Teela Hudak's Blog, page 49

3 Keys to any Relationship

John Lennon said that all you need is love. Love can make any relationship work. Many people have taken this idea to heart and done crazy things in the name of love. It doesn’t always work well. How do we know if it’s real love? We can end up in bad or abusive situations if this is the principle we are following. Trent Reznor acknowledges that sometimes love is not enough. So if love is not the most important building block of a relationship then what is?

When we come right down to it, there are three critical keys to any relationship. If you have these few things then everything else will follow. Respect, communication, and trust. Let’s say that once more, respect, communication, and trust.

1st Key to Any Relationship: Respect

So why is respect so important? Respect is defined as “a feeling of deep admiration for someone or something elicited by their abilities, qualities, or achievements.” In many relationships, particularly romantic ones, why would we want someone in our lives who don’t inspire this feeling in us? Chances are that if we do not respect people the people we are closest to, there are usually good reasons. These are typically the people who are more of a draining force on our lives. They usually are not people who are making things easier for us or adding something special to our lives.

Think of someone you’re close to that you respect. How do you act towards that person? When we respect people we have a higher tendency to be more considerate to them. We try to act in ways that will benefit them or have them view us favorably. Relationships with a solid core of mutual respect can form extremely close and fulfilling bonds.

When we look at romantic partners, this can become even more important. We can be more intimate with romantic partners in ways that we never are with other people. We tend to not only become vulnerable to them physically but emotionally as well. One of the key ingredients to a successful romantic partnership is mutual respect.

2nd Key to Any Relationship: Communication

Communicating clearly and effectively can be a fairly complicated process. There are so many influences on language from cultural differences to meaning and connotations formed from personal experience. Communication is also changed by our emotions, our tone, our attention span. On the best of days, it can be a complicated process.

A lot of fights can begin with a simple miscommunication. When we are close to someone, we can be more sensitive to the things they say. It can make it harder for trust to be in the relationship. The words used can also do significant damage to the trust we may have. Someone thinks someone meant something else and their feelings got hurt. In some cases that hurt can be really hard to undo.

How we communicate with our partner or don’t communicate with them, can make or break a relationship. It’s where most people run into serious problems with their partner. To communicate successfully, it takes practice and learning about how your partner communicates. Once you both have a good understanding about the communication styles, you can work together to improve how you talk to each other. This can make a world a difference in a fight and sometimes avoid a fight altogether. It is another crucial ingredient to successful relationships

3rd Key to Any Relationship: Trust

Trust varies quite considerably depending on the person and situation. We all operate with the basic trust for certain things. Most of us trust that we will wake up tomorrow. Most of us will trust that our friend will not carry out a secret plot to murder us next week. Trust becomes more of a concern when we start talking about our emotions and our heart. We don’t always trust people not to break our hearts, especially if they have been broken before.

Trust takes time to build and are totally crucial to healthy relationships. We need to be able to feel secure in our romantic partnership. What exactly this means for each person will vary a little bit. Most people want to know that their partner won’t take advantage of them, or cheat on them. If we have strong suspicions and a lack of trust, this can lead to some serious fights. It can also lead us to certain behaviors we would never have done before. People do crazy things in the name of love remember? That doesn’t make those things necessarily right.

The good news with trust is that if we have strong mutual respect and clear communication, it can come a lot easier for most people. If a relationship is suffering in trust, a good place to start in fixing it is to look at the first two keys to relationships.

Relationships Are All About the Building Blocks

Relationships can take a bit of work. It’s an ongoing process. These keys are kind of like building blocks that help us build healthy and strong relationships. When we have a strong foundation, it becomes easier to continue to build together. It takes two to tango and the success or failure of a relationship is not dependent on one person only. Everyone involved in a relationship should take time to learn more about the type of relationship they are in and what makes those relationships successful. Share this article with people in your life and get those conversations started! Also be sure to join our mailing list to receive even more information about relationships!

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What is a Vulva?

Usually, when we are discussing private parts there are the usual words that come up like penis and vagina. There is also a whole list of colorful slang that people use when referring to their genitals. These words can be silly sounding and encourage us to relax when talking about sex. They can also be used with the intent to be insulting or shameful towards someone else.

Sometimes the words we use also just draw our attention to specific parts of the genitals. Human bodies are really complex things and our reproductive organs are no different! When we get down to really talking about anatomy, there is a name for each piece of the reproductive system no matter what equipment you have in your pants. Today we are going to focus on the vulva.

What is a Vulva?

I’m so glad that you asked! The vulva is the name of the of the entire external part of a reproductive sex organ. It includes the mons pubis, clitoris, labia major and minor, the vestibule of the vagina, the bulb of the vestibule, and the Bartholin’s glands. That’s a whole lot of parts! Each of these different pieces serves a function in reproductive health, sex, and sexual pleasure.

The vulva is typically referred to as a female sex organ and while it is usually females that have a vulva, they are not the only ones. Any person who doesn’t fall on the gender binary or who identifies as transgender could have a vulva.

So what’s the Difference Between a Vagina and a Vulva?

Well, the vagina is still part of the vulva but it’s the internal part that accepts penetration from a penis (or fingers or toys or whatever you’re using). It is an important part of the vulva. The vagina tends to get talked about more because it is the connection that bridges the external to the internal part of the of the reproductive system. There are also a lot of interesting things that happen in the walls and surrounding areas of the vagina.

So why talk about the vulva at all? Well as wonderful as the vagina is and can be, many people who have vulvas don’t always experience an orgasm from simply vaginal stimulation. When we talk about the vulva as a whole, we open the conversation up to more options for sexual pleasure as well as other important health knowledge.

Talking about only one piece of the vulva is almost like talking about just the nose or mouth on a face. Each part has its purpose and we can talk quite extensively about them but we still talk about the face as a whole.

Everyone Should Know About Reproductive Health!

No matter what gender you identify as, what reproductive organs you have, or what people you’re interested in dating, everyone should know about all types of reproductive organs. It can be important for you to know for yourself, your partner, a close friend, or even a relative. Many people feel shy about having these kinds of conversations. They may feel more comfortable getting some basic knowledge from you than a stranger. You can empower others as well as yourself by having the facts. Make learning the facts easy by joining our mailing list!

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When Do We Have Informed Consent in Sex? And is it Important?

As conversations about consent continue to become more commonplace, more and more people are looking at sexual consent in new ways that they never have before. Consent is about more than just desire. We are constantly analyzing a number of factors, even subconsciously, to determine what our consent will be. Our answers may change based on the specifics of the situation or the person or people involved. Sometimes we consent to things and find out extra information after. This can be upsetting if we feel that information would have changed our choice before the activity. Being able to make an informed decision is an important piece of the consent process.

What is Informed Consent?

Informed consent is the being able to understand all the risks and benefits of a particular choice. When someone gives informed consent it’s because they have had the chance to get all the information to make the decision, ask questions, and time to think it over if needed. We most commonly see informed consent being practiced and talked about in the medical field. If you’re ever needed medical treatment, especially that involved any kind of surgery, you’ve had this kind of conversation with your doctor.

When we are talking about sex, informed consent is concerned with information about what activities someone is consenting to and who will be involved in those activities. Will there just be making out? Oral sex? Anal sex? Vaginal sex? Will it just be with one person? Multiple people? What safer sex methods, if any, will be used? Is there any concern about STI transfer or pregnancy? Is there a plan in place if either of those things occurs?

People may also want to know what a person’s intentions are. Are they seeking a one-night-stand? A relationship? Friends with benefits? Is the person currently involved with anyone else? These are all factors that come in when someone is making a choice to participate, whether the conversation is had or not.

The Importance of Having Informed Consent

When we take the time to have the full conversation about consent, we provide a sense of security. There is no ambiguity about what is going to happen. Some people would argue that this makes it less spontaneous and therefore less sexy but the truth is that it leaves people in a safer and more secure place. There is no second-guessing about what will take place. No potential for lines to be crossed by accident. Less of a chance for someone to feel violated. It also gives us the chance to negotiate for what we would like to take place.

Talking about these boundaries is an important part of getting consent. We shouldn’t just be going ahead until the person says stop. Just because someone consents to some forms of intimacy doesn’t mean that they have consented to all forms of intimacy. Having this conversation before moving ahead shows respect. It respects the autonomy and personal choice of everyone involved. Respect will lead us to better and stronger relationships.

How Do We Get It?

So what’s the best way to make sure we have informed consent? Well, the simplest way is to just ask and talk about it. When you are interacting someone that you’re interested in and things are heading in the direction of sex, ask them what they had in mind. If they aren’t forthcoming with their answer, you could describe what you’re interested in and ask them what they think of it. Encourage them to open up about what they are wanting.

Sometimes this can feel a bit more awkward because it’s not a conversation many people are used to having. It’s not often we see a good model of this conversation in movies or mainstream media. If the person you are talking to looks uncomfortable or feels that it is awkward, you can simply remind them that you are just trying to ensure you are respectful of their boundaries. The majority of people will appreciate your concern for their feelings and this can actually heighten the sexual pleasure.

If someone is still really stiff and uncomfortable, it may be a good time to take a step back. Someone that uncomfortable with talking about sex either isn’t mature enough to handle having sex or may not be that interested but are unsure of how to politely decline. Either way, the best thing to do to protect yourself would be to take a step back. If the person is truly interested, they will come around.

Practice the Language of Consent

Most people will agree that consent is such a crucial and important conversation but many of those same people still feel a bit awkward about it. The best way to reduce your discomfort is to continue to have those conversations with people close to you. Don’t shy away from exploring your thoughts and feelings on the subject. It is through practice that we get better and more comfortable at navigating consent. The more comfortable we are, the more it will spread to other people and we will truly start to build a consent culture. Keep reading and learning about it. If you’d like to learn more check out our book, “Got Consent?“. It is a fabulous guide to all the ins and outs of consent! Share this article on your social media and prompt some conversations today! Also be sure to sign up for our newsletter for even more great articles.

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The Lifespan of a Sperm

It’s fairly common knowledge that the testicles produce millions of sperm every day but how much do you know beyond that? Sperm are not produced and ejaculated later that same day. There is a bit more to the process before those little guys are even able to swim let alone be part of the ejaculation. Every sperm has a lifespan and a goal to complete. Millions of sperm may be produced, but few live to fulfill their genetic purpose. How do they grow? What happens to them if they don’t come in contact with an egg?

The Sperm Lifespan

It was originally thought that it takes 60-75 days for sperm to fully mature. Research in the last 10 years has found that the actual time may be as low as 42 days.

When a person with a penile reproductive system is born, they have a number of underdeveloped sperm cells. These cells are not sperm yet but come to mature at puberty and begin to create reproductive cells. They basically make exact copies of themselves that will go on to become reproductive sperm cells. Typically, each underdeveloped cell will make four copies to mature. This process is called spermatogenesis.

As the reproductive sperm matures, it will have a head, a midpiece, and a tail. The head is where 23 chromosomes of genetic information are stored. These chromosomes combine with the egg chromosomes when a baby begins to grow. The midpiece contains a filamentous core. This core helps the sperm recharge and maintain energy while it makes its journey and tries to reach an egg to fertilize. Finally the tail is what helps the sperm move through its environment. Once sperm mature, they make their way through the reproductive tract and are ejaculated out in the semen.

When Do Sperm Die?

If sperm do not come into contact with an egg, how long do they live? Well, the answer is pretty variable and dependent on the conditions. In a laboratory test where they were able to create highly favorable conditions for sperm, the sperm lived for a full 7 days.  Is this likely to happen within a vagina? Nope!

Research has shown that sperm can live for up to 5 days in the cervical fluid of a vagina. They could come into contact and fertilize an egg within that window so it’s possible for a child to be conceived up to a few days after the physical sexual act itself occurred. So what happens to all the sperm that doesn’t come into contact with an egg? The vagina canal is usually where most of the sperm end up if they don’t reach the egg. The vagina is good at keeping itself clean and healthy and produces acidic pH, vaginal flora, and mucosal secretions. All of these things break down the dead sperm and flush it out of the vagina.

If sperm end up being ejaculated outside of a body, to a surface instead, all the sperm will die by the time the ejaculation has dried. Sperm may survive a bit longer in a warm, wet environment such as a bath but they wouldn’t live much beyond a few hours and their ability to fertilize drops significantly after 60 minutes.

If sperm are frozen at extremely low temperatures, they can survive for years if the temperature remains stable. At such low temperatures, they go into a type of suspended animation state where all of their essential functions are completely stopped. This can be useful for anyone wishing to preserve their reproductive chances if they have to undergo something that could cause them infertility.

What Happens to Sperm that is Never Ejaculated?

Depending on a person’s sex life, it may come to be that the sperm reach the end of their lifespan without being ejaculated. If this happens, the sperm are broken down by the body so that the nutrients can be reused to produce new sperm. They are broken down and reabsorbed by the body in a very similar fashion that blood cells are broken down. It’s the body’s way of recycling and ensuring that no nutrients are lost unnecessarily.

Reabsorbing sperm is not damaging and a totally natural process that bodies are designed to do. It doesn’t hurt the penile reproductive system to reabsorb unused sperm. This is actually quite a common process. Even those with a very active sex life will still have a fraction of sperm that is never ejaculated. So there is no reason to worry that this could cause any sort of issue.

The Importance of Knowing Anatomy

Sperm life is another interesting aspect of the human body. Most of it takes place flying way under the radar, where no one will notice these details. So why is it important to know? Having a good understanding of human anatomy is a good foundation of knowledge to have. This information would be particularly important for anyone trying to get pregnant (or for those trying to actively avoid pregnancy). Sperm life is one important piece of fertility and by extension sex. All knowledge is worth having and it can make for some interesting conversations that make you look super smart! Share this article and strike up a good conversation with someone in your life! Also be sure to join our mailing list for even more interesting and awesome articles!

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3 Ways to Support Sexual Assault Survivors

A sexual assault is a devastating and life-changing negative experience for almost everyone it happens to. It is a huge violation of a person. One of the hardest things about a sexual assault is that once the assault itself is over, the majority of victims continue to be re-traumatized by the world around them. People may not believe that the assault occurred. There are often many statements or accusations that blame the victim for being unable to prevent the assault from occurring. In many cases, victims continue to feel helpless, unheard, and isolated. Their reports may not be taken seriously by the medical or justice systems either. Many victims feel that they have nowhere to turn for support or help.

We need to step up and help support victims and survivors. What we do can have a significant impact on someone’s life. It may be the difference that helps them heal or receive justice. So let’s take a moment to examine some simple things that every person can do to support someone they know who has experienced a sexual assault.

1. Listen

Listening may seem completely obvious but on the best days, it is something that we struggle to do in our normal lives. Most people want to find answers, particularly when someone we care about is hurting. We are quick to jump to action to make things better. For a number of reasons, this can be detrimental to the person trying to talk to you. They may have a hard time talking about something that is extremely traumatic. If they feel rushed through it, they may see your concern and solutions as a sign that you just want the conversation to be over. They also may not be looking for solutions right now, they are looking for emotional support.

Take time to slow down and listen without interrupting. Let them say what they need to say. Show them that they have your attention by putting away other distractions. When you’re listening, take cues from their body language. If they are avoiding your gaze, don’t insist on full eye contact. This is going to be a painful subject for them and they may need a sense of space to feel comfortable talking. Follow their lead.

If during the conversation, the person falls into silence don’t feel pressured to jump in with a question or suggestion. When we talk about things that are intense and painful, sometimes we need to take a short break to be ready to continue. Let the silence fill the space. They will continue when they feel they are ready. If the silence stretches on an extremely long time, you can ask them if they are ok or what they need in this moment.

Let them tell their story on their own terms. Even something so simple as listening with empathy can make a world of difference to someone. It shows them that their voice matters and that someone cares.

2. Don’t Tell Victims/Survivors How to Feel

Emotions after an intense experience can range all over the map. How someone feels about a particular event in their life is extremely personal and will be impacted by their life leading up to it. Even if you are also a survivor of a similar situation, this doesn’t mean that you know exactly how they feel. We are able to cope and heal better when we have a chance to express our emotions and work through them at our own pace. We all do this in different ways and at different times. There is no set timetable and telling people they just need to “move past it” or “get over it” often can negatively impact someone’s progress.

People will feel however they feel after an event like this. There is no such thing as a wrong reaction. Emotions are complicated and can take on many shades. It’s not up to you to tell someone how they should feel. Ask them how they feel about it. Encourage them to explore all the different emotions they have and why they may feel that way. Give them space to explore those emotions with you without criticizing them for how they feel. Sometimes the best way to help people heal is helping them remember that their feelings are valid and it’s ok to feel how they are.

Victims and survivors have the right to feel however they want about it even if you don’t understand it or you think it’s time they moved on. Everyone processes differently. If you’re concerned with how someone is acting and that it may be the wrong thing for them, you can still have that conversation in a supportive and open way. Sometimes they will not want your help. If they are not open to it, take a step back. Remind them that you care and you are there for them. Use your best judgment and if in doubt, seek advice and support from a qualified source.

3. Believe

It can be totally devastating to have the worst experience of your life and have no one believe you that it happened. This happens to the vast majority of sexual assault survivors. Some of the worst sexual predators have been able to continue abusing and hurting more people because victims were not believed or not seen as credible. People can act differently towards others in social situations than they do towards you. Just because you’ve never seen it does not mean that it never occurred. At the end of the day, if we practice more due diligence instead of dismissing victim reports, we still stop more predators.

The largest opposition to this is the concern over false reports. It is true that there have been some documented cases of false accusations. False accusations can be completely devastating to the person accused. It is also true that in the case of false accusations, a properly trained professional who conducts the appropriate investigation is able to tell fairly quickly that the accusation is false. Due to other problems in the criminal justice system and a large number of unreported assaults, research has been unable to conclusively determine the rate of false accusations. It is estimated that only around 2%-8% of reported assaults are false. This leaves a staggering 92%-98% of accurate reports.

Unless you have been trained to do these investigations, it is not your job to determine the truth. Do not immediately reject the report because you’ve always known the accused to be a great person. Everyone has facets. There are also a lot of grey areas of consent that many people struggle with. You can still support the victim/survivor. Supporting them does not mean joining a lynch mob to take out the accused abuser. All you need to do is to listen and be aware.

Education is Key in Ending Sexual Assault

Supporting victims and survivors of sexual assault is an important step in creating change. We can provide better support when we take the time to educate ourselves on the complex issues that surround sexual assault and consent. Educating ourselves will also lead to a greater awareness and conversations in the general population. These conversations are the real keys to starting the process of change that will bring us closer to ending sexual violence. Share and discuss this article with others. What are your favorite ways to support sexual assault survivors?

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What is Asexuality?

There are plenty of sexual orientations out there. There is no one or right way to be. Your sexual orientation is a very personal thing and you are going to be the best expert to decide what works for you. As we open up and talk more about sexuality and how it fits in our lives, more language and ideas have emerged to describe how people feel. Asexuality is a term that emerged in biology in the early 1800s to describe plant life. It has always been used to describe a lack of sexual need, desire or attraction. The term today is used by many to describe their sexual orientation.
What is Asexuality?

Asexuality is a sexual orientation in which people experience little or no sexual attraction. They have the same emotional needs as other people and can still desire other forms of intimacy but they do not experience the same sexual needs. This lack of sexual interest is something that is consistent over a person’s lifespan. Someone who has experienced sexual desire in the past but has felt a significant decrease would not be asexual. Their loss of sexual interest would be for another reason. Asexuality is an orientation that remains fairly consistent throughout someone’s life.

So do asexual people have normal relationships? The truth is that some people who identify as asexual are happier on their own and don’t feel the need for other forms of intimacy either.  Others prefer to build a strong network of close friends instead. As with other parts of sexuality, there is a large range of how much people who identify as asexual will want to connect with others and in what ways. Each person will have to choose that level for themselves and it will vary from person to person. It is not a black and white binary but more of a spectrum.

People who are asexual are perfectly normal. They are not sick. They are not broken. There is nothing wrong with them. They are just as capable of forming meaningful relationships and friendships as anyone else. They simply experience less sexual desire (or none at all). People who are asexual can still have fulfilling romantic relationships. Being asexual is not an inability to experience sexual pleasure or function sexually.  They just tend to experience no, or only very minimal, sexual attraction to others overall.

How Common is Asexuality?
Asexuality is only reported by approximately 0.5% to 1% of the population. We may not have totally accurate numbers at this time as research into asexual orientation is relatively newer and many people who may meet many of the criteria for the orientation may not self-identify that way. We are still learning and exploring the concept of asexuality. As more people come to understand it and more research is performed, we may see a higher number of people identifying with this orientation. Online communities have started to form that offers more information, support, and a way to connect with others. These communities can also help us get a better understanding of how common asexuality may actually be as well as providing a connection for those who identify that way.
Don’t Be Afraid to Learn More About Asexuality
Asexuality is one of many different sexual orientations. Even if you don’t identify as an asexual, it’s important to learn more about the different aspects of sexuality. When we learn more about sexuality, we have a better understanding of others as well as ourselves. This understanding breeds compassion and stronger communities. It is one piece of the human puzzle and helps us build more satisfying relationships. Knowledge is power and the more we know, the more we can impact our world in a positive way. Don’t be afraid to branch out and learn more! Sign up today for our newsletter and get informed!

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What is Sex?

Ever wonder…. what is sex? We live in a society that is saturated with references and euphemisms for sexual activity. It’s everywhere and present in most areas of our life. Sex is on the brain for lots of people, and not just men.

Most people treat sex like the secret society no one talks about. Talking about sex can be embarrassing and we get a lot of mixed messages about when it’s OK to bring it up or not. From a young age most of us receive the message that it’s not an open subject and tend to get negative reactions when we asked about it…. What does this mean? Most of us never got a good sex education. If this is you…. don’t worry. You are not alone!

How Do People Define What Sex Is?

When asked, most people aren’t really able to clearly articulate what sex is. Everyone will give you a different definition based on their experiences. Many people view sex as fun, intimate, passionate, emotional, and between two people or more people. When most people think about sex, they think about intercourse between a penis and a vulva. Sex covers much more than that. it can include anal sex, oral sex, or the use of just the hands in someone’s genital area. Sex can occur between two people or multiple at a time. Sex can occur between people of the any gender.

The world health organization defines sexual health by looking at the whole picture of physical, emotional, mental, and social well-being. This incorporates all the different aspects of our health that can be impacted by sex.

Defining Sex By the Whole Picture

The best way to look at defining sex is by taking a cue from looking at sexual health and incorporating all the different ways we interact with it in our lives. This can be broken down into five main areas: physical, emotional, mental, social, and moral. The physical aspect of sex represents the physical act itself. Here we talk about things like different positions, physical gratification, sexual health and more. The emotional aspect covers our feelings and attachments to sex and our sexual partners. It is here where we consider love and emotional well being. The mental aspect holds our thoughts and knowledge about sex. It is here where we would talk about our experience, history, and prejudice. The social aspect helps us relate our sex lives to those of others. Here we consider how others in our social circles, and society, perceive sexual activity and how it impacts our choices. Lastly the moral aspect is where we look at our spiritual and moral beliefs about sex. It holds space for our beliefs surrounding sex in and out of relationships as well as what a satisfying and healthy sex life looks like.

With all this different ways of thinking about sex, no wonder it can be hard to define! How you choose to define it will depend on which parts are more important to you. Everyone will define it differently.

Join the Conversation and Discover More About Sex

Sex is not the be all, end all of life. There is more to life than just sex and that doesn’t change that sex can be a fulfilling part of your life. Part of our journey through this world is figuring out what things mean to us and how we fit in with the grand scheme of things. Sex is another piece of the puzzle. Don’t be afraid of that. As our friends from the streets established, sex is fun. Why shouldn’t talking about it be? Post your comment below with your definition of what sex is! Then Join our newsletter for more info, follow us on social media, and share this post to get the conversation buzzing!

Are You a Sex Expert?

So many of us think we know a lot about sex and are spectacular in bed. There is more to it than confidence. Being a sex expert means having a wide range of knowledge on the different areas of sex. Sex means many different things to people but it has come to mean more than just the physical act. There are many different aspects of sex that have emerged but we can simplify it by considering the physical and emotional dimensions. The most satisfying and rewarding sex experiences come from mastering each aspect of sex.

The Physical Act

What do you know about the physical act? What do you consider sex to be? What do you know about how bodies function while engaging in the activity? There is more to be known about the physical side of sex than simply where things go. When most people think of sex, they assume that it refers to intercourse where the penis enters the vagina. This assumption is not always correct. The act can and does include much more than penile-vaginal intercourse. The physical act could include oral or anal sex. There is also physical intimacy that is experienced between same-sex couples or with those who are transgendered. There are plenty of things that fall into the physical realm of sexual behavior.

Aside from the diverse activities that can be described as sex, there is more to learn about the physical side of it. How do our bodies respond to stimulation? What causes us to orgasm? What causes us to be susceptible to sexually transmitted infections? How does sex impact our overall physical health? Our bodies are complex and amazing biological machines. The more you know about how something works, the better you are able to facilitate its function. An aspiring expert has much to learn about the physical side of sexual behavior.

The Emotional Act

Is sex ever purely physical? Some may say yes and while the emotional response may be less in some cases, sex always has some impact on our emotional health. When we engage in these fun activities, our brain releases hormones that make us happy. These typically tend to improve our mood and contribute to our sense of well being. For some, this is enough without any further need for intimacy. For many of us, it creates a desire for closer emotional intimacy. Can increased emotional intimacy help us reach more mind blowing levels of sex? The majority of people say yes.

Relationships can be complicated and even more so when they contain a sexual or romantic component. How we respond to our partners in times of crisis or happiness plays a part in how we respond to them during sexual activity. Learning ways to strengthen your emotional bond and relationship will increase your passion and experience.

Experts Never Stop Learning

Sex experts never stop learning, just like the experts in other fields. If you wish to become an expert and enhance this area of your life you need to keep adding to your knowledge. Ask questions, be open, and continue learning. Share your knowledge with others. Join our Newsletter for new information.