Treat them mean, keep them keen: it’s the stuff of old proverbs and dodgy dating advice. But ‘playing hard-to-get’ is an evolutionary strategy too, a recent study found.
Sex & Science
In the name of progress, researchers are forever discovering the reasons behind why we do the strange things we do. Here and updates and explanations of the newest science around sex.
His and her arousal – how to get in sync
It’s 11 pm. You just want to curl up with a good book – meanwhile your partner is revved up to curl up. ‘I think this is a very recognisable situation for many women,’ says psychologist Ellen Laan. Women ask, ‘Where did he get that desire from so suddenly. Where can you buy that?’
Does more sex make us happier?
More sex makes us happier, but only if we think we’re getting it more often than our friends, according to a large US study. In short: humans are social creatures and we can’t help comparing ourselves to others.
Big butt = big health?
An ample ass is not only attractive to many, it’s also a sign of good health. So why are people obsessing about ‘thigh gap’? And in other big news: women ogle booby just as much as men do… These news flashes and more in this week’s ‘Sex in the Press’.
Best for sex: new lover or steady partner?
Is sex less fun with a long-term partner? For some people it might be, studies suggest. But don’t panic, everything is relative.
Big penis: is that what women want?
‘Is my penis big enough?’ It’s a question every man asks himself at some point. Research sounds like bad news for smaller guys: it found that women like their men tall, manly, and well-endowed.
Broken penis: the cheater’s injury
During wild sex, you hear a crack and feel an agonising pain – you’ve broken your penis. It’s rare, but it’s possible. Penile fractures most often happen to men having secret sex in risky locations, a study found.
Premature ejaculation: a problem for both
Premature ejaculation (PE) is a problem to share. There’s plenty a woman can do to support and help a partner who has trouble with PE.
Penis enlargement doesn’t work
Penis enlargement methods are nearly all a waste of time and money, according to experts. No matter the approach, so-called penis enlargement techniques don’t work and can even do damage. And anyway, very few penises are much smaller than average.
‘Masturbation can save lives’
Masturbation is a great way to have safe sex and a cheap way to save lives.
But countries who stand to gain the most from promoting it are often the ones where masturbation is the biggest taboo.
Small penis: it’s all in the mind
Penis too small? A problem with penis size is more likely to be in your head than between your legs, says Egyptian sexology professor Hussein Ghanem. Most men with penis paranoia turn out to have average-sized organs, he says.