Sex & Science

In the name of progress, researchers are forever discovering the reasons behind why we do the strange things we do. Here and updates and explanations of the newest science around sex.

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'The sex worker gave me condoms'

In India, couples who have sex before marriage rarely use condoms, a recent study found. Only seven percent of young Indian women who have premarital sex ever use a condom. For guys the figure’s higher, but still just one in four used protection. Is it because of lack of sex education?

Oral sex – you get what you ask for

Want him to go down on you in bed? Or maybe you’d rather he didn’t go there. If you don’t say so, chances are he’ll never know. When it comes to getting head women are comfortable with different things, a US study found.

Do guys have nothing but sex on the brain?

Guys only spend a small fraction of their day thinking about sex, a recent US study found. It’s true guys have more sexual thoughts than girls, but they still spend more time thinking about other bodily needs like food and sleep.

G-spot orgasms: still going days later

Does the G-spot really exist? Of course, says Dutch sex writer Marianne Ras – she can tell you from personal experience. The G-spot can give most women a more intense sensation than the clitoris, she says.

Can you penis have a fracture?

During wild sex, you hear a crack and feel an agonising pain – you’ve broken your penis. It’s rare, but it's possible. Penile fractures most often happen to men having secret sex in risky locations, a US study found.

Vaginal and clitoral orgasms: any difference?

Women who orgasm through vaginal stimulation get a bigger rush of love for their partners, according to Venezuelan sexologist and psychiatrist Dr Rómulo Aponte.

Squirting orgasms: what comes out?

Squirting and female ejaculation are two different things, according to a study at Guadalajara University, Mexico. It’s a controversial topic. Does female ejaculation really exist? What actually comes out?

The way to a woman’s heart is through her nose

A man’s smell can play a crucial role in whether or not a woman finds him attractive, according to Dutch sex writer Marianne Ras. All the men she's ever wanted to have sex with smelled good to her, she says.

Secret to happy sex: the right lubricant

Women of all ages can suffer from vaginal dryness, a survey found. Choosing the right lubricant can make the difference between pleasure and pain.

Women have wet dreams too

Most men have had a wet dream at some point in their lives. What’s less well known is that women can also come in their sleep, says Dr Ellen Laan, a psychologist at the University of Amsterdam.

Does penis size matter?

A big penis doesn’t mean better sex. In fact, how satisfied a woman is in bed has nothing to do with the size of her partner’s penis, a recent Argentinean study found. Instead, it’s physical features like his skin and hair that matter more.

Erotic power training for the orgasmic woman

The Orgasmic Woman is a self-help programme that can train women to have more sexual pleasure, says its developer, Swiss psychotherapist Annina Sartorius. She devised the sexuality course together with a tantric guru.