#sexual-initiation

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Health
fromwww.bbc.com
1 day ago

I've been a sex educator for six years. Why did I start doubting my contraception choices?

Milly Evans and Lauren share experiences of misinformation about hormonal contraception affecting their decisions and perceptions.
fromSlate Magazine
6 hours ago

She Taught Women How to Orgasm. Decades Later, Her Impact Can Still Be Felt.

Hite learned early on that women walk a sexual tightrope: 'If you had too much sex, you could be shunned like her mother was; if you didn't have enough, you could be deserted like her grandmother.'
Books
#sex-education
Parenting
fromPsychology Today
1 month ago

Talking to Your Child About Sex, Puberty, and Consent

Sex education should begin in toddlerhood through ongoing conversations using accurate terminology, emphasizing body safety and autonomy rather than shame.
Parenting
fromPsychology Today
1 month ago

Talking to Your Child About Sex, Puberty, and Consent

Sex education should begin in toddlerhood through ongoing conversations using accurate terminology, emphasizing body safety and autonomy rather than shame.
Mental health
fromPsychology Today
1 day ago

Use Sexual Assault Awareness Month to Talk With Your Teen

Sexual assault is never the victim's fault, and alcohol consumption increases the risk of such incidents among teens.
Psychology
fromSilicon Canals
6 hours ago

Psychology says people who grew up in the 1960s and 70s don't handle hardship better than everyone else because they are stronger - they handle it better because they were never offered the alternative, and a person who was never offered the alternative develops a relationship with difficulty that people who were offered it spend their whole lives trying to build in a gym - Silicon Canals

Struggling is a norm for my generation because we never knew life could be comfortable.
Boston food
fromIndependent
1 hour ago

Man assaulted partner in row after she found him watching pornography in same bed as their sleeping son

A man pleaded guilty to assaulting his partner after she discovered him watching pornography in bed with their sleeping child.
Philosophy
fromPsychology Today
4 hours ago

How Storytelling Informs Relationships

Complexity involves understanding interdependence and multiple perspectives, essential for resolving conflicts and nurturing relationships.
Parenting
fromWIRED
9 hours ago

The Moms Who Sponcon Their Daughters' First Periods

Momfluencers face immense pressure to present idealized motherhood while risking their children's safety and well-being online.
#lgbtq
LGBT
fromLGBTQ Nation
2 days ago

New report shows affirming adults are critical to the success of LGBTQ+ students - LGBTQ Nation

LGBTQ+ students face challenges but find community support, with positive outcomes linked to inclusive policies and supportive educators.
LGBT
fromQueerty
22 hours ago

Are these realities that many gay men won't admit to themselves? - Queerty

Many gay men struggle with trauma from their upbringing, leading to issues with self-acceptance and the need for nurturing and therapy.
LGBT
fromLGBTQ Nation
2 days ago

New report shows affirming adults are critical to the success of LGBTQ+ students - LGBTQ Nation

LGBTQ+ students face challenges but find community support, with positive outcomes linked to inclusive policies and supportive educators.
LGBT
fromQueerty
5 days ago

This sexpert is calling out toxic tops & a dark room double standard - Queerty

Topping and bottoming in gay relationships face different societal judgments, with bottom shaming rooted in historical stigma and exacerbated by the AIDS crisis.
Yoga
fromYoga Journal
2 days ago

Want to Drastically Improve Your Life? Start Telling the Truth.

A society built on lies cannot survive, as truth is essential for meaningful interactions and human dignity.
Exercise
fromSlate Magazine
3 days ago

I Spent Years Sculpting My Ripped, Muscular Body. I Love It. My Husband Does Not.

Prioritize your body autonomy and communicate boundaries regarding weight changes for a partner's fetish.
Careers
fromSilicon Canals
8 hours ago

I'm 66 and I no longer spend any energy on people who make me feel like I have to earn my place in the room - not because I became cold, but because I finally understood that ease is not a low standard, it is the only standard that matters at this stage, and the people who meet it know who they are and so do I - Silicon Canals

Realizing the exhaustion of constantly proving oneself can lead to a liberating shift in perspective and relationships.
Relationships
fromwww.theguardian.com
3 hours ago

Placeholder partners: are you the one' or just being used as a stopgap?

Placeholder partners are temporary relationships where one person believes they have a future together, but the other does not.
Mental health
fromSilicon Canals
7 hours ago

I'm 66 and I recently understood that the reason I find it so hard to ask for help is not independence - it is the very specific and very old belief that needing something from another person is the first step toward becoming a burden, and a burden, in the house I grew up in, was the one thing nobody was allowed to be - Silicon Canals

Independence can often mask fear, leading to a reluctance to ask for help and a belief that needing assistance is a weakness.
Psychology
fromSilicon Canals
16 hours ago

The moment I stopped apologizing before every request was the moment I realized I'd been treating my own needs as an imposition on other people's comfort. The apology wasn't politeness. It was a pre-negotiated discount on my own worth so nobody could reject me at full price. - Silicon Canals

Apologizing before requests often diminishes one's own worth and serves as a shield against rejection.
Parenting
fromSilicon Canals
1 day ago

People raised in the 1960s and 70s didn't have optimized morning routines - they had chores, a bus to catch, and parents who didn't negotiate, and somehow that produced adults who know how to begin things without being ready - Silicon Canals

Morning routines have shifted from simple survival tasks to complex, optimized rituals filled with self-care and intention.
Books
fromwww.theguardian.com
2 days ago

Too hot to handle? Why it's time for straight male authors to rediscover sex

Straight male writers often avoid writing about sex, fearing it may seem exploitative or gratuitous, unlike their female counterparts.
LGBT
fromLGBTQ Nation
2 days ago

Trans dad shares sweet conversation with child about gender: "I decided to grow up to be a boy" - LGBTQ Nation

A transgender dad explains his journey to his child, emphasizing identity and acceptance in a loving conversation.
Mindfulness
fromBig Think
6 days ago

The "rawdogging" trend: A new term for an ancient practice

Rawdogging refers to engaging in introspection without distractions, particularly during flights, highlighting our struggle with downtime.
Relationships
fromSlate Magazine
2 hours ago

My Husband Doesn't Exactly "Measure Up." A Group of Women Has Made Him Acutely Aware of That.

Restoring confidence in a partner after a negative experience requires understanding and support tailored to their emotional and psychological needs.
Mental health
fromSilicon Canals
1 day ago

Psychology says the adults most likely to end up in therapy aren't the ones who had dramatic or obviously painful childhoods - they're the ones who grew up in households where everything was technically fine, nobody was cruel, and something essential was quietly missing in a way that took decades to find the words for - Silicon Canals

Emotional neglect in seemingly fine childhoods can have profound effects, leaving individuals feeling their inner world doesn't matter.
Education
fromNature
2 weeks ago

Are boys really in crisis? What the science says in the age of the manosphere

Boys aged 12-16 express frustrations about masculinity, emotional support, and the lack of real-world spaces post-COVID-19.
Psychology
fromSilicon Canals
1 day ago

Not everyone who keeps their personal life private is guarded. Some people tried sharing openly once, watched it become currency in someone else's conversation, and simply adjusted the distribution list permanently. - Silicon Canals

Privacy often emerges as a response to the violation of trust and openness, not as an inherent trait of individuals.
Relationships
fromSilicon Canals
13 hours ago

The people who become extremely selective about their time in their forties aren't becoming antisocial. They've simply collected enough data to know exactly which interactions leave them feeling more like themselves and which ones require a recovery period that nobody sees. - Silicon Canals

Social interactions have an energetic and emotional cost that varies based on the individuals involved.
Psychology
fromSilicon Canals
2 days ago

There's a generation of people who were taught to apologize for their needs so effectively that as adults they experience wanting something as a form of aggression against whoever might have to provide it - Silicon Canals

Many adults associate expressing needs with guilt, viewing requests as impositions rather than natural interactions.
Mental health
fromPsychology Today
1 day ago

It's Time to Rethink the "Anxiety Drives PDA" Narrative

PDA is not solely anxiety-driven; it shares traits with ADHD and ODD, suggesting a more complex relationship with demand avoidance.
LGBT
fromLGBTQ Nation
3 days ago

You can't talk the gay away - LGBTQ Nation

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that therapists' speech is protected under the First Amendment, impacting conversion therapy practices.
Parenting
fromPsychology Today
3 days ago

Is There an Answer to the Question, 'Do I Start a Family?'

Women are increasingly questioning the decision to start a family, recognizing its complexity and the emotional weight it carries.
Relationships
fromSlate Magazine
2 days ago

My Girlfriend's Sexual Behavior Would Really Turn Most Men On. But It's Killing Me With Embarrassment.

Personal preferences in sexual communication vary; not everyone enjoys or feels comfortable with dirty talk.
Psychology
fromPsychology Today
1 day ago

3 Downsides of Being the "Easy" Partner

Being 'easy to be with' can lead to hidden psychological costs, including loss of personal preferences and self-silencing.
fromHuffPost
1 day ago

This Is What Experts Want Men With Smaller Penises To Know

Dr. Mindy DeSeta states, 'Penis size is often treated like a shortcut - the bigger the penis, the more pleasure someone can supposedly give.' This cultural belief can significantly impact men's self-esteem and sexual confidence.
Relationships
Psychology
fromSilicon Canals
1 day ago

Psychology says adults who have no close friends aren't necessarily antisocial or unlikable. Many of them learned in childhood that being vulnerable leads to pain, and they grew up assuming that keeping people at a distance is safer - Silicon Canals

Many people appear self-sufficient but struggle with deep-seated fears of vulnerability due to early attachment experiences.
Parenting
fromSilicon Canals
6 days ago

People who grew up being the one their parents confided in didn't become mature faster. They became adults who can't tell the difference between being trusted and being used, because the two things arrived in the same conversation and nobody told them those were different experiences. - Silicon Canals

Emotional parentification involves children taking on adult roles, leading to hypervigilance rather than true emotional maturity.
Relationships
fromSilicon Canals
1 day ago

The cruelest form of loneliness isn't having nobody. It's having people who love you in a way that doesn't quite reach the part of you that needs reaching, so you feel guilty for still being hungry at a table that everyone else thinks is full. - Silicon Canals

Loneliness can persist even in loving relationships when emotional needs remain unmet and unexpressed.
Psychology
fromPsychology Today
1 day ago

What if Your "Type" Is Just Unfinished Business?

Sexual imprinting influences adult attraction based on early relational experiences with caregivers and emotional dynamics in childhood.
#relationships
Relationships
fromSilicon Canals
1 day ago

I'm in my 30s and I recently realized that every relationship I called easy was actually just a relationship where I did all the adjusting. Easy never meant compatible. It meant I had become so skilled at reshaping myself that friction disappeared, and I mistook the absence of friction for the presence of love. - Silicon Canals

Effortless relationships can mask deeper issues, often leading to self-erasure rather than true compatibility.
fromSilicon Canals
4 days ago
Psychology

Nobody warns you that when you stop caring what everyone thinks, you also discover which of your relationships were held together entirely by your willingness to be whoever the other person needed - Silicon Canals

Relationships
fromPsychology Today
1 day ago

Why We Stay in Relationships That Subtly Erode Us

Incrementally diminishing relationships persist due to human attachment to unpredictability and familiarity, despite emotional neglect and pain.
Relationships
fromSilicon Canals
1 day ago

I'm in my 30s and I recently realized that every relationship I called easy was actually just a relationship where I did all the adjusting. Easy never meant compatible. It meant I had become so skilled at reshaping myself that friction disappeared, and I mistook the absence of friction for the presence of love. - Silicon Canals

Effortless relationships can mask deeper issues, often leading to self-erasure rather than true compatibility.
Psychology
fromSilicon Canals
4 days ago

Nobody warns you that when you stop caring what everyone thinks, you also discover which of your relationships were held together entirely by your willingness to be whoever the other person needed - Silicon Canals

Stopping people-pleasing leads to a necessary audit of relationships, revealing which ones are genuine and which are based on expectations.
Relationships
fromPsychology Today
1 day ago

Why We Stay in Relationships That Subtly Erode Us

Incrementally diminishing relationships persist due to human attachment to unpredictability and familiarity, despite emotional neglect and pain.
Psychology
fromSilicon Canals
2 days ago

People who stop trying to be liked are often accused of having an attitude - by the people who most benefited from them having none - Silicon Canals

Setting boundaries often leads to others perceiving you as difficult or having an attitude problem, despite unchanged competence.
Parenting
fromIndependent
1 week ago

My 10-year-old son watched porn at a friend's house - but I have no idea how to talk to him about it

Reactions to a child's discovery of pornography can influence their willingness to communicate openly.
Relationships
fromBuzzFeed
1 day ago

Men And Women Are Debating "The Male Loneliness Epidemic," And It's Incredibly Eye-Opening

Men today experience increased loneliness and isolation due to societal conditioning around masculinity and a narrow focus on romantic validation.
#relationship-dynamics
Relationships
fromPsychology Today
1 day ago

The Surprising Truth About Partners Who Never Argue

Conflict-free relationships may indicate underlying issues rather than compatibility, as open discussions about differences strengthen bonds.
Relationships
fromSilicon Canals
3 days ago

The couples who last aren't the ones who never hurt each other. They're the ones who developed a shared language for repair that both people trust, and the language matters more than the injury because injury is inevitable and repair is chosen. - Silicon Canals

The quality of repair after conflict is more crucial for relationship longevity than the frequency or severity of conflicts.
Relationships
fromPsychology Today
1 day ago

The Surprising Truth About Partners Who Never Argue

Conflict-free relationships may indicate underlying issues rather than compatibility, as open discussions about differences strengthen bonds.
Relationships
fromSilicon Canals
3 days ago

The couples who last aren't the ones who never hurt each other. They're the ones who developed a shared language for repair that both people trust, and the language matters more than the injury because injury is inevitable and repair is chosen. - Silicon Canals

The quality of repair after conflict is more crucial for relationship longevity than the frequency or severity of conflicts.
Health
fromBusiness Insider
1 month ago

I sent my son to college with emergency contraception, and I taught him to think about women's pleasure

Parents should discuss contraception, sexual wellness, and women's pleasure with sons early, normalizing male responsibility for reproductive health and emergency preparedness.
Psychology
fromPsychology Today
5 days ago

Starting a Family: If Not Now, Then When?

Cultural pressures create a double bind around timing, leading to self-blame and uncertainty in major life decisions like parenthood.
Psychology
fromSilicon Canals
5 days ago

I realized recently that I've spent years becoming whoever the room needed me to be - and now I honestly can't tell the difference between what I actually enjoy and what I've just been pretending to for so long it stuck - Silicon Canals

Constantly adapting to others' expectations can lead to losing touch with one's authentic self and preferences.
Relationships
fromSilicon Canals
2 days ago

I'm 37 and I finally figured out that vulnerability isn't saying something brave in a room full of strangers - it's telling the person who matters most that you're not okay and meaning it - Silicon Canals

True vulnerability is sharing fears with those who matter, not just public displays of emotional openness.
Psychology
fromSilicon Canals
6 days ago

I'm in my 30s and I just understood something about my father that therapy never gave me. He didn't withhold affection because he didn't feel it. He withheld it because in the world he came from, the moment you showed someone how much they meant to you was the moment you gave them the power to destroy you. - Silicon Canals

Emotional withholding can protect against vulnerability, revealing deeper love and care beneath perceived indifference.
Relationships
fromSilicon Canals
2 days ago

A letter to the person who is terrified of giving up being single: the freedom you're protecting is real, and the loneliness you're tolerating is also real, and the courage isn't in choosing one over the other, it's in admitting you've been holding both this entire time - Silicon Canals

Long-term singleness can bring both genuine freedom and loneliness, challenging the narratives of being either broken or enlightened.
Relationships
fromPsychology Today
2 days ago

A Liberating New Approach to Dating For Lonely Women

Midlife women are redefining dating by prioritizing self-worth and seeking resonance over traditional relationship norms.
Relationships
fromSilicon Canals
2 days ago

Psychology says the loneliest part of getting older isn't being alone - it's realizing that some friendships were only meant for a season, and not everyone grows with you - Silicon Canals

Friendships often fade as adults prioritize responsibilities and seek deeper connections, leading to feelings of loneliness even among familiar faces.
#open-relationships
Relationships
fromQueerty
3 days ago

He told me he was in an open relationship...after we hooked up. Am I wrong to be annoyed? - Queerty

Open relationships can create misunderstandings if all parties are not upfront about their status before engaging.
Relationships
fromHuffPost
4 days ago

People Who Convinced Their Partners To Open Their Relationships Share How It REALLY Went For Them

Open relationships can be a solution for couples facing emotional challenges, allowing sexual freedom while maintaining a primary partnership.
Relationships
fromQueerty
3 days ago

He told me he was in an open relationship...after we hooked up. Am I wrong to be annoyed? - Queerty

Open relationships can create misunderstandings if all parties are not upfront about their status before engaging.
Relationships
fromHuffPost
4 days ago

People Who Convinced Their Partners To Open Their Relationships Share How It REALLY Went For Them

Open relationships can be a solution for couples facing emotional challenges, allowing sexual freedom while maintaining a primary partnership.
Relationships
fromSlate Magazine
5 days ago

There's an Unfortunate Pattern to the Women I Sleep With. I'm Becoming "That Guy."

Insecurity about dating younger women can stem from societal judgment and personal feelings of inadequacy.
Relationships
fromScary Mommy
3 days ago

I Spent Years Wishing My Husband Would Ask What I Needed. When He Did, I Froze.

The burden of managing family responsibilities can overwhelm one partner, leading to a need for shared support and communication.
#intimacy
Relationships
fromPsychology Today
1 week ago

Before You Share Your Body, Ask: Do They Know You?

Physical intimacy often occurs before emotional intimacy, highlighting a paradox in relationships where vulnerability is avoided despite physical closeness.
Relationships
fromPsychology Today
1 week ago

Before You Share Your Body, Ask: Do They Know You?

Physical intimacy often occurs before emotional intimacy, highlighting a paradox in relationships where vulnerability is avoided despite physical closeness.
Women
fromScary Mommy
2 months ago

Why Feeling "Desired" Changes With Age, & How That Affects Sex

Aging and childbirth cause physical changes that undermine sexual self‑image, while societal pressures push costly 'fixes' instead of compassionate reframing and realistic expectations.
Relationships
fromIndependent
3 days ago

Asking for a friend: I can't keep an erection during sex and sometimes can't get hard at all. I'm not depressed or on medication, but I do watch a lot of porn

Erectile issues do not define masculinity; men are whole humans with real anxieties beyond physical performance.
Relationships
fromPsychology Today
4 days ago

Why Deep People Struggle in Modern Relationships

Modern dating prioritizes speed over depth, creating pressure that conflicts with those who need time for genuine connections.
Relationships
fromSilicon Canals
4 days ago

The friend who always checks in on everyone but never tells anyone when they're struggling isn't hiding. They've simply never had the experience of someone noticing without being told, and after long enough, the idea of being spontaneously seen starts to feel like something that happens to other people. - Silicon Canals

Being the emotional caretaker in friendships can lead to neglecting one's own emotional needs and feelings.
Relationships
fromSlate Magazine
6 days ago

My Boyfriend Wants Me to Play a New Risque Role in Bed. But My History Will Make It Impossible.

Communicate boundaries clearly and compassionately regarding BDSM interests due to past trauma.
Relationships
fromSilicon Canals
5 days ago

I'm 44 and I have started paying attention to how I feel the morning after I spend time with someone - not during, when the performance is running, but after, when the honest version arrives - and that single habit has told me more about my relationships than twenty years of thinking about them - Silicon Canals

The morning after social interactions reveals true emotional states, often contrasting with the perceived enjoyment during the event.
Relationships
fromSilicon Canals
6 days ago

I'm 65 and I recently realized I have spent my entire marriage being the strong one, and now that I actually need someone to be strong for me I don't know how to ask without feeling like I'm dismantling a promise I made forty years ago - Silicon Canals

Long-term role rigidity in marriage can lead to one partner becoming the sole pillar, creating an imbalance that may hinder growth and change.
Relationships
fromHuffPost
1 week ago

Embracing 'Outercourse' Might Totally Transform Your Sex Life

Outercourse encompasses various sexual activities beyond penetration, enhancing sexual pleasure and intimacy.
Relationships
fromSlate Magazine
1 week ago

I Have the Holy Trinity of Sex Problems. I Know What Would Solve Them, but I'm Too Scared to Try.

Exploring sexual orientation can involve complex feelings and societal pressures, especially regarding bisexuality and the fear of judgment.
Relationships
fromSlate Magazine
1 week ago

My Boyfriend Has a Naughty Desire. But His Double Standard Is So Unfair, I Think I Have to Reject It on Principle.

Balancing personal desires and partner boundaries is crucial in sexual relationships.
fromSlate Magazine
2 months ago

I Went Down on One of My Good Friends. He Has No Idea It Was Me.

A few years ago, I, a 21-year-old man, agreed to take part in a stupid frat hazing activity. Unbeknownst to "Felipe," a 21-year-old man, I performed oral sex on him during that activity while he was blindfolded. At the time, Felipe was just an acquaintance-we didn't become good friends until much later. Felipe's big brother at the frat, "Ron," is the only person besides me who knows that I performed oral on Felipe.
LGBT
Relationships
fromQueerty
2 weeks ago

Sexpert explains the science behind "just okay" oral & why BJs don't always end in climax - Queerty

Oral sex often doesn't lead to climax for men due to different sensations compared to penetration.
Relationships
fromwww.theguardian.com
2 weeks ago

I'm 18 and don't feel physically attracted to anyone. How can I ever have children? | Ask Annalisa Barbieri

Struggling with attraction and relationships is common, and self-discovery is a natural part of the university experience.
#sexual-desire
Relationships
fromSlate Magazine
2 weeks ago

I Love Sex With Other Women. I Can't Explain My Most Persistent Fantasy.

Changing unwanted sexual fantasies is difficult, especially when they are tied to negative past experiences.
Relationships
fromPsychology Today
3 weeks ago

Is Making Love Different from Just Having Sex?

Making love differs from casual sex through patience, emotional intimacy, and temporal richness, involving slower, more tender interactions and deeper connection.
Relationships
fromSlate Magazine
4 weeks ago

My New Girlfriend Just Told Me What She Wants Me to Do to Her in Bed. This Feels Wrong.

Communication about specific BDSM preferences is essential before assuming domination means denigration; partners should discuss what submission and dominance actually mean to them individually.
Relationships
fromSlate Magazine
4 weeks ago

I Want to Teach My Girlfriend a New Trick in Bed. The Problem Is Where I Learned It From.

A man seeks advice on whether to teach his girlfriend a specific oral technique he learned from another woman during their breakup, fearing jealousy despite her stated desire to make him orgasm.
Relationships
fromSlate Magazine
1 month ago

I Lied About My Entire Identity to a Very Close Friend. Now I Want to Come Clean ... So I Can Sleep With Her.

A man who deceived his female friend by claiming to be gay to gain her trust cannot ethically pursue romance without confessing the deception first.
Relationships
fromScary Mommy
1 month ago

Why Do Women Like To Be Called 'Good Girl' In Bed? Sexperts Explain

Women may enjoy being called 'good girl' during sex because it combines mild submission with praise, often indicating a praise kink or power dynamic preference without requiring full BDSM engagement.
Relationships
fromSlate Magazine
1 month ago

My Husband and I Host Sex Parties. We're Feuding Over the Next Guest of Honor.

Inviting an ex to a sex party with a no-contact agreement creates awkwardness and contradicts typical party dynamics where all attendees are assumed available unless explicitly excluded.
Relationships
fromSlate Magazine
1 month ago

The Man I'm Seeing Swears He's Not Gay. I Have Some Questions.

A woman dating an effeminate man struggles with attraction differences and seeks advice on discussing his gender expression without offending him.
Relationships
fromSlate Magazine
1 month ago

I'm Ready for My Big Sexual Awakening. But I'm Searching for a Specific Kind of Guy.

Virginity is not a precious commodity to preserve for one person; instead, prioritize gaining sexual experience, confidence, and skills with partners who respect your pleasure.
fromInsideHook
1 month ago

Is This the Year You Get Back to the Basics of Sex?

In the past, when we've done these analyses, we've seen couples express an interest in bondage play or sensory play. But this year, we're almost seeing a shift towards getting back to basics. I found it so interesting that regardless of gender, age or where you live, people want more oral sex.
Relationships
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