TresSugar

Sexy Trivia! What Do You Know?

TresSugar — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 16:00:00 -0700

Strange sex facts are a great way to show your smarts in, well, very few situations. But you're in luck, because this is one of them. See what you know about some of sex's strangest, and most fascinating, questions.

Photo by Flickr User margolove

Take the quiz

How Wild Is Our Sex . . . and Our Dreams?

TresSugar — Tue, 12 May 2009 13:00:00 -0700

Well, this wasn't exactly the most unbiased survey, but it certainly was comprehensive: the Stranger, Seattle's weekly alternative paper, asked 6,942 people their secrets in the bedroom, out of the bedroom, and in their dreams. Since one-third of the participants came from outside Washington state, I'm going to say it's close enough to represent what most people are doing - close enough for a quiz!

Source

Take the quiz

On Tap? A Test to Replace the Pap

DearSugar — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 10:30:31 -0700

The annual Pap smear could become a relic if a new DNA test proves as effective as promised. According to a study published last week in the New England Journal of Medicine, a new screening involving DNA could be better than all other tests in detecting HPV and cervical cancer.

For women over 30, the test would only have to be performed every three, five, or 10 years, which would mean an end to the annual smear. But doctors are hesitant to abandon Paps altogether, since the procedure has been incredibly effective at reducing rates of cervical cancer. The new test could be most helpful in lower-income countries, where there are fewer doctors trained to read Pap smears and it's more difficult for women to return for followup appointments. I'm sure I'm not the only one who would welcome a less invasive test; what do you think?

Source

During an Orgasm, a Woman's Body . . .

DearSugar — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 09:00:00 -0700

We have sex to feel connected to our partners and to express our love, but for most of us, the main reason we're getting it on is for the amazing rush of pleasure we feel once we reach orgasm. It's an indescribable feeling of bliss, but have you ever wondered what happens to your body physically when you climax? If so, then keep reading.

Once a woman becomes sexually aroused, her heart begins to beat quicker, she breathes faster and she'll tighten various muscles all over her body. Her breasts will enlarge slightly and her nipples will become erect. Some women's faces, necks, or chests will become flushed (a sex flush) and her clitoris enlarges.
She'll notice that her vagina creates a natural lubricant which makes sex smoother and more enjoyable.
Her labia will flatten out and open up and the inside of her vagina will lengthen and widen (preparing for you know what). All this happens because blood rushes to the pelvic area, which is called engorgement, and creates a pleasurably warm sensation in that area (I'm sure you've felt it!).

We're just getting started, so to find out what happens next, read more.

As arousal continues, everything becomes even more enlarged and all the changes mentioned above become more pronounced, yet the woman's clitoris actually retracts under the hood and gets 50 percent shorter right before she climaxes.
When the woman reaches orgasm, her skin will flush and muscles all over her body will continue to contract. Blood pressure, heart rate, and breathing rates will continue to rise.
In the vagina itself, she'll feel rhythmic contractions in the outer part of the vagina, in her uterus, and anus. The muscle contractions actually have a purpose - they help to suck semen higher up into the vagina, making it easier for sperm to swim to your egg and help you get pregnant. These intense pulses happen about once every second. Mild orgasms have three to five pulses, and intense orgasms have 10 to 15!
The uterus, labia, and clitoris then return to their normal size, and the woman feels extreme muscle relaxation. At this point, some women may be able to respond to further stimulation so they can have additional orgasms.

So ladies, did you learn something new?

Source

What's the Deal With Glycol in Lubricants?

DearSugar — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 09:00:00 -0700

If you're prone to yeast infections, and you're a fan of using personal lubricant, then you probably found my Lube Quiz very helpful. It showed you which lubes contain glycerin and which don't, but I recently noticed another ingredient in some water-based products that I thought you should know about - propylene glycol.

To find out if this is something to avoid, read more.

Propylene glycol is a faintly sweet and colorless, clear, viscous liquid that's derived from natural gas. Sounds sexy, doesn't it? It can be found in many products including moisturizers, toothpaste, mouthwash, and medications, in addition to many edibles such as cake mix, salad dressing, and fat-free ice cream. The ingredient is identified as GRAS (generally recognized as safe) because of its low oral toxicity (meaning it won't badly harm you if ingested), although it may irritate your eyes, and some may experience a burning sensation from contact on their skin.

KY products such as Yours+Mine and Astroglide contain propylene glycol, so if you've noticed irritation from using these products, this ingredient may be the culprit. If you want a propylene glycol-free lube, try Sliquid H20, Pjur Woman Bodyglide, Slippery Stuff, or Good Clean Love.

What Do You Know About Unplanned Pregnancies?

DearSugar — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 10:00:00 -0700

There are a plethora of birth control options out there so men and women can enjoy sex without having to worry about becoming parents before they're ready, but sometimes a couple has an "oops" moment. Whether it's because the birth control wasn't that effective (like the Pull and Pray Method), or something went wrong with it (like the condom broke) the result could be an unwanted pregnancy. To see what you know about the statistics and facts regarding unplanned pregnancies, take this quiz below.

Source

Take the quiz

Sex Myth: You Can't Get Pregnant If You're Nursing

DearSugar — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 15:00:00 -0700

I really get a kick out of the pregnancy myths floating around, like you can't get pregnant if you pee after sex, two condoms are better than one, and, of course, that you can't get pregnant while breastfeeding. A good friend of mine actually had to learn this one the hard way - she got pregnant while nursing her 10-month old son!

Using breastfeeding as contraception is known as lactational amenorrhea method (LAM), but since it's not 100 percent effective, you shouldn't rely on it unless you don't mind getting pregnant soon after giving birth. According to the World Health Organization, LAM is 98.8 to 99.1 percent effective while breastfeeding for the first six months, but you can conceive without knowing that you're menstrual cycle has returned to normal since you ovulate about two weeks before your period.

If you're not interested in becoming a mother again so soon, your best bet is to talk to your ob/gyn about an effective and safe form of birth control that you can use while breastfeeding.

Source

Can Birth Control Pills Affect Your Cholesterol?

DearSugar — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 09:00:00 -0700

If you're like me, you don't give your cholesterol much thought. I always thought your cholesterol levels were based on whether or not you ate a lot of high-fat foods like cheese, meat, and ice cream, but you can also inherit high or low cholesterol from your parents. And I also just learned that taking birth control pills can affect your levels too.

To found out how, read more.

According to the Mayo Clinic, the estrogen found in birth control pills can cause an increase in HDL ("good" cholesterol), a decrease in LDL ("bad" cholesterol), and an increase in your total cholesterol and triglyceride levels. The other hormone found in combination birth control pills, progestin, has the opposite effect. The changes aren't drastically significant, but if you do have high cholesterol, taking birth control pills that have a higher concentration of estrogen probably isn't the best form of contraception for you. And remember, a diet that's high in fiber and low in cholesterol and saturated fat, combined with regular exercise, is the best way to combat high cholesterol.

Source

5 Tips For More Satisfying Masturbation

DearSugar — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 09:00:00 -0700

OK ladies, you might want to bookmark this one and save it for when you're in the privacy of your own home!

With that said, I know not all of you are in relationships, and even if you are, there may come a time when you need to, um, satisfy your urges. Like I've said before, I don't think there's anything wrong with masturbation, but I realized that I've never really talked about it in much detail. I've given you tips for enhancing your sex life with a partner, so here are some tips for reaching the big "O" on your own. Learning how to orgasm alone is not only pleasurable and a great way to relieve stress, but it can also help you figure out how to have an orgasm when you're intimate with someone else. If reading these tips makes you blush, it may make you feel better to know I was blushing too while writing them!

To hear my tips, read more.

Set the mood the way you like it. Dim the lights, turn on some calming music, light some scented candles, and make sure you're not in any rush.
Have a variety of sex toys on hand. They come in many shapes, sizes, speeds, and materials, so not only is it fun to try them all out to see which kind you like best, it's also nice to have an array in your nightstand drawer, you know, since variety is the spice of life!
Play around with temperature. Keep a glass of ice water on your nightstand and periodically dip your fingers in it, or cool off your sex toy in the fridge. Heat is also an arousing sensation, so use some warming lubricant, or place your hand on a heating pad for a couple minutes.
Water isn't so great for intercourse, but it can be outstanding when you're alone. In the shower, you can use an extendable shower head that has a variety of speeds, or if you have access to a hot tub, point the jets in your direction!
Find your G-spot. If you're not sure where it is, ~~Mapquest it~~ here's a diagram. Some women experience orgasms like they've never had before by stimulating this area inside them.

Source

Lube Quiz: Does It Contain Glycerin?

DearSugar — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 10:00:00 -0700

Glycerin and lube can be a very bad combination for women - I'm talking about a yeast infection waiting to happen! So if your body is sensitive to glycerin, test your knowledge about these lubricants to see which ones are safe for you.

Question 1 of 8

Astroglide lubricant