Archive for October 2015

Unless you want it to stop, that is

Great sex is all about spontaneity and exploration—assuming, of course, you have her consent—but there are a few parts of her body you shouldn't touch willy-nilly. Here are four such spots you're better off avoiding. (For explicit instructions on where and how you should touch her, check out Howto Pleasure a Woman, the ultimate sex manual from the editors of Men'sHealth.)

1. Her cervix.

If you reach her cervix during sex, recognize that something is wrong. Remember, this is the narrow canal that connects the vagina to the uterus—where babies grow. That isn’t a place you want to go, so don’t knock on the door. For starters, it’s painful for her to have something rammed against her cervix, and it could be a sign that you need to shift for a position with shallower penetration. But it could also mean that she isn’t warmed up enough. Her uterus will actually “lift” upwards when she’s sexually aroused, making her vaginal cavity a few inches deeper than when she isn’t turned on. So don’t skimp on foreplay, and don't service her cervix.

2. The head of her clitoris.

This might seem counterintuitive, but the clitoris—which is full of super sensitive nerve endings—can sometimes feel too intense when it’s stimulated directly. Touching the clitoris head-on, especially if she’s really aroused, can feel too severe. Think about that feeling when you gulp an ice-cold beverage and your teeth start to tingle—it’s just not pleasant. Instead, try going for the shaft of her clitoris or rubbing circles around it, which will engage the nerve endings without overstimulating her. We won’t tell you to never touch her there, but it’s worth checking in with your partner to see if she has a sensitive C-spot.

3. Her feet.

Especially if she's sporting socks. A study from Johns Hopkins University showed that wearing socks in the sack can increase orgasm potential, for both men and women. One potential reason: In order to orgasm, women need to be totally relaxed and anxiety-free, and cold feet can interfere with their ability to really get into sex. Though we usually recommend knocking her socks off, leave them on this time.

4. Her anus.

Unless you’re all lubed-up, that is. Anal play can take plenty of warming up, but even when she’s totally aroused and ready to get it on, nothing should go in there without a generous helping of lubricant. The anal opening is small enough that even a finger can feel uncomfortable. While you’ve got the KY bottle handy, you should probably go ahead and use it for all other acts. A study from the Journal of Sexual Medicine found that women rate their sexual satisfaction much higher when lube is involved. For even more sex and relationship tips—A LOT MORE!—check out TheMen's Health Big Book of Sex. It's packed with everything you need to know—from how to last longer in bed to the best sex positions to the secrets to satisfying her every single time.

You may have never wondered this question, but scientists certainly have

We look through hundreds of studies every week at Men’sHealth, and we’re always impressed at some of the strange stuff scientists spend time and money researching.

For example, Swiss researchers recently wanted to explore whether women think guys with surgically corrected hyposadias—a birth defect in which your meatus, or urethral opening, is on the underside of your penis—have regular-looking rods.

As part of the study, the scientists asked female participants to rank which factors they considered most important in anattractive penis. File this under “requests that are only acceptable in a lab setting.”

Turns out women don’t love any particular penis trait. They rated overall genital appearance as the most important factor, followed by pubic hair.

Super precise characteristics like penile length, look of the scrotum, and position and shape of the meatus rounded out the least important qualities :

“Women perceive a wide variation of penile appearances as normal or good-looking,” says study author Norma Ruppen-Greeff, M.Sc.

Nothing mind-blowing, but here’s the nice thing about the results: While you might feel self-conscious about a schlong that comes up short or balls that hang a little low, women don’t focus on any one area when they judge your Johnson—they look at the total package. (To discover what she really cares about in bed, check out How to Pleasure a Woman, the ultimate guide to becoming the best lover she’s ever had!)

So you just need to freshen up. You always look your best after a haircut, right? Researchers from Indiana University found that 75 percent of women say they would like their guy to trim down below, so here are 7 Tricks You Must Follow When Grooming Your Guy Parts.

Sprucing up your schlong can also make you feel sexier, boosting your confidence both in and out of the sack, the study says.

Deliver maximum pleasure for both partners with these 4 options

When it comes to sex, bigger is NOT always better. At least, not for every position or maneuver. The good news is that you can experience maximum pleasure with the right person, regardless of what you're working with. See four different sex positions, tailored to perfection for four different types of members. Wondering how you stack up? Science revealsthe average penis size. Whether you're giant or below average (or curve dramatically to the right), you'll definitely find a way to reach maximum velocity with these pointers.

An Average Fellow

Most positions are fair game—so experiment! Sex expert Emily Morse of Sex With Emily.com suggests the Crouching Dragon: Wrap her arms around your shoulders and her legs around your midsection before you crouch down in a squat so that your body makes a human chair for you. Press her body closely up against yours as you grind. For more ideas, try the 45Best Positions Every Couple Should Try.

Mr. Big

Spend 10 to 15 minutes in foreplay to help the vagina expand, and use lube. Choose her-on-top moves to control how deep you go. Have her lean over your body with her hands on either side of your head on the floor or a mattress, "as if you're about to do a pushup," says Morse. "It also helps for you to bend your knees so you can lean back for support."

Smaller Than Six Inches

Go rear-entry, says Debby Herbenick, Ph.D., a sex researcher at Indiana University. This offers you deeper penetration. Rest her head and shoulders on a pillow, lift her butt up, then have her squeeze her thighs. The tighter her legs, the snugger the fit. (Avoid lube: With a smaller guy, friction is your friend.)

Bendy Boy

If you have a slight sideways shape, "stand next to the mattress while she lies on it," says Morse. "Alternate angling her to one side, then the other, almost curled in a ball. You can use your shoulders for support while you thrusts and find which of the positions feels best for her, depending on which direction your penis bends."

Men's Health Sex Tips

4 Places You Shouldn't Touch During Sex

Is Your Penis Good Looking?

Best Sex Positions for Every Penis Size