Sex Therapies For Your Relationship

Don’t give up on what used to be a good thing.

By Ashley Welch & Kara Leigh Smythe, MD. Listen to the Podcast at How To Sex.

There was once a time when your relationship had magic. That spark of romance, anticipation, and bonding. You’ve invested so much, until things somehow went south. It might have been a major incident, or a slow drifting away from each other.

It might be a personal health issue, or a forced new environment for the two of you.

We’ll look at home treatments and try to reverse bad habits, But we’ll also discuss your options with a caring and competent professional therapist who specializes in identifying and reversing obstacles in your lives, in a gentle manner.

Let’s first look at the easier solutions you can do in the privacy of your home.

9 Natural Libido Therapies

Want more excitement? Stimulation? Satisfaction? There are several drug-free ways to spice up your sex life.

By Ashley Welch & Kara Leigh Smythe, MD

Exercise, say experts, is one of many natural tools you can use to improve sex.

If fooling around with your partner isn't all you'd like it to be, it might be time to think up new ways to make your sex life sizzle.

Having a date night with your partner — to remind yourself of all the reasons you adore each other — can be a great way to stimulate your libido, says Anita Sadaty, MD, a holistic gynecologist in Roslyn, New York.

This is one of many natural ways that experts say you can improve your sex life.

1. Make Getting in the Mood for Sex a Priority

Sometimes, having more and better sex simply requires clearing your schedule. “It's hard to be in the mood when you have a million things on your to-do list and not much time to do it,” Dr. Sadaty says.

Scheduling sex might sound unromantic, but you put most of your important plans in your calendar, so why not sex? It’s best to schedule enough time to do something relaxing first rather than hopping straight into bed, since women, especially, need to be relaxed before their libido kicks in, Sadaty says.

2. Avoid Negative Thoughts

If your brain is running a feedback loop of reasons you’ve picked up along the way — about how you should feel guilty about sex or maybe that your body is too fat or ugly or, well, whatever — it’s time to stop it in its tracks. Recognize the thought when it appears and change it to a more helpful one.

Practicing sex positivity — the idea that all consensual sexual activities are healthy and positive — can lead to improvements in sexual enjoyment, researchers say.

This means accepting that sex is an essential part of overall health and that you have the right to enjoy sexual activity free from judgment. Examples can include telling your partner what excites you, setting healthy sexual boundaries, and exploring sexual fantasies, which has been shown to improve sexual function and satisfaction.

3. Don’t Forget to Use Lubricants

Vaginal dryness can be common among women, affecting as many as 17 percent of females 18 to 50, according to the Cleveland Clinic.

A number of factors can contribute to vaginal dryness, including a drop in hormone levels due to menopause, breastfeeding, and certain medications. Sex can be more pleasurable if you add a lubricant, which cuts down on friction and irritation and, therefore, discomfort, gynecologists say. You can buy lubricant from the drugstore or use a household oil like coconut oil. (Be sure to use a non-latex condom if you DIY, because these oils can damage latex.)

Don’t try to hide your need for a lubricant from your partner. Make it part of your sexual routine and have fun with it.

4. Move Your Body

You may not think that the exercise you do for your heart and muscles is important for sex, but remember that blood flows to your genitals as much as to your heart.

Men with erectile dysfunction, for example, can often see improvements in this...