Sexual Health

Love Your Body: Delve into the complexities of sexual health, intimacy, and relationships, offering expert guidance on maintaining physical and emotional well-being, and fostering healthy connections with yourself and others.

Latest Articles

21 sex tips for men

Joe-PT

Joe-PT

•March 4, 2025

(main photo by Dainis Graveris) Low testosterone levels can amount to a whole host of health problems; brain fog, lethargy, heart disease, obesity, osteoporosis and even depression can all be linked to low levels of testosterone. Although treatable, one element of this condition that always feels like a mountain to climb is the accompanying low libido many men face. A simple lack of sexual appetite plagues many men and is a common result of low testosterone levels. It’s not that men consciously don’t want sex, but instead rely upon sex drive and libido as the main motivator. Whether single or in a committed relationship, low libido can have a considerable impact on your sex life and drive for sexual activity. It can be a confusing time for men who can’t understand why they’re no longer interested in sex, having relied upon their sex drive to motivate their sex life. It can be just as puzzling for your partner too. Also read:Testosterone and Libido – A Better Sex Life Even With Low Testosterone  A common problem amongst many men, the result of low testosterone has often been compared to a lack of appetite - the food might be right there in front of you, but you simply have no desire to dig in. In many relationships, it may feel as though your sexual spark has vanished. Many couples look to reignite the flame in order to regain that arousal, through sexual experimentation, sex toys and sexy talk. Of course, it can be disheartening when even the opportunity of something new and exciting still does nothing down below. When these attempts fall flat, many partners can go through a whirlwind of emotions, quickly feeling resentful of one another, lonely or simply sad. Instead of reaching out for help, many men fall into their own cave of confusion and anxiety. With often a natural instinct to withdraw from your partner - instead of joining forces to resolve the matter - it can feel incredibly difficult to feel aroused once again. What’s the solution to low testosterone?  In order to better understand how to turn on a man with low testosterone, first, we must uncover how we view sex. One common misconception is that we only engage in sex when we’re feeling horny. This thought alone can get in the way of a healthy, active sex life. With men often leaving their sexual decision-making up to their hormone levels, sexual activity only arises when they believe their body is telling them to feel aroused. Instead, a focus on thoughtful, intentional nurturing of relationships with a focus on the needs of both partners, can result in healthy sexual activity that is good for your relationship and quality of life. Also read:Symptoms of low testosterone in men  Next, it’s time to talk about sexual activity. After all, there are plenty of things you can get up to that aren’t sex. For men that experience low testosterone levels/low libido, it can often be difficult to gain (and maintain) an erection. In this instance, sexual activity needs to take a playful, pleasure-focused and fun turn. Often, the build-up to sexual performance can trigger anxiety and worry before the main event - getting in the way of arousal and spontaneity. Take the opportunity to explore one another’s bodies. Crack out the massage oil, get playful. Buy some flavoured lube - You name it. Intercourse doesn’t have to be the finishing line, instead, take a simple shift to enjoy playing with one another. Think sex games over sex itself, intimately touching one another in new ways that are often bypassed on the way to intercourse. How can you arouse a man with low testosterone or libido?  Unfortunately, there is no magic answer. Much like the shift from sexual intercourse to sexual exploration, the most helpful goal might be feeling validated, approved, understood, loved, connected and appreciated. While arousal is a great feeling, it’s not necessary to attain these goals. Also read:How to tackle blue Monday each year with the power of testosterone  But… All is not lost. If low testosterone is definitely the cause of your low sex drive, there are some lifestyle choices you can begin to change, including: Exercise - Moderate-intensity aerobic activity can improve sexual performance and give your testosterone levels a boost. Keep an eye on your weight - A healthy weight can benefit your mind, stamina and testosterone levels. Studies have shown that abdominal fat has links with improved desire. Avoid drinking too much alcohol, smoking and drugs. Pay attention to your diet - Cutting out the junk in your diet and incorporating more high protein and low-fat foods can be effective in improving your sex drive. Take a look over any medications - If you’ve noticed any side effects of your medications, it may be worth checking in with your GP. Consider therapy - As well as physical factors, often a lack of libido or arousal can be linked to emotional elements, too. If everyday stress is playing on your mind, or something more, a therapist will be able to help work through your struggles. Testogen is a natural testosterone booster that can reverse your lack of libido with no side effects. Plus, it’s packed with all-natural ingredients. In order to navigate this transition within your relationship, many couples benefit from speaking with a sex educator or counsellor to gain a greater understanding of their sexual connection and activity. One key takeaway is a new focus from within your relationship, creating a strong bond between you and your partner in order to sustain a healthy, understanding relationship.

Sex vs workouts: Which burns more calories?

Joe-PT

•March 4, 2025

If you're struggling to get yourself to the gym, it's no surprise that your mind is on the idea of burning calories sexually. In fact, many of you are looking every month to see if it's worth jumping into bed or if exercise really is the key to burning calories. The problem is that the "typical" cheeky bedroom session can be completely different for one couple than another. It's dependent on a number of factors - from position to duration, gender and even your level of health. Let's put it this way, there are many things to consider. Now, if you are starting to introduce calorie counting into your sexual sessions, chances are you will kill the mood. But at the same time, sex is a great way to exercise... Sex: is it a good workout? If it burns calories, it should be considered an "exercise", right? However, it is worth keeping in mind that the "average" duration of sex can vary considerably between couples, making it difficult to measure actual calorie burning. Also Read:Get motivated and shape up this Spring  In fact, if your sessions end up lasting more than an hour, you can't burn many more calories having sex, as you would with other types of exercise - such as swimming or running. Put simply, your calorie burn depends on movement and heart rate. Although it's great that sex has health benefits and can help people stay motivated and energised, as well as the ability to burn calories, it is important that you do not rely on sex as a form of exercise and look to other methods. Compared to the opposite sex, how many calories do women burn during sex? While some research shows that men burn more calories during sex than women, there are other reasons that need to be considered - it is not entirely possible to actually decide who burns more. In addition, where are same-sex couples in this comparison? It's as simple as the person doing the most movement during sex that is probably going to be the one to burn more calories. Also Read:Is walking enough to support your weight loss goals?  Plus, your choice of position plays a role too. If you are a pillow princess (sorry, ladies!), it is likely you are not burning many calories. If you're a leading reverse cowgirl, go for it, burn more, ladies! Sex or a 30 minute run?  So, how long would you need to be running, or erm, doing it for? I'm sorry if you're disappointed, but it still matters. The number of calories you burn during sex depends on various factors, as we discussed above. And the same goes for the run too. In fact, it doesn't matter what type of exercise you do, because there are usually many factors to consider (such as weight, endurance, heart rate, etc). For a session in the sheets vs a 30 run, it's dependent on: ⦁ What incline you're working with ⦁ The pace you're running at An average run of 30 minutes can burn 200 to 500 calories. What is the sexual equivalent? Well ... a little birdie told us that the butter churner position can burn 211 calories every 30 minutes. That being said, we're not about to show you... How long would sex need to last to burn the same calories as a 30-minute walk? While walking doesn't get your heart going as much as running does, you can still get a burn of between 100 and 200 calories from a 30-minute walk. If you want to exchange walking for sex (who doesn't?), about 30 minutes of doggy style can burn about 180 calories. Emphasis on the word can, it's not guaranteed. 30 mins of weightlifting vs sex? If you want to not do weights and go straight to bed (not for sleeping though...), standing sex can be a great alternative to 30-minute weightlifting. You can burn 99 calories every 15 minutes of standing sex. I know which I'd rather do... Sex or 30 minutes of yoga?  I think the clue is in the name here ladies, the eagle (need we say more). Also Read:14 easy healthy swaps to get started with this week  That's right, 20 minutes of sex in the eagle position could have you burning upwards of 120 calories, approximately the same as 30 minutes of yoga. How to burn more calories during sex? I can't believe you're still reading and not already stripping ready to jump into bed! However, if you're wanting to burn more calories during your sexy sessions, it's going to be hard work. We're not saying it's not possible though, here's how you can increase your calorie burn during sex: Take a look into the positions that require the most movements (therefore the most calorie burn) Prioritize time - it's not all about the sex either, foreplay is an important space of time spent being intimate with your partner So what's better - workouts or sex? The truth is that sex is fun, exciting and more enjoyable than being at the gym. Plus you also save money. With the added benefit of happy chemicals being release, sex can also improve overall heart health and quality of sleep. Of course, a quick sex session is not enough to stand up to a full-on gym workout. In saying that, both can work together perfectly to maximize your weekly calorie burn. Lose weight and feel amazing with PhenGold  Whether you opt for regular sex (ooo-errr) or hitting the gym, PhenGold is here to support you on your mission to lead a healthy lifestyle. Carefully formulated with 100% natural ingredients, PhenGold enhances your body's natural fat-burning abilities, no matter which type of exercise you choose!