What really turns women on and more
sex and relationship news
A round-up of all the sex and
relationship news stories that should matter to you.
Eye tracking technology has officially
confirmed what we knew all along! People look at the sexual body parts more and
faces less when evaluating women's appearance.
The study was led by Sarah Gervais of
the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in the US, and found that especially women
with typical hour glass figures or larger breasts, narrower waists, and bigger
hips frequently prompted such gazes.
The study is among the first to use
eye-tracking technology to examine objectified glances by which men, especially
in Western cultures, purportedly often 'ogle,' 'leer at' or 'check out' women.
Due to these objectifying gazes,
American women develop social physique anxiety, and show decreased cognitive
performance and self-silencing.
This is because this type of attention
reduces them to mere instruments in which their bodies are taken as being
representative of their whole being.
Previous research primarily used
women's self-reported experiences of this phenomenon.
Gervais and her colleagues used the
Eyelink II eye tracking system to examine how 29 women and 36 men from a large
Midwestern University in the US reacted to digitally manipulated photographs of
the same group of models with various body shapes.
The researchers found that
participants focused more on women’s chests and waists and less on faces when
they were asked to objectify the women by evaluating their appearance rather
than their personality.
This effect was more pronounced for
women with hourglass figures, idealised in Western cultures, and to a lesser
degree by women with smaller breasts and bigger hips who fall outside of
cultural ideals of beauty.
Compared to their female counterparts,
the male participants distinguished between women with different body shapes
regardless of whether they were focused on appearance or personality.
Women with high ideal bodies (i.e.
hourglass figures) were generally regarded more positively than women with
average or low ideal bodies -- interestingly enough, even by
personality-focused men.
The study is published in Springer’s
journal Sex Roles.
Importance
of kissing revealed!
Kissing is very important in a
relationship as it helps the bond grow stronger and also make you re-evaluate
your relationship.
Kissing is connected to
self-confidence as it has been revealed that guys who think they are
good-looking kiss more and even men who have dated several women are known to
like kissing more, the Huffington Post reported.
Women are said to value kissing more
than men and how we kiss with a partner makes us assess our relationship.
Researchers have discovered that there
is a specific scent we pick up when we are kissing which is believed to be
related to a person’s DNA and women are most attracted to the scent of a man
who has a genetic code most different from themselves.
A good kiss can speak a lot about your
chemistry with your partner as a good kiss could also mean you will have
healthy offspring.
Also, kissing is exclusive to humans,
as almost no other animal can kiss.
Now,
fertility test kit for men to calculate sperm count
A new device that calculates sperm
count accurately has been launched by Boots.
The ‘SpermCheck Male Fertility Test’
which is claimed to be “as accurate as a lab test at identifying low/normal
sperm count” with results in ten minutes is priced at 29.99 pounds, Metro.co.uk
reported.
SpermCheck chief executive Ray Lopez
said that this test can truly help couples suffering from infertility as the
cost of attending a clinic for the same test is between 100-400 pounds.
The kit is believed to be 98 per cent
accurate at confirming whether a man has 20 million sperm or more per
milliliter.
However, it cannot determine how
healthy the sperms are, which is crucial in determining if a man has any chance
of having children naturally.
Mistakes
women make that leave them single revealed!
There are certain mistakes that single
women make without even realising it and simple changes in attitude and
approach can take single ladies a long way in landing a date.
The head coach of the School of
Attraction, Damien Diecke, has advised single women to give signals to indicate
that they are interested instead of looking away when a man notices them, as
most nice guys are not brave enough to approach women who don’t seem
interested, News.com.au reported.
Diecke has suggested that women should
know what they want in a relationship and screen potential suitor on the basis
of that to avoid heartbreak later on.
The love guru has revealed that women
should smile more as it makes them more attractive and indicates they are open
and friendly.
According to the head coach, women
need to establish what they want by the first or second date, and need to make
their expectations clear.
He added that not replying to texts,
phone calls promptly could send the wrong message to a guy as he may think that
you aren’t that interested.
He also highlighted the importance of
returning compliments as it shows that you are interested and like him for the
little things that he does.
Diecke has advised women to fill
awkward silences with eye contact instead of looking away as it is totally
seductive and can make guys heart skip a beat.
Booze
behind most couples failing to have sex on wedding night
A previous study had revealed that
many newly married couples are unsuccessful when it comes to consummating their
marriage on their first night.
And now, the Huffington Post has
claimed that alcohol is the reason couples don’t have sex on their wedding
night.
The publication interviewed three
different married people, and all of them blamed booze for their lack of sex on
their wedding night.
Two women claimed that they were
completely drunk by the time their wedding festivities ended.
Another said that she slept alone on
her wedding night her husband was too wasted.
Things
that happen during sex while pregnant and after baby birth revealed
Having sex during pregnancy and beyond
is one of those things that is trickier to prepare for.
Let’s face it, things change. Body
parts go wonky; emotions go haywire -- and that’s all before sleep deprivation
kicks in.
Dr Lauren Streicher, an associate
professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Northwestern University and author of
the forthcoming Love Sex Again said that a lot of couples have a lot of
questions about sex, which doctors aren’t bringing it up, the Huffington Post
reported.
Which is why Streicher and several
other notables in the sexual health arena agreed to share a few of the very
common things that happen during pregnant sex and sex after childbirth.
During the second trimester, many
women experience a surge of hormones (including testosterone), which can
significantly boost their sex drive, Rose Hartzell, a certified sex therapist
with San Diego Sexual Medicine, said.
At the same time, it’s not uncommon
for a woman’s partner to report being particularly turned on by her body --
namely, her growing breasts – Streicher said. And that could lead to an overall
boost in couple-wide randiness, if you will.
Women’s breasts might leak during sex.
Streicher said that it typically begins in the second trimester, adding that it
can be difficult for a woman’s partner to adjust to the idea that her breasts
are not simply there for sexual pleasure.
As pregnancy progresses and women’s
bodies change, many once beloved sexual positions are no longer comfortable or
even feasible.
A 2012 study that looked at mothers’
desire postpartum found that women tended to perform oral sex on their partners
or masturbate before they were ready to have intercourse or receive oral sex
themselves.
Indeed, roughly 40 per cent of women reported
they masturbated within the first few weeks of having a baby.
By the end of the first three months,
85 per cent said they’d started having intercourse again, but Streicher said
data suggests that many women don’t totally enjoy it right away.
Thus, the “you’re good to go after six
weeks” advice that most doctors give to couples after a vaginal birth or
C-section simply isn’t realistic or all that helpful, she said.
The number one thing women don’t
expect is vaginal dryness, which may cause pain during sexual activity. The
dryness results from a lack of estrogen, particularly among women who
breastfeed.
A good lubricant can help, but if the
dryness persists, Streicher suggests talking to your health care provider about
your options.
Another change for which Streicher
believes women are woefully unprepared is the incontinence that can occur after
childbirth.
For many women, urine leakage (during
sex or otherwise) does indeed go away on its own, usually within a matter of
weeks or months, she said; for others, pelvic floor physical therapy may be
necessary, or they might benefit from using an at-home kegel exerciser device.
Clean
bed sheets top turn-on for women
A new survey has revealed that clean
bed sheets are a big turn-on for women.
The poll, conducted by a British
entertainment brand on 2,000 men and women, found that clean bed linens topped
the list of things that get women in the mood for sex followed by losing
weight, the Huffington Post reported.
Fresh lines ranked higher than a new
hairdo and makeup, and even a hot bath on the list.
One in six married women don't let
hubbies see them naked
A new survey suggests that one in six
married women have not let their husband see them naked in over a year.
Researchers quizzed 1,902 women from
across the UK, and asked the ones who were married when they last allowed their
husband to see them nude.
16 per cent claimed that they had not
undressed in front of their partners during the last 12 months or more, the
Courier Mail reported.
Almost half said that this was because
they felt insecure about their appearance, while a third blamed a dip in their
sex drive.
Around 40 per cent said that their
relationship had suffered as a result and 36 per cent admitted that their
constant attempt to cover up had caused rows.
Sarah Bailey, from online pharmacist
UKMedix.com which commissioned the poll, said that body confidence is a huge
element of women’s sex life, and it seems a lack thereof is causing problems.
How
to pick the perfect companion for a trip
Before embarking on a trip with a
companion, you must screen your travel partner for certain traits in order to
ensure your trip is fun-filled.
If you are a morning person, don’t
invite someone who is, as they would expect you to do the same and it may lead
to constant bickering, News.com.au reported.
According to Travelzoo.com.au, you
must be sensitive to cultural differences when you travel, and make sure
whoever accompanies you is, as well.
Travelling often means spending money,
so travel with someone who has the same views on spending as you do, as this
often determines the accommodation you stay in and the experiences you have on
the trip.
As a travel buddy can make or break
your holiday, make sure you travel with someone who is as excited about the
trip as you are.
Travel with someone who is spontaneous
and you will be sure to enjoy experiences you never would have dreamed of.
Also, make sure you travel with
someone who is as adventurous as you are as you may feel pressured otherwise.
Why
losing weight can ruin your love life
When one partner in a romantic
relationship loses weight, it may not have a positive effect on the
relationship, a new study has suggested.
According to the study from North
Carolina State University and the University of Texas at Austin, there can be a
“dark side” to weight loss, if both partners are not on board with enacting
healthy changes.
Lead author Dr Lynsey Romo, an
assistant professor of communication at NC State, said that people need to be
aware that weight loss can change a relationship for better or worse, and that
communication plays an important role in maintaining a healthy relationship.
For the study, researchers surveyed 21
couples -- 42 adults -- from across the country.
One partner in each couple lost 30 or
more pounds in less than two years, with an average weight loss of about 60
pounds.
The questionnaires asked each member
of the couple about the impact of the weight loss on their relationship.
The researchers found that, after
weight loss, the couples’ communication generally changed for the good. The
partner who lost weight was more likely to talk about healthy behaviours and
inspire his/her partner to maintain or enact a healthy lifestyle. Couples in
which both partners were receptive to these healthy changes reported more
positive interactions and increased physical and emotional intimacy.
However, in some cases, partners who
lost weight nagged their significant other to follow their lead, which caused
tension in the relationship.
Other partners who hadn’t lost weight
reported feeling threatened and insecure by their partner’s weight loss.
The paper has been published in the
journal Health Communication.
What
women gauge about men from their shoes
Women can find a lot of things just by
looking at a man’s shoes, a survey has revealed.
A pair of loafers tells women that a
man is image conscious. When they see these foot wear they know that it is
possible that the man will have a better skin-care routine than them.
And if a person wears them with cuffed
trousers they know that they could spend more time in front of the mirror than
they do. If men wear them with cuffed trousers with no socks then they know
that the men are batting for the other team, stuff.com reported.
If a person wears joggers the women
think that he is a very, very funny person.
Men wearing brogues are traditional,
dependable and reliable. Brogues say father, husband, and a life-long friend.
But the wearer can also potentially be
a little dull. Men who wear logo shoes mostly are trying to prove a point.
If a man wears work boots, it tells
the women that he has a traditional personality, is from a traditional family
that is traditionally comforting. The work boots could also mean that the man
has a country property.
Men who wear hiking boots, are people
who really want to be on a mountain, as Hiker boots says that the person is an
adventurer and wanderer.
11
per cent drivers have had sex in their cars
A new survey has found that 11 per
cent of drivers have had sex while driving.
The new online survey from the US has
revealed some interesting trends on how much “living” goes on in people’s cars
-- whether it be eating, using their phone or having sex, the Age reported.
The Scout GPS survey, which involved
2034 participants, found that 11 per cent of drivers admitted to having sex
while driving.
Men were three times more likely to
admit to participating in sexual activity than women (17 per cent and 5 per
cent respectively), and were also overrepresented when it came to flirting with
another driver (twice as likely).
Forget easy-to-handle hamburgers while
behind the wheel -- 13 per cent of people admitted to eating something with a
utensil while driving.
The survey also revealed some
intriguing figures on what people would do if no one was watching.
Nine per cent of respondents said
they’d drive naked, 15 per cent said they would have sex, 30 per cent said they
would pick their noses and 54 per cent admitted they would sing out loud.
The study revealed some more
concerning trends about mobile phone use, with 19 per cent of participants
admitting they had checked social media, email, or played games whilst driving,
and 60 per cent confirmed they had used a phone in some capacity.
How
texting could disconnect couples
A new study suggests that when it
comes to serious conversations, disagreements or apologies, couples shouldn’t
let their thumbs do the talking.
Brigham Young University researchers
Lori Schade and Jonathan Sandberg studied 276 young adults around the country
and found that being constantly connected through technology can create some
disconnects in committed relationships.
For women, using text messages to
apologise, work out differences or make decisions is associated with lower
relationship quality.
For men, too frequent texting is
associated with lower relationship quality.
“Technology is more important to
relationship formation than it was previously,” Schade, who earned her PhD from
BYU in August, said.
“The way couples text is having an
effect on the relationship as well,” the researcher said.
The study participants weren’t just
casually dating -- 38 per cent said they were in a serious relationship, 46 per
cent were engaged and 16 per cent were married.
Each participant completed an
extensive relationship assessment that included questions about their use of
technology in the relationship.
About 82 per cent of them traded text
messages with their partner multiple times a day. And it’s not always “I
Many of the couples used texting for
stuff scholars call “relationship maintenance,” or the kind of conversations
that help couples get on the same page.
Ordinarily having these conversations
is a good thing, but texting can get in the way and makes things worse.
“Reaction to disappointment and
reality testing occurs more quickly face to face,” Sandberg said.
“There is a narrowness with texting
and you don’t get to see the breadth of a person that you need to see,” he
added.
For men, more texting doesn’t
necessarily mean a better relationship. And they don’t just get tired of
receiving texts; their relationship satisfaction is also lower when they send a
lot of texts themselves.
The study is published in the Journal
of Couple and Relationship Therapy.
