Sex Ed Archives - Sex and Psychology

We’re Still Failing When It Comes to Clitoral Knowledge

May 4, 2023 by Olivia Adams

Heterosexual men’s difficulty in finding the clitoris has been a running gag in the popular media for quite some time. And there’s more than a hint of truth to it:...

Gender, Sex Ed

The State of Sex Education in the USA in 2023

March 22, 2023 by Emily Mendelson

The state of sex education in the USA is vastly different across states. As of May 2023, there are 23 states that do not require sex education for high school...

Safe Sex, Sex Ed

Are AI Chatbots the Future of Sex and Relationship Advice?

February 9, 2023 by Olivia Adams

AI is getting smarter. It can produce text that’s virtually indistinguishable from a human, and it has a massive knowledge base. So what will it mean for the future? What...

Media & Culture, Sex Ed

How Using OnlyFans Affects People’s Sex Lives and Relationships

February 2, 2023 by Emily Mendelson

OnlyFans is a digital patronage platform with over two million independent sex workers and a user base of 170 million registered accounts. Given the speed at which OnlyFans use gained...

Kink & BDSM, Media & Culture, Sex Ed

7 Things Science Taught Us About Sex In 2022

December 29, 2022 by Olivia Adams

2022 has been memorable for a lot of reasons—including what science taught us about sex. So here’s a quick recap of some of the many interesting things we learned about...

Sex Ed

Porn Literacy With a Side of CBT: Trying Out the “How to Watch Porn” Course

November 30, 2022 by Olivia Adams

Consider this — what if you could take a class in which your homework was to watch porn every week? This is what Lustery, an online porn platform that focuses...

Sex Ed

Views on Sexual Morality in the United States in 2022

July 4, 2022 by Justin Lehmiller

According to Gallup’s 2022 Moral Issues Survey, American adults’ views on sexual morality have become more liberal since the turn of the century. In fact, for some of the issues on this...

Sex Ed

How Marijuana Affects Our Sex Lives

May 30, 2022 by Justin Lehmiller

Research finds that nearly half of American adults (46%) have used marijuana in some way at least once before. People use it for all kinds of purposes, from pain relief...

Sex Ed

What’s the Most Effective Way to Reduce Abortion? Better Sex Ed and No-Cost Contraception

May 16, 2022 by Justin Lehmiller

The leak of a draft decision from the Supreme Court to reverse Roe v. Wade has reinvigorated public discourse on abortion in a way I haven’t previously seen in my...

Sex Ed

Masturbation May and the Science of Self-Pleasure

May 2, 2022 by Justin Lehmiller

It’s May, and that means it’s Masturbation Month yet again! So let’s talk about self-pleasure. The origins of Masturbation Month date back to 1995, when US Surgeon General Joycelyn Elders...

Sex Ed, Videos

Marijuana Use is Linked to More Sex and Better Orgasms

April 18, 2022 by Justin Lehmiller

April 20th is popularly known as 4/20 Day. It’s an unofficial (for now!) holiday that celebrates all things marijuana. This is going to be a hot topic of conversation this...

Sex Ed

The State of Sex Education in America in 2022

January 31, 2022 by Justin Lehmiller

Teens across the United States have wildly inconsistent experiences with sex education. As of January 2022, there are 21 states that do not require sex ed, and even in those...

Safe Sex, Sex Ed

Genital Fit: The Conversation We Should Be Having About Genital Size

January 17, 2022 by Justin Lehmiller

There’s an episode of Curb Your Enthusiasm in which an argument takes place over whether a woman has a “big vagina” or her ex-partner has a “small penis.” While this...

Sex Ed, Sex Tips

8 Things Science Taught Us About Sex In 2021

December 30, 2021 by Justin Lehmiller

2021 has been memorable for a lot of reasons—including what science taught us about sex. Here’s a quick recap of some of the most interesting things we learned about sex...

Sex Ed

Lessons From A 107-Year-Old Sex Therapist

December 13, 2021 by Justin Lehmiller

Sex therapist Dr. Shirley Zussman passed away on December 4, 2021 at the age of 107. She had a remarkably long career in the field, having earned her doctorate in...

Sex Ed, Videos

Exposure to Sunlight May Boost Testosterone and Passion

October 27, 2021 by Justin Lehmiller

If you’re a long-time reader of the blog, you’ve probably seen articles I’ve posted about seasonal variations in sexual behavior. According to the research, one of the biggest peaks occurs...

Sex Ed

1 in 10 Americans Say They’ve Had an Orgasm While Exercising

October 4, 2021 by Justin Lehmiller

When people think about orgasms, they usually think about sex and masturbation. Orgasms arise from sexual stimulation, right? That’s certainly the most common route to orgasm for most people, but...

Sex Ed, Uncategorized

Why Dutch Teens Have Better Sexual Health Than American Teens

September 6, 2021 by Justin Lehmiller

In my study abroad course on sex and culture in the Netherlands, one of the things we have been discussing is cross-cultural differences in sexual health and sex education. Teens’ sexual...

Media & Culture, Sex Ed

Sex Work and Mental Health In Cultures Where Prostitution Is Legal

September 1, 2021 by Justin Lehmiller

Today in my study abroad course on sex and culture in the Netherlands, we’re focusing on sex work, particularly the link between sex work and mental health. Many studies have...

Media & Culture, Sex Ed

I’m Teaching About Sex and Culture in Amsterdam for the Next Two Weeks!

August 30, 2021 by Justin Lehmiller

Greetings from Amsterdam! Today is the first day of a class I’m teaching on sex and culture in the Netherlands through the Sexual Health Alliance. Amsterdam is an awesome city—and...

Potpourri, Sex Ed

Sex with a Sleeping Person: The Psychology of Somnophilia

August 4, 2021 by Justin Lehmiller

Somnophilia refers to a sexual interest in which someone is turned on by the idea of having sex with a person who is sleeping—or being asleep and receiving sexual attention...

Fantasies, Kink & BDSM, Sex Ed

When Sex Toy Misuse Sends People to the Emergency Room

July 28, 2021 by Justin Lehmiller

You all know that I’m an advocate for sex toys. The data are clear that most people who use them report benefits and overwhelmingly positive effects. For example, sex toys are an...

Sex Ed

Sleeping Beauty Syndrome: Fantasies About Sex With a Sleeping Person

July 21, 2021 by Justin Lehmiller

Some people are turned on by the idea of having sex with a partner who is sleeping—or being asleep and receiving sexual attention from someone else. This sexual interest is...

Fantasies, Kink & BDSM, Sex Ed

How To Have Good Casual Sex

July 19, 2021 by Justin Lehmiller

What are the keys to having good casual sex? This question is at the forefront of Dr. Zhana Vrangalova’s program of research. I recently interviewed Zhana for the Sex and...

Sex Ed

Changes in Americans’ Views on Sexual Morality in the Past 20 Years

July 7, 2021 by Justin Lehmiller

According to Gallup’s 2021 Moral Issues Survey, Americans’ views on sexual morality continue to become more liberal overall. In fact, for some of the issues on this survey, Gallup recorded the...

Sex Ed

Using Less (Not More) Porn is Linked to More Sexual Problems

July 7, 2021 by Justin Lehmiller

Many people view pornography as a public health hazard, arguing that it’s inherently bad for our sex lives, relationships, and mental health. Embedded in a lot of arguments about the...

Sex Ed

Happy Birthday, Dr. Kinsey! Celebrating the History of Sex Research

June 23, 2021 by Justin Lehmiller

“We are the recorders and reporters of facts—not the judges of the behaviors we describe.” – Alfred Kinsey Today (June 23) marks the birthday of Dr. Alfred Kinsey, one of...

Sex Ed

Sex Secrets: What We Hide from Our Partners and Why

June 21, 2021 by Justin Lehmiller

When people describe the traits they want in a partner, honesty usually comes in near the top of the list. However, despite the fact that we say we want partners who will...

Sex Ed

The Psychological Impact of Virtual Reality Porn Versus 2D Porn

June 14, 2021 by Justin Lehmiller

Virtual reality (VR) pornography is a small but growing market in the adult industry. As the cost of this technology comes down in price and becomes more accessible to a...

Sex Ed

Does Listening to Sexy Music Get Us in the Mood for Sex?

June 7, 2021 by Katie Adams

Guest post by Katie Adams “I’ve been really tryin’, baby / Tryin’ to hold back this feeling for so long / And if you feel like I feel, baby /...

Sex Ed

6 Reasons People Want Consensually Nonmonogamous Relationships

May 31, 2021 by Justin Lehmiller

Consensual nonmonogamy is a relationship style in which all partners openly agree to the possibility of having more than one sexual and/or romantic relationship at a time. These relationships are...

Sex Ed

Porndemic? Here’s What Really Happened With Porn Use During the Pandemic

May 26, 2021 by Justin Lehmiller

At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, much was said and written about sex and masturbation in the popular media. The implication of many stories was that people were going...

Sex Ed

Would You Feel Jealous if Your Partner Got a Sex Robot?

May 24, 2021 by Justin Lehmiller

I get asked about the future of sex a lot, and one of the topics that often comes up is how robots are going to change our intimate lives and...

Gender, Sex Ed

How Gay Men and Lesbians Respond to Offers of Casual Sex

May 19, 2021 by Justin Lehmiller

A lot of research has examined how men and women respond to proposals for casual sex; however, the bulk of this research has focused on people who are heterosexual. This...

Gender, LGBTQIA+, Sex Ed

Is It Acceptable to Have Sex on the First Date? Here’s What Americans Say

May 17, 2021 by Justin Lehmiller

In recent years, Americans’ sexual attitudes have become more liberal. For example, public opinion polls have found that the number of American adults who think that things like sex outside...

Sex Ed

What Will Sex and Relationships Look Like After COVID-19?

May 12, 2021 by Justin Lehmiller

One of the questions I’m asked most often by journalists these days is what sex and relationships will look like after the pandemic. As a result, I’ve spent quite a...

Dating & Relationships, Sex Ed

How People Look Back On Their Very First Sexual Experience

May 10, 2021 by Justin Lehmiller

How do you look back on your first sexual experience? For some people, it’s remembered positively, whereas for others, it is a source of regret and shame because they feel...

Gender, Sex Ed

How Virginity Became a Stigmatized Status in the U.S.

May 3, 2021 by Justin Lehmiller

It wasn’t that long ago that virginity was a highly coveted trait in a romantic partner. Sexual inexperience was valued, whereas being sexually experienced was often considered a dealbreaker, especially...

Sex Ed

Even Doctors Don’t Agree on What Counts as Having Sex

April 26, 2021 by Justin Lehmiller

When people are surveyed about which behaviors count as “having sex,” it’s nearly impossible to find 100% agreement on anything. For example, studies of college students find that, while most...

Sex Ed

We Don’t Learn From Our Regrets: Sexual Regret Doesn’t Change Future Behavior

April 21, 2021 by Justin Lehmiller

When asked to describe a memorable regret, the things people mention most often involve love, sex, and romance [1]. For example, common regrets include lost opportunities (like “the one that...

Sex Ed

How Marijuana Affects Sex

April 19, 2021 by Justin Lehmiller

April 20th is known by many as 4/20 Day and it’s an unofficial holiday that celebrates all things marijuana (to read up on the history of 4/20 Day, check out...

Sex Ed

The Way Our Sex Fantasies Change with Age Might Reflect Changes in Personality

April 14, 2021 by Justin Lehmiller

People tend to think of personality as a relatively stable characteristic of the self that doesn’t usually change much over the course of our lives. However, this way of thinking...

Sex Ed

How Common are Pregnancy Fetishes?

April 5, 2021 by Justin Lehmiller

In the last couple of years, I seem to have become the go-to person for journalists and sex therapists who want to know how common a given sexual fantasy is....

Kink & BDSM, Sex Ed

What is Rebound Sex, and is It a Good Idea?

March 29, 2021 by Justin Lehmiller

Rebound sex is generally defined as sexual activity that someone seeks out in order get over an ex or move on after a breakup [1]. In other words, rebound sex...

Dating & Relationships, Sex Ed

Is BDSM Always About Sex?

March 17, 2021 by Justin Lehmiller

Most of the time that you see BDSM discussed or mentioned in the popular media, it is referenced as a sexual activity. In other words, it’s largely seen as something...

Kink & BDSM, Sex Ed

Why Men Get Erections in Their Sleep and Often Wake Up with ‘Morning Wood’

March 8, 2021 by Justin Lehmiller

As a sex educator, I’ve been asked many times over the years why men often wake up with erections (or “morning wood,” as they’re known colloquially). In this post, I’ll...

Sex Ed

The Complex Link Between Depression and Sex

March 3, 2021 by Justin Lehmiller

It is well known that depression—and certain drug treatments for depression, such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)—can lower sexual interest, desire, and activity levels. However, it turns out that...

Sex Ed

How Your Cat Could Make You Kinkier

February 24, 2021 by Justin Lehmiller

Earlier this week, I wrote an article about how infectious organisms transmitted through sex can potentially alter the sexual behavior patterns of the host. By encouraging the host to engage...

Kink & BDSM, Sex Ed

Could STIs Manipulate Us Into Having More Sex To Increase Disease Spread?

February 22, 2021 by Justin Lehmiller

Most of us like to think of ourselves as having free will. We engage in behaviors—sexually and otherwise—because we choose to do so, right? But what if this wasn't entirely...

Safe Sex, Sex Ed, Videos

How Many People Have Ever Had Rough Sex, and Who’s Most Likely To Do It?

February 17, 2021 by Justin Lehmiller

In my previous post, I discussed results from a recent study exploring how young adults define “rough sex” and their enjoyment of this activity. Today, I’m going to be discussing...

Sex Ed

What Does It Mean to Have ‘Rough Sex?’

February 15, 2021 by Justin Lehmiller

Rough sex is one of the most popular sexual fantasies. In fact, when I surveyed 4,175 Americans about their fantasies for my book Tell Me What You Want, I found...

Sex Ed

Who Has More Sex Dreams: Singles or People in Relationships?

February 1, 2021 by Justin Lehmiller

Most people report having dreams about sex at least occasionally. In fact, research has found that the vast majority of both men (93%) and women (86%) say they have had...

Sex Ed

Condom Use Decreased During the Pandemic—And This Might Be Why

January 25, 2021 by Justin Lehmiller

We know that there have been multiple changes in sexual behavior during the COVID-19 pandemic, which I’ve blogged extensively about before (for a summary of some of the main findings,...

Safe Sex, Sex Ed

Sex Question Friday: Can I Change My Sexual Fantasies?

January 8, 2021 by Justin Lehmiller

I recently received a long letter from a reader who asked, “Can I (or should I) try to change my sexual fantasies in order to reduce conflict in my marriage?”...

Sex Ed, Sex Q&A

Happy New Year! Science-Backed Resolutions For Better Sex In 2021

January 1, 2021 by Justin Lehmiller

Each time a new year rolls around, a lot of us start making resolutions for self-improvement. I suspect more people than usual may be making New Year’s resolutions right now...

Potpourri, Sex Ed

Ten Things Science Taught Us About Sex In 2020

December 30, 2020 by Justin Lehmiller

2020 has been memorable for a lot of reasons—including what science taught us about sex. Here’s a quick recap of some of the most interesting things we learned about sex...

Sex Ed

Santa Claus Porn is a Thing—And It’s Very Popular Right Now

December 25, 2020 by Justin Lehmiller

Porn searches are seasonal. According to Pornhub, the content that people look for seems to vary significantly over the course of the year in relation to different holidays and events....

Sex Ed

The Psychology of Christmas Porn: Some People Think Santa is a Daddy

December 25, 2020 by Justin Lehmiller

Our sexual behaviors ebb and flow throughout the year—and so do our porn searches. It turns out that what people look for on adult sites is, in part, a function...

Sex Ed

Will COVID-19 Change Our Sex Lives Permanently?

December 21, 2020 by Justin Lehmiller

Throughout this pandemic, I’ve been interviewed by dozens of journalists about the impact COVID-19 has had on our intimate lives. One question that keeps coming up in these interviews is:...

Sex Ed

Human Cows: An Inside Look at a Growing Kink

December 9, 2020 by Justin Lehmiller

A question I often get asked in interviews about my book Tell Me What You Want is whether I learned about any new kinks in the process of studying more...

Sex Ed

How Many People Have Ever Had a Threesome?

November 16, 2020 by Justin Lehmiller

Threesomes are one of the most popular sexual fantasies. But how many people have ever made the leap from fantasy to reality? And who’s most likely to have had a...

Sex Ed

The Three Sex Positions Women are Most Likely to Orgasm in

November 6, 2020 by Justin Lehmiller

Women don’t always orgasm during vaginal intercourse, especially if clitoral stimulation isn’t part of the equation. In fact, in a nationally representative study of more than 1,000 women from the...

Sex Ed

The Impact of COVID-19 on the LGBTQ+ Community

November 2, 2020 by Justin Lehmiller

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a powerful impact on people’s sexual and romantic lives. At the Kinsey Institute, we conducted a study to explore how people’s intimate lives have fared...

LGBTQIA+, Sex Ed

What Men Who Use Sex Toys Know That You Don’t

November 2, 2020 by Justin Lehmiller

When it comes to sex toy use, there is a pretty sizeable gap between men and women. Studies have consistently found that women use sex toys during masturbation at much...

Gender, Sex Ed

Spending Time Naked With Strangers—In a Safe Space—Can Improve Body Image

October 26, 2020 by Justin Lehmiller

Nudism (also known as naturism) is a practice—and sometimes a lifestyle—that centers around non-sexual public nudity. As someone who grew up in the United States, I learned very early on...

Sex Ed

Women’s Experiences with Multiple Orgasms are Very Diverse

October 23, 2020 by Justin Lehmiller

Research reports on multiple orgasms in women date back nearly a century. Despite this, surprisingly little has been published on what women’s experiences with multiple orgasms are like. There’s also...

Sex Ed

Is It Possible For Someone To Not Have Sexual Fantasies?

October 16, 2020 by Justin Lehmiller

A reader asked the following question:“My wife claims she has no sexual fantasies. Is this possible?”Sexual fantasies are usually defined as waking mental images or pictures that one finds to...

Sex Ed

How Many Women Fantasize About Cuckolding?

October 12, 2020 by Justin Lehmiller

Cuckolding is a sexual practice in which one is aroused by the idea of watching or listening to their partner have sex with someone else. I’ve written quite a bit...

Gender, Sex Ed

Sex as Self-Injury: People Who Intentionally Seek Harm Through Sex

October 9, 2020 by Justin Lehmiller

Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) refers to deliberate, self-inflicted damage to the body that is intended to cause pain, but not to end one’s life. NSSI is not uncommon—in fact, some reports...

Sex Ed

How Many People Have Had a New Sexual Partner During the Pandemic?

October 7, 2020 by Justin Lehmiller

Since the COVID-19 pandemic began, we’ve been urged to keep our distance from other people in order to reduce transmission rates. These social distancing guidelines—combined with lockdowns, quarantines, and closures...

Sex Ed

How the Pandemic Has Affected the Content of Our Sexual Fantasies

September 29, 2020 by Justin Lehmiller

In my last post, I wrote about how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected the frequency with which people say they fantasize about sex, as well as people’s reasons for having...

Sex Ed

What’s in a Kiss? How People Describe Their Best and Worst Kisses Ever

September 28, 2020 by Justin Lehmiller

Kissing is among the most common sexual and romantic behaviors. Although it isn’t a universal activity across cultures (in fact, researchers haven't found evidence of kissing in a surprisingly large...

Sex Ed

The Movie Sex Scenes People Fantasize About Recreating Most Often

September 14, 2020 by Justin Lehmiller

Popular media—films, television shows, and books—are common sources of sexual fantasy inspiration. In fact, in the study of 4,175 Americans’ sexual fantasies I conducted for my book Tell Me What...

Potpourri, Sex Ed

How Older Adults Define Sex—And How Their Views Change Over Time

September 9, 2020 by Justin Lehmiller

Research has found that different people define sex in radically different ways.Most research to date has focused on heterosexual, college-age adults and their views of sex, which reveals that penetrative...

Sex Ed

3 Theories Behind Why We Kiss

September 4, 2020 by Justin Lehmiller

Kissing is one of the most common sexual and romantic behaviors in many cultures around the world; however, kissing is far from a universal activity. In fact, researchers haven't found...

Sex Ed

Sex News Roundup: What’s Going on In Sex Research Today?

August 28, 2020 by Justin Lehmiller

What’s going on in the world of sex and relationship research right now? Here’s a brief recap of the latest and greatest happenings. In this edition, we’ll review a new...

Sex Ed

How Many People Have Used Sex Toys During the Pandemic?

August 26, 2020 by Justin Lehmiller

According to numerous media reports, sex toy retailers around the world reported a surge in sales since the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic began, especially during the period when lockdowns were widespread.Of...

Sex Ed

Why Women Hook-Up—And How They Feel About Their Hookups

August 24, 2020 by Katie Adams

When I was an undergraduate student, the weekends usually meant parties. And Sunday brunches often consisted of friends dishing on any hookups that occurred at those parties. Looking back on...

Sex Ed

Talk Dirty To Me: The Psychology of Dirty Talk

August 21, 2020 by Justin Lehmiller

A reader sent the following question:How many people are into dirty talk? What turns people on about it?There’s a lot of research out there on sexual communication, but surprisingly little...

Sex Ed, Sex Q&A

Celebrating 67 Years of Women’s Sex Research!

August 19, 2020 by Justin Lehmiller

Sixty-seven years ago this week (August 20, 1953), the media first reported on some of the major findings from Alfred Kinsey's classic book Sexual Behavior in the Human Female. This...

Sex Ed

We Usually Have More Sex in the Summer–But Will We During the Pandemic?

August 17, 2020 by Justin Lehmiller

Our sexual behavior patterns change with the seasons. Historically, there has been a reliable peak in sexual activity during the summer months. But is our usual summer peak going to...

Safe Sex, Sex Ed

Most People Have Noticed a Change in Their Sexual Fantasies During the Pandemic

August 10, 2020 by Justin Lehmiller

As someone who studies the science of sexual fantasies, something I’ve been curious about is whether this pandemic has affected our fantasies in any way. This situation has touched a...

Sex Ed

3 Reasons People Engage in Sexual Sadism and Masochism

August 7, 2020 by Justin Lehmiller

Sadism and masochism involve deriving pleasure from the experience of giving and receiving pain, respectively. This can take a number of forms, from spanking to whipping to flogging and beyond...

Kink & BDSM, Sex Ed

The Psychological Origins of BDSM: 8 Things That Draw People to Kink

July 27, 2020 by Justin Lehmiller

Bondage/discipline, dominance/submission, and sadism/masochism (BDSM) is one of the most popular sexual fantasies and a significant number of people report having engaged in BDSM acts before.So why is it such...

Kink & BDSM, Sex Ed

How Many People Have Ever Received an Unsolicited Dick Pic, and How They Felt About It

July 24, 2020 by Justin Lehmiller

Survey studies have found that many men report having sent unsolicited photos of their penises (“dick pics”) to other people before—but how many people say they’ve ever received such a...

Gender, Sex Ed

Who’s Having More Sex During the Pandemic? It Depends on Your Politics

July 20, 2020 by Justin Lehmiller

Some of my colleagues and I at The Kinsey Institute started a study in mid-March to explore the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, lockdowns, and social distancing on people’s intimate...

Sex Ed

How We See Ourselves in Our Sexual Fantasies, and What It Means

July 17, 2020 by Justin Lehmiller

When you fantasize about sex, do you appear in your own fantasies? If so, do you appear as you do in real life, or do you change yourself in some...

Fantasies, Sex Ed

1 in 3 Young Men Report Not Having Sex in the Last Year—But Not Because of Porn

July 8, 2020 by Justin Lehmiller

Sexual inactivity is on the rise among young adults. In the last two decades, the number of people—especially men—reporting that they haven’t had sex in the past year has risen...

Sex Ed

Men and Women Have Skewed Ideas about What a “Normal” Vulva Looks Like

July 3, 2020 by Justin Lehmiller

Female genital cosmetic surgery is on the rise. While these procedures are still relatively uncommon compared to breast augmentation and other cosmetic procedures, they are increasing at a fast rate....

Sex Ed

How Americans’ Views on Sexual Morality Have (and Haven’t) Changed in the Last 20 Years

July 2, 2020 by Justin Lehmiller

According to Gallup's 2020 Moral Issues Survey, Americans’ views on sexual morality continue to become more liberal overall. In fact, for many of the issues on this survey, Gallup recorded...

Sex Ed

Happy Birthday, Dr. Kinsey! Celebrating the History of Sex Research

June 22, 2020 by Justin Lehmiller

Tomorrow (June 23) marks the birthday of Dr. Alfred Kinsey, one of the most famous figures in the world of sex research. Kinsey was born in 1894 and died in...

Sex Ed

Participants Needed for Studies on Threesomes, Public Nudity, BDSM, and More!

June 17, 2020 by Justin Lehmiller

A few years back, I launched the Sex Studies page on Sex and Psychology with the goal of helping to connect sex researchers with potential participants, and it has been...

Sex Ed

Unwanted Sex and Nonconsensual Sex are Not the Same Thing

June 15, 2020 by Justin Lehmiller

In recent years, I have noticed an increasing trend in both public and academic discourse on sex to conflate unwanted sexual activity with nonconsensual sexual activity. For example, in many...

Sex Ed

The Appeal of the DILF: Why Men Who Have Children are Sexy

June 3, 2020 by Justin Lehmiller

In the wake of Kobe Bryant’s death earlier this year, an ESPN news anchor shared a heartfelt story about Bryant’s love of being a father. The emotional tribute instantly went...

Sex Ed

Do More Attractive People Have More Sexual Partners?

May 29, 2020 by Justin Lehmiller

A reader asked the following question:“Do more attractive people have more sexual partners?”According to the research I’ve seen, there does seem to be a link between physical attractiveness and number...

Sex Ed

Are Men Who Pay For Sex More Sexist?

May 25, 2020 by Justin Lehmiller

A common refrain in many anti-prostitution arguments is that sex work is inherently exploitative and that it perpetuates gender inequality. Built into these arguments is an assumption that men who...

Sex Ed

Twelve Things Science Has Taught Us About Masturbation

May 18, 2020 by Justin Lehmiller

May is Masturbation Month, so let’s talk about self-pleasure! In this post, we’ll explore twelve things scientists have learned from the study of masturbation, including who does it, why, how,...

Sex Ed

Researchers Have Found the COVID-19 Coronavirus Present in Semen

May 18, 2020 by Justin Lehmiller

Two months ago, I published a blog post titled “Can the Coronavirus be Transmitted Through Sex?” At the time, I wrote that “there haven’t been any scientific studies as of...

Safe Sex, Sex Ed

How People’s Porn Viewing Habits Have Changed During Quarantine

May 11, 2020 by Justin Lehmiller

Much has been said and written about how pornography use has changed during the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic, including on this blog (see here). However, almost all of the information we...

Sex Ed

The State of Sex Research Today, According to 4 Sex Scientists

April 22, 2020 by Justin Lehmiller

What’s going on in the world of sex research today? What are some of the biggest controversies and challenges? I recently sat down with a few of my colleagues to...

Sex Ed, Videos

Why The Pandemic is Making Some People Horny–But Turning Others Off

April 3, 2020 by Justin Lehmiller

There are a lot of conflicting media reports out right now about how the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic is affecting people’s sex drives. Some are saying that all of the stress...

Media & Culture, Sex Ed

Women Who Buy Sex: Why They Do It, And What Their Experiences Are Like

March 30, 2020 by Justin Lehmiller

Most research on people who patronize sex workers has focused on men. In some ways, this isn’t surprising because men are much more likely to report having paid for sex...

Sex Ed

How Many People Have Fantasized About Forcing Sex On Others?

March 11, 2020 by Justin Lehmiller

In my last post, I wrote about people who fantasize about having sex ‘forced’ on them. Today, we’re going to talk about the flip side of these fantasies: people who...

Sex Ed

Fantasies About Being ‘Forced’ To Have Sex Are Common—Here’s Why

March 9, 2020 by Justin Lehmiller

Have you ever fantasized about being ‘forced’ to have sex? If so, you’re not alone. Fantasies about being taken against one’s will (sometimes known as ‘forced sex fantasies,’ ‘rape fantasies,’...

Sex Ed

Seeking Participants For Sex Studies!

March 6, 2020 by Justin Lehmiller

A few years ago, I launched the Sex Studies page on Sex and Psychology, with the goal of helping to connect sex researchers with prospective participants. I’m pleased to say...

Sex Ed

When Orgasms Aren’t Pleasurable: Understanding ‘Bad’ Orgasms

March 2, 2020 by Justin Lehmiller

When you hear the word orgasm, what’s the first thing that comes to mind?Odds are, you probably thought about pleasure because most of us tend to equate orgasms with positive...

Sex Ed

Men are More Likely to Agree to a Hookup When Their Phone’s Battery Level is Low

February 17, 2020 by Justin Lehmiller

We’ve long known that scarcity plays an important role in sexual attraction. For example, in a classic study, research assistants approached people at a bar at different points during the...

Sex Ed

Do People Who Watch Porn Seek More Extreme Content Over Time?

February 5, 2020 by Justin Lehmiller

A lot of people seem to be under the impression that, if you watch enough porn, your brain will build up a tolerance to it. The result is that you...

Sex Ed

From Superheroes to Porn Stars to Politicians, Who Appears in Our Sexual Fantasies?

February 3, 2020 by Justin Lehmiller

Almost everyone has sexual fantasies, and most of us have them often. We fantasize about a wide range of activities, from group sex to BDSM to doing something that is...

Sex Ed

Medical Marijuana Laws are Linked to Increases in Sexual Activity and Birth Rates

January 21, 2020 by Justin Lehmiller

How does marijuana affect people’s sex lives? According to scientific research, it seems to be an aphrodisiac for a lot of people. For example, a 2017 study published in the Journal of Sexual...

Sex Ed

Sex News Roundup: Do People Really Have a Type When It Comes to Relationships?

January 10, 2020 by Justin Lehmiller

What’s going on in the world of sex and relationship research right now? Here’s a brief recap of the latest and greatest happenings. In this edition, we’ll review a new...

Sex Ed

Why Rough Sex is Arousing to So Many People

January 3, 2020 by Justin Lehmiller

Rough sex is one of the most popular sexual fantasies. While it’s a common fantasy theme across genders, it is especially common among women. As I discuss in my book...

Gender, Sex Ed

Happy New Year! Science-Backed Resolutions For Better Sex In 2020

January 1, 2020 by Justin Lehmiller

Each time a new year begins, a lot of people make resolutions for self-improvement. Some of us resolve to lose weight or to get in better shape, others vow to...

Potpourri, Sex Ed

Nine Things Science Taught Us About Sex In 2019

December 30, 2019 by Justin Lehmiller

2019 has been memorable for a lot of reasons—including what science taught us about sex. Here’s a quick recap of some of the most interesting things we learned about sex...

Sex Ed

What Was Popular In Porn In 2019?

December 23, 2019 by Justin Lehmiller

Pornhub just released their 2019 year-in-review of users’ viewing habits and, as usual, the results were fascinating. They reported an average of 115 million site visitors per day this year,...

Sex Ed

Do Something Good For Your Relationship This Holiday Season: Share Your Sexual Fantasies

December 16, 2019 by Justin Lehmiller

A lot of people are hard at work right now trying to find the perfect holiday gift for a significant other. Allow me to make your job a little easier...

Sex Ed

Pornography is Dangerous for Teens? Chill Out, The Kids are Going to be (Mostly) Alright

December 13, 2019 by Justin Lehmiller

Americans have become increasingly fond of calling pornography a “public health crisis.” Those who claim this frequently cite adolescents’ “rampant access to pornography” as a central concern. Parents are encouraged...

Sex Ed

Blinded by Desire: How Motivation to Establish a Relationship Affects Sexual Risk-Taking

December 11, 2019 by Justin Lehmiller

We all like to imagine that our decision making is clear and logical and that we’re weighing the pros and cons before we act. The truth, however, is that we’re...

Gender, Sex Ed

People Say That 1 in Every 5 Dreams They Have is About Sex

November 18, 2019 by Justin Lehmiller

Most people report dreaming about sex from time to time. For example, one study found that 93% of men and 86% of women said they’d had sex dreams before. But...

Gender, Sex Ed

Most People Have Fantasized About Being In An Open Relationship

November 15, 2019 by Justin Lehmiller

Have you ever fantasized about what it would be like to be in a sexually open relationship? If so, you’re not the only one. It turns out that being involved...

Gender, Sex Ed

The Psychology of Unsolicited Dick Pics: How Many Men Have Sent Them, and Why?

November 13, 2019 by Justin Lehmiller

One of the most popular posts I’ve ever written on the blog was about why so many men send unsolicited dick pics to women. At the time, there wasn’t really...

Sex Ed

Seeking Participants For Sex Studies!

November 6, 2019 by Justin Lehmiller

If you're reading this post, odds are that you love learning about the latest sex research. But have you ever wanted to go beyond reading about it and take part...

Sex Ed

Sexual Arousal Puts Us In a Risk-Taking State of Mind

November 1, 2019 by Justin Lehmiller

Why do people engage in risky sexual behaviors? This is, of course, a complex question and there are obviously many contributing factors. For example, some people take sexual risks because...

Safe Sex, Sex Ed

How Many Young Adults Have Ever Faked an Orgasm, and Why They Did It

October 30, 2019 by Justin Lehmiller

It is a widely known fact that people sometimes pretend to orgasm during sex. But just how many have ever done it? Why do they do it? And how do...

Gender, Sex Ed

Vampires and Werewolves and Mermaids, Oh My! How Many People Fantasize About Sex with Mythical Creatures?

October 25, 2019 by Justin Lehmiller

With Halloween just around the corner, people will soon start dressing up as all kinds of mythical creatures, from werewolves to vampires to mermaids and beyond. Most people who dress...

Potpourri, Sex Ed

How the Sexual Effects of Alcohol, Marijuana, and Molly Compare

October 21, 2019 by Justin Lehmiller

Alcohol, marijuana, and ecstasy/MDMA/Molly are among the most popular substances people use to enhance their sexual experiences. But when it comes to their effects, how similar or different are these...

Sex Ed, Sex Tips

$What You Think You Know About the Male Refractory Period is Probably Wrong$

What You Think You Know About the Male Refractory Period is Probably Wrong

October 16, 2019 by Justin Lehmiller

The refractory period is usually defined as a phase following orgasm during which additional orgasms are impossible. Sexual arousal is often said to be very difficult during this time as...

Myth vs Fact, Sex Ed

Nine Things You Should Know About Casual Sex

October 14, 2019 by Justin Lehmiller

Casual sex is common, and studies suggest that most people will have it at one point or another. However, despite its prevalence, casual sex is widely misunderstood. Here are nine...

Gender, Sex Ed

In Nature, Sexual Deception is Everywhere You Look

October 2, 2019 by Justin Lehmiller

A few weeks ago, I posted an article about the beautiful—but sexually deceitful—orchid. Some orchids have evolved to mimic the appearance and scent of female bees in order to lure...

Sex Ed

The Erotic Equation and Why We’re Drawn to People Who Play Hard to Get

September 30, 2019 by Justin Lehmiller

In Jack Morin’s classic book The Erotic Mind, he describes the “erotic equation” as follows: Attraction + Obstacles = ExcitementWhat this equation means is basically that if we’re attracted to...

Dating & Relationships, Sex Ed

How Porn Changes The Way Teens Think About Sex, And Why We Need Porn Literacy

September 27, 2019 by Justin Lehmiller

How does pornography affect the way that teens think about and approach sex? Is there a link between pornography and sexual violence, as many in the media have claimed? Also...

Sex Ed, Videos

Porn Ed: What Happens When Porn Replaces Sex Education?

September 27, 2019 by Justin Lehmiller

Adolescents today have greater access to a wider range of pornography than any previous generation. So how is it affecting them? This question is the crux of a new episode...

Interviews, Sex Ed

Announcing the 7th Annual SPSP Sexuality Pre-Conference!

September 23, 2019 by Justin Lehmiller

I am pleased to announce the seventh annual SPSP Sexuality Pre-Conference! It will be held next February prior to the annual meeting of the Society for Personality and Social Psychology....

Sex Ed

Science Fiction Sex Fantasies: Why Some People are Turned on by Impossible Scenarios

September 9, 2019 by Justin Lehmiller

A large number of people have sexual fantasies that are impossible to act out because they feature elements of science fiction. As some evidence of this, I surveyed more than...

Sex Ed

Being a Little Narcissistic Could Mean Having a Better Sex Life

September 2, 2019 by Justin Lehmiller

Narcissism is a frequently maligned personality trait that involves being self-centered, entitled, and holding grandiose views of oneself. Sex researchers have long been interested in how narcissism plays out in...

Dating & Relationships, Gender, Sex Ed

Participants Needed For Sex Studies!

August 28, 2019 by Justin Lehmiller

If you're reading this, odds are that you love learning about the latest sex research. But have you ever wanted to go beyond just reading about it and perhaps take...

Sex Ed

Celebrating 66 Years of Women’s Sex Research This Week

August 19, 2019 by Justin Lehmiller

Sixty-six years ago this week (August 20, 1953), the media first reported on some of the major findings from Alfred Kinsey's classic book Sexual Behavior in the Human Female. As...

Sex Ed

People Who Use More Emojis Have More Sex

August 16, 2019 by Justin Lehmiller

What does your use of emojis say about your sex and dating life? According to a new study published in the journal PLoS ONE, a lot, actually. In fact, frequent...

Dating & Relationships, Sex Ed

Changes in Americans’ Sexual Behavior Since the 1990s

August 7, 2019 by Justin Lehmiller

How have Americans’ sexual behaviors changed over the past quarter of a century? A recent study published in the Archives of Sexual Behavior offers some insight. In this study, researchers...

Sex Ed

How We Can Use Science To Close the Orgasm Gap

August 2, 2019 by Justin Lehmiller

The orgasm gap refers to the well-documented research finding that heterosexual men tend to have more consistent experiences with orgasm than heterosexual women. Specifically, men are not only more likely...

Sex Ed, Videos

How Many People Have Experimented With BDSM Before?

July 29, 2019 by Justin Lehmiller

BDSM has long been deemed a paraphilia—meaning an unusual sexual interest—by psychologists and psychiatrists. The classification of BDSM as a paraphilia implies that it’s likely to be a pretty rare...

Kink & BDSM, Sex Ed

Do People’s Sexual Fantasies Differ Depending on Their Race or Ethnicity?

July 22, 2019 by Justin Lehmiller

I surveyed 4,175 Americans about their sexual fantasies for my book Tell Me What You Want. Since this book came out, one of the more common questions I’ve been asked...

Sex Ed

The Most Fantasized About Male and Female Celebrities

July 15, 2019 by Justin Lehmiller

Who’s your celebrity crush? I surveyed more than 4,000 American adults about their sexual fantasies for my book Tell Me What You Want and, among other things, I asked them...

Gender, Sex Ed

What Counts as “Pornography?” It Depends Who You Ask

July 3, 2019 by Justin Lehmiller

As a sex researcher, I’ve read a lot of studies on the subject of pornography. One thing that’s been pretty consistent across most of them is that what counts as...

Sex Ed

How Americans’ Views on Sexual Morality are Changing

July 1, 2019 by Justin Lehmiller

According to the results of Gallup's 2019 Moral Issues Survey, Americans’ views on sexual morality continue to become more liberal overall. In fact, for many of the issues Americans were...

Sex Ed

How Long Does It Take Women And Men To Reach Orgasm?

June 26, 2019 by Justin Lehmiller

Much has been said and written in the popular media about the length of time it typically takes men and women to reach orgasm; however, most of this information is...

Gender, Sex Ed

People Have More Sex in the Summer. Here’s Why

June 24, 2019 by Justin Lehmiller

Sex is seasonal. Our patterns of sexual activity ebb and flow throughout the year, and right now we’re entering peak territory because it’s officially summer. Research from a variety of...

Sex Ed

The Psychology of Sadism: Why Some People Are Turned On By Others’ Pain

June 17, 2019 by Justin Lehmiller

Sexual sadists are people who derive arousal from inflicting pain on others. This could be physical pain, such as hitting someone else, or it could be psychological pain, such as...

Kink & BDSM, Sex Ed, Sex Q&A

Four Things You Can Do To Keep Passion Alive And Boost Sexual Satisfaction

June 12, 2019 by Justin Lehmiller

How does sexual satisfaction change over time in a relationship? The good news is that scientists have found that it increases. The bad news is that this increase only occurs...

Sex Ed

What Kinds of Porn Do Men and Women Watch Most Often?

June 5, 2019 by Justin Lehmiller

There are lots of articles out there describing the most-viewed porn categories on Pornhub and other popular adult sites—however, that’s not what this article is. While big data insights from...

Gender, Sex Ed

Is Kink a Sexual Orientation?

May 13, 2019 by Justin Lehmiller

What does it say about you if you’re into kinky or BDSM sex? Is it a serious leisure activity, or is it an innate aspect of your sexuality? Could the...

Kink & BDSM, LGBTQIA+, Sex Ed

The Truth About the “Oral Sex Gap”

May 3, 2019 by Justin Lehmiller

According to countless popular media articles, there is a massive disparity between heterosexual men and women when it comes to giving oral sex. Some of these articles suggest that, in...

Gender, Myth vs Fact, Sex Ed

Women Who Use Marijuana Before Sex Report Better Orgasms

May 1, 2019 by Justin Lehmiller

How does marijuana affect women’s sexual functioning? A recent study published in the journal Sexual Medicine sought to find out. Researchers anonymously surveyed hundreds of women visiting an obstetrics and...

Sex Ed

Why Sex Education Can’t Wait: Sex Before Age 13 is More Common Than You Think

April 29, 2019 by Justin Lehmiller

In the United States, the average age of first sexual intercourse is 17 for men, according to data from the CDC. The number is roughly the same for women, and...

Safe Sex, Sex Ed

How Sexual Attitudes and Behaviors Change as We Get Older

April 24, 2019 by Justin Lehmiller

Sex and aging is a topic that has been underexplored in sexuality research, given that the bulk of sex studies to date have focused on college students. However, we’ve learned...

Gender, Sex Ed

How To Talk To Your Kids About Sex

April 5, 2019 by Justin Lehmiller

As a sex educator and researcher, one of the more common questions I get asked is when and how to talk to your kids about sex. Case in point: a...

Sex Ed

7 Things You Probably Didn’t Know About Orgasms

March 27, 2019 by Justin Lehmiller

The science of orgasm is a fascinating subject. In this post, we’ll take a look at seven of the most interesting things scientists have discovered about orgasms. What to learn...

Sex Ed

The Fascinating Psychology Behind the Popularity of MILF Porn

March 25, 2019 by Justin Lehmiller

In the book A Billion Wicked Thoughts, neuroscientists Ogi Ogas and Sai Gaddam analyzed the contents of over a billion searches on some of the most popular porn sites. They...

Sex Ed

The Most Problematic Belief About Relationships

March 22, 2019 by Justin Lehmiller

People have a lot of wrong ideas about how relationships work, and these romantic myths and misconceptions can interfere with our ability to find happiness.

Sex Ed, Videos

5 Things Americans’ Google Searches Have Taught Us About Sex

March 20, 2019 by Justin Lehmiller

In the last few years, Google Trends has become a favored research tools of sex scientists. Because not everyone is willing to participate in sex studies for various reasons, Google...

Sex Ed

The 7 Most Common Sex Fantasies–And How Many People Have Ever Had Them

March 13, 2019 by Justin Lehmiller

Which sexual fantasies have you had? I surveyed 4,175 Americans about the content of their sex fantasies for my book Tell Me What You Want and found seven major themes...

Gender, Sex Ed

When Is The Right Time To Start Having Sex?

March 8, 2019 by Justin Lehmiller

When you start seeing someone new, when’s the right time to begin having sex with that person? According to a non-scientific survey of OK Cupid users, people are all over...

Sex Ed

Does Sex Affect Athletic Performance?

February 20, 2019 by Justin Lehmiller

Whenever a major sporting competition is about to occur, it’s common to see news articles about athletes who say they will be abstaining from sex until the event is over....

Sex Ed

The Biggest Misconception About Sex

February 15, 2019 by Justin Lehmiller

There are a LOT of things that people get wrong when it comes to sex and relationships. As someone who studies these topics for a living, I’ve noticed that some...

Sex Ed, Videos

3 Sex Fantasies That Are More Common Than You Think

February 1, 2019 by Justin Lehmiller

Paraphilia is the term psychiatrists and psychologists use to refer to any type of unusual or “non-normative” sexual interest. The number of sexual fantasies that have been deemed paraphilic has...

Sex Ed

How Long People Want Sex To Last Versus How Long Sex Actually Lasts

January 28, 2019 by Justin Lehmiller

How long do you want to spend on sex? And how long do you actually spend on sex when you have it? Research suggests that there’s often a discrepancy in...

Sex Ed

How To Talk To Your Partner About Your Sexual Fantasies

January 25, 2019 by Justin Lehmiller

There's a lot we can potentially gain from talking to our partners about our sexual fantasies. Among other things, this has the potential to increase our sexual and relationship satisfaction...

Sex Ed, Videos

How Many Americans Have Paid For Sex Before?

January 23, 2019 by Justin Lehmiller

Purchasing sex used to be a very common behavior among American men. For example, Alfred Kinsey’s famous studies of human sexual behavior from the 1940s and 50s found that 69%...

Gender, Sex Ed

Why Is Porn Inspired By Video Games So Popular?

January 21, 2019 by Justin Lehmiller

It seems as though every time a video game becomes a major hit, porn inspired by that game becomes a big thing. For example, when the PokémonGo craze hit in...

Sex Ed

Are We Really in a “Sex Recession?”

January 16, 2019 by Justin Lehmiller

A recent study suggests that Americans are having less sex today than they were a quarter-century ago. These findings have received a lot of attention—I covered them on the blog...

Sex Ed

Nonconsensual Condom Removal: How Common is “Stealthing?”

January 14, 2019 by Justin Lehmiller

In 2017, we added a new word to our sexual vocabulary: stealthing. A paper published in the Columbia Journal of Gender and Law defined it as “nonconsensual condom removal during...

Safe Sex, Sex Ed

Sexual Fantasies About Body Fluids: How Many People Have Them?

January 7, 2019 by Justin Lehmiller

The human body produces a number of different fluids—and those fluids represent a sexual turn-on for some people. From semen and sweat to blood and breast milk, almost any body...

Gender, Sex Ed

What Was Popular In Porn In 2018?

January 2, 2019 by Justin Lehmiller

Pornhub recently released their 2018 year-in-review of users’ viewing habits and the results were fascinating. Among other things, they reported an average of 92 million site visitors per day in...

Sex Ed

Happy New Year! Here Are 9 Resolutions For Better Sex In 2019

December 31, 2018 by Justin Lehmiller

Every time a new year comes around, people start making resolutions for self-improvement. For example, some of us resolve to lose weight or to get in shape, others vow to...

Potpourri, Sex Ed

The Most Common Reasons For Becoming a Sex Worker in a Country Where Sex Work is Legal

December 30, 2018 by Justin Lehmiller

There are a lot of stereotypes about female sex workers, and one is that no woman would ever choose this profession voluntarily. Some people see sex work as inherently victimizing,...

Sex Ed

Eight Things Science Taught Us About Sex In 2018

December 26, 2018 by Justin Lehmiller

2018 has been memorable for a lot of reasons—including what science taught us about sex. Here’s a quick recap of some of the most interesting things we learned about sex...

Sex Ed

Believe It or Not, Nude Psychotherapy Used To Be A Thing—And Even The APA President Supported It

December 17, 2018 by Justin Lehmiller

A few weeks ago, a friend of mine shared an article with me that offered a historical review of the “nude psychotherapy” movement in psychology. Wait—what? As I began to...

Sex Ed

Forbidden Fruit: How Many of Us Have Fantasized About Our Partner’s Best Friend? Or Their Sibling?

December 14, 2018 by Justin Lehmiller

In studying the sex fantasies of more than 4,000 Americans for my book Tell Me What You Want, I discovered that there’s one person who’s more likely to appear in...

Gender, Sex Ed

Romantic Red: Does Dressing In Red Really Make You More Sexually Attractive?

December 12, 2018 by Justin Lehmiller

Over the last decade, scientists have published a series of studies claiming that the color red is a sexual signal and that wearing it makes you more attractive to the...

Sex Ed

People Think Sex Is Riskier Than It Really Is

December 5, 2018 by Justin Lehmiller

There's a scene in the movie Mean Girls in which high school health teacher Coach Carr gives his students a lesson in sex education. It pretty much consists of him...

Sex Ed

How Many People Want To Have Sex With A Robot?

November 28, 2018 by Justin Lehmiller

I’ve seen a lot of articles lately about sex robots and how they’re supposedly going to revolutionize our sex lives. A lot of these articles make the assumption that there’s...

Sex Ed

Sharing and Acting on Group Sex Fantasies: Gender and Sexual Orientation Differences

November 23, 2018 by Justin Lehmiller

I surveyed more than 4,000 Americans about their sexual fantasies for my book Tell Me What You Want and I found that group sex was one of the most common...

Gender, LGBTQIA+, Sex Ed

People’s Orgasm Faces Look Surprisingly Different Across Cultures

November 21, 2018 by Justin Lehmiller

When I was training to become a social psychologist, I learned that many emotions and facial expressions seem to be universal across cultures. Recently, however, researchers have begun to debate...

Sex Ed

Why Being a “Details Person” Just Might Make You a Better in Bed

November 14, 2018 by Justin Lehmiller

Many psychologists believe that our personalities consist of five underlying traits: openness to experience (your willingness to try new things), conscientiousness (how detail oriented and organized you are), extraversion (how...

Sex Ed

Some Doctors Are Smearing C-Section Babies With Bacteria To Boost Their Health

November 7, 2018 by Justin Lehmiller

A few years ago, I came across some research reporting that the way a child is born appears to have consequences for their health. How so? Scientists believe that the...

Sex Ed

“Casual Sex” Isn’t All That Casual

October 29, 2018 by Justin Lehmiller

We tend to think of casual sex as, well, a pretty casual affair, meaning it’s just about the sex and nothing else. This view of casual sex is pervasive, even...

Sex Ed

Halloween Sex Offender Panic Is Here Again—But It’s Still Not Making Us Safer

October 26, 2018 by Justin Lehmiller

Each October, the media runs story after story warning parents about the dangers that sex offenders pose to children on Halloween. All of the panic stoked by these claims has...

Sex Ed

Future Doctors Score a “D” in Sexual Health Knowledge Because Sex Ed Barely Exists in Medical School

October 19, 2018 by Justin Lehmiller

The state of sex education is poor for American adolescents—but you probably already knew that. However, what you may not have realized is that the state of sex education for...

Safe Sex, Sex Ed

Men Who Have More Sex Have a Lower Risk of Heart Attacks

October 15, 2018 by Justin Lehmiller

Scientists have found that sex seems to be good for us in many ways. For example, sexual activity has stress-relieving properties: when couples in a good quality relationship have sex...

Sex Ed

Seven Fascinating Facts About Sexual Fantasies

October 10, 2018 by Justin Lehmiller

I surveyed 4,175 Americans from all 50 states about their sexual fantasies for my book Tell Me What You Want. Participants were asked to describe their favorite sexual fantasy of...

Sex Ed

First-Born Kids are Most Likely To Get a “Birds and Bees” Talk From Their Parents

October 1, 2018 by Justin Lehmiller

Parents have the potential to play an important role in their children’s sex education. Indeed, many of you reading this probably received a version of the “birds and bees” talk...

Sex Ed

How Does Consent Work In An Orgy?

September 24, 2018 by Justin Lehmiller

There’s a big assumption built into the way most people talk about sexual consent, which is that sex is exclusively a two-person activity. While it’s true that sex most often...

Sex Ed

Orgasms Trigger Migraine Headaches in Some, But Cure Them in Others

September 19, 2018 by Justin Lehmiller

We’ve long known that there’s a link between sex and headaches. In fact, we can trace this all the way back to Hippocrates, who is thought to be the first...

Sex Ed, Sex Tips

How Booze and Weed Affect Us During Sex

September 14, 2018 by Justin Lehmiller

Alcohol and marijuana are among the most popular substances people use to enhance their sexual experiences. But when it comes to their effects, how similar or different are these drugs?...

Sex Ed

Announcing the 6th Annual SPSP Sexuality Pre-Conference!

September 12, 2018 by Justin Lehmiller

I am pleased to announce the sixth annual SPSP Sexuality Pre-Conference! It will be held next February prior to the annual meeting of the Society for Personality and Social Psychology....

Sex Ed

4 Uncommon Sexual Fantasies And What They Mean

September 10, 2018 by Justin Lehmiller

I have been studying the science of sex for the last ten years. During that time, I’ve learned a lot about what turns people on, from the vanilla to the...

Sex Ed

Are You a “Grower” or a “Shower?”: Average Penis Length Changes From Flaccid to Erect

August 31, 2018 by Justin Lehmiller

Some men’s penises seem to grow more than others when they change from a flaccid to erect state. In colloquial terms, men who experience a larger increase in length are...

Sex Ed

Postcoital Dysphoria: When You Inexplicably Become Sad After Consensual, Satisfying Sex

August 27, 2018 by Justin Lehmiller

How do you feel after sex? If you’re like most people, you’re probably pretty happy. After all, “it feels good” and “it’s fun” are among the most common reasons men...

Sex Ed

Celebrate 65 Years of Women’s Sex Research Today

August 18, 2018 by Justin Lehmiller

Sixty-five years ago today (August 20, 1953), the media first reported on some of the major findings from Alfred Kinsey's classic book Sexual Behavior in the Human Female. As many...

Sex Ed

What Your Sexual Fantasies Say About Your Personality

August 17, 2018 by Justin Lehmiller

Our sexual fantasies appear to reflect, at least in part, our personality traits and characteristics. In studying the sex fantasies of more than 4,000 Americans for my book Tell Me...

Sex Ed

Why Do Men Report Having More Sex Partners Than Women?

August 8, 2018 by Justin Lehmiller

One of the most reliable findings across studies of human sexual behavior is that heterosexual men report substantially more lifetime sexual partners on average compared to heterosexual women. In theory,...

Gender, Sex Ed, Videos

If You Could Have Sex Every Day, Would You Be Happier?

July 27, 2018 by Justin Lehmiller

Studies suggests that most married adults have sex somewhere between a few times per month and a few times per week (side note: sexual frequency in relationships is similar for...

Sex Ed, Videos

Your Personality Traits Can Predict Your Sexual Behaviors, Attitudes, and Sexual Health

July 20, 2018 by Justin Lehmiller

Your sex life is, to some extent, a function of your personality. Sex scientists have accumulated a large body of research revealing linkages between what are known as the "Big...

Sex Ed

Americans’ Views on Sexual Morality are the Most Liberal on Record

July 18, 2018 by Justin Lehmiller

According to the results of Gallup's 2018 Moral Issues Survey, Americans’ views on sexual morality continue to become more liberal. For the majority of issues Americans were surveyed about, Gallup...

Sex Ed

Why Do We Fantasize About Sex? There Are More Reasons Than You Think

July 11, 2018 by Justin Lehmiller

Why do we have sexual fantasies? For many of you, the first thought that probably comes to mind is to enhance sexual arousal or to experience pleasure. However, that’s just...

Sex Ed

Where Do Our Sex Fantasies Come From?

July 11, 2018 by Justin Lehmiller

What’s the source of your favorite sex fantasy? Did it emerge from a previous sexual experience? Is it from something you saw in porn or in the popular media? Or...

Sex Ed

The Deeper Psychological Meaning Behind Your Sexual Fantasies

July 9, 2018 by Justin Lehmiller

When we hear or read about other people’s sexual fantasies, we have a tendency to focus our attention on the specific act they describe, such as a threesome or bondage,...

Sex Ed

What I Learned By Asking 4,000 Americans About Their Biggest Sex Fantasies

July 6, 2018 by Justin Lehmiller

My new book, Tell Me What You Want: The Science of Sexual Desire and How It Can Help You Improve Your Sex Life, will land in bookstores next week (July...

Sex Ed

Everything You Ever Wanted To Know About Pegging

July 2, 2018 by Justin Lehmiller

Anal activities have become increasingly popular in porn—and in people’s sex lives, too. For example, changes in Pornhub search trends reveal that queries for anal sex have increased by more...

Sex Ed

7 Things That Predict Higher (Or Lower) Sexual Satisfaction

June 29, 2018 by Justin Lehmiller

Sex scientists have found that people’s sexual satisfaction seems to depend on a wide range of factors, from how often they’re having sex to the types of sexual activities they’re...

Sex Ed

Does Sex Affect Athletic Performance? Here’s What The Latest Research Says

June 25, 2018 by Justin Lehmiller

Many athletes abstain from sex before major sporting competitions because they (and sometimes their coaches) are worried that getting it on might have a negative impact on their performance. For...

Sex Ed

More Evidence That Sex Could Be Good For Your Brain

June 20, 2018 by Justin Lehmiller

Research on both humans and animals increasingly suggests that being sexually active just might benefit the brain. Here's an overview of the evidence that has accumulated so far:A 2010 study...

Sex Ed

There’s Just One Problem With Suppressing Sexual Thoughts—It Doesn’t Work

June 18, 2018 by Justin Lehmiller

Let’s say you have a sexual fantasy about something—or someone—you’re not “supposed” to do, perhaps because it conflicts with the teachings of your religion. When a thought about this pops...

Sex Ed

How Your Sense Of Smell Shapes Your Sexual Experiences

June 11, 2018 by Justin Lehmiller

It’s hardly a new revelation that our sense of smell plays an important role in our sexual and romantic lives. I mean, after all, the multi-billion dollar perfume, cologne, and...

Sex Ed

The Truth About Unwanted Sexual Arousal (VIDEO)

May 23, 2018 by Justin Lehmiller

Scientists who study sexual arousal have found that when they show participants a pornographic video, many people (especially women) show signs of genital arousal while simultaneously reporting that they do...

Sex Ed, Videos

What Forced Sex Fantasies Mean In the #MeToo Era

May 21, 2018 by Justin Lehmiller

In the real world, forcing someone to have sex is something that is widely regarded as a repugnant act. By contrast, in our sexual fantasies, the prospect of being forced...

Sex Ed

Do Sex Workers Have Better Mental Health In Cultures Where Prostitution Is Legal?

May 17, 2018 by Justin Lehmiller

Today in my study abroad course on sex and culture in the Netherlands, we're focusing on sex work, especially the link between prostitution and mental health. Many studies have been...

Sex Ed

How the Practice of BDSM is Linked to Relationship Satisfaction

April 20, 2018 by Justin Lehmiller

People who are into bondage, discipline, dominance, submission, sadism, and masochism (or BDSM for short) experience a lot of stigma. For one thing, they are often seen as psychologically disturbed,...

Dating & Relationships, Sex Ed

The Most Common Reasons For Sex And How They Differ Based On Gender And Age

April 13, 2018 by Justin Lehmiller

How many different reasons are there to have sex? At least 237, according to one study. However, that study was primarily based on young college students, which begs the question...

Gender, Sex Ed

Sexlessness: How Many Americans Didn’t Have Sex Last Year?

April 6, 2018 by Justin Lehmiller

Most people have sex at least once in their lives. For example, in a longitudinal study of over 20,000 American adolescents who were surveyed repeatedly over a 15-year period, just...

Sex Ed

Why Cars Are One Of The Most Popular Places To Have Sex

April 4, 2018 by Justin Lehmiller

People fantasize about having sex in a wide range of settings, but cars are one of the most popular. As some evidence of this, I surveyed more than four thousand...

Sex Ed

How Is Porn Use Linked To Relationship Satisfaction? It’s Complicated

April 2, 2018 by Justin Lehmiller

It’s easy to find articles in the popular media talking about how porn ruins relationships. Many scientific studies have made this claim, too. However, there’s a problematic assumption embedded in...

Dating & Relationships, Sex Ed

The 4 Main Reasons People Stop Having Kids

March 30, 2018 by Justin Lehmiller

Why do people who start a family decide it’s time to stop having children? A new set of studies published in the journal Marriage and Family Review identifies 4 primary...

Sex Ed

The G-Spot Isn’t What You Think It Is

March 28, 2018 by Justin Lehmiller

Few aspects of genital anatomy have sparked as much scientific debate as the so-called G-spot (also known as the Grafenberg spot). Some researchers have argued that it is a distinct...

Sex Ed

The 15 Factors That Motivate People To Procreate

March 19, 2018 by Justin Lehmiller

Having children obviously takes a lot of work—and a lot of money. It really is an enormous sacrifice in so many ways. So why do so many of us do...

Sex Ed

How Many Men Admit To Sexual Assault When Hooked Up To A Lie Detector?

March 16, 2018 by Justin Lehmiller

When comparing the number of women who say they’ve been sexually assaulted to the number of men who admit to perpetrating sexual assault, the numbers are highly discrepant. In fact,...

Sex Ed

Everything You Ever Wanted To Know About Cuckolding

March 12, 2018 by Justin Lehmiller

Some people are turned on by thought of watching their partner have sex with someone else. This fantasy goes by many names, but it is often referred to as cuckolding...

Sex Ed

What the Most Sexually Satisfied Couples are Doing in (and Out of) Bed

March 9, 2018 by Justin Lehmiller

What keeps passion alive in a long-term relationship? According to a recent study of nearly 40,000 adults (all of whom were heterosexual and currently in romantic relationships), there were five...

Dating & Relationships, Sex Ed

Four Fascinating Things I Learned About Sex At A Sex Research Conference

March 7, 2018 by Justin Lehmiller

I recently returned from the Sexuality Pre-Conference, held just prior to the annual meeting of the Society for Personality and Social Psychology in Atlanta, Georgia. I had the chance to...

Sex Ed

Why Are Women More Likely To Regret Casual Sex Than Men?

March 5, 2018 by Justin Lehmiller

Several studies have found that women are more likely to have regrets about their previous experiences with casual sex than men. While men can certainly have regrets about casual sex,...

Gender, Sex Ed

From Friends With Benefits To Threesomes, How Single Americans Feel About Sex (Infographic)

February 26, 2018 by Justin Lehmiller

How many single adults in the United States have had a friends with benefits relationship? How many are open to the idea of having a threesome? And what do they...

Sex Ed

The Trump Administration Doubles Down On Abstinence-Only Sex Education

February 19, 2018 by Justin Lehmiller

The Trump administration recently released its proposed budget for 2019 and, just like last year, it seeks to ensure that sex education in the United States remains focused on abstinence....

Sex Ed

More Children Are Born–But Not Conceived–On Valentine’s Day

February 12, 2018 by Justin Lehmiller

Most people would probably assume that Valentine’s Day is linked to an increase in pregnancies. I mean, given the nature of this holiday and the emphasis on celebrating sex and...

Sex Ed

10 Things You Should Know About Oral Sex

February 9, 2018 by Justin Lehmiller

How many people have had oral sex? Do men and women have similar feelings about this activity? Does oral sex "count" as sex? In this post, we'll take a look...

Sex Ed

Can You Build Up A Tolerance To Porn?

February 5, 2018 by Justin Lehmiller

There’s a widespread belief that, if you watch enough porn, your brain will build up a tolerance to it, meaning that you will require more and more extreme stuff in...

Sex Ed

Sapiosexuality: When Intelligence Is A Sexual Turn-On

January 31, 2018 by Justin Lehmiller

In popular culture, a sapiosexual or sapiophile is someone who thinks that high intelligence is sexually attractive. It’s not just that these individuals think it would be desirable to have...

Sex Ed

Obtaining Sexual Consent Isn’t Just The Right Thing To Do–It’s Also Really Sexy

January 29, 2018 by Justin Lehmiller

There's been a lot of talk about the issue of sexual consent in response to the #MeToo movement. Much of this talk has focused on getting men to understand that...

Sex Ed

Upper Body Strength Plays A Big Role In Men’s Physical Attractiveness

January 24, 2018 by Justin Lehmiller

What do heterosexual women find attractive about the male body? A new study suggests that signs of muscularity and upper body strength are particularly important, while height and weight seem...

Sex Ed

Porn Use Is Linked To Lower Sexual Satisfaction In Men—But Only If They’re Religious

January 22, 2018 by Justin Lehmiller

Several studies have found that pornography use is associated with lower levels of sexual satisfaction (see here and here and here for a few examples). On the basis of this...

Sex Ed

What Was Popular In Porn In 2017?

January 15, 2018 by Justin Lehmiller

Pornhub recently released their annual year-in-review of users’ viewing habits and, as usual, the results were fascinating. Among other things, they reported an average of 81 million site visitors per...

Sex Ed

Our Sexual Fantasies Tell Us Something Important About Who We Are

January 10, 2018 by Justin Lehmiller

Two people can have sex fantasies about the same activity, but the way that specific activity plays out isn’t necessarily going to be the same from one person to the...

Sex Ed

We’ve Reached Peak Online Dating Season

January 5, 2018 by Justin Lehmiller

The busiest time of year for online dating is the nearly two-month stretch that runs from the day after Christmas through Valentine’s Day. It reaches its peak on the Sunday...

Dating & Relationships, Sex Ed

We’re In Peak Online Dating Season. Here’s Why

January 4, 2018 by Justin Lehmiller

The busiest time of year for online dating is the nearly two-month stretch that runs from the day after Christmas through Valentine’s Day. It reaches its peak on the Sunday...

Dating & Relationships, Sex Ed

Happy New Year! Here Are 8 Resolutions For Better Sex In 2018

January 1, 2018 by Justin Lehmiller

Every time a new year comes around, a lot of us start making resolutions for self-improvement. For example, some people resolve to lose weight or get in shape, others vow...

Potpourri, Sex Ed

Experiences With BDSM And Group Sex Among Friends With Benefits And Romantic Partners

December 20, 2017 by Justin Lehmiller

Do people engaged in casual, “no strings attached” sexual relationships engage in similar sexual activities compared to people in committed romantic relationships? There is some research to suggest that the...

Dating & Relationships, Sex Ed

Men Overestimate How Often Women Have Orgasms

December 13, 2017 by Justin Lehmiller

I recently blogged about a study that examined women’s experiences with orgasm during vaginal intercourse. The results revealed that question wording is crucial when it comes to understanding how often...

Sex Ed

Your Sex Life At Home May Affect How Happy And Productive You Are At Work

December 11, 2017 by Justin Lehmiller

Sex has the potential to benefit us in numerous ways. Among other things, research suggests that it may be good for our physical health (it is a form of exercise...

Sex Ed

Shifting Standards Of Sex: Whether A Given Behavior “Counts” As Sex Depends On Who Does It

December 6, 2017 by Justin Lehmiller

You might think that it would be easy to define a term like sex—but it’s not. It turns out that different people have very different definitions, and they make all...

Sex Ed

How Often Do Women Orgasm During Sex? It Depends How You Ask The Question

December 4, 2017 by Justin Lehmiller

Several studies have looked at women’s experiences with orgasm during penile-vaginal intercourse. However, these studies have produced variable results, making it difficult to draw firm conclusions about how often women...

Sex Ed

Kissing Is Not A Universal Sexual And Romantic Behavior Across Cultures

November 17, 2017 by Justin Lehmiller

Many sexuality researchers and educators have claimed that kissing is a universal or near universal sexual and romantic behavior. For example, several sexuality textbooks explicitly say that kissing isn't just...

Sex Ed

STD Rates Are Rising, But It’s Not Because of Tinder and Grindr

November 13, 2017 by Justin Lehmiller

In the modern world, we have a tendency to blame almost all of our problems on technology--and this is especially true when it comes to sexual problems. For example, I’ve...

Sex Ed

What A Decade Of Data From Pornhub Reveals About Our Sexual Interests

November 8, 2017 by Justin Lehmiller

This year, Pornhub celebrated its tenth birthday. To commemorate the occasion, they released some fascinating data on trends in users’ viewing habits. Among other things, over 10 million videos have...

Sex Ed

Marijuana Smokers Report Having More Sex Than Non-Smokers

November 6, 2017 by Justin Lehmiller

What effect does marijuana have on sexual function? Surprisingly little research has addressed this question, and the few studies that exist have produced conflicting results. For example, while survey research...

Sex Ed

Halloween Is One Of The Least Popular Days To Give Birth

October 27, 2017 by Justin Lehmiller

The number of babies born each day naturally fluctuates throughout the year. However, researchers have found that certain days are linked to consistent increases or decreases in the birth rate....

Sex Ed

Halloween Sex Offender Panic Is Here Again—But It’s Not Making Us Any Safer

October 27, 2017 by Justin Lehmiller

Each October, the media runs story after story warning parents about the dangers that sex offenders pose to children on Halloween. All of the panic stoked by these claims has...

Sex Ed

How Erotic Dreams Are Connected To Pornography Use And Sexual Behavior

October 27, 2017 by Justin Lehmiller

Most people have had dreams about sex before. However, there’s a lot of variability in the kinds of sex dreams that people have. So where does all of that variation...

Sex Ed

Infographic: Women’s Experiences With Orgasm During Vaginal Intercourse

October 11, 2017 by Justin Lehmiller

How often do women orgasm during penile-vaginal intercourse? And just how important is clitoral stimulation when it comes to a woman's likelihood of experiencing orgasm during sex? A new paper...

Sex Ed

Porn Isn’t The Reason Millennials Are Having Less Sex

September 27, 2017 by Justin Lehmiller

Compared to generations past, millennials are having less sex. And the post-millennials—or iGen, as social psychologist Jean Twenge has dubbed them—are doing it even less. Much has been said and...

Sex Ed

How Sexual Satisfaction Changes in Long-Term Relationships

September 25, 2017 by Justin Lehmiller

Does sexual satisfaction change over the course of a long-term romantic relationship and, is so, how? On the one hand, you might think that satisfaction increases as partners learn how...

Dating & Relationships, Sex Ed

Women’s Preferred “Shapes” and Styles of Genital Touch (Infographic)

September 20, 2017 by Justin Lehmiller

What kinds of genital touch do women find to be most pleasurable? A lot of research has explored this question; however, most of it has suffered from major limitations. For...

Sex Ed

How Sexual and Non-Sexual Communication Differ

September 15, 2017 by Justin Lehmiller

Communicating early and often about sex is one of the keys to a successful long-term romantic relationship. Indeed, research has consistently found that the more sexual communication couples engage in,...

Sex Ed

Announcing the 5th Annual SPSP Sexuality Pre-Conference!

September 13, 2017 by Justin Lehmiller

I am pleased to announce the fifth annual SPSP Sexuality Pre-Conference! It will be held next March, just prior to the annual meeting of the Society for Personality and Social...

Sex Ed

Till Porn Do Us Part: Why You Should Be Skeptical of the New Study Claiming Porn Kills Love

September 6, 2017 by Justin Lehmiller

A new study published in the Journal of Sex Research reports that when married people start using porn, their odds of getting divorced double. In other words, the results would...

Dating & Relationships, Sex Ed

Americans’ Attitudes Toward and Experiences with Sex Toys and Sexual Media (Infographic)

August 30, 2017 by Justin Lehmiller

To date, most national sex surveys in America have focused on people's attitudes toward and experiences with a relatively narrow range of sexual behaviors, namely: vaginal intercourse, oral sex, anal...

Sex Ed

Celebrate 64 Years of Female Sex Research This Weekend

August 18, 2017 by Justin Lehmiller

Sixty-four years ago this Sunday (August 20, 1953), the media first reported on some of the major findings from Alfred Kinsey's classic book Sexual Behavior in the Human Female. As...

Sex Ed

How Many Americans Have Tried BDSM? (Infographic)

August 16, 2017 by Justin Lehmiller

The immense popularity of Fifty Shades of Grey has prompted a lot of curiosity about BDSM (bondage, discipline, dominance, submission, sadism, and masochism). Among other things, people have begun to...

Sex Ed

This Is How Many American Adults Have Never Had Sex

August 14, 2017 by Justin Lehmiller

Like most sex researchers, I tend to study people who have sex--and, over the years, we've developed a large scientific literature about them. But what about the people who, for...

Sex Ed

Sex Is Good For Our Mental Health

August 14, 2017 by Justin Lehmiller

Sex stands to benefit us in many ways. For example, research has found that being sexually active appears to be good for our physical health—not only does having sex burn...

Sex Ed

What You Think You Know About Men’s Sexuality Is Probably Wrong

August 7, 2017 by Justin Lehmiller

One of the most popular stereotypes of male sexuality is that guys want sex ALL the time. They're always in the mood because they're constantly thinking about it. After all,...

Sex Ed

Women’s Most and Least Common Reasons for Having Sex

August 4, 2017 by Justin Lehmiller

There are a lot of different things that can motivate people to have sex. In fact, one study identified 237 distinct reasons for getting it on! But do our reasons...

Sex Ed

How Many Americans Have Had A “Social” Sexual Experience? (Infographic)

July 31, 2017 by Justin Lehmiller

When we engage in sexual activity, it's usually with just one other person. Sometimes, however, people engage in “social” sexual experiences in which multiple people are involved in some way....

Sex Ed

Faking Orgasms: Why Do So Many People Do It? And Is It A Good Or Bad Thing?

July 31, 2017 by Justin Lehmiller

If I asked you to imagine someone faking an orgasm, odds are that you'd probably picture a woman. It has long been assumed that fake orgasms are unique to women,...

Sex Ed

5 Ways Women Can Orgasm That Don’t Involve Sexual Activity

July 24, 2017 by Justin Lehmiller

Women don’t need to have sex in order to reach orgasm. In fact, they don’t necessarily even need any genital stimulation at all. Here are five ways women can experience...

Sex Ed

Is It Possible to “Undo” a Circumcision? Here’s What We Know About Foreskin Restoration

July 21, 2017 by Justin Lehmiller

A reader asked the following question:"If you've been circumcised, is there any way to get your foreskin back?"Some circumcised men lament the removal of their foreskin, wishing to be "uncircumcised."...

Sex Ed

Are Sex Researchers More Sexually Active Than Everyone Else?

July 19, 2017 by Justin Lehmiller

When you study sex for a living, people have a tendency to think that you really love sex—and that you must be having it all the time, too! In other...

Sex Ed

5 Fascinating Things Americans’ Google Searches Have Taught Us About Sex

July 14, 2017 by Justin Lehmiller

Google Trends has quickly become one of the favorite research tools of sex scientists. Why? In part, because not everyone is willing to participate in sex studies and, among those...

Sex Ed

The Season of Sex: Why Sexual Activity Peaks in the Summer

July 10, 2017 by Justin Lehmiller

In the animal kingdom, there are some species that only mate seasonally. They do it just a few times per year, coinciding with their fertile periods. Humans, by contrast, are...

Sex Ed

Three Sexual Fantasies That Are More Common Than You Think

July 7, 2017 by Justin Lehmiller

Paraphilia is a very general term used by psychologists to refer to any kind of unusual sexual interest. The number of desires that have been deemed paraphilic has grown substantially...

Kink & BDSM, Sex Ed

The Orgasm Gap in Porn is Bigger Than We Realized

July 3, 2017 by Justin Lehmiller

Porn has been criticized for a lot of reasons, but one of the most common complaints lodged against it is that it isn’t realistic, especially in the way it depicts...

Sex Ed

Genital Arousal and Sexual Desire Aren’t Necessarily the Same Thing

June 12, 2017 by Justin Lehmiller

Scientists who study sexual desire have long been wary of over-relying on self-report data because people don’t always tell the truth on surveys. Some people answer questions about what turns...

Sex Ed

Americans’ Views on Sexual Morality are More Liberal Than Ever

June 5, 2017 by Justin Lehmiller

According to the results of Gallup's 2017 Moral Issues Survey, Americans’ views on sexual morality continue to become more liberal. In fact, for a majority of the issues Americans were...

Sex Ed

5 Common Questions About Penis Size, Answered

May 26, 2017 by Justin Lehmiller

As you might imagine, in my work as a sex educator, questions about penises--and especially about penis size--come up all the time. As such, I thought it might be helpful...

Sex Ed

10 Things You Should Know About Anal Sex

May 10, 2017 by Justin Lehmiller

As a sex educator, one of the topics I get asked about most often is anal sex. Given how curious people seem to be about this activity, I thought it...

Safe Sex, Sex Ed

Why We Crave Sexual Novelty–And What It Means For Our Sex Lives

April 28, 2017 by Justin Lehmiller

When our interest in sex starts to wane, exposure to a new or novel partner has a way of bringing it back. This phenomenon--formally dubbed the Coolidge Effect--got its name...

Sex Ed

In an LTR, What (if Anything) Does it Mean if Your Partner Masturbates?

April 28, 2017 by Justin Lehmiller

In a long-term relationship, what does it mean when one or both partners masturbate on their own? A lot of people would be tempted to conclude that it's a sign...

Sex Ed

4 Things You Should Know About Vibrators

April 17, 2017 by Justin Lehmiller

Vibrators are one of the most popular sex toys in the world. They are ubiquitous in sex shops, not to mention on the internet—and you can get them in virtually...

Sex Ed

Why Americans Are Having Less Sex—And What It Means

April 12, 2017 by Justin Lehmiller

I recently blogged about the results of a new study reporting that Americans today are having less sex than they were a quarter century ago. Specifically, this research suggests that...

Sex Ed

Americans are Having Less Sex Today Than 25 Years Ago

April 10, 2017 by Justin Lehmiller

A new study published in the Archives of Sexual Behavior offers a fascinating analysis of the way American adults' sex lives changed between the years 1989 and 2014. Specifically, it...

Sex Ed

How Men and Women Feel About Having Their Nipples Stimulated

April 7, 2017 by Justin Lehmiller

Although the breasts and nipples have long been considered to be among the human body's biggest erogenous zones, surprisingly little research attention has been given to the role that these...

Sex Ed

How Long Does Sexual “Afterglow” Last?

March 29, 2017 by Justin Lehmiller

Afterglow refers to “the look of contentment on a person’s face after great sex,” at least according to the Urban Dictionary. In other words, the basic idea here is that...

Sex Ed

To Circumcise Or Not To Circumcise? A Critical Look At The Research

March 27, 2017 by Justin Lehmiller

In the United States today, most male infants are circumcised. Many in the medical community strongly support this practice, pointing to research finding a link between circumcision and better health...

Sex Ed

Women’s Most (And Least) Common Reasons For Having Sex

March 20, 2017 by Justin Lehmiller

Both men and women report a wide range of reasons for having sex. In fact, one previous study identified as many as 237 distinct sexual motivations! But how do our...

LGBTQIA+, Sex Ed

Does Anal Sex “Count” As Sex?

March 16, 2017 by Justin Lehmiller

What actually counts as “having sex?” Well, it depends who you ask. Different people have different definitions. A recent study published in the Journal of Sex Research highlights just how...

Sex Ed

Why So Many College Students Have Risky Sex on Spring Break

March 6, 2017 by Justin Lehmiller

My university, like many schools around the country, is on spring break this week. A lot of students are using this opportunity to not just take a breather from their...

Sex Ed

7 Things You Should Know About Consensually Non-Monogamous Relationships

March 1, 2017 by Justin Lehmiller

In consensually non-monogamous (CNM) relationships, the partners involved agree that having more than one sexual and/or romantic relationship at the same time is acceptable. There are a great many myths...

Dating & Relationships, Sex Ed

Sex Research and Sun: Join us for the Society for the Scientific Study of Sexuality Meeting in Puerto Rico!

February 20, 2017 by Justin Lehmiller

As Co-Chair of this year’s meeting of the Society for the Scientific Study of Sexuality, it is my great pleasure to invite you to join us in the Caribbean this...

Sex Ed

Why So Many Guys Send Unsolicited Photos of Their Manhood to Women

February 17, 2017 by Justin Lehmiller

Last week, I was talking in class about differences in how men and women use Tinder and other online dating apps. In the midst of this class discussion, a student...

Sex Ed

What I Learned About BDSM at a Sex Research Conference

January 30, 2017 by Justin Lehmiller

Earlier this month, the fourth annual Sexuality Pre-Conference was held just prior to the meeting of the Society for Personality and Social Psychology (SPSP). Together with a few of my...

Sex Ed

Inside The Growing World of Scrotal Enhancement

January 18, 2017 by Justin Lehmiller

The number of men seeking to enhance the size of their penises is on the rise, with guys lining up to buy everything from pills to pumps to stretching devices...

Sex Ed

Changes in Americans’ Sexual Attitudes and Behaviors Since the 1980s (Infographic)

January 13, 2017 by Justin Lehmiller

In what ways have the sexual attitudes and behaviors of American adults changed in the last thirty or so years? For a look at the answer, check out the infographic...

Sex Ed

How Does Sexual Satisfaction Change in Older Age?

January 11, 2017 by Justin Lehmiller

It’s a simple biological fact that, as we age, the odds of developing one or more sexual problems increases. But what exactly does this mean for the sexual satisfaction of...

Sex Ed

10 Things You Should Know About the Sex Lives of American Teenagers

January 9, 2017 by Justin Lehmiller

Popular media articles on adolescent sexuality usually paint a portrait of the modern American teenager as hypersexual. Among other things, these articles give the impression that teens are having sex...

Safe Sex, Sex Ed

Scientists Find More Evidence That Sex Might Be Good For Your Brain

January 4, 2017 by Justin Lehmiller

A growing body of research suggests that frequent sexual activity has brain benefits. For instance, a 2010 study on male rats discovered a link between sexual activity and neuron growth...

Sex Ed

6 Resolutions For Better Sex In The New Year

January 2, 2017 by Justin Lehmiller

Every time a new year rolls around, people start making resolutions for self-improvement--you know, like losing weight, getting your spending under control, or finally giving up smoking. As you ponder...

Sex Ed

The Seasons of Sex: A Look at Sex Trends in December

December 23, 2016 by Justin Lehmiller

Generally speaking, people have more sex in the summer than they do in the winter [1]—however, it turns out that December is the exception to the winter sex slump. Evidence...

Safe Sex, Sex Ed

How Much Sexual Experience Are You Comfortable With Your Partner Having?

December 16, 2016 by Justin Lehmiller

The amount of sexual experience you have (or don’t have) could potentially affect how willing other people are to date or have sex with you, according to a new study...

Gender, Sex Ed

Is Cuckolding the New Swinging?

December 14, 2016 by Justin Lehmiller

A few months ago, I blogged about a new study showing that Americans’ interest in consensual non-monogamy (CNM) is on the rise. In this study, social psychologist Amy Moors analyzed...

Sex Ed

3 Studies Refute Idea that Exposure to Sexy Centerfolds Harms Men’s Relationships

November 30, 2016 by Justin Lehmiller

A study from the 1980s found that heterosexual men who viewed images of Playboy and Penthouse centerfolds reported less love for their romantic partners than men who saw images of...

Dating & Relationships, Sex Ed

Highlights From a Sex Research Conference

November 28, 2016 by Justin Lehmiller

A few weeks ago, I attended the annual meeting of the Society for the Scientific Study of Sexuality (SSSS). I’ve been going to this conference for a few years in...

Sex Ed

6 Reasons to be Thankful for Sex Today

November 24, 2016 by Justin Lehmiller

For those of you celebrating Thanksgiving today, one of the many things you might consider giving thanks for is sex. Why? Here are six good reasons, all supported by science.1....

Sex Ed

Your Biggest Questions About Anal Sex, Answered

November 23, 2016 by Justin Lehmiller

As someone who's in the business of sex education, I get asked sex questions all of the time. These questions cover every topic you can possibly imagine, with one of...

Sex Ed

Infographic: How Men Feel About Condoms in Porn

October 26, 2016 by Justin Lehmiller

How do men feel about the use of condoms in pornography? A new study published in the Archives of Sexual Behavior offers some insight. Gay, straight, and bisexual men were...

Safe Sex, Sex Ed

Why Laws Restricting Sex Offenders’ Activities on Halloween are Misguided

October 26, 2016 by Justin Lehmiller

It has become an October tradition for the media to run story after story warning parents that sex offenders are at an increased risk of committing sex crimes against children...

Sex Ed

Infographic: How College Students Define Abstinence

October 19, 2016 by Justin Lehmiller

What does it mean to be "abstinent?" It depends who you ask. Sex researchers have found that there is incredible diversity among college students in terms of how they personally...

Sex Ed

Changes in Americans’ Views on Sexual Morality in the Past 15 Years

October 17, 2016 by Justin Lehmiller

The results of Gallup's 2016 Moral Issues Survey reveal that Americans’ views on sexual morality have shifted in several important ways in the last fifteen years. Most notable are changes...

Sex Ed

Straight Men Say They’re Less Likely to Use Condoms with Attractive Women

October 12, 2016 by Justin Lehmiller

A heterosexual man’s interest in using condoms depends upon a lot of things, including his overall attitudes toward condoms, his perceived ability to use them effectively, and whether or not...

Safe Sex, Sex Ed

Sex in Parked Cars: Who Does it and Why? (Infographic)

October 10, 2016 by Justin Lehmiller

When Alfred Kinsey published his pioneering research on Americans' sexual behaviors back in the 1950s, he found that a sizable number of men and women were having premarital sex and,...

Sex Ed

Outliving Fertility: Why Menopause Might Be Evolutionarily Advantageous

September 26, 2016 by Justin Lehmiller

On average, women in the United States hit menopause at age 51. At this point, they enter what some scientists call a “post-reproductive lifespan” (or PRLS for short), during which...

Sex Ed

More Partners, Less Sex: How Sex is Changing in Britain

September 23, 2016 by Justin Lehmiller

In what ways have people's sex lives changed in the last twenty years? Results from the third National Survey of Sexual Attitudes and Lifestyles (Natsal-3) offers some insight, at least...

Sex Ed

Would Having Sex Every Single Day Make You Happier?

September 19, 2016 by Justin Lehmiller

Research suggests that most married folks have sex somewhere between a few times per month and a few times per week. Very few do it every single day. But let's...

Sex Ed, Videos

Alcohol vs. Marijuana: Which One is a Better Aphrodisiac?

September 14, 2016 by Justin Lehmiller

Alcohol and marijuana are among the most popular drugs people use for sexual enhancement. But when it comes to their effects, how similar or different are they? A new study...

Sex Ed

Is Porn Really a Threat to Public Health?

September 5, 2016 by Justin Lehmiller

The war on porn has reached a fever pitch. Political elites, religious authorities, and a number of other public figures are coming out in ever larger numbers to warn us...

Sex Ed

Virginity Has Fallen Out Of Favor In Modern America

August 24, 2016 by Justin Lehmiller

Throughout much of recorded history, female virginity is something that has been highly coveted by heterosexual men who were looking to marry. Women who were known to have lost their...

Sex Ed

Happy K-Day! Celebrating 63 Years Of Scientific Research On Women’s Sexuality

August 19, 2016 by Justin Lehmiller

Sixty-three years ago this week (August 20, 1953), the media first reported on some of the major findings from Alfred Kinsey's classic book Sexual Behavior in the Human Female. In...

Sex Ed

Infographic: The Sexting Habits of Single Americans

August 17, 2016 by Justin Lehmiller

How many American adults are sending and receiving sext messages? And what's happening with of those sexts we're exchanging anyway? Are people keeping them private, or are they sharing them...

Sex Ed

Sex at #Rio2016: Does Getting it on Before Competing Hurt Athletic Performance?

August 10, 2016 by Justin Lehmiller

Every time a major international sporting competition takes places, news articles inevitably emerge about the athletes who proclaim that they will be abstaining from sex until the competition is over....

Sex Ed

What Does the Ideal Threesome Look Like?

August 8, 2016 by Justin Lehmiller

Most of us—men and women alike—have been turned on by the thought of a threesome before. Indeed, study after study has found that this is one of the most common...

Gender, Sex Ed

Infographic: Why Infidelity is a High Risk Sexual Behavior

August 3, 2016 by Justin Lehmiller

Most people think of cheating as a risky behavior--risky in the sense that, if discovered, it could potentially lead to hurt feelings, severe conflict, and maybe even breakup. However, infidelity...

Sex Ed

What’s “Normal” When It Comes To Sex?

August 1, 2016 by Justin Lehmiller

Virtually every day, I receive emails from people around the world who have questions about their sex lives. More often than not, these questions can be reduced to the same...

Sex Ed

Yep, Men Fake Orgasms Too

July 18, 2016 by Justin Lehmiller

If you were asked to imagine someone faking an orgasm, chances are that you'd picture a woman. Why? Because fake orgasms are widely assumed to be unique to women, even...

Sex Ed

How Your Eyes May Unknowingly Reveal Your Sexual Intentions

July 13, 2016 by Justin Lehmiller

Imagine you're in the midst of flirting with someone. How can you tell whether that person is looking for sex or something more? Research suggests that their eyes just might...

Sex Ed

Why Do We Kiss?

July 6, 2016 by Justin Lehmiller

In the United States and many other parts of the world, kissing is one of the most common sexual and romantic behaviors that exists; however, kissing is far from being...

Sex Ed

Infographic: Women’s Reasons For Becoming Sex Workers

July 1, 2016 by Justin Lehmiller

Many people are curious about the factors that lead some folks to sell sex for a living. Are they doing it because they actually like this kind of work, or...

Sex Ed

Infographic: Pubic Hair Removal Practices Of College Students

June 24, 2016 by Justin Lehmiller

When it comes to pubic hair removal practices and preferences, how similar are men and women? A recent study of college students published in the Journal of Sexual Medicine offers...

Sex Ed

Five Scientific Facts You Should Know About Porn

June 22, 2016 by Justin Lehmiller

There’s a war on porn taking place right now. A growing chorus has emerged claiming that porn is addictive, that it’s causing misogyny and sexual violence, that it’s leading people...

Sex Ed

Why Do We Have Sex? Let’s Count The Reasons

June 15, 2016 by Justin Lehmiller

Why do humans have sex? This is a question few scientists have bothered to ask, probably because the answer seems obvious: pleasure and reproduction, of course. However, research suggests that...

Gender, Sex Ed

Botox As A Penis Enlargement Treatment? Doctors Have Studied It

June 13, 2016 by Justin Lehmiller

You may be surprised to learn that Botox—a drug most famous for it’s ability to reduce facial wrinkles by temporarily paralyzing specific muscles—has a number of potential sexual applications. For...

Sex Ed

Summer Lovin’: Research Finds That We Have More Sex In The Summer

June 3, 2016 by Justin Lehmiller

Our sexual behavior patterns change with the seasons--and with the shift from spring to summer just around the corner, research suggests that a change in sexual behavior is likely to...

Safe Sex, Sex Ed

Summer Lovin’: Sexual Activity Peaks During Warmer Months

June 3, 2016 by Justin Lehmiller

Do our sexual activity patterns change with the seasons? A new study published in the journal Sexually Transmitted Infections suggests that they do, and that there’s a reliable peak during...

Safe Sex, Sex Ed

College Students Don’t Need To Be Protected From Sex Studies

May 23, 2016 by Justin Lehmiller

Before a scientific study is carried out, researchers usually need to receive approval from an Institutional Review Board (IRB), a body of fellow scientists who evaluate a given study’s potential...

Psychology, Sex Ed

How Do People’s Beliefs About Average Penis Size Match Up With Reality?

May 16, 2016 by Justin Lehmiller

If you had to guess what the average penis length is, what would you say? A medical organization in the United Kingdom, DrEd, recently asked this question of 2,121 people...

Sex Ed

Length vs Girth: Which Matters More to Women When it Comes to Penis Size?

April 25, 2016 by Justin Lehmiller

Many sex researchers have surveyed heterosexual women about their preferences when it comes to penis size. Curiously, though, most of the studies out there have only focused on one dimension...

Sex Ed

Infographic: How A Man’s Body Image Affects His Sex Life

April 24, 2016 by Justin Lehmiller

How do guys feel about their own bodies? And does a man's body image have any implications for his sex life? A new study published in the journal Psychology of...

LGBTQIA+, Sex Ed

Paying For Sex And The “Girlfriend Experience” (Infographic)

April 10, 2016 by Justin Lehmiller

Although prostitution is illegal throughout most of the United States, it’s not uncommon for Americans to buy sex. Most of the purchasers are men, but beyond this, we don’t actually...

Sex Ed

Infographic: What It’s Like To Be A Porn Star

April 8, 2016 by Justin Lehmiller

Many people are curious about the lives of porn stars. For example, how do they feel about themselves and the work that they do? How much money do they make?...

Sex Ed

Study: Men Think Women With Tattoos Are More Interested In Casual Sex

March 20, 2016 by Justin Lehmiller

Men appear to make judgments about women’s sexual intent based upon their physical appearance. For example, research has found that heterosexual men think women are more interested in and willing...

Sex Ed

People Who Sleep On Their Stomachs Have More Sex Dreams

March 1, 2016 by Justin Lehmiller

Most people have sex dreams. In fact, studies have found that as many as 93% of men and 86% of women say they’ve had them before [1]. For some, these...

Sex Ed

Funding for Abstinence-Only Sex Ed May be Eliminated From the Federal Budget

February 21, 2016 by Justin Lehmiller

In President Obama’s proposed budget for 2017, he has eliminated all funding for abstinence-only sex education in the nation’s public schools. Whether this will ultimately come to pass is far...

Sex Ed

Sex Research Roundup: Pornography, Consensual Nonmonogamy, & Aphrodisiacs

January 16, 2016 by Justin Lehmiller

Here’s a brief recap of the most interesting sex research reports that crossed my desk this week. They include studies on how scientists should be measuring porn use, how consensual...

Sex Ed

The Problem With Porn Research

January 13, 2016 by Justin Lehmiller

In the last few years, scientists have become increasingly interested in studying the potential effects of pornography on viewers. Several studies have been published, but many of them have yielded...

Sex Ed

Infographic: Sexual Behavior in the United States Today

January 13, 2016 by Justin Lehmiller

How many American adults have ever had sex? And what kind(s) of sex have they had? For a look at the answers, check out the infographic below, which summarizes findings...

Sex Ed

How Do College Students Define Sex?

January 10, 2016 by Justin Lehmiller

What does it actually mean to "have sex?" It depends who you ask. According to a new study published in the Journal of Sex Research, there is some pretty incredible...

Sex Ed

Why So Many Women Are Drawn To Gay Male Porn

January 7, 2016 by Justin Lehmiller

Many women find man-on-man pornography to be sexually arousing. In fact, gay male porn is the second most popular category among female visitors on some of the most popular porn...

LGBTQIA+, Sex Ed

Why So Many Women Watch Gay Male Porn

January 7, 2016 by Justin Lehmiller

There are a lot of women out there who find man-on-man pornography to be highly arousing. As some evidence of this, one of the biggest porn websites in the world,...

LGBTQIA+, Sex Ed

Video: What Happens in the Brain During an Orgasm?

January 3, 2016 by Justin Lehmiller

What goes on inside the brain during sexual arousal and orgasm? And are there any neurological differences between men and women in this regard? In the Big Think video below,...

Sex Ed, Videos

Red Is More Than A Holiday Color—It’s Also A Sexual Signal

December 16, 2015 by Justin Lehmiller

Red is one of the most common colors associated with Christmas. From Santa’s suit to Rudolph’s nose to that tacky sweater Grandma gave you last year, red is everywhere during...

Sex Ed

6 Resolutions to Improve Your Sex Life in 2016

December 13, 2015 by Justin Lehmiller

At the start of each new year, many of us make resolutions for self-improvement, such as losing weight, getting one's finances in order, or giving up smoking. As you ponder...

Sex Ed

Why Having More Sex Might Not Make You Any Happier

December 8, 2015 by Justin Lehmiller

Who's likely to be happier: a couple having sex once per week, or a couple having sex once per day? Intuitively, most people would probably say that the couple getting...

Sex Ed

Do Men Really Take More Risks And “Show Off” In The Presence Of Sexy Women?

December 7, 2015 by Justin Lehmiller

Several studies have found that when heterosexual men are around attractive women, they become prone to engaging in risky behaviors and spend their money more freely than usual. For instance,...

Myth vs Fact, Sex Ed

Sex Question Friday: How Deep Is The Average Vagina?

November 29, 2015 by Justin Lehmiller

A reader submitted the following question:"How deep is a typical vagina? I hear a lot about penis size, but what about vagina size? Does size vary across nations?"Thanks for these...

Sex Ed

Sex Question Friday: Can You Really Break Your Penis?

November 20, 2015 by Justin Lehmiller

A reader submitted the following question:"I know there aren't any bones in the penis, but can you still break it, like if you bend it too much when you're erect?"Thanks...

Sex Ed

How Americans’ Views On Sexual Morality Have Changed

November 17, 2015 by Justin Lehmiller

The results of Gallup's annual Values and Beliefs survey reveal that Americans’ views on sexual morality continue to shift in major ways, with particularly notable changes in the perceived acceptability...

Sex Ed

10 Scientific Facts About Masturbation

October 4, 2015 by Justin Lehmiller

How much do you know about masturbation? Here’s a look at some of the main things scientists have learned over the years from studying self-love, including who does it, why...

Sex Ed

Announcing The 3rd Annual SPSP Sexuality Pre-Conference!

September 4, 2015 by Justin Lehmiller

I am pleased to announce that for the third year in a row, there will be a Sexuality Pre-Conference prior to the annual meeting of the Society for Personality and...

Sex Ed

Last Chance To Be Part Of The Largest Scientific Survey Of Sexual Fantasies

September 4, 2015 by Justin Lehmiller

Sexual fantasy is one of the most "fascinating" topics in the field of human sexuality, which is why I am currently conducting an online survey of sexual fantasies that is...

Sex Ed

America’s College Rape Problem Is Real, But Not Everything You’ve Heard About It Is True

September 1, 2015 by Justin Lehmiller

We have a rape problem on college and university campuses throughout the United States--there is no denying or debating that. And correcting this problem should merit a lot of our...

Sex Ed

How Much Sex Are Millennials Having? Not As Much As You Think

August 3, 2015 by Justin Lehmiller

Millennials are often referred to as "the hookup generation," with popular media portrayals characterizing them as constantly jumping from one hook-up to the next and rejecting traditional notions of dating...

Myth vs Fact, Sex Ed

Did The Invention Of Oral Sex Give Rise To Gonorrhea?

August 3, 2015 by Justin Lehmiller

Humans aren’t the only ones that have to deal with sexually transmitted infections—animals do too. Indeed, chlamydia, syphilis, and several other STIs known all too well among humans have been...

Sex Ed

Happy K-Day! Celebrating 62 Years Of Scientific Research On Female Sexuality

July 29, 2015 by Justin Lehmiller

Sixty-two years ago today (August 20, 1953), the media first reported on the findings of Alfred Kinsey's classic book Sexual Behavior in the Human Female. It was the first book...

Sex Ed

Can Exposure To A Novel Partner Affect The Quantity And Quality Of Men’s Semen?

July 16, 2015 by Justin Lehmiller

In a new study published in Evolutionary Psychological Science, researchers examined whether the timing, quantity, and quality of men's ejaculate changes when they masturbate to images of a familiar woman...

Sex Ed

Uncircumcised: A Look At The History And Evolution Of Foreskin Restoration

July 16, 2015 by Justin Lehmiller

Male circumcision, or the removal of the penile foreskin, is a procedure performed on most male infants in the United States today. Although the rate of circumcision has declined during...

Sex Ed

Why We Should Stop Calling Porn “Addiction” An Addiction

July 10, 2015 by Justin Lehmiller

The concept of “pornography addiction” is one that has generated a lot of debate in the popular media. Although pretty much everyone seems to agree that there are indeed some...

Myth vs Fact, Sex Ed

Is Kissing A Universal Sexual And Romantic Behavior Among Humans?

July 9, 2015 by Justin Lehmiller

Kissing is frequently claimed to be a universal or nearly universal romantic behavior. For instance, many sexuality textbooks argue something to the effect that while kissing is common in the...

Sex Ed

Medicated Sex: How Many People Use Drugs To Enhance Their Sexual Performance?

June 19, 2015 by Justin Lehmiller

Using drugs to enhance one’s libido or sexual performance is nothing new, but there are certainly more options today than ever before. This includes prescription drugs (e.g., Viagra for erectile...

Sex Ed

Women’s Reasons For Sex And How They Relate To Relationship Status And Sexual Orientation

June 19, 2015 by Justin Lehmiller

Previous research has found that both men and women report a wide range of reasons for having sex. In fact, as many as 237 different reasons have been identified! But...

Sex Ed

A Surprising Look At Millennials’ Sexual Attitudes (Infographic)

June 18, 2015 by Justin Lehmiller

Millennials are often portrayed in the popular media as an extremely liberal bunch when it comes to sex. The impression given is that, among other things, millennials are totally cool...

Sex Ed

The Science Behind The Male Multiple Orgasm

June 3, 2015 by Justin Lehmiller

For years, multiple orgasms are something that both scientists and laypersons alike have viewed as being unique to women, not to mention a relatively common part of the female sexual...

Sex Ed

Will Having More Sex Actually Make You Happier?

May 27, 2015 by Justin Lehmiller

Imagine that you started having sex twice as often as you were right now. How do you think you would feel? Although most people would probably guess that their happiness...

Sex Ed

Infographic: Changes In Americans’ Sexual Behavior In The Past 20 Years

May 21, 2015 by Justin Lehmiller

How have American adults' sexual attitudes and behaviors changed in the last two decades? Check out the infographic below for a look at what data from the General Social Survey...

Sex Ed

How Many Adults Have No Sexual Experience At All?

May 21, 2015 by Justin Lehmiller

It goes without saying that most sex researchers study people who have sex. Over the last few decades, we have accumulated a significant body of scientific knowledge about such persons....

Sex Ed

Seven Fascinating Facts About Sexual Fantasies

May 15, 2015 by Justin Lehmiller

Sexual fantasy is one of the most interesting topics there is in the field of human sexuality. Below is a selection of fascinating facts that have emerged from the research...

Fantasies, Sex Ed

How Common Is Sexual Interest In Prepubescent Children Among Men?

April 24, 2015 by Justin Lehmiller

Little research has attempted to determine the prevalence of sexual interest in prepubescent children among adult men. The studies that do exist have tended to involve small, non-representative samples, and...

Sex Ed

How Do Scientists Measure Whether Someone Is Asexual?

April 10, 2015 by Justin Lehmiller

Asexuality is a topic that has received an increasing amount of attention from sex researchers in recent years. For instance, studies have been published on the genital arousal patterns of...

Sex Ed

More Evidence That Pornography Use Is Not A General Risk Factor For Erectile Dysfunction

April 10, 2015 by Justin Lehmiller

Many in the popular media have argued that the increased availability of online pornography is contributing to an earlier onset of erectile difficulties in men. However, scientific research has not...

Sex Ed, Sex Tips

Women’s Reasons For Having Anal Sex

April 3, 2015 by Justin Lehmiller

Anal sex is a sexual activity that is frequently reported by both men and women in America. For instance, a recent CDC survey reported that 44% of men and 36%...

Sex Ed

What You Should Know About Having Sex During Pregnancy

April 2, 2015 by Justin Lehmiller

Many women (and their partners) have concerns about sex during pregnancy. For instance, survey research has found that 25-50% of pregnant women and 25% of their male partners have concerns...

Sex Ed

3 Theories About The Purpose Of The Female Orgasm

March 26, 2015 by Justin Lehmiller

The male orgasm plays a vital role in human reproduction, given that it typically coincides with ejaculation. Indeed, a man who cannot reach orgasm would likely have a very difficult...

Sex Ed

How Much Gender Inequality Is There In Online Porn?

March 20, 2015 by Justin Lehmiller

Although internet pornography is frequently criticized for depicting gender inequality, surprisingly little research has examined the actual gendered content of online porn. Moreover, what little research does exist in this...

Gender, Sex Ed

Scientists Measured 15,521 Penises And This Is What They Found

March 6, 2015 by Justin Lehmiller

A recent paper published in the British Journal of Urology International reports results from the first systematic review of all penis size studies to date in order to provide a...

Sex Ed

The Science Behind Men’s Attraction To Women’s Rear Ends

March 6, 2015 by Justin Lehmiller

Evolutionary psychologists have long argued that many of the physical features heterosexual men are drawn to in women reflect traits that signify female health and fertility status. The basic argument...

Sex Ed

Study: Female Strippers Earn More Tips When They’re Ovulating

February 20, 2015 by Justin Lehmiller

Scientists have accumulated a substantial body of research revealing that women's mating preferences and behaviors appear to change in various ways when they are ovulating. For instance, during ovulation, women...

Sex Ed

5 Common Questions About Vaginas And Vaginal Sex

February 19, 2015 by Justin Lehmiller

As a sex educator, I get approached with sex questions all of the time. However, I can't help but notice that some topics come up much more frequently than others....

Sex Ed

The 5 Most Common Questions About Penis Size

February 13, 2015 by Justin Lehmiller

I have been a sex educator for nearly a decade and, during that time, I’ve been asked a lot of questions about a lot of different things; however, year after...

Sex Ed

Do Asexual People Masturbate And Have Sexual Fantasies?

January 31, 2015 by Justin Lehmiller

Asexuality is a sexual orientation that is often characterized as a lack of sexual attraction. Research suggests that up to 1% of the population may be asexual and, further, that...

LGBTQIA+, Sex Ed

11 Scientific Facts About The Female Orgasm

January 23, 2015 by Justin Lehmiller

How much do you know about the female orgasm? Check out the list below for 11 of the most interesting facts scientists have discovered about women and their orgasms. Which...

Sex Ed

Scientists Conclude That Squirting Is Just “An Involuntary Emission Of Urine”

January 2, 2015 by Justin Lehmiller

Female ejaculation is one of those topics that consistently generates a lot of debate among scientists and laypersons alike. The debate isn’t so much about whether female ejaculation is real...

Sex Ed

‘Tis The Season For… Risky Sex?

December 18, 2014 by Justin Lehmiller

Research has found that one of the biggest seasonal peaks in sexual activity occurs around the winter holidays. This makes sense because this time of year offers more opportunities for...

Sex Ed

Teen Sexting May Predict Who Has Sex, But Not Who Engages In Risky Sexual Behavior

December 4, 2014 by Justin Lehmiller

A number of research studies have emerged in the last few years reporting a link between sexting and sexual behavior among teenagers. However, the inherent weakness of this body of...

Sex Ed

What’s In A Passionate Kiss? About 80 Million Bacteria

November 21, 2014 by Justin Lehmiller

Some scientists have argued that kissing is an evolutionarily adaptive behavior. Their hypothesis is that, because kissing provides a mechanism for sharing certain types of bacteria and viruses, it could...

Sex Ed

Pubic Hair Removal Patterns Of College Students (Infographic)

November 20, 2014 by Justin Lehmiller

Pubic hair removal has been the subject of a growing amount of research attention; however, surprisingly little work in this area has addressed the question of how men and women...

Gender, Sex Ed

Do Orgasms Help Women Identify High Quality Mates?

November 13, 2014 by Justin Lehmiller

A woman of reproductive age has the potential to become pregnant from vaginal intercourse regardless of whether she experiences an orgasm. This fact has prompted an ongoing debate about the...

Sex Ed

Can Previous Mating Partners Influence The Traits Of Future Offspring?

October 23, 2014 by Justin Lehmiller

Centuries ago, Aristotle proposed the concept of telegony, which suggests that the traits of offspring are not only influenced by their biological parents, but also by the mother’s former mates....

Sex Ed

People In Conservative States Google The Most Online Sexual Content

October 16, 2014 by Justin Lehmiller

It is no great secret that political and religious conservatives in the United States have a tendency to disapprove of any kind of sexual activity that is inconsistent with “traditional...

Sex Ed

Can Men Fake Their Genital Responses In Sex Studies? Yes, But Their Eyes Reveal The Truth

October 9, 2014 by Justin Lehmiller

Sex researchers have long been concerned about the reliability of self-report surveys assessing people’s sexual interests and level of sexual arousal. The fear has always been that people will not...

Sex Ed

Participate In The Largest Study Of Sexual Fantasies Ever

September 25, 2014 by Justin Lehmiller

I recently launched an online survey of sexual fantasies that is designed to be the largest and most comprehensive investigation of the nature and origin of sexual fantasies ever undertaken....

Sex Ed

“Excuse Me, My Face Is Up Here”: A Study Of Eye Movements And Sexual Intentions

September 4, 2014 by Justin Lehmiller

How do you know whether your date is looking for a one-night stand or a long-term love? A new study just published in the journal Psychological Science suggests that the...

Sex Ed

The Appeal Of The MILF

August 25, 2014 by Justin Lehmiller

In the book A Billion Wicked Thoughts, neuroscientists Ogi Ogas and Sai Gaddam analyzed the contents of over a billion searches on some of the most popular porn sites. Among...

Sex Ed

Happy K-Day! Celebrating 61 Years Of Female Sex Research

August 20, 2014 by Justin Lehmiller

Sixty-one years ago today (August 20, 1953), the media first reported on the findings of Alfred Kinsey's classic book Sexual Behavior in the Human Female. It was the first book...

Sex Ed

Did PMS Evolve In Order To Split Up Infertile Couples?

August 14, 2014 by Justin Lehmiller

Premenstrual syndrome (or PMS as it is more commonly known) is a catchall term for any unpleasant physical and psychological symptoms a woman might experience just prior to getting her...

Sex Ed

Sperm Cooperation: Sometimes Sperm Swim Together To Enhance Performance

August 7, 2014 by Justin Lehmiller

Most of us think of sperm as being competitive by nature, with each sperm cell trying to “swim” just a little faster than the others in order to reach the...

Sex Ed

10 Mesmerizing Facts About Sexual Attraction

August 7, 2014 by Justin Lehmiller

What is it that determines who we are sexually attracted to? This is a surprisingly complex question to answer because attractiveness appears to depend upon a number of factors. Some...

Sex Ed

Losing Your Virginity: Less Awkward Than It Used To Be

July 30, 2014 by Justin Lehmiller

How do you feel about the first time you had sex? If you pose this question to a bunch of different people, you’re bound to find a range of responses....

Gender, Sex Ed

10 Surprising Facts About The Vagina

July 25, 2014 by Justin Lehmiller

Although many women and their sexual partners have taken some time to familiarize themselves with the vagina, the reality is that most of us don’t know as much as we...

Sex Ed

Ten Fascinating Facts About The Penis

July 11, 2014 by Justin Lehmiller

The penis is a fascinating piece of human anatomy; however, most of us know surprisingly little about it. So, I decided to compile a list of ten of the most...

Sex Ed

Why Does The Female Orgasm Exist?

June 29, 2014 by Justin Lehmiller

Women have the potential to become pregnant whether or not they reach orgasm during vaginal intercourse. This observation has generated a long-standing scientific debate about why women have orgasms in...

Sex Ed

Does Grindr Really “Lead To Gonorrhea?”

June 16, 2014 by Justin Lehmiller

So far this year, two studies have been released reporting that use of Grindr and other smartphone hook-up apps is linked to a higher prevalence of sexually transmitted infections among...

Sex Ed

Some People’s Brains May Be “Wired” To Seek More Sex

June 12, 2014 by Justin Lehmiller

Whenever you survey people about how many sexual partners they have had in their lifetime, you undoubtedly find a lot of variability. Some people report one or two partners ever,...

Sex Ed

Can Changing Your Birth Control Routine Affect The Quality Of Your Sex Life?

May 28, 2014 by Justin Lehmiller

A growing amount of research suggests that what heterosexual women find attractive in men changes across the menstrual cycle. Specifically, women tend to report greater attraction to masculine-looking and -acting...

Safe Sex, Sex Ed

Do Women’s Genital Arousal Patterns Change When They’re Ovulating?

May 14, 2014 by Justin Lehmiller

Several studies have found that when heterosexual women view different types of pornography, they tend to show a nonspecific genital arousal pattern with respect to the gender of the performers...

Sex Ed

How Many Different Reasons Are There For Having Sex? At Least 237

April 30, 2014 by Justin Lehmiller

Why do human beings have sex? Surprisingly few scientists have bothered to study this question, likely because it’s one that seems to have an obvious answer: humans have sex for...

Gender, Sex Ed

Bug Chasing and Gift Giving: The Underground Culture Where HIV Is Fetishized

April 25, 2014 by Justin Lehmiller

A new porn film entitled Viral Loads has earned quite a bit of attention for its graphic depictions of guys who are eager to give and receive HIV through man-on-man...

LGBTQIA+, Sex Ed

Hijacked By STIs: Infections That Spread By Increasing The Host’s Interest In Sex

April 21, 2014 by Justin Lehmiller

Bacteria and viruses are crafty little organisms. They need to be spread quickly from host to host in order to survive, so they tend to evolve in ways that ensure...

Sex Ed

Heterosexual Women Are More “Flirty” When They’re Ovulating, But Only With Bad Boys

March 26, 2014 by Justin Lehmiller

Research has found that heterosexual men seem to be able to detect when women are ovulating and this, in turn, appears to have implications for guys’ behavior. For instance, one...

Sex Ed

Economics Of The Sex Trade In 8 Major U.S. Cities (Infographic)

March 24, 2014 by Justin Lehmiller

With the exception of a few counties in Nevada, prostitution is illegal throughout the United States. Given that sex work is something that largely exists in the shadows, next to...

Sex Ed

Free Birth Control Doesn’t Make Women Promiscuous

March 19, 2014 by Justin Lehmiller

For years, we have heard claims on many political talk and news shows that reducing birth control costs and/or making contraception more widely available will increase female promiscuity. For example,...

Safe Sex, Sex Ed

Can Men Have Multiple Orgasms Too?

March 10, 2014 by Justin Lehmiller

Scientists have long known that women sometimes experience multiple orgasms. Indeed, in their 1966 book entitled Human Sexual Response, William Masters and Virginia Johnson noted that:“The human female frequently is...

Sex Ed

A Scientist’s Response To The “War On Masturbation”

March 3, 2014 by Justin Lehmiller

In the not-too-distant past, masturbation was routinely denounced as an activity that not only damages your health, but also your soul. Physicians and priests would warn people about the dangers...

Sex Ed

Almost Everything And Everyone Seems More Attractive When You’re Sexually Aroused

February 12, 2014 by Justin Lehmiller

How attractive do you find the prospect of sex with animals? Do you think it would be fun to watch another person urinate? Do you find shoes erotic? If you’re...

Kink & BDSM, Sex Ed

Cuckold Fantasies: Not Your Typical Threesome

February 11, 2014 by Justin Lehmiller

A surprising number of heterosexual married men have so-called "cuckold fantasies," meaning that they find the prospect of watching their wives have sex with other guys to be sexually arousing...

Sex Ed

Facts About Orgasm (Infographic)

February 5, 2014 by Justin Lehmiller

How many people had an orgasm the last time they had sex? Are certain sexual activities linked to a greater likelihood of orgasm than others? Check out the infographic below...

Sex Ed

Women Have More Sexual Fantasies When They’re Ovulating

January 29, 2014 by Justin Lehmiller

Several studies have found changes in women’s sexual attitudes and behaviors during ovulation. For example, research suggests that ovulating women opt for sexier and more revealing clothing [1] and move...

Sex Ed

Do Grindr And Other Smartphone Hookup Apps Promote Risky Sexual Behavior?

January 24, 2014 by Justin Lehmiller

In the last few years, several smartphone apps that help men who have sex with men (MSM) find casual sex partners have entered the market. Perhaps the most well-known of...

Sex Ed

Do Men Interpret Women’s Tattoos As A Sign Of Promiscuity?

January 20, 2014 by Justin Lehmiller

Several recent studies have found that heterosexual men make judgments about women’s sexual intent based upon their physical appearance. For example, men think women are more interested in and willing...

Sex Ed

Is It Better To Hide Porn Use From Your Partner, Or Own Up To It?

January 15, 2014 by Justin Lehmiller

Imagine that you’re sitting in bed watching some porn on your smartphone or laptop. You look up to see that your partner has just entered the room. What do you...

Sex Ed

Doctors Spend Just 36 Seconds Talking To Teens About Sex During A Typical Visit

January 8, 2014 by Justin Lehmiller

Although most teenagers in the United States receive some form of sex education in school, teens have no guarantee of receiving comprehensive or reliable information about contraception, safe sex, or...

Sex Ed

All I Want For Christmas Is Safe Sex

December 25, 2013 by Justin Lehmiller

So this is Christmas, and what have you done? In all likelihood, you’ve probably had some sex. Research has found that there are seasonal peaks in sexual activity, with one...

Sex Ed

How Many People Are Using Their Smartphones During Sex?

December 13, 2013 by Justin Lehmiller

A recent survey of over 2,000 adult Americans revealed that, among smartphone users,1 in 10 reported having used their phone during sex. Naturally, this made me curious about what people...

Sex Ed

Between The Sheets In Britain (Infographic)

December 4, 2013 by Justin Lehmiller

Results from the third National Survey of Sexual Attitudes and Lifestyles (Natsal-3) were just released and they give a fascinating glimpse into the sex lives of the British population. Also,...

Sex Ed

Women’s Feelings About Male Body Hair Appear To Change During Ovulation

December 2, 2013 by Justin Lehmiller

There is a growing body of evidence that what heterosexual women find attractive in men varies across the menstrual cycle. Specifically, when women are at their most fertile (i.e., when...

Sex Ed

Are Sex Dreams Related To Your Sleep Position?

November 25, 2013 by Justin Lehmiller

Erotic dreams are common. In fact, research has found that as many as 93% of men and 86% of women report having had them before [1]. Some people dream about...

Sex Ed

How Many Calories Does Sex Burn? On Average, 101 For Men And 69 For Women

November 18, 2013 by Justin Lehmiller

Much has been said and written about how many calories human beings burn during sexual activity. Physicians estimate that the average caloric expenditure during sex is probably a lot lower...

Sex Ed

Does A Woman’s Frequency Of Orgasm Predict Her Likelihood Of Cheating?

November 13, 2013 by Justin Lehmiller

Explaining the evolutionary significance of the female orgasm has long been a conundrum for scientists. Why does the female orgasm exist if it is not necessary for reproduction to occur?...

Sex Ed

How Many Men Today Are Paying For Sex?

November 6, 2013 by Justin Lehmiller

Prostitution is sometimes referred to as “the world’s oldest profession” because the sale of sex can be traced back to almost all cultures and societies in recorded history. However, the...

Sex Ed

The Flavors Of Casual Sex

November 1, 2013 by Justin Lehmiller

People have a tendency to equate terms like “casual sex” and “sexual hookup” with “one-night stand.” However, this greatly oversimplifies that nature of casual sex in the modern world. The...

Sex Ed

Nipple Stimulation And Sexual Arousal In College Men And Women

October 30, 2013 by Justin Lehmiller

Despite the fact that sexual scientists have long considered the breasts and nipples to be among the human body's biggest erogenous zones, there has been surprisingly little research on the...

Gender, Sex Ed

College Women’s Hookup Experiences (Infographic)

October 23, 2013 by Justin Lehmiller

Much has been written in the popular media about hookups among college students; however, surprisingly little research has actually been conducted on this topic, particularly with regard to how young...

Sex Ed

Men’s Sexual Attraction Changes With The Seasons

October 21, 2013 by Justin Lehmiller

Our mood states and behaviors naturally vary over the course of the year. For example, some people experience Seasonal Affective Disorder, a form of depression that usually kicks in during...

Sex Ed

Facts About Male Porn Stars (Infographic)

October 16, 2013 by Justin Lehmiller

What is it like to work in the world of porn? I'm sure most of you could hazard a guess, but let's take a look at what the research says....

Sex Ed

Will Having A Lot Of Sexual Partners Wreck Your Love Life?

October 14, 2013 by Justin Lehmiller

The title of a forthcoming article in the journal Personal Relationships recently caught my eye: “Sowing Wild Oats: Valuable Experience, or a Field Full of Weeds?” As a sex researcher,...

Myth vs Fact, Sex Ed

Women’s Pubic Hair Removal Patterns (Infographic)

October 9, 2013 by Justin Lehmiller

Pubic hair removal is not a new practice among women. In fact, we have reason to believe that women have been removing at least some of their hair "down there"...

Sex Ed

What Does A Woman’s Body Image Say About Her Sex Life?

September 30, 2013 by Justin Lehmiller

Sexual difficulties are common. National survey data have found that as many as 43% of women and 31% of men in the United States report some type of sexual dysfunction,...

Sex Ed, Sex Tips

How Men Feel About Their Own Penises (Infographic)

September 25, 2013 by Justin Lehmiller

When it comes to penises, many people appear to subscribe to the belief that "bigger is better." We see this in the world of porn, which tends to glorify men...

Sex Ed

How Women Feel About Their Own Breasts (Infographic)

September 11, 2013 by Justin Lehmiller

We live in a world in which women are constantly reminded that their breasts are inadequate. From grossly proportioned Barbie dolls that bear little resemblance to the average woman's figure...

Sex Ed

What’s The Recipe For A Hit Song? Lyrics About Reproduction

September 9, 2013 by Justin Lehmiller

Evolutionary psychologists believe that men and women have evolved fundamentally different mating strategies in order to maximize the chances of passing along their genes to future generations. It is theorized...

Sex Ed

How Many Kids Today Are Sexting?

August 26, 2013 by Justin Lehmiller

Numerous media reports have appeared recently suggesting that there has been an “explosion” of sexting behavior among adolescents, which is just the latest in a string of claims about the...

Sex Ed

Why “Safe Sex” Isn’t Quite As Safe As You Think

August 19, 2013 by Justin Lehmiller

Although “safe sex” means different things to different people, the most common thing people associate with this term is the male condom. We have been told time and again by...

Sex Ed

Women’s Experiences With Orgasm (Infographic)

August 6, 2013 by Justin Lehmiller

Female sexual pleasure is a rare topic of discussion in sex education courses. One consequence of this is that the female orgasm is something that many people know far too...

Sex Ed

Women Reach For Red And Pink Clothes During Ovulation

July 31, 2013 by Justin Lehmiller

Research has found that women attempt to enhance their attractiveness when they are ovulating, a finding that many scientists have argued is an evolved mechanism designed to increase their odds...

Sex Ed

Things Guys Say To Avoid Using Condoms

July 29, 2013 by Justin Lehmiller

Decades of research in sexual health has revealed that people do not practice safe-sex consistently. Of course, part of the reason for this is because condoms are not always available...

Sex Ed

How Many Women Have Orgasms While They Sleep?

July 19, 2013 by Justin Lehmiller

"Masturbation and nocturnal sex dreams to the point of orgasm are the activities which provide the best measure of a female's intrinsic sexuality.” –Alfred Kinsey (1953)Many people only associate terms...

Sex Ed

Do Cheaters Practice Safe Sex? (Infographic)

July 19, 2013 by Justin Lehmiller

Although people almost universally agree that cheating is wrong, infidelity remains incredibly common. Although people almost universally agree that cheating is wrong, infidelity remains incredibly common. Most discussions about cheating...

Sex Ed

What Your Sexual Vocabulary Says About Your Relationship

July 17, 2013 by Justin Lehmiller

Being able to talk about sex with your partner is important. As I have discussed in previous articles, couples who communicate more in the bedroom (or wherever it is that...

Dating & Relationships, Sex Ed

What Is The Evolutionary Significance Of Cunnilingus?

July 10, 2013 by Justin Lehmiller

I recently came across a journal article entitled Is Cunnilingus-Assisted Orgasm a Male Sperm-Retention Strategy? Naturally, I dropped everything I was doing and read it immediately--how could I not with...

Sex Ed

How Often Do People Make Condom Use Mistakes? (Infographic)

July 9, 2013 by Justin Lehmiller

Condoms are one of the most popular and effective methods of protection against both sexually transmitted infections and unplanned pregnancies. However, in order to provide this protection, condoms must be...

Sex Ed

Sexual Behaviors Of Bisexual Men (Infographic)

July 3, 2013 by Justin Lehmiller

Most research on men's sexual behaviors describes guys as either men who have sex with women (MSW) or men who have sex with men (MSM). Rather than treating bisexual men...

LGBTQIA+, Sex Ed

What Counts? College Students’ Definitions Of Abstinence (Infographic)

June 26, 2013 by Justin Lehmiller

What does it mean to be "abstinent?" It depends who you ask. A recent study published in the Archives of Sexual Behavior finds that there is incredible variability in people's...

Sex Ed

Do Women Reach Their Sexual “Peak” In Their 30s?

June 24, 2013 by Justin Lehmiller

If you’re anything like me, you have probably heard over and over that women reach their sexual peak in their 30s, quite a bit later than men. Naturally, I have...

Sex Ed

Female Ejaculation: Fact Or Fiction?

June 21, 2013 by Justin Lehmiller

In my experience as a sex educator, the female orgasm has generated far more questions than any other topic. “Why do some women have an easier time reaching orgasm than...

Sex Ed

Faking Orgasms: Who Does It And Why? (Infographic)

June 19, 2013 by Justin Lehmiller

Fake orgasms are a common topic of discussion in the popular media, from television (e.g., Seinfeld, Sex and the City) to film (e.g., When Harry Met Sally). So just how...

Sex Ed

Characteristics of Male Sex Workers (Infographic)

June 12, 2013 by Justin Lehmiller

When it comes to prostitution, women are much more likely than men to enter the profession. As a result, most research in this area has tended to focus on female...

Sex Ed

Americans’ Views On Sexual Morality Are Changing

June 7, 2013 by Justin Lehmiller

Gallup recently conducted their annual Values and Beliefs survey and discovered that Americans’ views on sexual morality have shifted significantly in the last dozen years, with particularly notable changes in...

LGBTQIA+, Sex Ed

What Americans Did During Their Most Recent Sexual Event (Infographic)

June 5, 2013 by Justin Lehmiller

How are Americans "getting busy" these days? Check out the infographic below to learn what a nationally representative sample of men and women reported doing during their most recent sexual...

Gender, Sex Ed

Facts About Female Porn Stars (Infographic)

May 28, 2013 by Justin Lehmiller

Many of us are curious about the traits and characteristics of people who appear in porn and whether porn stars are as psychologically healthy as the rest of the population....

Sex Ed

What Makes Women More Likely To Orgasm During A Hookup?

May 27, 2013 by Justin Lehmiller

There is a big “orgasm gap” between the sexes, such that men are much more likely to reach orgasm than are women in a given heterosexual encounter. However, the size...

Dating & Relationships, Sex Ed

The Sex Lives Of Friends With Benefits (Infographic)

May 21, 2013 by Justin Lehmiller

What do "friends with benefits" do beneath the sheets? And do they ever want more than just casual, "no strings attached" sex? Check out the infographic below for the answers....

Sex Ed

One Reason To Sell Plan B Over The Counter: Many Pharmacists Won’t Provide It To Teen Girls

May 16, 2013 by Justin Lehmiller

Just last month, the United States Food and Drug Administration announced that Plan B One-Step (a form of emergency contraception) had been approved for sale over the counter to women...

Sex Ed

Men’s Sexual Activities With Female Sex Workers (Infographic)

May 14, 2013 by Justin Lehmiller

To date, most research on prostitution has focused on describing and understanding those who are selling sex. But what do we know about the buyers? Check out the infographic below...

Sex Ed

Become An Amateur Sex Scientist With The Kinsey Reporter App

May 9, 2013 by Justin Lehmiller

Kinsey Reporter is a new smartphone app that lets people around the world anonymously record the details of their sex lives any time, any place. This app is available for...

Sex Ed

Sex Question Friday: Do Men Fake Orgasms Too?

April 26, 2013 by Justin Lehmiller

Every Friday on the blog, I answer people’s questions about sex, love, and relationships. This week’s question comes from a reader who wanted to know whether faking orgasms is something...

Sex Ed

Is Sexual Content In Movies Related To Sexual Risk Taking?

April 17, 2013 by Justin Lehmiller

Over the past two decades, sexual content in the movies and on television has become more explicit than ever before. These graphic depictions of sex have become a source of...

Sex Ed

Are People In Monogamous Relationships More Satisfied?

April 8, 2013 by Justin Lehmiller

It is a widely held belief that people in sexually monogamous relationships are happier and healthier than their non-monogamous counterparts. For instance, when asked to describe the benefits of monogamy,...

Sex Ed

Men Who Lack A Sense Of Smell Have Fewer Sexual Partners

March 25, 2013 by Justin Lehmiller

Our sense of smell has long been known to play an important role in sexual attraction. Indeed, the multi-billion dollar perfume, cologne, and deodorant industries are founded on the premise...

Sex Ed

How Many Straight People Are Having “Gay Sex?”

March 13, 2013 by Justin Lehmiller

It is a widely held belief that anal sex is “gay sex.” In other words, people tend to assume that anal sex is an activity practiced almost exclusively by gay...

Sex Ed

Is Your First Sexual Experience The Most Important?

February 25, 2013 by Justin Lehmiller

According to almost every teen-centered film or television show ever produced, losing your virginity is a big deal. A really big deal. But just how important is that one sexual...

Sex Ed

Why Are Guys With Deep Voices So Sexy?

February 13, 2013 by Justin Lehmiller

Every year on Valentine’s Day, radio stations put Barry White and other deep-voiced male musicians in heavy rotation with the hope of getting their listeners “in the mood.” This is...

Sex Ed

When It Comes To Condoms, One Size Does Not Fit All

February 11, 2013 by Justin Lehmiller

Most condoms manufactured and distributed today consist of a “standard” length and width [1]. While the exact dimensions vary slightly across condom companies, there seems to be a widespread assumption...

Sex Ed

Sex Question Friday: What Percentage Of Women Reach Orgasm From Intercourse Alone?

February 1, 2013 by Justin Lehmiller

Every Friday on the blog, I answer people’s questions about sex, love, and relationships. This week’s question comes from a reader who wanted to know more about the topic of...

Sex Ed

Safe Sex Is Pleasurable Sex

January 28, 2013 by Justin Lehmiller

One of the most common concerns people have about condoms is that they may reduce genital sensations, thereby making sexual intercourse less pleasurable. In fact, these fears about reduced sensitivity...

Sex Ed

Dressing Sexy Hurts Women In High- But Not Low-Status Jobs

January 18, 2013 by Justin Lehmiller

As much as we might wish otherwise, looks matter in the workplace, and this is true for both men and women. Indeed, your physical appearance can affect everything from your...

Sex Ed

Panting, And Moaning, And Screaming, Oh My! Why Noisy Sex Is Better Sex

January 16, 2013 by Justin Lehmiller

When it comes to making noise in the bedroom, some people prefer silence, while others prefer to wake the neighbors. Although the noisy type are more likely to be on...

Sex Ed

Sex Surrogacy: The “Hands-On” Approach to Sex Therapy

January 14, 2013 by Justin Lehmiller

“The best therapy for a man suffering impotence…may be a therapist-supplied ‘other woman’ who embodies patience. Actual patience with a willing woman is crucial.” – Quote from the November 1,...

Psychology, Sex Ed

Sex Degrees of Separation: How Many Indirect Sexual Partners Have You Had?

January 9, 2013 by Justin Lehmiller

“Every time you sleep with someone, it’s like you’re having sex with all of their previous partners.” We’ve all heard something like this before, right? The basic idea is that...

Sex Ed

Are Laws Criminalizing HIV Transmission Making Us Safer?

January 4, 2013 by Justin Lehmiller

In the United States, reckless or intentional transmission of HIV is currently illegal in 34 states. Many of you probably think that such laws make intuitive sense--an HIV infection will...

Sex Ed

All I Want For Christmas Is Some Safe Sex

December 24, 2012 by Justin Lehmiller

So this is Christmas, and what have you done? In all likelihood, you’ve probably had some sex. Research has found that there are seasonal peaks in sexual activity, with one...

Sex Ed

Are Porn Actresses “Damaged Goods?”

December 17, 2012 by Justin Lehmiller

Society views women who appear in pornographic films negatively. For instance, both male and female college students rate porn actresses as having more negative traits and characteristics than mainstream movie...

Myth vs Fact, Sex Ed

Can Frequent Orgasms Make You Healthier And Smarter?

December 10, 2012 by Justin Lehmiller

One of the most common questions I get asked is whether too much sex or masturbation is bad for you. As I have written in previous posts, there is simply...

Sex Ed

Can You Tell Whether A Woman Is Likely To Orgasm Based On The Shape Of Her Lips?

December 7, 2012 by Justin Lehmiller

Some women have a more difficult time reaching orgasm than others during sexual intercourse. As a result, sexual scientists have begun looking for biological markers associated with a greater likelihood...

Sex Ed

What Is Sex Like With A “Friend With Benefits?”

December 5, 2012 by Justin Lehmiller

“Friends with benefits” (FWBs) are a popular type of sexual relationship these days, with several survey studies of college students finding that about half of them report having had one...

Dating & Relationships, Sex Ed

What Are Americans Doing Beneath The Sheets These Days?

November 28, 2012 by Justin Lehmiller

Although “sex” is a small word, it has quite a big meaning. Sexual behavior comprises a wide range of activities, and there is huge variation in the activities people practice...

Sex Ed

Why Is Channing Tatum “The Sexiest Man Alive?”

November 26, 2012 by Justin Lehmiller

People magazine recently named Magic Mike star Channing Tatum “The Sexiest Man Alive.” Tatum joins the ranks of Hugh Jackman, Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, and George Clooney, all of whom...

Sex Ed

Do “Nipple Orgasms” Really Exist?

November 12, 2012 by Justin Lehmiller

Sexual scientists have long known that women have different routes to orgasm. Nearly a century ago, even Freud argued that women can either have clitoral or vaginal orgasms. Although some...

Sex Ed

5 Misconceptions About Sex And The Human Body Spread By Porn

October 29, 2012 by Justin Lehmiller

As I have discussed in past articles, much of what has been said during the recent “war on porn” is inaccurate. There is simply no evidence that consumption of pornography...

Myth vs Fact, Sex Ed

Does Penis Size Actually Affect Female Sexual Pleasure?

October 17, 2012 by Justin Lehmiller

Do heterosexual women have an easier time reaching orgasm if their partner has a larger than average penis? For several decades, the answer reported in most sexuality textbooks has been...

Sex Ed

No-Cost Contraception May Reduce Abortion Rates and Teenage Pregnancies

October 8, 2012 by Justin Lehmiller

Although the teenage birth rate has decreased in the United States in recent years, the percentage of teen girls giving birth is still higher here than anywhere else in the...

Sex Ed

Tearoom Trade And The Study Of Sex In Public Places

October 3, 2012 by Justin Lehmiller

In the not too distant past, scientists could get away with almost anything because ethics boards did not yet exist and it was up to the researchers themselves to determine...

Psychology, Sex Ed

Why Do Straight Men Like Breasts So Much?

October 1, 2012 by Justin Lehmiller

As you may have noticed, heterosexual men seem to have a certain fascination with women’s breasts. Society feeds into this by putting the female chest on display everywhere from Hooters...

Sex Ed

Does Thinking About Sex Make You Stupid Or Smart?

September 26, 2012 by Justin Lehmiller

Conventional wisdom holds that thinking about sex makes us dumb. Sexual thoughts distract us and make us do stupid things, right? According to Fox News, which recently ran the headline...

Sex Ed

What Can A Man’s Finger Length Tell You About His Penis? More Than You Might Think

September 24, 2012 by Justin Lehmiller

Over the past decade, scientists have conducted a boatload of studies correlating finger length ratios with psychological variables. Specifically, they have focused on the ratio of the index finger (the...

Sex Ed

Does Sexual Arousal Override Feelings of Disgust?

September 17, 2012 by Justin Lehmiller

“A man who will kiss a pretty girl’s lips passionately may perhaps be disgusted at the idea of using her toothbrush, though there are no grounds for supposing that his...

Sex Ed

When And How Should You Talk To Your Kids About Sex In The Age Of Internet Porn?

September 14, 2012 by Justin Lehmiller

How are adolescent boys learning about sex these days? By pointing, clicking, and streaming through a seemingly endless supply of Internet pornography. That’s right, online porn is now the default...

Sex Ed

Should Men Be Circumcised To Reduce STDs And Save On Healthcare Costs?

September 5, 2012 by Justin Lehmiller

The debate over male circumcision was revived last month with the publication of two controversial journal articles. First, the Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine published an article concluding that...

Sex Ed

What Percentage of Couples Fantasize About Cheating On Each Other?

September 3, 2012 by Justin Lehmiller

“My ultimate fantasy is to have a threesome with a girl and a guy…but not with my boyfriend.” – Anonymous sexual fantasy submitted to The Psychology of Human SexualityThink about...

Sex Ed

Do Our Sexual Fantasies Differ When We Feel Insecure?

August 27, 2012 by Justin Lehmiller

Sexual fantasies exist to serve many different functions, from enhancing sexual pleasure to expressing hidden desires (for a few fantasy examples, see A Top Ten List of Women’s Sexual Fantasies...

Sex Ed

What Is A “Legitimate” Rape Anyway?

August 24, 2012 by Justin Lehmiller

“If it’s a legitimate rape, the female body has ways to try to shut that whole thing down.” – Todd Akin, Republican Senate Candidate from MissouriIf you’re anything like me,...

Sex Ed

Have Scientists Finally Discovered “The Pill” For Men?

August 20, 2012 by Justin Lehmiller

A few months back, I posted an article about some promising new developments in birth control for men. These included the “testicular zap,” which involves performing a specialized ultrasound on...

Sex Ed

$The Great Porn Experiment$

The Great Porn Experiment

August 15, 2012 by Justin Lehmiller

In this TEDx video, Gary Wilson discusses his view on how heavy use of online porn may be affecting men’s sex lives. As Wilson points out, accessing pornography through high...

Sex Ed

The Eyes Are The Window To Our Sexual Orientation?

August 6, 2012 by Justin Lehmiller

Scientists who want to study what people find sexually arousing usually face a few major challenges. For one thing, simply asking people how aroused they feel in response to a...

LGBTQIA+, Sex Ed

Is “Fifty Shades Of Grey” An Accurate Depiction Of The BDSM Community?

July 23, 2012 by Justin Lehmiller

“Why don’t you like to be touched?” I whisper, staring up into soft gray eyes. “Because I’m fifty shades of f*cked up, Anastasia.” – Excerpt from Fifty Shades of Grey...

Sex Ed

How Does Parenthood Affect The Sex Lives And Relationships Of Gay Men?

July 18, 2012 by Justin Lehmiller

Researchers have known for years that parenthood has some predictable effects on heterosexual couples. Specifically, relationship satisfaction typically decreases [1] and sexual activity usually drops off markedly once kids enter...

LGBTQIA+, Sex Ed

As Many As 1 In 5 Pharmacists May Deny Emergency Contraception To Teenage Girls

July 16, 2012 by Justin Lehmiller

In 2009, the United States Food and Drug Administration made Plan B, a form of emergency contraception, available to anyone over the age of 17 without a prescription. To obtain...

Sex Ed

Sex Surveys Pose No Harm To Student Participants

July 4, 2012 by Justin Lehmiller

Sex surveys have been controversial ever since the pioneering work of Alfred Kinsey in the 1940s and 50s. There has been a persistent concern that asking people questions about sex...

Psychology, Sex Ed

What Is The Role Of Testosterone In Male And Female Desire For Masturbation And Sex?

June 25, 2012 by Justin Lehmiller

Sexual scientists have long believed that testosterone plays an important role in generating sexual desire. Just consult any Human Sexuality textbook and you’ll likely find a lengthy section talking about...

Gender, Sex Ed

Vaginal Delivery VS. C-Section: Does Different Bacterial Exposure During Childbirth Affect Kids’ Health?

June 22, 2012 by Justin Lehmiller

I heard a fascinating edition of NPR’s On Point this week about how the bacteria that colonize our bodies impact our health, influencing everything from digestion to immune functioning (you...

Sex Ed

What Do Men and Women Focus On When They Watch Porn? The Answer Will Probably Surprise You

June 18, 2012 by Justin Lehmiller

When someone watches pornography, what is it that first captures their attention? Most people would probably guess the actors’ bodies and/or genitals, especially if they’re talking about male porn viewers....

Gender, Sex Ed

Fact Check: Do Pheromones Really Exist in Humans?

June 11, 2012 by Justin Lehmiller

Everyone knows that pheromones exist in animals. For example, if you’ve ever been around a female dog while she’s in heat, you have probably seen and heard all of the...

Myth vs Fact, Sex Ed

Why Is “Fifty Shades of Grey” So Popular? Do Women Really Prefer Erotic Fiction To Hardcore Porn?

June 6, 2012 by Justin Lehmiller

“Research has shown that men are more visually stimulated, while women are more literary; they’re turned on by words or erotic stories.” – Dr. Michael Krychman on Fifty Shades of...

Gender, Myth vs Fact, Sex Ed

Women Overestimate How Effective Most Forms of Contraception Really Are

May 21, 2012 by Justin Lehmiller

Most heterosexual couples assume that if they’re using “the pill” or condoms to prevent pregnancy, they probably don’t have much to worry about because these forms of contraception are highly...

Sex Ed

The Female Orgasm: Nature’s “Fantastic Bonus?”

May 2, 2012 by Justin Lehmiller

Sexual scientists do not agree on why the female orgasm exists. Most of the theories that have been offered to date suggest that the ability of women to climax during...

Sex Ed

Study Provides Scientific Evidence That Sexy Women Are Perceived As Objects Instead Of Persons

April 25, 2012 by Justin Lehmiller

The use of scantily clad women to sell products is a popular strategy among advertisers hocking everything from beer to floral arrangements to spicy BBQ burgers (click here for just...

Sex Ed

Physician Loses Job After Suggesting Semen Is A Better Valentine’s Day Gift Than Chocolates

April 18, 2012 by Justin Lehmiller

Yes, you read that headline right. Last year, the president elect of the American College of Surgeons, Dr. Lazar Greenfield, resigned from his position after penning a controversial Valentine’s Day...

Sex Ed

Sexual Healing: Does Having Sex Relieve Stress For Couples?

April 11, 2012 by Justin Lehmiller

Makes me feel so fine, helps me relieve my mind, sexual healing baby, it’s good for me. – Marvin GayeThe idea that sex can relieve stress for couples is pervasive...

Dating & Relationships, Sex Ed

Ovulating Women Fantasize About Sex More Often

March 26, 2012 by Justin Lehmiller

There is a growing body of research indicating that women’s sexuality changes as they near ovulation. For example, ovulating women tend to dress in sexier clothes and reveal more skin...

Sex Ed

Are There Different Types of “Friends With Benefits?”

March 21, 2012 by Justin Lehmiller

“Friends with Benefits” (FWBs) are usually thought of as relationships in which two good friends decide to become sexually involved. This is how they are most often depicted in the...

Dating & Relationships, Sex Ed

Is Pornography Harmful to Our Brains and to Our Love Lives?

March 19, 2012 by Justin Lehmiller

"America is suffering a pandemic of harm from pornography. A wealth of research is now available demonstrating that pornography causes profound brain changes in both children and adults, resulting in...

Myth vs Fact, Sex Ed

Can A Woman Be “Revirginized” Through Surgery?

March 12, 2012 by Justin Lehmiller

The hymen is a membrane that partially covers the vaginal opening and is thought be break during a woman’s first attempt at intercourse. An intact hymen is therefore often presumed...

Sex Ed

Should Men Be Circumcised?

March 5, 2012 by Justin Lehmiller

In the not too distant past, circumcision (i.e., surgical removal of the foreskin from a penis) was a routine procedure performed on virtually all infant boys in the United States....

Sex Ed

How Do Men’s and Women’s Sexual Fantasies Differ?

February 29, 2012 by Justin Lehmiller

A few weeks back, I posted a Top 10 List of Sexual Fantasies, which contained a set of fun fantasies people have anonymously submitted to me over the years. As...

Gender, Sex Ed

You Are Probably More Worried About The Size of Your Breasts and Genitals Than You Should Be

February 13, 2012 by Justin Lehmiller

Every day, we are bombarded with messages telling us that “bigger is better” when it comes to breasts and penises. From top-heavy Barbie dolls and female celebrities with gargantuan chests...

Gender, Sex Ed

Why Are Some Women Able To Reach Orgasm During Intercourse, But Others Can’t?

February 6, 2012 by Justin Lehmiller

Several studies have found that, while some women experience orgasms from vaginal penetration alone, others do not [1]. What exactly accounts for this difference? Some research suggests that one of...

Sex Ed

Do Men Find Women’s Bodies Hotter in the Winter or in the Summer? The Answer Isn’t As Obvious As You Might Think

January 30, 2012 by Justin Lehmiller

Psychologists have known for some time that people’s mood states and behaviors can change with the seasons. For instance, some people experience what is known as Seasonal Affective Disorder, a...

Dating & Relationships, Sex Ed

Are Men Really the First Ones to Fall Asleep After Sex?

January 25, 2012 by Justin Lehmiller

The stereotypical picture of a heterosexual couple post-coitus depicts a frustrated woman who wants to talk and cuddle staring at a sleeping (and usually snoring) man. Such tension between the...

Myth vs Fact, Sex Ed

Is Masturbation Bad For Your Health?

January 12, 2012 by Justin Lehmiller

“Masturbation: the primary sexual activity of mankind. In the nineteenth century it was a disease; in the twentieth it's a cure.” – Thomas SzaszOne of the most common sexual topics...

Myth vs Fact, Sex Ed

Do Women Fake Orgasms To Keep Their Partners From Cheating?

January 9, 2012 by Justin Lehmiller

Research indicates that most women have faked an orgasm at least once in their lives [1]. This probably doesn’t come as a surprise to most of you, given how frequently...

Sex Ed

Are Bisexual People Equally Aroused By Men And Women?

January 2, 2012 by Justin Lehmiller

“I’m not even sure bisexuality exists. I think it’s just a layover on the way to gaytown.”– Carrie Bradshaw (Sex and the City)Many of you are probably familiar with the...

LGBTQIA+, Myth vs Fact, Sex Ed

Revolutionizing Sexual Consent Education: How ChatGPT Could be Changing the Game

Berlin Bound: Study Abroad With Dr. Justin Lehmiller

The 4 Legal Approaches To Sex Work

How To Deal With Erectile Dysfunction

Sexology Changemakers: Dr. June Dobbs Butts

Announcing The Psychology of Human Sexuality, 3rd Edition!

The State of Sex Education in the USA in 2024

The Year in Sex: The 10 Most-Read Articles on Sex and Psychology in 2023

5 Sexy Things To Be Thankful For In 2023

Study Abroad With Me! 2024 Amsterdam and Berlin Courses on Sex and Culture

Do Women Experience Less Sexual Pleasure Than Men?

Announcing the 11th Annual SPSP Sexuality Pre-Conference!

How to Use the Sex and Psychology Blog in Your Classroom

What Can a Mobile Game Teach Us About Sex Ed?

How To Use the Sex and Psychology Podcast in Your Classroom

Five Reasons to Support the Kinsey Institute and Defend Sex Research

We’re Still Failing When It Comes to Clitoral Knowledge

The State of Sex Education in the USA in 2023

Are AI Chatbots the Future of Sex and Relationship Advice?

How Using OnlyFans Affects People’s Sex Lives and Relationships

7 Things Science Taught Us About Sex In 2022

Porn Literacy With a Side of CBT: Trying Out the “How to Watch Porn” Course

Views on Sexual Morality in the United States in 2022

How Marijuana Affects Our Sex Lives

What’s the Most Effective Way to Reduce Abortion? Better Sex Ed and No-Cost Contraception

Masturbation May and the Science of Self-Pleasure

Marijuana Use is Linked to More Sex and Better Orgasms

The State of Sex Education in America in 2022

Genital Fit: The Conversation We Should Be Having About Genital Size

8 Things Science Taught Us About Sex In 2021

Lessons From A 107-Year-Old Sex Therapist

Exposure to Sunlight May Boost Testosterone and Passion

1 in 10 Americans Say They’ve Had an Orgasm While Exercising

Why Dutch Teens Have Better Sexual Health Than American Teens

Sex Work and Mental Health In Cultures Where Prostitution Is Legal

I’m Teaching About Sex and Culture in Amsterdam for the Next Two Weeks!

Sex with a Sleeping Person: The Psychology of Somnophilia

When Sex Toy Misuse Sends People to the Emergency Room

Sleeping Beauty Syndrome: Fantasies About Sex With a Sleeping Person

How To Have Good Casual Sex

Changes in Americans’ Views on Sexual Morality in the Past 20 Years

Using Less (Not More) Porn is Linked to More Sexual Problems

Happy Birthday, Dr. Kinsey! Celebrating the History of Sex Research

Sex Secrets: What We Hide from Our Partners and Why

The Psychological Impact of Virtual Reality Porn Versus 2D Porn

Does Listening to Sexy Music Get Us in the Mood for Sex?

6 Reasons People Want Consensually Nonmonogamous Relationships

Porndemic? Here’s What Really Happened With Porn Use During the Pandemic

Would You Feel Jealous if Your Partner Got a Sex Robot?

How Gay Men and Lesbians Respond to Offers of Casual Sex

Is It Acceptable to Have Sex on the First Date? Here’s What Americans Say

What Will Sex and Relationships Look Like After COVID-19?

How People Look Back On Their Very First Sexual Experience

How Virginity Became a Stigmatized Status in the U.S.

Even Doctors Don’t Agree on What Counts as Having Sex

We Don’t Learn From Our Regrets: Sexual Regret Doesn’t Change Future Behavior

How Marijuana Affects Sex

The Way Our Sex Fantasies Change with Age Might Reflect Changes in Personality

How Common are Pregnancy Fetishes?

What is Rebound Sex, and is It a Good Idea?

Is BDSM Always About Sex?

Why Men Get Erections in Their Sleep and Often Wake Up with ‘Morning Wood’

The Complex Link Between Depression and Sex

How Your Cat Could Make You Kinkier

Could STIs Manipulate Us Into Having More Sex To Increase Disease Spread?

How Many People Have Ever Had Rough Sex, and Who’s Most Likely To Do It?

What Does It Mean to Have ‘Rough Sex?’

Who Has More Sex Dreams: Singles or People in Relationships?

Condom Use Decreased During the Pandemic—And This Might Be Why

Sex Question Friday: Can I Change My Sexual Fantasies?

Happy New Year! Science-Backed Resolutions For Better Sex In 2021

Ten Things Science Taught Us About Sex In 2020

Santa Claus Porn is a Thing—And It’s Very Popular Right Now

The Psychology of Christmas Porn: Some People Think Santa is a Daddy

Will COVID-19 Change Our Sex Lives Permanently?

Human Cows: An Inside Look at a Growing Kink

How Many People Have Ever Had a Threesome?

The Three Sex Positions Women are Most Likely to Orgasm in

The Impact of COVID-19 on the LGBTQ+ Community

What Men Who Use Sex Toys Know That You Don’t