How to have better sex tonight
BY READERS DIGEST
1st Jan 2015 Dating & Relationships
A healthy, vital sex life is critical to maintaining intimacy and a sense of connection, so here are a few things to tell him tonight—and a couple of interesting questions to ask.
Talking about sex a is a bit like writing about cooking—sometimes the words get in the way of the savouring. But if your love life could use a dash of spice, it may be time to order up a frank discussion.
“If there’s any type of communication that’s particularly difficult, it’s sexual communication,” says Sandra Byers, chair of the University of New Brunswick’s psychology department and co-author of Understanding Human Sexuality. To make it easier, try one of these five simple conversation starters for more passionate, more connected sex.
Read more: Sex myths that need to be busted
1. “Let’s make out like we’re teenagers again.”
A cheeky come-on takes the pressure off of performance and puts the focus on fun. After all, your sex life isn’t a failure if you don’t have a mind-blowing clitoris orgasm every time.
“You don’t eat gourmet meals all the time—sometimes you just have macaroni and cheese, and that’s okay,” says Byers.
Rather than asking, “Did you have an orgasm?” she recommends that couples ask each other, “How satisfying was that for you?”
Read more: Natural ways to boost your sex life
2. “Do you feel rejected when I’m not in the mood?”
Men are just as vulnerable as women when it comes to their desirability, explains Lori Brotto, a psychologist and director of the sexual health laboratory at the University of British Columbia.
A man may consider temporary disinterest in bed-play as a rejection of him as a person. Tell him you still feel the chemistry.
Brotto also suggests asking, “What will it take for you to believe that I really do desire you?”
Read more: How sex could save your life
3. “You’re driving me crazy—with desire!”
You don’t have to become a screeching banshee when you’re making love, but do use words.
“Silent sex is almost always bad sex,” says Byers. “People need feedback, because what you liked yesterday, you may not like today.”
It’s perfectly acceptable to rely on simple cues, as you would during a back rub: higher, faster, to the left!
Read more: The truth about mature women and sex
4. “Hey baby, what’s your number?”
Go ahead, ask for some important stats: How often would they really like to make love, and for how long should each session be?
Consider that according to a 2007 sex poll of 1,524 people, 21 percent of married people spend 10 minutes or less on foreplay (Yikes!). But everyone’s different.
“While one woman might be happy with foreplay for 10 minutes, another woman might need 30,” says Byers. So forget about that impossibly hot couple you know who are always all over each other; ask yourselves, what works for you two?
Read more: Sex after the menopause
5. “I’m going to do some ‘homework.’ ”
In this case, “homework” means a little self-pleasuring. You see, Brotto’s clinical research shows that women aren’t exactly, well, in touch with their own sexual response. When women at the UBC lab were shown a short clip from an erotic film, almost all said they weren’t aroused by it, despite vaginal blood-flow measurements indicating that, in fact, they were.
To bridge the mind-body disconnect, Brotto counsels women to explore “mindfulness,” a meditation practice. Try staying “in the moment” for five minutes a day: When you’re washing dishes or walking to work, stay focused and don’t allow your thoughts to wander. Or conjure up a steamy sexual fantasy and note your body’s response—even react to it by moaning or touching yourself.
After two to four weeks of frequent mental exercises, Brotto says you may see an improvement in identifying—and acting upon—your own arousal.
Read more: 5 apps to help you find some calm
Bonus tips:
Location, location, location
Experts warn against talking about sex issues in the bedroom, especially at bedtime. And don’t have it right after sex!
Take time to collect your own thoughts and assess your own feelings. If you are really having issues, and the conversation is bound to be a long one, schedule a time to talk, find someone to babysit the kids and stay at home to chat.
Be honest about your expectations, fears and desires.
Shake it up!
Is that move getting old? While relying on your tried-and-true routine seems like a no-brainer, it can also lead to ho-hum sex, especially in long-term relationships.
Each partner knows exactly what parts to stimulate, for how long, in order to bring the other person to orgasm, but it’s the same every time. Keep them guessing by trying something new every other time you have sex.
Also, ask them what might make your best moves even better. As long as they knows they can answer without offending you, chances are they’ll happily help you, ahem, tweak your technique.
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