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Contradictory Marriage Satisfaction Survey
 Parade magazine released a marriage survey of 1,001 married Americans aged 18 and over. The results showed 88 percent of participants reported being either happy or reasonably content in their marriages. Seventy percent of men say they never think about leaving their wife. What's surprising is that 19 percent of men said they'd had sex outside the marriage. Eleven percent of women also admitted to cheating. So what keeps married people together? According to the survey, 71 percent of couples said they've stayed married because of deep love while 73 percent cited companionship. To read all the results, click here. Labels: men, sex, study, women
Husband Sues Wife for Giving Him Herpes
 A Manhattan lawyer is suing his wife after discovering she was having an affair when he found her herpes-treatment prescription in their medicine cabinet. He's also suing her lover and her father--a doctor who prescribed the medicine and he claims withheld the affair and knowledge of the infection. The father claims he prescribed the medicine to cure a sore on his daughter's lip. The husband has since also contracted genital herpes, which is treatable, but not curable. The lawyer in the suit also claims that the wife and father violated NY state law requiring people knowingly infected with venereal disease to tell their sexual partner. It's also not surprising that he submitted another file to the courts--for a divorce. Click here to read the complete article from the NY Post. What would you have done? Labels: health, news, real people, sex
Reasons to Have Sex
 If you're not feeling motivated to have sex, AOL has put together a list of 34 reasons to have sex. For example, according to a study at Queens University in Belfast, men who have sex three or more times a week can cut their risk of heart attack in half and will also reduce risks of stroke. Another reason to have sex according to the article is that 30 minutes of sex will burn roughly 200 calories. With the winter flu just around the corner, you'd also like to know that sex twice a week will boost your immune system by 30 percent. To read the complete list, click here. Labels: health, sex, study
Unconsummated Marriages Not Uncommon?
 Nobody knows for certain how many married couples haven't consummated their marriage, but Dr. Domeena Renshaw, a psychiatry professor at Loyola University Health System outside of Chicago, says he has treated 202 unconsummated unions. The guess is that 1 percent of marriages remain unconsummated. Dr. Renshaw says she has treated one couple who had been married 23 years without the bedroom magic. This article from MSNBC offers many reasons why a couple would not have intercourse. A couple reasons include erectile disfunction; vulvodynia, an often unbearable pain when the genitals are touched; or social identity within cultures that comes with virginity. Labels: real people, sex
Private Names
 A while back we published an article on " Naming Private Parts." Included are some common names for men and women. We recently came across a new website that asks people to submit their "thingy" names and then vote on the most popular submissions. The site is called ThingyNames and we have to warn you that some of the names are not G-rated. At the time of this post, just shy of 40% of Hitched readers say they have a name for both his and her private parts while 35% don't have a name for either, according to the article poll. Furthermore, 18% just have a name for his and 8% just have a name for hers. Labels: entertainment, sex
You Know What Gets Better With Age?
 Sex! That's what a study by the University of Gothenburg in Sweden show. The study tracked the sex lives of four groups for 30 years and showed an increase in sex as they got older. The subjects of the study are now in their 70s and 68 percent of married men said they were having sex in 2001, up from 52 percent in the early 1970s. Married women having sex rose to 54 percent in the group interviewed in 2000-2001, up from 30 percent in the early 70s. This article on MSNBC also says that more men are expressing their low sexual satisfaction, which they think may be a result of more men being open about their sexual failure. Labels: sex, study
That's Probably A Sin
 An Italian couple in Rome were caught having sex in a confessional box while the morning mass was taking place. They were arrested for obscene acts after they had been drinking all night and taken their love a little too far. The couple later met with the local bishop to repent and were given forgiveness for their act. After the incident was behind them, the bishop celebrated a "mass of reparation" in the cathedral where the confessional box incident took place to make up for the sacrilege. Click here to read the full AP report. Labels: real people, sex
Why We Divorce
 We know that budgets are getting pinched tighter every day in this economy with food prices rising, gas prices rising, the dollar value depreciating and so on. That's why it's more important than ever for you and your spouse to bond together and don't start a blame game for any financial hardship that may be rearing its head. A study by divorce360.com found that financial woes were the second most common reason for divorce behind only abuse. Just behind financial issues were sexual issues. Now may be a good time to make an appointment with your financial advisor to help weather the current economic conditions. It's better to see a financial advisor than a judge in divorce court. Labels: money, sex, study
Sue Johanson Stops Talking Sex on TV
 This Sunday will be Sue Johanson's last "Talk Sex" show on the Oxygen network. At 77, Johanson has decided to get some sleep. The show, which ends at 1 a.m. Oxygen's most popular late night show and had it's best ratings ever this season with the young demographic. Johanson still plans to lecture and her shows will still be available on Oxygen's website. Her final show will count down the year's top 10 sex toys. We'll miss you Sue, and thank you for all your help and insight! Labels: celebrity, entertainment, sex
Study Says IUDs Can Reduce Cancer Risk
 A report presented to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists in New Orleans says that women who used IUDs experienced a 40 percent reduction in the risk of endometrial cancer. Dr. David Grimes of Family Health International in Chapel Hill, North Carolina says "the IUD is underutilized as a contraceptive in the United States. Research is showing that it has health benefits far beyond preventing pregnancy." This is good new. Unfortunately, only 2 percent of women use IUDs according to Grimes. This article from MSNBC also says that women who take contraceptive pills also have a lower risk of this disease. Labels: health, sex, study, women
Financial Risk Taking Linked to Sex
 A new study by a Northwestern University finance professor found that when men were shown erotic images, they were more likely to make a large financial gamble than when they were shown scary or neutral images--like a snake or stapler. The study took brain scans of the participants and found the brain was stimulated in the same area with both money and sex. A former commodities floor trader says the connection makes a lot of sense considering the euphemisms used on the trading floor, such as "massaging the market." Vegas makes so much sense, doesn't it? Labels: money, sex, study
A Few Minutes of Sex is Best?
 A study of sex therapists published in the Journal of Sexual Medicine suggests that the optimal amount of time for sexual intercourse is three to 13 minutes. This time does not take into account foreplay. That's a good thing because as our Sexpert Dr. Trina Read has said on numerous occasions, it takes roughly 15 minutes for women to get fully aroused. The 50 members of the Society for Sex Therapy and Research did say, however, that one to two minutes is too short. The author of the study said that it's okay if one partner's ideal time is five minutes and the other's is eight. He said, "That's okay." Read the full article here.Labels: sex, study
Dr. Haltzman appears on Morning Show
 Dr. Scott Haltzman has recently appeared on The Morning Show with Mike and Juliet to discuss the topic of infidelity in marriage. Dr. Haltzman did a great job as did some of the other experts who appeared on the show. If you missed the show, not to worry. Click here to view the video. Unfortunately, this website's video player doesn't allow you to fast forward or let us post the video here, but at least it's up and you can view it. If you like what you hear from Dr. Haltzman, be sure to visit his page to get more advice (click here). Labels: advice, commentary, sex
Keeping Your Sex Life Fresh
Infidelity Is Common Knowledge
 Ex-N.Y. Gov. Eliot Spitzer and his highly publicized affair has brought a lot of attention to the subject. USA TODAY/Gallup Poll contacted 1,025 adults and found that 54 percent of Americans know someone who has been unfaithful to their spouse. Whoa! This one is even more interesting. 37 percent of married respondents say they'd forgive their spouse for having a sexual affair while only 30 percent of unmarried said they'd forgive. Where do you stand? Let us know. Labels: real people, sex, study
Men Doing More Chores
 The Council on Contemporary Families found in one study that men's contribution to housework has doubled over the past four decades; another study found men tripled the time spent on childcare over that span. Don't get too excited men, women still do more household work and childcare responsibilities than men, but men are definitely doing more than scratching themselves on the couch. Joshua Coleman, the author of "The Lazy Husband: How to Get Men to Do More Parenting and Housework," believes that equitable sharing of housework can lead to a happier marriage and more frequent sex. Makes sense. If the wife spent all day at work and then had to tackle all of the housework, how likely do you think it is that she'll want sex? Click here to read the complete article. How's the housework shared in your marriage? Talk about it on our message board. Labels: book, sex, study, work
Marital Sex Overrated?
 A new book by Susan Yager-Berkowitz and her husband Bob Berkowitz suggests that marital sex is overrated. The book is entitled, "He's Just Not Up For It Anymore: Why Men Stop Having Sex and What You Can Do About It" (William Morrow, 2008). They surveyed 4,000 men and women in relationships ranging in age from 18 to 93. You can read an article on OC Register about what Susan has to say. To make it short, she basically says sex slows down--and that's ok. Sure there's ebbs and flows in marital sex (just listen to the podcasts with Dr. Trina Read), but that doesn't mean if you're not happy with your sex life you should accept it. If you're looking for advice, go to our sex channel. Now. Labels: book, sex, study
Spanking May Lead to Sexual Problems
 Four studies by the Family Research Laboratory at the University of New Hampshire-Durham, suggests that children whose parents spanked, slapped, hit or threw objects at them may have a greater chance of physically or verbally coercing a sexual partner, engaging in risky sexual behavior or engaging in masochistic sex, including sexual arousal by spanking. Elizabeth Gershoff, an assistant professor of social work at the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, who reviewed 80 years of spanking research says that though many children have been spanked (85% in one 2007 survey), problems may depend on how they process the spanking. This information isn't without its retractors, however. Linking sexual problems with spanking is a "big leap," says human-sexuality researcher John DeLamater of the University of Wisconsin. Find more at USA Today. Perhaps this is a subject for us to cover in our Sex channel. What do you think? Labels: parenting, sex, study
How Much Sex Does Your Church Require?
 Head pastor Paul Wirth of the Relevant Church has issued a challenge to married couples to have sex every day for a month. He's proposed this 30-day challenge as an effort to combat high divorce rates. He wants couples to force themselves to connect even though they're tired from their jobs and let life get in the way. Is your church as awesome at this one? You can find more at 30DaySexChallenge.com. (When we posted this blog, the site had already exceeded its bandwidth!) Thanks to reader Elizabeth for sending in this great news item. If this won't get her husband to attend church, nothing will. Labels: fun, news, sex
Special Podcast for Valentine's Day
 If you're not a regular listener to our podcast, now's the time to start. For the first time, we have a special podcast in the middle of the week. Dr. Trina Read, our Sexpert, was kind enough to give us a few minutes of her time to explain how couples can use Valentine's Day to initiate fun and play into your sex life. The entire podcast is less than 10 minutes and well worth it. Who knows, you might even become a regular listener. Here's looking forward to a Happy Valentine's Day. Click here to go to and listen to the podcast. Labels: advice, holidays, romance, sex
Eat Your Way to a Better Sex Life
 Self magazine has put out an article which lists various foods that will boost your libido in the bedroom. A rule of thumb according to Lynn Edlen-Nezin, Ph.D., a clinical health psychologist who co-wrote "Great Food, Great Sex," suggests what's good for the heart is good for the genitals. This is a really great article with lots of scientific explanation as to why certain foods affect your sex life, but we'll cut to the chase. Some of the food listed include: almonds, walnuts, salmon, cod, halibut, tomatoes, red peppers, garlic, spinach, broccoli, beets, berries, red grapes and much more. To read the full article, click here.Labels: advice, book, health, sex
What Kills Sex In A Marriage?
 USA Today gives a Q&A with the authors of Sex-Starved Wife (Michele Weiner Davis) and He's Just Not Up for It Anymore (Bob Berkowitz and Susan Yager-Berkowitz) about what kills sex in a marriage. Here's a sample question and answer from that article: Q: Is there an average or normal amount of sexual activity among married couples, and how does it change with time?
Weiner Davis: It's really very subjective. For some couples, if they had sex twice a week, they'd think they died and went to heaven. For others, it would put them in divorce court. Mutual interest needs to be taken into account.
Yager-Berkowitz: To me, what's normal is if both partners are happy. From the first days of a relationship to maybe three years, the brain hormones of people tend to be far more sexual to reproduce or form an attachment for all kinds of cultural and psychological reasons. What's normal in the first year of a relationship is very different in 10 years. To read the full article click here. Labels: advice, book, sex
Money, Sex and Love Survey
 Elle and msnbc.com are asking people to participate in an anonymous survey. It's not a survey exclusively for married couples, but it does ask some interesting questions about satisfaction with your sex life and how money may be playing a role. It also asks a lot about the woman's role in money matters and how the man feels about it. The results don't come out until next March so we'll keep an eye on things and give you an update on the results when they're available. In the meantime, if you want your relationship and opinion to be represented in this survey, click here to take it yourself. Labels: money, sex, study
The Orgasmic Diet
 I know, I thought it was a daily dose of In-N-Out Double Doubles, animal style (it's a west coast thing), but it's not. Marrena Lindberg is a diet & fitness coach on AOL and also the author of "The Orgasmic Diet," a nutrition and exercise program designed to regulate a woman's brain chemistry and body functioning and bring her to mind-blowing orgasm. Here's a little taste of what her book has to offer: Women on a typical high-carb, high-fat diet are literally starving for dopamine, the "feel good" neurotransmitter, hormone and key to all things sensual. Now you're thinking, How do I get my hands on that stuff? Fish oil supplements. Take 500 mg or more with the omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA daily.
...Researchers have shown that women who eat a small amount of high-quality dark chocolate every day have better sex lives. Dark chocolate contains chemical compounds that mimic the chemistry produced by that I'm-in-love feeling. That was a nice little tidbit. So what do you think? If your body only performs as well as the fuel you put into it, it makes sense that it would affect your sex drive. Do you have a "sexual" diet you adhere when trying to get in the mood or improve performance? Labels: advice, food, health, sex
Wife Doesn't Want to Have Sex
 I was cruising around the web the other day and found this article on Today. It's of a husband writing in expressing his frustration because his wife doesn't want to have sex and he's always the initiator. Dr. Gail Saltz was the expert columnist who responded and I think she did a very good job of taking the matter serious. She basically told him that his need for a sex life could drive a huge wedge between the two of them. After reading this, I thought, we can help! Our very own Dr. Trina Read wrote an article that offers tips for couples to initiate sex equally. It's titled aptly enough, "Initiating Sex." I know, we're clever. To read the Today article, click here. To read Dr. Read's article, click here.Labels: advice, real people, sex
Russians Offer Car for Baby
 That's right, if you're a citizen of Russia and you're looking for a new set of wheels, close your curtains and take part in a Day in Conception on Sept. 12. Ulyanovsk Gov. Sergei Morozov wants Russians to procreate--even allowing them to take off work. To do so, the government is offering incentives, like cars, refrigerators and money and other prizes for couples who deliver 9 months later on June 12, Russia's national day. So why the incentives? Since the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991, the population has also fallen. Russia is the largest country in the world, yet by 2050, it's projected that they may have fewer than 100 million citizens. Signing off: From Russia With Love. Labels: holidays, kids, news, real people, romance, sex
Lingerie Wars
 A recent article from the Wall Street Journal (subscription required) says that lingerie wars are starting. For the last 20 years, it says Victoria's Secret has owned the market, but apparently the secret is out and other retailers are ready to fight for the rising demand. For husbands wanting to treat their wives or wives wanting to surprise their husbands the prices have dramatically come down. For example, Target says prices or lingerie in their stores have come down from a high of $21.99 and now start as low as $7.99. So men, no more excuses about feeling goofy walking into a Victoria's Secret. There are new players in the game and here's a list of some of them: - Target - JC Penny - Khol's - Lane Bryant - Sears - DIllard's - Macy's - Kmart Labels: fashion, money, sex
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