As a sex therapist and expert for ScarletSociety.com, folks often come to me with their deepest and most private concerns, which is a privilege I don’t take lightly. They’ll ask questions they’d never dream to ask anyone else—and they share thoughts and feelings they may have never spoken aloud before. There’s no touching or taking off clothes in a sex therapist’s office; we just create a safe, non-judgmental space to talk. Human sexuality is a wide and varied space, so there are very few limits to what is discussed on any given day. However, there are certain questions that I hear more than others. While my feedback varies greatly depending on each specific person’s unique story and situation, here’s where I generally start when addressing these common topics.
Common Question No. 1: I don’t have orgasms during sex. What do I do?
So many female-bodied people come to sex therapy (no pun intended) for this issue. In the session, we always start with a little anatomy talk, since many of us never got this information in school. If you haven’t explored your vulva in a mirror in a while (or ever), that’s a good place to start. Get to know all its beautiful parts and be sure you know where your clitoris is (there are plenty of diagrams online that can help). Then, explore different types of touch alone, with the goal of sinking into pleasure instead of searching for a climax. A vibrator is a fantastic way to increase stimulation, which a lot of vulvas need to get to orgasm.
If you’ve figured it out alone but are having trouble translating that with a partner, ask yourself, “How similar is the sex I’m having with my partner to what actually works for me when I’m alone?” For example, 88% of women don’t tend to put anything inside of the vagina when they masturbate, but then they get frustrated when they don’t orgasm from penetration alone (which less than 5% of women can reliably do!). Try as best you can to replicate what you’re doing by yourself, which may mean bringing a vibrator into the mix.
Remember: there’s nothing that scares an orgasm away faster than pressure to have an orgasm. So, keep leaning in as long as things are feeling pleasurable, while trying not to rush to the finish line. There’s no such thing as taking too long as long as everyone’s having fun!
Common Question No. 2: How can I ask my partner to try something new sexually?
While sharing what you’d like in the bedroom can feel super vulnerable, it usually pays off! It’s easy to fall into repetitive sexual patterns, reverting to what “works”—especially with a long-term partner. But even the most reliable sexual routines can get tedious with time.
If you have ideas for what you’d like to introduce, bring them up as an invitation rather than a critique. “Our sex life has gotten so boring” won’t land well. “Wouldn’t it be fun if we tried…” will open the door for a more light-hearted conversation. If you’re worried about how your partner will respond, try having a “meta-conversation” first—that is, a conversation about the conversation.
“I’d love to talk about what we’d like to try in the bedroom. Would you be open to that?” This will give your partner a chance to do their own thinking about what they’d like to bring to the table. And you won’t be catching them when they’re not in an exploratory mood.
If you’re unsure of what you’d like to try, search for a “Yes, No, Maybe” list online (I like the list on Scarleteen.com) where you can each pick from an inventory of sexy options. Or try an app like Kindu for Couples where you each swipe right for things you’d like to try.
Common Question No. 3: We’re having a lot less sex now than we used to. Is something wrong with us?
When you’re in a new relationship, that can’t-keep-our-hands-off-each-other sexual energy can feel so good. That heightened state of arousal is brought to you by feel-good chemicals dopamine and serotonin, which help us get attached to our new partner. This initial stage feels exciting and sexy, but it’s not sustainable.
As a relationship gets more stable, our body chemistry does too. This indicates that the relationship is no longer precarious and uncertain. As comfort increases, so do levels of oxytocin, the bonding hormone, and things start to feel safer and more familial—which often means less sex.
If you’re craving more, recognize that your hormones are no longer taking the lead, so try to be more intentional about creating the sexual contexts you’re craving. This may be tough—especially since your lives may be a lot busier or more stressful than when you first got together.
Start by brainstorming ideas about how to insert sexuality throughout your day. Basically, flirt with your partner! Text each other sexy little reminders, plan a real date night complete with lots of little touches, kiss every day, and look for opportunities to remind yourself how good it feels to be sexual.