If you grew up afraid of your own sexual feelings, you’re not alone. And you’re not broken. In this episode, we're diving into life after purity culture. https://www.sexandpsychology.com/blog/podcast/episode-448-life-after-purity-culture/

It's that time of year again when the days start getting pretty short. If you've noticed changes in your mood or libido lately, you're not alone. https://www.sexandpsychology.com/blog/2025/11/10/how-seasonal-affective-disorder-affects-sexual-desire/

Although only 2-3% of people say they're currently in an open relationship, about 1 in 5 say they've had an open relationship before. https://www.sexandpsychology.com/blog/2019/4/17/one-in-five-people-report-having-been-in-a-sexually-open-relationship/

Have you ever heard that vibrators will desensitize you? That sex toys are just for women? Or that if you need a toy, something must be wrong with your sex life? It's time to set the record straight. https://www.sexandpsychology.com/blog/podcast/episode-447-do-sex-toys-ruin-sex-myth-vs-fact/

It turns out that people have been making obscene telephone calls for almost as long as the telephone has been in existence. https://www.sexandpsychology.com/blog/2019/4/10/the-history-of-the-obscene-telephone-call/

Too many parents wait for the “right” time to come along for “the talk,” only to find that it never does. Recognize that there's never going to be a "right" or "perfect" time. https://www.sexandpsychology.com/blog/2019/4/5/how-to-talk-to-your-kids-about-sex/

Greater spending on engagement rings is related to shorter marital length. Similarly, couples with higher wedding expenses have a greater risk of divorce. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-myths-of-sex/202402/the-bigger-the-bling-the-shorter-the-marriage

How many people have ever faked an orgasm before? What are the most common reasons for doing it? And is pretending to orgasm a good or bad idea? astroglide.com/blog/faking-...

If your partner is threatened by a vibrator, the issue is not the vibrator. In today's show, we're talking about why sex toys sometimes stoke insecurity in relationships and how to deal with it. https://www.sexandpsychology.com/blog/podcast/episode-447-do-sex-toys-ruin-sex-myth-vs-fact/

If sex toys “ruined” sex, we’d all be in big trouble. Luckily, they don’t. To the contrary, toys can enhance sexual satisfaction and communication. https://www.sexandpsychology.com/blog/podcast/episode-447-do-sex-toys-ruin-sex-myth-vs-fact/

Does sex still sell? New research finds that being too attractive can actually hurt influencers' social media engagement (particularly for those who work in the health and fitness space) because they're seen as less relatable. www.the-independent.com/life-style/i...

The words a woman chooses to call her genitals reveals something about her sexual well-being. Using playful/childish terms in non-sexual contexts is linked to negative outcomes; using vulgar terms during sex is connected to positive sexual experiences. link.springer.com/article/10.1...

Online stings to catch sexual predators are on the rise. A growing number are targeting ageplay kink communities, in which adults engage in role play as children. David J. Ley Ph.D.https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/women-who-stray/202511/could-your-kink-be-misunderstood-by-law-enforcement

Sex toys aren’t just products—they’re experiences. In this week’s episode, Spain’s first professional sex toy tester joins me to talk design, desire, and how toys can change your relationship to pleasure. www.sexandpsychology.com/blog/podcast...

A larget set of studies (N = 56,892) confirms that men generally exhibited greater gender-specificity than women across self-reported sexual orientation, sexual attraction, and sexual fantasies, as well as indirect measures of sexual attraction. www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....

Research finds that the more time couples spend spooning or otherwise being intimate after sex, the happier they tend to be. https://www.sexandpsychology.com/blog/2019/4/3/why-spooning-after-sex-might-be-good-for-your-love-life/

The idea behind “daddy issues” is that straight women and gay men who had troubled relationships with their fathers are going to be more eager to please in bed or more DTF. But is it true? https://www.sexandpsychology.com/blog/podcast/episode-445-freak-in-the-head-freak-in-the-bed/

Orgasms trigger severe headaches in some people. In others, however, orgasms provide headache relief. https://www.sexandpsychology.com/blog/2019/3/27/7-things-you-probably-didnt-know-about-orgasms/

People in the most religious states search for the most porn--and 4 other things we've learned about Americans' sexuality from their Google searches. https://www.sexandpsychology.com/blog/2019/3/20/5-things-americans-google-searches-have-taught-us-about-sex/

Trying new things and sharing new experiences (sexual and non-sexual) is one of the keys to keeping passion alive. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-myths-of-sex/202311/why-we-crave-sexual-novelty

Research finds that vasectomies have the potential to increase sexual frequency and satisfaction for men and their partners. https://www.sexandpsychology.com/blog/2019/2/11/how-vasectomies-affect-mens-and-womens-sex-lives/

Research finds that people with psychopathic characteristics are often rated as more attractive. So what's up with that? That's what we're talking about in today's episode. https://www.sexandpsychology.com/blog/podcast/episode-445-freak-in-the-head-freak-in-the-bed/

From the hot/crazy matrix to "daddy issues" memes, the internet is full of content suggesting that mentally and emotionally unstable people make for hotter sex partners. But is it really true?https://www.sexandpsychology.com/blog/podcast/episode-445-freak-in-the-head-freak-in-the-bed/

From trauma to boundaries to gaslighting, "therapy speak" is everywhere online. However, it's causing these terms to lose their meaning and making it harder for us to understand each other. https://www.sexandpsychology.com/blog/podcast/episode-444-what-social-media-gets-wrong-about-relationships/

Among Gen Z adults, 15% of men and 18% of women consider themselves to be voluntarily celibate. The single most common reason reported for taking a break from sex and dating was to focus on one's self for a while. www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/fa...

What's going on inside the brain and body during the 2nd half of the menstrual cycle? Dr. Sarah Hill breaks down the science in her new book, The Period Brain, which @emmendelson.bsky.social explores today on the blog. www.sexandpsychology.com/blog/2025/10...

"Love bombing" has become a viral red flag, but what’s the difference between being love-bombed and just falling fast for someone? Not every whirlwind romance is manipulation. https://www.sexandpsychology.com/blog/podcast/episode-444-what-social-media-gets-wrong-about-relationships/

Both men and women may develop compulsive sexual behavior disorder, and they experience similar levels of distress from it; however, there are some differences in how it's experienced. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/too-much-too-often/202510/do-genders-experience-compulsive-sex-differently

In this episode, we’re taking a closer look at the rise of “therapy speak” on social media and how it’s completely reshaping the way we talk about emotions, conflict, and relationships. https://www.sexandpsychology.com/blog/podcast/episode-444-what-social-media-gets-wrong-about-relationships/

Being present and non-judgmental during sex is associated with greater sexual well-being, not only for oneself but also for one’s partner. https://www.psypost.org/a-35-day-study-of-couples-reveals-the-daily-interpersonal-benefits-of-sexual-mindfulness/

Research suggests that simply by getting more exercise, men may be able to reduce their risk of developing ED and improve erectile function. https://www.sexandpsychology.com/blog/2019/2/8/exercise-can-prevent-and-treat-erectile-dysfunction/

In this episode, I'm speaking with sexuality journalist Katie Simon, who recently published a book called Tell Me What You Like: An Honest Discussion of Sex and Intimacy After Sexual Assault. https://www.sexandpsychology.com/blog/podcast/episode-443-sex-and-intimacy-after-trauma/

For the most part, men and women say they want the same traits in a romantic partner. However, what we say we want and who we actually go for can be different things... https://www.sexandpsychology.com/blog/2019/1/30/men-and-women-want-mostly-the-same-thing-in-a-partner/

Fantasies involving specific body fluids are less common among women than men, with the exception of blood, which women were about twice as likely to fantasize about. https://www.sexandpsychology.com/blog/2019/1/7/sexual-fantasies-about-body-fluids-how-many-people-have-them/

On average, both men and women say that they'd like sex to last about 50% longer than it typically does. https://www.sexandpsychology.com/blog/2019/1/28/how-long-people-want-sex-to-last-versus-how-long-sex-actually-lasts/

For both women and men, reporting masturbation in the past month was more likely if they wanted to have intercourse more often than they currently were. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/00224499.2025.2555053

Today on the show, we're diving into a new book that explores how survivors reclaim sex, intimacy, & desire after assault. This book doesn't just ask how people survive, but also how they learn to thrive again. https://www.sexandpsychology.com/blog/podcast/episode-443-sex-and-intimacy-after-trauma/

It's time to reframe the conversation about safe sex to also encompass pleasure. Safety and pleasure aren't mutually exclusive. You can have both! https://www.sexandpsychology.com/blog/podcast/episode-442-can-safer-sex-still-be-sexy/

Only a few hours left to submit your work to the 2026 SPSP Sexuality PreConference! Send in your proposal for a talk/data blitz/poster & join us in Chicago to learn about the latest sex science https://www.sexandpsychology.com/blog/2025/9/10/announcing-the-13th-annual-spsp-sexuality-pre-conference/

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is one of the most common hormonal disorders affecting women of reproductive age, and it has significant implications for their sexual health and function. https://www.sexandpsychology.com/blog/2025/10/23/how-pcos-impacts-womens-sexual-functioning/

The more extreme someone's political views are, the more likely they are to prioritize finding a romantic partner who shares those views. https://www.psypost.org/a-womans-political-views-are-linked-to-the-qualities-she-desires-in-a-romantic-partner/

The final day to submit your latest research to the 2026 SPSP Sexuality Pre-Conference is Oct 23! Send in your proposal for a talk, data blitz, or poster and join us in Chicago! https://www.sexandpsychology.com/blog/2025/9/10/announcing-the-13th-annual-spsp-sexuality-pre-conference/

What if oral sex could be safer, but still sexy? That’s what a new @kinseyinstitute.bsky.social study explored. Today, @cygraham.bsky.social joins me to talk about what she found when participants tried Lorals for Protection. @mylorals.bsky.social www.sexandpsychology.com/blog/podcast...

One of the headlines from our new survey w/Datingnews.com …and the data is breaking stereotypes. 💡 @cnbcmakeit.cnbc.com @justinlehmiller.bsky.social

Research finds that insecure attachment is linked to a lower perception of power in one's relationship. Attachment insecurities don’t just affect the person who has them, though; they also impact their partner. And their partners feel less powerful as well. spsp.org/news/charact...

Some people describe sex dolls as superior relational partners, describing their connections as much deeper than purely sexual, challenging common assumptions about the reasons behind their ownership. https://www.sexandpsychology.com/blog/2025/3/5/the-perfect-partner-mens-experiences-with-sex-dolls/

One of the keys to maintaining desire and connection in long-term relationships involves expanding our definition of sex and bringing more creativity and imagination into the bedroom. https://www.sexandpsychology.com/blog/podcast/episode-441-the-path-back-to-each-other/

Straight women’s motivations for frequenting gay bars centered around two core themes: safety and joy. https://www.sexandpsychology.com/blog/2025/2/19/why-do-straight-women-go-to-gay-bars/

On average, American adults report using toys about 1 in every 7 times they have sex. And those who use toys report higher levels of sexual satisfaction. https://www.sexandpsychology.com/blog/2025/1/30/how-sex-toys-are-revolutionizing-our-sex-lives/

High sex drive is often blamed and treated as the problem when, in reality, it is often the symptom of something else. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-myths-sex/202205/can-someones-sex-drive-be-too-high