. According to Dr. Winsberg, our texting history “can provide an electronic health record” of sorts for our relationship. Recently, I read through my text exchanges with my husband. His “out of Ziplock bags” text probably didn’t count as riffing, just like my “Are you coming?” could hardly be mistaken for sexting, given the context. In fact, I found little evidence that the two people communicating were even in love, unless you count the occasional red heart emoji.
Dr. Winsberg writes in her book, “While messages may inevitably become more utilitarian in this way over the course of a relationship, there are good reasons to suggest that affectionate exchanges can help a couple maintain their bond.” After a year of living in constant contact (with kids), browsing our history was just the advice my husband and I needed. It inspired us to start sprinkling in texts like “I appreciate you” or a simple heart-eyes emoji—small acts of affection that have been satisfying to both send and receive.
Shanhong Luo, PhD, relationship researcher and professor at the University of North Carolina Wilmington, tested a similar hypothesis in a 2015 study published in Computers in Human Behavior titled “Can texting improve romantic relationships?” And according to her research, it can. “If people send a positive text message to their partner, either something generic or something nice about the partner, it helps to combat the downward satisfaction pattern,” Dr. Luo tells SELF. In other words, we all know it’s common for a relationship to have an early honeymoon phase followed by a slow fade in attraction over time. A super doable antidote? Send nice text messages.
4. Use evening screen time to your advantage.
Spending quality time with your significant other before bed, specifically, may offer a beneficial bonding boost, according to Dr. Drouin. And—good news for me–together tech-time totally counts.
In a 2021 study in the Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, Dr. Drouin found that more than half of the 289 participants reported going to bed at the same time as their partner, while 27% said they usually didn’t, but wanted to. In her book, Dr. Drouin writes, “Simply going to bed with a romantic partner predicted bedtime satisfaction. In turn, increased bedtime satisfaction led to more sexual, relationship, and life satisfaction.”
If that sounds like too big a pivot because, like me, you value your solo screen time at night, take heart: “It doesn’t matter what couples are doing together, as long as they’re doing it right before bed,” Dr. Drouin says.
For example, she says that partners don’t necessarily need to have sex, or even long conversations, to bond. “Sometimes watching a movie or show together can get you to a positive place in terms of your relationship satisfaction,” she tells SELF. What if Netflix isn’t your jam? No problem, Dr. Drouin’s study found all that’s needed for activities to be “pro-bonding” for couples is that they’re experienced together—which is good news for pairs who prefer playing video games or listening to a podcast (or even side-by-side scrolling) over streaming shows.
The caveat: If you do opt for tech over touch at night, be cognizant of blue light before sleep. According to the CDC, exposure to blue light can make it difficult to fall and stay asleep. But a study in the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine suggests that TV is less likely to interfere with sleep than more interactive devices like mobile phones, which are more physiologically and cognitively stimulating—plus, since TVs aren’t typically as close to your face as phones and tablets, your eyes may get less blue light exposure.
5. Make incremental autocorrection the goal.
Becoming aware of technology’s impact on our closest relationships is critical, says Dr. Luo, but revamping our tech habits wholesale may seem too daunting. That’s why she encourages couples to focus on small acts of romantic upkeep. “For houses, cars, and relationships, regular maintenance makes it possible to sustain satisfaction,” she says.
For me this little-by-little mindset helps. During the day I now make an effort to notice when I’m mindlessly scrolling (hello check-out lines and parking lots), stop myself, and send some e-love to my man instead. Even if love looks like a meme of Taylor Swift making heart hands. “It’s easy to do,” Dr. Luo says. “Remembering to do it is a big first step.”
As for his phone mistresses, I also finally took a deep breath, promised myself to reach for “I statements”—even though barking criticisms felt more emotionally authentic—and talked to him about how it feels when his phones come to dinner. Lately, he’s been leaving them behind at dinnertime more often than not and charging them overnight in the kitchen so they’re out of reach when we go to bed. And he’s also going to ditch his personal phone in favor of keeping only one phone for business and pleasure.
When nighttime rolls around, I’ve taken Dr. Drouin’s advice about conversation and negotiation. “People don’t like being forced to do something,” Dr. Drouin tells SELF. “The best thing to do is ask your partner, ‘What does your ideal bedtime look like?’” If one person prefers streaming a Netflix series, say, and another wants to get busy, consider splitting the week and meeting your partner in the middle.
I’ve finally come around to his crashing my bedtime ritual, too. Though he never got into PEN15, we agree on Ozark and the idea of lights out by 10. Now, once we find the movie or show for the night, we snuggle up to watch it (usually with our phones out of reach). I’ve actually started to prefer his armpit to the pillow I used when he wasn’t lying next to me.
Maybe the next time I conduct a post-mortem of my marital text thread, I’ll find evidence of more than the groceries we lack. But I’m not expecting a bolt of romantic lightning either. “As with most things in science, a gradual synthesis is much more likely than a great leap,” Dr. Drouin says. “So couples may find that just like resentment can increase over time as phones interfere with interactions, positive feelings can also build as they take small steps together.”
If you think your magical relationship is never going to encounter a fight, you’re just plain wrong. Sorry to pop your love bubble, but welcome to reality.
Conflict is both inevitable and normal in romantic relationships. Where there is love and passion, there will be arguing, at least on occasion. In recent years, many psychologists, therapists and relationship coaches have even suggested that couples who do not fight have a higher chance of breaking up.
One 2012 study published in Society for Personality and Social Psychology found that in many cases, it’s beneficial for the overall well-being of a long-term relationship if couples openly express feelings of anger, rather than burying their feelings and avoiding them. This may seem obvious, but in practice, many of us do push away unpleasant feelings about our partners, instead of being open about our discontent.
Now, every single couple expresses anger or annoyance in their own way, as highlighted by a 2020 study that looked at the nuances of inter-couple conflict and ways it is expressed, and that’s something that must be acknowledged. That being said, there is a healthier way for all couples to fight. There’s no need to take the nuclear option at the first sign of a disagreement.
Silva Neves, an accredited psychotherapist specializing in psychosexual and relationship therapy, tells us that there are two main ways of fighting: Constructive (the healthy, positive way) and Destructive (the unhealthy, negative way). “If you are disrespectful to your partner, call them derogatory names or shout in a way that is intimidating, this is destructive and it doesn’t solve anything,” he says. “It makes things worse because these kinds of behaviors erode relationships.”
OK, but how do you fight constructively then? With the help of some of the best relationship experts in the business, we put together a simple and straightforward guide to healthy fighting. Because all couples argue, but most could be arguing better.
Why couples fight
Couples fight because they are in close proximity and because, as Laurie Mintz, Ph.D., a licensed psychologist, certified sex therapist and author of Becoming Cliterate, puts it, “We are two separate human beings trying to forge a connection and sometimes a life together.” And that shit is hard.
There are many reasons why we might find ourselves in conflict. “It might be when you find that you have a different point of view from your partner, or when you want them to do something they’re not willing to do,” Neves explains. “Most of the time, the arguments are over small things and it is usually when we feel vulnerable [or] insecure about ourselves for one reason or another.”
Romantic relationships can bring out the best in us in so many ways, but they can also trigger deeper attachment wounds. How we interact with people we love is largely influenced by the ways in which we experienced relationships and attachment as children and throughout our lives — and so is the way we fight.
“If we have insecure attachment styles, getting involved in a close relationship may trigger our attachment [systems],” says Nazanin Moali, Ph.D., a clinical psychologist and sex and relationship expert. “Oftentimes people manage more distanced relationships by avoiding conflicts; however, when we are in closer relationships, we may not have a choice other than facing the issues.”
Hence, we fight.
Fighting the healthy way (yes, it’s possible)
Now that we know why we fight, we can figure out the best ways to fight in order to not completely destroy each other and/or our relationships.
Lucy Rowett, a certified sex and relationships coach, says that it’s always best to stay with “I” statements, rather than “You” statements. This means avoiding statements like “You always/You never” and instead saying, “I feel like you don’t do X.”
Neves expands on this idea: “Constructive fighting is taking responsibility for your opinions and feelings and not blaming the other [person], but making more of a statement for yourself: ‘When you don’t wash the dishes, I feel hurt because I enjoy a clean kitchen. It is important for me to share tasks in order to feel respected. If I cook, I would like you to wash the dishes.’ Compared to: ‘You haven’t done the dishes yet again, you’re useless.’” Basically, the blame game just makes us defensive and that is not productive.
When having an argument, it comes down to priorities. Constructive fighting is about problem solving and sharing feelings, not making the other person feel like shit about themselves. “Real intimacy isn’t the absence of conflict; it’s the recognition of conflict and the willingness to address it as a team when it arises,” Moali says. “It is important to address the ongoing issues in the relationship, but focus on resolving the problem instead of proving your partner wrong.”
Lastly, and this one might sting, Mintz says that even in the midst of a heated fight, you need to “remind yourself that this is a person you love and respect and work to find the grain of truth (there is always one) in what they are saying.”
Firm, but fair. We’re all just trying to be heard, right?
Reconnecting after a fight (and moving forward together)
Once you’re finished with the blowout, it’s important to then find a post-combat, neutral place. Neves tells us that you should take some time, regroup and calm down before you attempt to reconnect.
Next, both parties need to take responsibility for their actions and be willing to apologize. Apologize “properly if you raised your voice and said something hurtful, and then start the conversation again in a calmer state,” Neves says.
This is a grand time for physical affection — in whatever form works for you. Hugs, kisses, cuddles, etc. all help to get the oxytocin flowing and recreate intimate connection with those we love. “Then, you can choose what’s next together — a walk, a movie, time alone, sex. There is no right or wrong — whatever works for both of you, individually and as a couple,” Mintz adds.
Safeguarding for future conflicts
The best way to safeguard is to first set “absolute limits.” Rowett tells us she recommends “that you make an agreement with each other when you’re both connected of what is absolutely off-limits when you are fighting, such as hurling anything at your partner that you know will hurt them or hit a pain point, because this can cause real damage to your relationship and you may not be able to rebuild trust.”
Neves suggests paying attention to these Big 4 Unhealthy Fight Red Flags.
1. Criticism
Sure, it’s perfectly fine to tell your partner if something they did upset you, but don’t point the finger of blame and try to tear them down. Instead “focus on the impact their behaviors [or] thoughts ha[ve] on you instead.”
2. Defensiveness
Now, if you’re on the opposite side of this and you’re receiving feedback, “don’t jump [on] the defense straight away as it encourages more conflicts,” Neves says. “Instead, take a deep breath, try to understand their point of view and invite them for brainstorming to resolve the issue together.”
3. Contempt
Contempt arises when you genuinely believe that you are superior to your partner. “Whether it is better at doing some tasks, or more emotionally intelligent or have higher intellect, whatever it is that you believe you’re better at, don’t,” Neves says. You might be better at some things than your partner, but they have their strengths too. “If you have contempt for your partner, this builds resentment over time, and this is very toxic for a relationship.”
4. Stonewalling
If your partner does something that pisses you off, don’t shut down or blow them off. These kinds of counterproductive reactions only fuel anger and resentment. “If it is not the right time for you to have an argument, just tell your partner that you’re not ready for it and that you commit to address the issues later, when it’s more convenient,” Neves says.
At the end of the day, everyone fights. We just need to have the emotional maturity to understand why we’re fighting and to be able to apologize and take responsibility where it’s needed. We all want beautiful, healthy, happy relationships, and they start with taking steps to engage in conflict in a positive way.
Male anorgasmia is the persistent inability of a man to have an orgasm, even after sexual stimulation. Anorgasmia, or Coughlan’s syndrome, affects both men and women, but it’s more common in women.
Male anorgasmia can be distressing to those who experience it, especially since it often occurs with delayed ejaculation. This is when an orgasm is possible, but it’s difficult and takes longer to achieve.
It’s estimated that about 8% of men have delayed or absent orgasm.1 It’s less common among younger men and increases with age.
The condition should not be confused with erectile dysfunction (the inability to achieve an erection) or low libido (lack of sexual desire). However, these conditions may co-exist.
There are multiple causes of male anorgasmia. They include:
Physiological problems present at birth
Side effects from surgery
Medications
Psychological issues
A treatment plan can be created once the cause has been identified. Then a man should be able to regain normal and satisfying sexual function.
This article will explain the types and causes of male anorgasmia. It will also address diagnosis and treatment as well as how to cope with this condition.
Physiology of the Male Orgasm
The male orgasm is a complex process. It is the third of four distinct phases in the sexual response cycle: Desire (libido), arousal (excitement), orgasm, and resolution.
Male orgasm results from sexual activity and arousal. It involves multiple hormones, organs, and nerve pathways.
Testosterone, a hormone produced in the testicles, plays a central role in this process by enhancing sexual desire that leads to arousal, erection, and ultimately, orgasm.
Also involved are contractions of the muscles of the penis, anus, and perineum. This space is located between the anus and scrotum. Ultimately, these contractions propel semen from the body.
During orgasm, the reward center of the brain floods with neurochemicals. These chemicals are responsible for the intense emotional response associated with an orgasm.
A man may be unable to achieve a normal orgasm when physical or emotional issues affect any of these parts of the process.
Types
Men can experience one of two types of anorgasmia:
Primary anorgasmia, when a person has never been able to have an orgasm
Secondary, or situational, anorgasmia, when orgasm can be reached only under specific conditions, such as during oral sex or masturbation
Causes
The potential causes of male anorgasmia can be divided into two categories: physiological and psychological:
Physiological
Conditions such as multiple sclerosis, neuropathy (nerve damage) caused by diabetes, and uncontrolled hypertension (high blood pressure)
Hypogonadism (low testosterone levels) and endocrine disorders that affect hormonal balance
Complications from prostate surgery (prostatectomy) or radiation to treat prostate cancer
Cauda equina syndrome, a rare condition in which exposed nerve fibers at the bottom of the spinal cord become irritated
Congenital absence of the bulbocavernosus sphincter to contract during ejaculation
Substance abuse (especially heroin use)
Prescription side effects with certain medications, such as antipsychotics, opiates, and antidepressants, particularly selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) like Prozac (fluoxetine)
A study of about 2,000 men evaluated for the sexual effects of antidepressants found that the inability to achieve orgasm was seven times more common in those who took SSRIs.
Psychological
General mental health issues such as anxiety, stress, depression, relationship difficulties, and hostility
Sexual performance anxiety (the most common psychological cause of anorgasmia), which can affect men of any age and can be intensified by erectile dysfunction
Negative attitudes about sex tied to a repressive religious upbringing or family/parental issues
Early sexual abuse and trauma
Certain phobias, such as haphephobia (fear of being touched) and genophobia (generalized fear of sexual intercourse)
Grief, including that brought on by the loss of a partner
Diagnosis
To treat male anorgasmia, it must be diagnosed accurately. If you’re dealing with this problem, a visit to your primary care healthcare provider can get the process started.
Your healthcare provider will do a thorough physical exam and review your medical history. This may include an evaluation of all medications you take or have taken in the past.
It’s possible that your anorgasmia started about the same time you began taking a new medication.
This initial evaluation will steer the next move: either more tests or a referral to a specialist. This could be a urologist for a physical cause or a mental health professional for a psychological issue. You could get a referral to both.
Tests commonly used to help diagnose the cause of male anorgasmia include:
Blood tests to measure levels of hormones such as testosterone, thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), and prolactin, a hormone that affects testosterone levels
Biothesiometry to measure whether there’s a loss of sensation in the penis
Penile sympathetic skin response to test the function of nerves supplying the penis
Sacral reflex arc testing, another way to evaluate the function of the nerves that supply the genital area
Treatment
Testosterone replacement therapy such as Tlando (testosterone undecanoate) or a dopamine-promoting drug, like Dostinex (cabergoline), may restore a man’s ability to orgasm
Therapy and/or medication for depression, anxiety, or other mood disorders that contribute to male anorgasmia
Psychotherapy to overcome sexual performance anxiety or past sexual and non-sexual trauma
Couples counseling, which may help resolve relationship issues
Sex therapy to treat certain sexual issues
Instruction in digital prostate massage to help stimulate what some people consider to be the male G-spot
Sometimes, changing the dosage of a prescription is all that’s necessary to return sexual function to normal. It’s a simple “cure” that serves as a reminder about why it doesn’t pay to postpone a trip to the doctor.
What About Viagra?
Medications such as Viagra (sildenafil) and Cialis (tadalafil) increase blood flow to the penis. They treat erectile dysfunction but will not enhance libido or make it easier for a man to reach orgasm.
Coping
Male anorgasmia, like any type of sexual dysfunction, can take a big toll on a man’s physical, psychological, and emotional life. It may have similar effects on his partner.
The most important step is to seek a medical diagnosis. It does no good to allow fear or embarrassment to prevent you from confronting the issue.
Usually, there is hope. But an effective treatment may not be possible if you:
Have had a radical prostatectomy (a surgical procedure on the prostate)
Have suffered severe pelvic trauma
Have multiple sclerosis
In this case, the best solution may be to focus on enhancing sexual pleasure and intimacy without orgasm. A psychologist or sex therapist can help you embrace a healthy sexual lifestyle in ways you may not have considered.
Summary
There are two types of male anorgasmia and two primary causes: physiological and psychological. Diagnosis is straightforward, and many treatment options exist.
Coping with the condition can be difficult for the man as well as his partner. But taking a proactive stance and seeing a physician as soon as possible can help both people resume their sexual activities with confidence.
A Word from Verywell
Male anorgasmia can be frustrating and embarrassing for a man at any age or stage of life. There are many possible reasons why a man does not reach orgasm. However, once the cause is clear, effective treatment options abound. They can restore sexual function to normal.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is male anorgasmia?
It is the medical term used to describe the inability to reach orgasm despite sexual stimulation.2
How common is male anorgasmia?
Anorgasmia is thought to affect around 8% of people with penises. The risk increases with age.1
What is situational anorgasmia?
Situational anorgasmia is the inability to achieve orgasm in specific sexual situations, such as during oral sex.
What are medical causes of male anorgasmia?
There are many physiological explanations for male anorgasmia. The most common are:
Low testosterone (often age-related)
Uncontrolled high blood pressure
Prostate surgery or radiation
Alcohol or substance abuse
Cauda equina syndrome, a rare spinal cord condition
Neurologic disorders like diabetic neuropathy
Can medications cause male anorgasmia?
Yes. Among the most common causes of male anorgasmia are antidepressants called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). These include Celexa (citalopram), Lexapro (escitalopram), Paxil (paroxetine), Prozac (fluoxetine), and Zoloft (sertraline).
Are there psychological causes of anorgasmia?
Yes. Sexual trauma, performance anxiety, depression, and other psychological issues may cause anorgasmia.
How do you diagnose male anorgasmia?
To help pinpoint the cause, healthcare providers often take a blood test to detect any hormonal or metabolic abnormalities, conduct in-office tests to evaluate penile skin sensitivity and erectile function, and possibly make a referral to a mental health professional.
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a condition that causes a person to have a variety of symptoms which may include impulsive behavior, hyperactivity, and difficulty paying attention.
This disorder can have significant effects on adult life. For example, a person with ADHD may have a poor self-image and difficulty maintaining a stable relationship or job.
Think you might have ADHD? We’ll help you find out
Learn about the symptoms of adult ADHD and get expert-approved guidance on steps for diagnosis with our three-part series.
The effects on sexuality by ADHD can be hard to measure. This is because sexual symptoms may be different in each person.
Some sexual symptoms can lead to sexual dysfunction. This can cause significant stress in a relationship. Understanding how ADHD affects sexuality can help a couple cope with relationship stress.
Some common symptoms of ADHD include depression, emotional instability, and anxiety. All of these conditions can have a negative impact on sex drive. For instance, it can be exhausting for someone with ADHD to constantly maintain order and organization. They may not have the energy or desire to engage in sexual activities.
Two reported sexual symptoms of ADHD are hypersexuality and hyposexuality. If a person with ADHD experiences sexual symptoms, they may fall into one of these two categories. It should also be noted that sexual symptoms aren’t part of the recognized diagnostic criteria for ADHD as established by the American Psychiatric Association.
Hypersexuality and ADHD
Hypersexuality means you have an unusually high sex drive.
Sexual stimulation releases endorphins and mobilizes the brain’s neurotransmitters. This gives a feeling of calmness that reduces the restlessness often caused by ADHD. However, promiscuity and consumption of pornography can be sources of relationship strife. It is important to keep in mind that promiscuity or pornography use aren’t part of the diagnostic criteria for ADHD.
Some people with ADHD may engage in risky sexual practices due to problems with impulsivity. People with ADHD may also be at increased risk for substance use disorders, which may further impair decision-making and result in sexual risk-taking.
Hyposexuality and ADHD
Hyposexuality is the opposite: A person’s sex drive plummets and they often lose all interest in sexual activity. This can be due to ADHD itself. It can also be a side effect of medication — particularly antidepressants — which are often prescribed for people with ADHD.
Sex is no different from other activities that present a challenge for someone with ADHD. They can have trouble concentrating during sex, lose interest in what they’re doing, or become distracted.
Women with ADHD often have trouble reaching orgasm. Some women report being able to have many orgasms very quickly, and at other times not reach orgasm, even with prolonged stimulation.
People with ADHD may be hypersensitive. This means a sexual activity that feels good to a partner without ADHD can be irritating or uncomfortable for the person with ADHD.
Smells, touches, and tastes that often accompany intercourse can be repulsive or annoying to someone with ADHD. Hyperactivity is another obstacle to achieving intimacy for someone with ADHD. It may be very difficult for a partner with ADHD to relax enough to get in the mood for sex.
Mix it up
Trying new positions, locations, and techniques can decrease boredom in the bedroom. Discuss ways to spice things up before sex to ensure that both partners are comfortable.
Communicate and compromise
Discuss how your ADHD may affect intimacy and your sexual expression. If your partner has ADHD, be considerate of their needs. For example, turn off the lights and don’t use lotions or perfumes if they’re sensitive to light or strong smells.
Don’t be afraid to seek help from a qualified sex therapist. Many couples coping with ADHD greatly benefit from couples counseling and sex therapy.
Prioritize
Work on being in the moment. Get rid of distractions and try doing calming exercises together, such as yoga or meditation. Make dates for sex and commit to them. Making sex a priority will ensure you don’t get sidetracked.
Problems with sex and sexual satisfaction can cause relationship and marital distress.1 Even though it is a common problem, talking about sex with your partner can be daunting. Sharing issues with strangers online might even feel easier for you than discussing them directly with your partner, which might explain why sex is so commonly discussed in online relationship forums.
These conversations can produce significant anxiety, which can cause you to avoid them altogether. Knowing a few strategies can make them easier, however, and you’re likely to find “the sex talk” worth the effort.
Reasons to Talk About Sex With Your Partner
Research has found that couples who have strong sexual communication are more satisfied with their sex lives.2 If you’re experiencing issues with your sex life, talking frankly about them with your partner might improve your sex life and your relationship.
Open communication can lead to greater feelings of intimacy and a stronger relationship. In fact, talking honestly with your partner might increase your overall satisfaction with your relationship.3
Important Topics to Discuss
Sex-related topics you should talk about with your partner might include:
Change in libido
Desire to try something new
Family planning
Feelings of sexual rejection or always having to initiate sex
Lack of intimacy or need for more affection
Lack of sexual satisfaction
Sexual dysfunction
Talking About Safe Sex
Practicing safe sex is crucial, especially if your relationship is open to others. Ask your partner if they’ve used condoms and other safety measures when engaging with other sexual partners. Likewise, be honest about your own practices. If either of you hasn’t practiced safe sex, discuss appropriate testing for everyone involved.
Between exclusive partners in a monogamous relationship, raising this issue can be especially difficult if it raises questions of fidelity. If you have engaged in any kind of sexual activity with someone else or suspect that your partner has, it’s time for a frank, if difficult, conversation and testing.
Talking About Your Desires
Your comfort level is an important part of having a satisfying sex life. Your partner can’t read your mind, so telling them what you want and need can enhance the sexual experience for both of you. Discuss what makes you feel aroused and desired. If your partner is falling short of your expectations, communicate this gently and constructively, and offer ideas you think might help.
Try talking about your sexual fantasies. This might be difficult at first but bear in mind that everyone has them, and they tend to fall into a few common categories. Being vulnerable in this way can increase the intimacy between you and your partner and might even lead to some new ideas for sexual activities.
When You Don’t Want Sex
Libido can change from one day to the next, and sometimes, two people simply don’t align in their level of sexual desire. When you would rather not engage, remember to communicate with your partner honestly and sensitively.
If low or mismatched libido is a recurring problem that is causing problems in your relationship, consider consulting a healthcare provider or counselor for advice. There are many variables to consider when it comes to sex drive including your physical and mental health.
When to Talk About Sex
There is a time and place to discuss sex with your partner. Waiting for the right moment to address the topic can help you get around some of those feelings of discomfort or awkwardness that can be common during sex talks. You should also:
Pick a neutral location. Don’t talk about sexual problems in your bedroom or at bedtime. Pick a neutral location that’s private and comfortable for both of you.
Avoid post-sex talks. Don’t talk about sex-related problems right after having sex. Wait for a time when you can be more objective and removed from the topic at hand.
Avoid blindsiding your partner. If you want to talk about sexual problems, let your partner know (without placing blame) that you think the two of you need to talk. Set a time and a place, and think about what you’d like to discuss beforehand.
How to Talk About Sex With Your Partner
Here are some strategies for making conversations about sex easier for both of you.
Start Slowly
Have a “soft start” to the conversation. Begin with your goal to feel closer and connected with your partner. Avoid blaming. Skip criticism, and focus on things you both can do to make your sex life more fulfilling.
Focus on Intimacy
Remember that affection and intimacy are just as important as frequency.4 Look into ways to build intimacy and feel more connected beyond intercourse, and talk about your needs for other types of affection and attention, too.
Skip the Surprises
You should both be on the same page, so initiate these conversations before springing any surprises on your partner. Talk about what you both might enjoy and fantasies you have. If you do decide to introduce some of these into your relationship, research your options together.
To avoid creating problems in your sex life, don’t purchase sex advice books or sex toys without discussing the issue with your partner first.
Express Yourself
Talk with one another about expectations, fears, desires, and concerns—and be honest. Share your innermost thoughts and feelings regarding your sexual relationship, and help your partner feel emotionally safe enough to do the same.
Talk Often
The “sex talk” is not a one-time conversation; it should be an ongoing discussion and a normal part of your relationship. Needs and desires can change over time. Check in with your partner often.
Understand Your Sexual Style
Knowing your sexual style can help you understand which forms of intimacy you find the most satisfying—and the same rings true for your partner. Explore your sexual styles with one another. All couples have these styles or moods at some point.
Spiritual: This is a union of mind, body, and soul that reflects your deep appreciation of being with one another. Noticing the small moments in your lives can enhance your spiritual connection.
Funny: Laughing and teasing one another in bed is about having fun together. There is a light and playful undertone.
Angry: Making love even when you’re ticked off at each other can be healing. However, be sure to address the issues eventually.
Lusty: This style is wicked and flirty. You might give each other seductive looks or have quick sex in an unusual setting. This is about the joy and physicality of having sex.
Tender: This style is the gentle, romantic, healing sex that may involve massages, light touches, and ministering to one another. You both are into the physical sensations and focus on giving each other pleasure.
Fantasy: With this style, the two of you collaborate to be daring and experiment a bit. If you incorporate your fantasies into sexual activity with your partner, set guidelines and honor each other’s limits.
If you and your partner have different sexual styles, open and honest communication can help. Talking through your differences can help you understand and address the differences, ensuring that you both feel satisfied. You and your partner might also consider sex therapy if you need help.
A Word From Verywell
“Good lovers are made, not born,” as the saying goes. If you truly want your sexual relationship to be all that it can be, take the time to talk with one another
Engaging in regular communication is an important component of any great relationship—and that includes talking about sex.5 This conversation is necessary for all couples, and it isn’t a one-time event. It’s something you and your partner should take part in regularly from the beginning of your relationship on. A healthy sex life is a great gift, and it’s to be enjoyed and nurtured.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you talk to your partner about pain during sex?
If you’re experiencing dyspareunia (pain during sex), don’t suffer in silence. Be honest and open with your partner. Seek medical help to determine the cause. Your comfort is important, and a good sexual partner should be understanding and supportive.
How do you talk about sex without it being awkward?
The more frequently you discuss sex with your partner, the less awkward it will be. Remember that your partner can’t read your mind and might be relieved when you express what’s on yours. Choose a neutral place free of distraction and interruptions, and avoid criticism.
How do you talk about sex problems with your partner?
Approach it as you would any other problem in your relationship. Be sensitive to your partner’s feelings and avoid criticism. Choose a neutral place and a time when you won’t be interrupted so both of you feel safe and can be as open as possible. Couples therapy can also provide a safe space to talk about sexual issues.
How do you talk about sex with a potential marriage partner?
If your partner seems interested in marriage, it’s important to discuss expectations regarding sex. It’s a big component of a healthy marriage for most people, and knowing what’s important to your partner can build intimacy. Start slowly, choose a neutral place where you won’t be interrupted, and be sensitive to your partner’s feelings. You may also choose to try pre-marital counseling, which can be a safe, supportive place to discuss sex for some couples.
Migraine is a medical condition that can involve severe, recurring headaches. Medications can help manage symptoms, and some evidence suggests sexual activity may be beneficial too. However, more research is needed, as sex may trigger migraine headaches in some people.
Migraine is a neurological condition that can encompass a variety of symptoms, which can include headaches.
However, migraine usually produces symptoms that are more intense and debilitating than headaches, and some types of migraine may not cause head pain.
Migraine episodes may occur occasionally or frequently and can cause a person to experience:
sensitivity to light or sound
nausea
vomiting
Many factors can cause or trigger migraine episodes, including:
stress
anxiety
hormonal changes
certain foods
loud noises
While different methods to relieve migraine exist, some research indicates that the pain relief that may accompany sexual intercourse could help relieve some symptoms.
In this article, we will discuss the relationship between sex and migraine.
Some research has shown the possible benefits of sexual intercourse on the symptoms of migraine.
According to the Association of Migraine Disorders, people may experience pain relief as a result of sexual intercourse due to the production of endorphins. Endorphins are a type of hormone that the body typically produces in response to pleasure, such as during an orgasm from sex. They can help block pain perception in the body, and the pain relief these hormones provide may be even greaterTrusted Source than that of morphine.
An older 2013 studyTrusted Source exploring the effects of sexual activity on migraine found positive results. Of the individuals who participated in sexual activity while experiencing a migraine, 60% reported an improvement in their migraine symptoms.
However, there is still a lack of research into the positive effects of sex on migraine symptoms. Therefore, more research into this area is still necessary.
While sex may relieve migraine symptoms in some people, it can also trigger migraine episodes in others.
According to the American Migraine Foundation, primary headache associated with sexual activity is a rare type of headache that a person may experience either during or after sexual activity. Some people may refer to these types of headaches as orgasmic or pre-orgasmic headaches.
Physical activity may aggravateTrusted Source symptoms in people with migraine. Therefore, strenuous sexual activity may also trigger a migraine episode.
Primary headaches associated with sexual activity normally occur on both sides and the back of the head. They normally last between 1 minute to 24 hours when the pain is severe, and up to 72 hours when the pain is mild.
A person may experience a dull pain in the back of their head during sexual activity and before orgasm, which is known as a pre-orgasmic headache. Alternatively, a person may experience a sudden, explosive headache that results in severe throbbing pain prior to or during an orgasm, which is known as an orgasmic headache.
Pre-orgasmic headaches may occur due to excessive neck and jaw muscular contraction, while orgasmic headaches may result from:
an increase in blood pressure
an increase in heart rate
activation of the trigeminal neurovascular system
A 2021 literature reviewTrusted Source notes that people who experience headaches during sexual activity rarely experience nausea or sensitivity to light or sounds.
At present, no research indicates if there is a particular association between certain types of migraine or sexual acts.
As the beneficial effects may relate to the release of endorphins from orgasm, the type of sex is not critical. This means that masturbation or other forms of sexual activity may also help block the perception of pain from a migraine episode.
As strenuous activities can lead to migraine symptoms, it may be advisable for people to take a less active role during sexual activity if it is a potential migraine trigger.
There is currently no absolute cureTrusted Source for migraine, as researchers do not yet fully understand the mechanism of migraine and its underlying causes. However, a person can try different approaches to improve their symptoms.
A person may be able to prevent migraine episodes using medication. The drug erenumab (Aimovig) is a monoclonal antibody. These types of drugs block the activity of certain proteins in the body. In this case, they block a protein known as calcitonin gene-related peptide, which plays a role in migraine.
Other medications, includingTrusted Source ubrogepant (Ubrelvy) tablets and lasmiditan (Reyvow), are also available and approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to help prevent migraine episodes.
However, while people can use these drugs for migraine prevention, there is not much evidence to suggest they are effective for migraine associated with sexual activity. Instead, a doctor may prescribe other medications, such as:
A person may also benefit from making lifestyle changes. For example, a person may find it useful to change their diet if certain foods trigger a migraine episode. Similarly, quitting smoking may also reduce the likelihood of migraine episodes in the future if smoking is a trigger.
A person may benefit from keeping a journal or log of their potential personal triggers. This can help them avoid such triggers in the future and also identify a migraine episode more quickly.
During an acute migraine episode, medications that a person may find useful to deal with pain includeTrusted Source:
aspirin
ibuprofen
sumatriptan
ergotamine drugs
A person’s doctor may also prescribe them drugs known as antiemeticsTrusted Source, such as metoclopramide (Reglan), which may help decrease nausea and vomiting.
A person should contact a doctor if they experience reoccurring symptoms and have not had an official diagnosis from a doctor. Symptoms that a person should be aware of includeTrusted Source:
a one-sided headache that can occur for a period of 4–72 hours
nausea or vomiting
moderate to severe pain
sensitivity to light and sound
Some people with migraine may also experience visual and sensory disturbances known as aura. These can appear asTrusted Source:
migraine episodes are occurring once a week or more
migraine episodes occur more often than not
a person is taking over-the-counter medication more than twice a week to treat their migraine symptoms
A person should consult a doctor to exclude other potentially life threatening conditions if they have:
a sudden onset of migraine symptoms
severe migraine symptoms
a sudden headache associated with sex for the first time
Migraine is a type of neurological condition that can present with a variety of symptoms, which can include severe headaches.
Some evidence indicates that sexual intercourse may help relieve migraine symptoms in some people. This may be due to the release of feel-good hormones and their potential pain-relieving qualities. Conversely, other evidence suggests that sexual activity could trigger migraine episodes for other individuals.
Tips to relieve migraine symptoms may involve:
medications
lifestyle changes
relaxation techniques
If migraine symptoms are frequent and debilitating, it is advisable for a person to contact their doctor.
Perfectionism is a well-documented personality trait that can vary from somewhat healthy to… not so healthy. We often hear about the need to have everything ‘just right‘ in the workplace or in social situations, but we rarely hear about the concept of sexual perfectionism; the kind that sees us taking it to the bedroom. To understand the concept a little better, we tapped into the expertise of Laura Miano, sex therapist and founder of sex toy company Posmo.
Sexual perfectionism is an umbrella term for a kind of performance anxiety. It can manifest in a variety of ways, but mostly comes down to the pressure to look or perform a certain way during sex. That could be things like intrusive thoughts of insecurity that take you out of the moment (e.g. how your body looks), fixating on doing things ‘right’ (e.g. how your moans sound) or putting unnecessary stress on yourself or your partner to climax.
As a study published in the journal Archives of Sexual Behaviour outlines, the most common types of sexual perfectionism are: self-oriented, where a person holds themselves to exceedingly high standards; partner-oriented, where they hold their partners to exceedingly high standards; partner-prescribed, where a person holds the belief that their partner is holding them to high standards; and socially-prescribed, where a person feels pressure from society to present a certain kind of sexuality.
The study examined how sexual perfectionism affects women in particular and how partner-prescribed sexual perfectionism impacted overall sexual wellbeing and satisfaction. Examining 366 women between the ages of 17 and 69, it found that participants who thought their partner wanted sexual perfection were more likely to experience sexual dysfunction, anxiety and lower self-esteem — none of which really lead to a good time downtown.
What’s so bad about it?
Wanting sex to be good isn’t a bad thing. Hell, it’s your right and you shouldn’t settle for any less. But the nastier side of perfectionism creeps up when you find yourself getting bogged down in what you think sex is supposed to be like, rather than what you actually enjoy.
Essentially, it takes something that’s meant to be enjoyable and turns it into labour, especially if you tend to be highly critical of yourself and/or your partners.
Why does sexual perfectionism exist?
We all tend to lean towards perfectionism about certain things, and we all have our reasons for being particular. It can come from a need to have control over a situation, or having it play out exactly as we imagine or hope. Only, that’s not very realistic. As Miano tells us, it can also stem from the desire for acceptance, or even from past experiences of feeling judged.
“People with perfectionistic tendencies might have been implicitly taught during their upbringing that in order to receive love, acceptance or affection they need to meet certain standards. i.e. a parent who is distant or harsh when their child fails in school,” she says.
“It may be a broader trait that they experience in the rest of their life, or perhaps certain earlier sexual experiences taught them a message that when you aren’t ‘performing’ well in bed, your partner loses interest, disconnects from intimacy, or stops sex.”
Should we stop being sexual perfectionists?
Good sex is not an unreasonable demand. It’s about feeling comfortable enough to experiment and getting to know what you like. The real key to getting ahead of your perfectionist tendencies is to get real about your needs and communicate those to your partner so you can work on mutual enjoyment, free of the need to bend in just the right, aesthetically pleasing way.
Remember, life is short and there is no limit to a good time when it comes to your sexual pleasure. Striving towards perfection only inhibits you from exploring what else gets you going — discoveries that can only happen when you embrace sex in all its messiness.
Sex surrogate therapy is a three-way therapeutic relationship to help a person feel more comfortable with sex, sensuality, and sexuality. It involves working with a licensed therapist and a surrogate partner to manage potential issues with intimacy.
Also known as surrogate-assisted therapy or surrogate partner therapy, this treatment aims to help build self-awareness and skills in physical and emotional intimacy. A person sees both a sex therapist and a surrogate partner to help develop a healthy self-concept and improve sexual functioning. While this treatment can involve intercourse with the surrogate partner, it does not always.
A person may seek this type of therapy because of sexual dysfunctions or any trauma, fears, or anxieties they experience related to sex. Sexual health and satisfaction can play a crucial role in a person’s health and well-being, and forming sexual relationships may impact happiness and fulfillment.
In this article, we discuss what sex surrogate therapy is, how it works, who can benefit from it, and how it differs from other practices.
Surrogate partner therapy is a three-way therapeutic relationship among a licensed therapist, a client, and a surrogate partner.
The treatment typically involves a variety of therapeutic experiences, sometimes including sexual intercourse, to explore and resolve barriers preventing a person from having physical, sexual, and emotional intimacy.
Dr. William Masters, a gynecologist, and Dr. Virginia Johnson, a sexologist, introduced the concept in their book, Human Sexual Inadequacy, which they originally published in the 1970s.
The course of therapy usually begins with the therapist and the client determining goals and creating a treatment plan to address the issues behind the client’s difficulties.
The therapist may recommend surrogate partner therapy if they deem it helpful. Partner surrogates work in collaboration with the therapist and the client. They receive training to mentor, coach, and help clients meet their treatment goals.
Similarly to the way exposure therapy enables a person to face their fear, this treatment provides access to a safe partner to allow a person to practice techniques, among other skills.
The goals of this treatment may include building self-awareness and self-confidence, developing effective communication, training social skills, and developing physical and emotional intimacy skills.
Surrogates guide clients through the program and gradually progress through varied therapeutic experiences that aim to explore, build the client’s skills, and promote their healing. The plan may incorporate:
relaxation and meditation
eye contact
effective communication
sensate focusing
sex education
body mapping
one-way or mutual nudity
one-way or mutual touching
genital-genital contact
A person may opt for local therapy, which is when the therapist and the surrogate are both available in the local community. It usually involves meeting with the therapist for 1 hour per week and meeting with the surrogate partner for 1–2 hours per week.
Alternatively, they may use an intensive setup, which is when the therapist-client and surrogate-client sessions overlap to facilitate rapid growth and change for the client. This involves meeting with the surrogate partner for 2–3 hours per day and with the therapist for 1 hour per day. Intensive therapy typically lasts for 2 weeks.
It is important to note that the therapist is not involved in the sessions between the surrogate and the client. However, open, proper, and consistent communication among all three team members is fundamental for the approach’s success. All team members make a mutual decision to terminate therapy, typically when the client achieves their goals.
Generally, individuals considering sex surrogate therapy have been undergoing sex therapy or psychotherapy for months to several years to deal with concerns such as self-confidence, body image issues, fears, and sexual dysfunctions.
The range of concerns and conditions that may prompt the therapist or the client to consider a partner surrogate may include:
Some researchers suggest that sex surrogate therapy may help treat sexual difficulties among transgender people who have recently undergone gender confirmation surgery. Some evidence also suggests that it may be beneficial for people with disabilities to help them learn about comfortable ways to experience sex.
While some individuals may benefit from this therapy, more research is necessary. Additionally, it may be advisable to establish clarity on the ethics and legality of this practice.
There is some overlap between sex therapy and sex surrogate therapy, as both treatments aim to help resolve sexual issues.
While sex therapists may provide sex-based exercises to perform at home in between sessions, such as watching porn or masturbating, they do not participate or offer hands-on exercises to help their clients practice and develop these skills. Sex therapy is essentially a form of talk therapy.
Sex surrogate therapy may often involve a sex therapist as a licensed professional in addition to a certified surrogate partner. With consent, a person may be able to practice physical or sexual intimacy or techniques that a sex therapist advices with the surrogate partner.
Becoming a sex therapist typically requires a person to earn a master’s degree in a related field such as mental health, therapy, counseling, or psychology. In contrast, a person does not need any specific degree or course to qualify as a surrogate partner.
Many people may see sex surrogate therapy as a form of sex work. However, the two have different goals.
Sex workers receive payment in exchange for consensual sexual services. Sex surrogate therapy aims to provide a safe, structured environment where the client can explore intimacy and resolve barriers that prevent them from developing physical and emotional intimacy with a partner.
Sex surrogate therapy may also include sensual and sexual contact, but the focus is on developing skills and healing. In some cases, surrogate partners never have physical contact with their clients.
The International Professional Surrogates Association (IPSA) Code of Ethics states that the term “surrogate partner” applies only when the therapeutic relationship includes the involvement and participation of a licensed therapist. The surrogate may act as a substitute partner or a co-therapist.
There are currently no laws regulating or prohibiting sex surrogacy therapy. While paying for sex is illegal in most of the United States, this type of therapy does not always involve the exchange of money for sexual services, so it may fall into a legal gray area.
Sexual gratification is not necessarily the sole aim of the treatment. The treatment is also a therapeutic tool to help people overcome sexual challenges and improve their sexual health. Although the rationale for using a surrogate partner may be for sexual engagement, sexual contact is not mandatory and occurs only if necessary for the client to reach their goals.
Like any decision in a traditional therapeutic relationship between a client and a therapist, the decision to engage in intercourse as part of treatment is the choice of both parties and requires informed consent.
Since its establishment in 1973, IPSA has not experienced any legal issues.
A person may be able to access a partner surrogate through a licensed therapist, who can tap into their network of partner surrogates.
A person may also refer to IPSA’s list of surrogate partners. However, because not all surrogate partners want to post their personal information publicly, a person may also connect with IPSA’s referrals coordinator to be connected with a trained and certified professional surrogate partner.
Moreover, because some surrogate partners have profiles on social media platforms, a person may encounter people who claim to be IPSA certified or IPSA members. Individuals or therapists may contact the IPSA referrals coordinator to confirm.
While a specific degree or course is not a prerequisite for applying to IPSA’s Professional Surrogate Partner Training Program, the training committee does look for certain qualities, such as:
emotional maturity
evolution through personal therapy or other growth-oriented life experience
comfort with one’s body and sexuality
readiness to be involved in a close, caring relationship with others who are having difficulties with emotional, physical, and sexual intimacy
Interested applicants may begin their training application process with IPSA. They will need to fill out forms that require them to share very personal information.
Applicants need to go to Southern California for training, which has two phases. The first involves a 100-hour didactic and experiential course. Upon completing this, a person can enter a multiyear, multiclient supervised internship for phase 2.
Sex surrogate therapy is a therapeutic relationship involving a client, a therapist, and a surrogate partner. It can offer a place of healing and growth for people who are having difficulty with fears and anxieties about sex, their sexuality, or intimacy.
However, the therapy may not be suitable for everyone, and it does not necessarily involve intercourse with the surrogate partner. Individuals who are working with a sex therapist and interested in trying sex surrogate therapy may discuss it with their therapist. It is up to a licensed therapist to determine whether a person may benefit from a surrogate partner.
If you’ve been reading up on BDSM or any kind of kinky play, you’ve probably seen a lot of discussion about safewords. That’s because establishing a safeword with your partner is vital in making sure the sex you’re having is safe, sane and consensual.
Sex and relationship expert Annabelle Knight, from Lovehoney, explains everything you need to know about establishing safewords, and using them during sex play.
What is a safeword?
“A safeword is a word or signal that ends BDSM (bondage, discipline, sadism and masochism) play instantly,” Annabelle says. “It can be any word that isn’t a part of common play speech.”
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Choosing a common word like, ‘Stop,’ is discouraged, as people tend to use stop playfully, and the confusion could lead to play ending when you don’t really want it to, or someone not realising when you do really want it to stop.
Some people may wonder if they really need a safeword. The answer is yes, you absolutely do. “It’s the best way of ensuring you can maximise pleasure without either of you getting hurt – either physically or emotionally,” Annabelle says. “There are people who do not use safewords for one reason or another, but they are taking an unnecessary risk. Why risk it when your health and safety is at stake?”
The traffic light system
The most common safewords are known as the traffic light system. They’re easy to remember in the heat of the moment, and each colour communicates to your partner how you’re feeling.
Red: means stop. Saying this will mean you want your partner to stop everything they’re doing immediately. It should be used when you’re not comfortable, things are getting too much, or you no longer consent.
Yellow (or amber): means slow down. Maybe you liked what they were doing but then it became a little too much. Yellow is basically saying “reel it in a little bit”. It can also mean you’re reaching your limit, or are edging on physical discomfort.
Green: means go for it. Use green if you like what your partner’s doing, you feel totally comfortable, and you want them to continue.
There’s been some buzz about ethical non-monogamy of late, and even if sanctioned sleeping around is so not your cup of tea, you might still be a little curious to know how it works. Well, that depends on what type of ethical non-monogamy you’re talking about—because, yes, these types of relationships come in different forms. So let’s start with polyamory vs. open relationships: It might sound like the former is just a fancier way of referring to the latter, but that’s not the case. There’s plenty of overlap between polyamorous and open relationships (*draws venn diagram*), but there are meaningful differences, too. We went to clinical psychologist Dr. Bethany Cook to help parse the details. Read on for the full scoop.
What is polyamory?
Does your love tank have enough for more than one person? If you’re in a polyamorous relationship the answer is ‘yes.’ This type of ethical non-monogamy isn’t about having more sex (though there will likely be more of that, too), it’s about having the freedom to fall in love and share an emotional connection with more than one person. What makes this ethical is that all involved parties are on the same page, which means the details of the arrangement are up for discussion. Beyond that, there aren’t too many rules.
Interestingly enough, polyamory doesn’t necessarily mean every person in the relationship has more than one love interest. Someone who identifies as solo poly is in a relationship with just one person, and that one person has an outside relationship, or several. In other words, solo poly is polygamy, polyandry or some (possibly non-binary) combination of the two that everyone feels good about. In other instances, both partners have outside relationships.
There are also open poly relationships—meaning that new partners can be brought on board—and closed poly relationships, in which the group is done growing. Whatever the case may be, the key to polyamory is that all relationships are considered equal—you know, so that everyone in the love triangle (square, pentagon, what have you) feels empowered, happy and secure.
All this might sound like a lot of extra work, but Cook tells us that a healthy poly relationship can actually make things easier for some folks—namely because, if you’re doing it right, “you’re not responsible all the time for everyone’s needs. In fact, yours and everyone else’s needs can be met more consistently when there are options because there’s more support present.” (It takes a village, right?)
What is an open relationship?
Now it’s time to talk about open relationships. Fortunately, the concept here is a little simpler in that it just involves two partners who agree that it’s a-OK to have casual (but safe) sex with other people. The key word, though, is casual. In open relationships, emotional intimacy is exclusive to the two romantic partners, so feelings aren’t supposed to enter into the picture when it comes to outside sexual experiences. In general, couples who enter into this type of relationship enjoy both physical and emotional intimacy with one another and are fully committed, but have determined that both parties benefit from the sexual exploration and freedom that comes from keeping the below-the-belt borders, well, open.
What’s the difference between polyamory and open relationships?
The major difference between polyamory and open relationships is that, with the latter, one relationship is the clear priority and the rest is just some hot, sweaty sex on the side. Polyamory, on the other hand, is a much bigger investment in that it revolves around the idea that it’s possible to maintain full-blown romantic relationships—sex, emotional intimacy, commitment and all—with more than one person at the same time.
That said, both relationship styles represent a rejection of the more traditional, monogamous coupling in favor of a less constricting experience of romance. It’s also worth noting that in both polyamorous and open relationships, unhealthy power dynamics shouldn’t be present, and boundaries must be discussed and mutually agreed upon before the arrangement is underway (and consistently thereafter), lest it turn into a not-so-ethical non-monogamous situation. Bottom line: If monogamy feels unnatural to you, find someone who’s willing to explore some other options…but, whatever you do, remember that “being able to openly talk about and respect each other’s individual needs is important,” says Cook. Oh, and be sure to avoid the yucky patriarchal stuff, too.
If you identify as straight but are open to queer experiences, you’re not alone. You may be called “heteroflexible,” a portmanteau that signals being “mostly straight” with a flexibility towards same-sex attraction.
What does heteroflexibility mean?
There’s not an objective definition of heteroflexibility. In fact, it hasn’t yet been used in the scientific study of the psychology of sexual orientation, said Pavel S. Blagov, Ph.D, associate professor of psychology at Whitman College.
One of the earliest cited writings on the term, by then-professor of sociology at Yale University Laurie Essig, was published by Salon in 2000. Essig, now a professor at Middlebury College, defined heteroflexibility as when someone “has or intends to have a primarily heterosexual lifestyle, with a primary sexual and emotional attachment to someone of the opposite sex.” But, as Essig continued, “that person remains open to sexual encounters and even relationships with persons of the same sex.”
What’s the origin of the term “heteroflexibility”?
The exact genesis of the term “heteroflexible” is unknown, but it’s been used as early as the 1990s. In the 1997 humor glossary of LGBTQ slang When Drag is Not a Car Race, heteroflexibility is defined as “bisexual, or at least open to sexual experimentation.”
Heteroflexible appeared to pick up steam on college campuses in the early 2000s, as displayed in Essig’s Salon article. A 2002 dispatch from The Buffalo News declared heteroflexbile the “hot term being bandied about on campus,” and defined it as “the condition of being not fully bisexual but open to adventure.”
How is heteroflexibility used today?
Today, people seem to use the term differently, said Blagov, and its use is being studied by scholars in gender studies, sociology, and public health.
“The concept seems to have different meanings across individuals and in different corners of popular culture,” he continued. There are several facets of sexual orientation that one may use heteroflexbility to refer to: someone’s identity, their sexual desires, their sexual behavior, or something else — or a combination of these.
Based on various sources online, Blagov senses that someone who describes themselves as heteroflexible may be trying to convey one or more of these concepts: “Some degree of attraction to the same sex; some degree of interest in same-sex sexual behavior; a positive attitude toward diversity in sexual orientation; an open mind about different identities; that they owe some allegiance to a heterosexual or straight identity; and that they do not identify as bisexual or homosexual.”
He also cited sociologist Héctor Carrillo and contributor Amanda Hoffman, who researched sexualities of American men in an aptly titled study, Straight with a pinch of bi. One one hand, Carrillo and Hoffman wrote, terms like heteroflexibility and “bi-curious” represent a renewed sense of sexual identity among young straight Americans with same-sex desire — and possibly a search for public recognition and societal acceptance.
At the same time, Carrillo argued, by not adopting a queer identity like bisexual, heteroflexibile people seek to remain in the “heterosexual category.” They want an indication that same-sex desire and behavior “are not altogether incompatible with heterosexuality.”
Blagov reiterated that heteroflexibility isn’t currently an established concept in the scientific study of psychology. “It is not referring to how a person’s mind works or any objectively defined way in which people differ,” he said. At least currently, it doesn’t indicate a proven difference among people. Rather, it’s a label people have started using to describe themselves and others.
The use of heteroflexible also likely differs across individuals and groups, and — like our definition of so many other words — may change over time.
Is heteroflexibility just bisexuality?
Heteroflexibility, Essig wrote, “is a rejection of bisexuality since the inevitable question that comes up in bisexuality is one of preference, and the preference of the heteroflexible is quite clear.”
At first, Essig said she was pissed at the term. “I resented the fact that they [young people] would root their marginal sexual practices in the safety of heterosexuality,” she said. Then, after reflecting, she embraced it because in her view, it could bring an end to heterosexuality’s dominance. In the future, Essig mused, everyone would be flexible.
Other scholars, however, don’t have such a rosy view of the term. In a 2009 article about queer representation in the media, media and communications professor Lisa Blackman wrote that “heteroflexible” serves to expand the boundaries of the “heterosexual” label rather than to normalize queer identities. Flexibility is merely a “temporary interruption” of heterosexual desire, a “break from the routine.”
Blackman goes on to say that the idea of flexibility serves to support the agency of heterosexual people, but not queer people. Queer attraction, at least in media at the time of Blackman’s writing, was seen as something novel for straight people (primarily women) to experience. She cites two examples — Samantha Jones in Sex and the City and Jessica in Kissing Jessica Stein — as characters who flirted with homosexuality, but only temporarily.
Does “heteroflexibility” describe queer desire in terms of…straightness? In Blackman’s sense, yes, said Andrew Cheng, postdoctoral researcher in the Department of Linguistics at Simon Fraser University.
While this argument is an academic look into film and television at the time, other queer people have decried the term for similar reasons. Writer Charlie Williams said in Affinity Magazine that the word heteroflexible erases bi identities, saying both heteroflexible and the opposite, homoflexible, are just “fancy words” for bisexual. Another writer, Kravitz M., called for people who feel attraction to multiple genders to question why they don’t call themselves bi, and claimed it might be because of internalized biphobia.
It’s important to remember, though, that the meanings and uses of identity labels change quickly — especially in the internet age — and that identities are dependent on local communities, said Cheng.
“The rise in heteroflexibility as an identification among, say, rural men in the Midwest today, might be very different from how it was used by city-dwelling college students in the nineties,” he continued.
Further, without much psychological research it’s hard to speculate out why someone may identify as heteroflexible (or bi-curious or “mostly straight”) instead of a queer identity, said Blagov.
All this to say, there’s no “correct” use of heteroflexible. It may not be its own sexual orientation — it’s been long known that sexual attraction can fall somewhere between hetero and homosexual — but anyone is free to identify as such. Sexuality, like language itself, can be flexible.
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