Men of reproductive age have traditionally been restricted to using condoms and the withdrawal method to prevent pregnancy. Condoms have been the most reliable method as they can be up to 98% effective at preventing pregnancy if used consistently and correctly. However, with typical use that percentage drops to 85%. Historically it has been the …
Continue ReadingTensing your body during sex.
Tensing your body during sex can either be a means to generating pleasure or a reaction to experiencing pain. If you’re interested in learning about tensing your body due to pain, read our blog on that topic. However, if you’re tensing your body because sex is pleasurable, read on. It seems that part of having …
Continue ReadingAttachment theory.
Attachment theory is the best way to understand love and romantic relationships. “Pioneered by psychologist John Bowlby in the 1950′s, the field of attachment posits that each of us behaves in relationships in one of three distinct ways: Anxious — people are often preoccupied with their relationships and tend to worry about their partners ability to …
Continue ReadingThe sex “drive”.
It was our first session of Driver’s Ed, and there we were sitting in the nerdy Driver’s Ed car. At last, it was my friend’s turn to drive and she joyously made her way to the front seat. With excitement on her face and eagerness to get moving, she simultaneously placed her right foot on …
Continue ReadingInjections for the Vagina?
Vaginismus is a condition in which the muscles in the vagina spasm involuntarily preventing vaginal penetration. This involuntary spasm can prevent women from inserting a tampon, undergoing speculum exams and having intercourse. Vaginismus is a major cause for unconsummated marriages. The cause of vaginismus is unknown, however fear, anxiety and pain can be contributing factors. …
Continue ReadingThe pajama party.
I did a television interview last week. It was totally fun and totally unusual. It involved sitting on a waterbed. I kid you not. So here’s the premise — this new talk show has a bunch (four, to be precise) of absolutely adorable 20-somethings in PJ’s sitting around talking about sex. And me. Just to set …
Continue ReadingWhen ‘we’ starts to feel like ‘me’.
If you’ve ever played doubles in tennis, you know the intricacies of what it means to be on a two-person team. You practice strategy. You capitalize on your personal strengths. You communicate. You make adjustments when necessary. And you’ve got each other’s back. But let’s say your tennis partner’s deficits become too much for you …
Continue ReadingVitamin D — believe the hype!
It’s that time of year again when the days seems to get shorter and the nights longer. Many people leave for work when it’s dark and return home in darkness, spending most of their daytime hours inside an office, greatly restricting their exposure to sunshine. It’s this lack of sunshine that can lead to Vitamin …
Continue ReadingTreating orgasm issues.
“In 1,749 randomly-sampled U.S. women, 24% reported an orgasmic dysfunction.” I think it is helpful to see the statistics on how often anorgasmia occurs because many women think they are alone in facing this issue. Often women we see at the Center feel unclear about exactly what an orgasm is. Orgasms are different for every …
Continue ReadingWhy therapy?
In my practice at the Medical Center for Female Sexuality we refer many patients for psychotherapy. With female sexual dysfunction, women frequently get told that their problems are all in their head, that they are crazy or that whatever they are facing is not a big deal. We hate hearing that they have been told …
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