Let's Talk Health (Page 4)

The common headache is a frequent excuse for avoiding sexual activity, at least in sitcoms, but a new study has targeted some very real sexual headaches, ones that for their sufferers, are nothing to laugh at. Some men and women experience moderate to intense headaches during sexual activity, with some worsening as orgasm approaches and lasting for hours after. These “thunderclap headaches," along with two other...

Being in a bad relationship can take an emotional and even physical toll on just about anyone, but new research found it’s a much bigger health concern for certain people. Older adults and women, for instance, are more likely to develop high blood pressure during a trying or dissolving relationship, according to a study published in a journal of the American Psychological Association. Couples in negative...

Is porn rotting your brain? Probably so, if you’re a man. In a new study, men with a steady porn diet were found to have less activity in regions of the brain associated with motivation and reward. Though the study, from the Max Planck Institute for Human Development in Germany, cannot directly link the pornography to the slowed brain function, the results are still quite compelling. Porn's effect on the...

Despite a growing number of new treatments, the chronic condition of vaginal atrophy is still something many Americans are unfamiliar with or are uncomfortable talking about. Yet new research suggests it’s a far wider reaching issue that actually impacts both men and women, as almost one-third of North American couples stop having sex entirely due to VA. According to the data Forty-five percent of postmenopausal...

What can Google searches tell us about what women in different parts of the world are concerned about when pregnant? Quite a lot, so it appears. Seth Stephens-Davidowitz Google Data Scientist Seth Stephens-Davidowitz is a Google data scientist who recently compiled a comprehensive breakdown of the most common Google search terms from newly-expectant mothers. Sex, safe foods to eat and avoiding stretch marks were...

Conflict in a relationship can be a good thing, a healthy motivator to improve one’s self and a natural part of the relationship. But what about those chronic arguers - partners who seem to never end a fight? A new 11-year study looking at conflict in relationships found highly argumentative couples are actually twice as likely to experience an early death, suggesting little disagreements can come at a high...

Is there hope for neurotic people through the healing power of love? That's the belief at the center of a new study. Conducted by psychologists at the German Universities of Jena and Kassel, the research suggests having a positive romantic relationship helps stabilize those troubling personality traits, at least in young adults. The process Almost 250 men and women aged 18 to 30 participated in the research. They...

Having a high level of testosterone is something many people associate with virility and sexual prowess. However, new research is suggesting too much may not be good for relationships. Researchers from the University of Michigan found both men and women reported greater satisfaction levels and commitment to their partner at times when their testosterone levels were low. According to the study’s lead author,...

There are a variety of treatment strategies available for targeting the specific causes of erectile difficulties that I discussed in my last article. The goals of treatment are not to have automatic erections or to prove one’s worth as a man or a lover by being able to achieve a hard-on and demonstrate Olympic stamina. The goal is to establish comfort and confidence with erections to enjoy a satisfying sexual life...

You've been dating for a couple of months and decided to take your relationship to the next level by having sex. If you can't remember the last time you had sex or your ex was the only person or the last person you have been with sexually, honey, times have changed. In today's world, there are questions you need to ask before having sex. Even though you may have had casual conversations about sex, there are...

Love can hurt, and often it hurts one person more than the other. A new study conducted by the University of New Mexico finds adolescent girls are more at risk of experiencing mental health issues following a romantic disappointment compared to their male counterparts. Researchers looked at data from more than 5,300 high school students gathered for the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health. Specifically...

Difficulties with obtaining and maintaining an erection are a common phenomenon that is experienced by most men at some point in their lives. In fact, it’s estimated more than 50 percent of men complain about some form of erectile function struggles by the age of 50 (Metz & McCarthy, 2004). We are raised in a society in which men’s masculinity and self-esteem are directly correlated with their sexual prowess...

Sexuality for teens has become more complicated in recent decades. Between the advent of the information age to advancements in birth control options, much has changed in just a quarter of a century. Now new research is finding despite better STD awareness and prevention of unwanted pregnancies, many teens still have an unclear view of oral sex and the risks that can be associated with it. The study, which was...

Low blood sugar can lead to a litany of symptoms and side effects, but can it also lead to heartache? A new and unique study conducted by Ohio State University explored how low blood sugar can impact conflict within a relationship, feelings about one's partner and the emotions at play. Using voodoo dolls meant to simulate their partners, more than 100 participants were asked to stick pins in the doll every night...

Reader Question: I’ve been with my current boyfriend for a little more than six months. He is HIV positive and I love him. When it comes to the bedroom, he tells me he’s tired from working all day. Alternatively, if I try to come on to him, I usually get pushed away. He tells me his HIV meds take away his desire to have sex. What if his libido doesn’t return? Maybe he’s just not sexually attracted to me. We...

Research has already shown married people are generally at a lower risk of heart disease compared to singles, but a new study has found there also is a cardiovascular advantage. Medical records from more than 3.5 million Americans were analyzed as part of a New York University study, with each subject evaluated for heart disease and circulation issues in the limbs. "We found that being married was associated with...

Modern treatments for erectile dysfunction got a kickstart in the '90s almost by accident, following efforts to cure baldness. However, once the true market value of treating the condition was established, people quickly began to seek out newer options. Among the areas now being researched for ED is the use of cholesterol-lowering medications and how they alone may impact the condition. A team from the Johnson...

The locker room has always been a highly masculine environment where aggression is encouraged -- and cruelty is sometimes rewarded. But how much does this boorish behavior among young men actually impact the players' lives? New research suggests it may come at a heavy price, finding teen boys who participate in school sports were twice as likely to have abused their girlfriend recently compared with other...

One of the longstanding arguments against birth control, and for that matter sex ed in general, is the belief it actually encourages more sexual activity. Now new research has found offering women free contraceptives causes no such increase. For their study, researchers from the Washington University School of Medicine first crunched data from 9,256 women aged 14 to 45 in the St. Louis area, each at high risk for...

Several studies have been published on condom use, specifically looking for potential predictors like age, socioeconomic status or even religion. A good bit of that research has been aimed squarely at men and the circumstances under which they will or will not have protected sex. Now new research, which was published in the journal Sexually Transmitted Infections, is examining how this decision is made by couples...

With half of STD cases in the U.S. coming from those under 25, health care providers have long sought the best means of educating young people about risky sexual behavior. New research out from the Yale School of Medicine suggests there may be value in both positive and negative forms of messaging to reach young people. According to the researchers, 48 percent of young people have had sex by 18, including 6 percent...

Doctors have suggested that being married can be good for your overall mental health, but new research says the benefits might actually go all the way to the bone, at least for men. Researchers from UCLA found men who marry after age 25 are more likely to have stronger bones compared to singles, divorcees or those married at a younger age. The same was not found to be the case among women in the study. At UCLA's...

Marriages, particularly longer marriages, are often tested by illnesses, but does having a more regular sex life actually help protect a marriage in times of trouble? New research from the University of Chicago is stressing the importance of a healthy sex life as a key ingredient to helping such couples maintain matrimonial harmony. According to the study, which was published in The Journals of Gerontology: Series...

Young people often love to talk about sex, though not always in the most useful contexts. However, new research indicates some communication between young lovers can be a good thing in terms of sexual health. In a recent study, couples still in high school who openly texted together about birth control or condoms were found to be far more likely to use them. In fact, they were four times more likely compared...

While your bedroom forays may be daily, many couples over 50 find intimacy has changed and are looking for some practical help. Guys, you’ve likely noticed the firmness and your performance vitality is not what it used to be in your 20s. This goes for gay men and straight men alike. For most mature men, much of your identity as a man is wrapped up with this, so not only are you feeling diminished in the bedroom,...

When it comes to love, the human heart is easily bruised, but can the organ itself be impacted by the quality of your relationship? New research is finding how well a couple treats one another can effect the overall cardiovascular health of both partners. Researchers at the University of Utah asked 136 married couples to participate in their report. Each partner was at least 63 years of age at the time of the...

Problems with fertility can be very difficult for couples at any age. Struggling to build a family can easily take an emotional toll on both partners. However, new research is suggesting couples who stay together and ultimately have a baby are considerably more likely to remain together. Researchers looked at data from nearly 50,000 women experiencing fertility difficulty between 1990 and 2006. It was compiled...

Spring break in America has become known as the calendar hot spot for casual sex and heavy drinking. It’s depicted in countless films as almost a ritual, where caution is frequently thrown to the wind - along with bikini tops. In a new study titled “Sex on the Beach,” which was conducted at the University of Washington, researchers attempted to shed more light on such getaways to better understand how men and...

The average women gains 7 pounds in the first year of a relationship while the average man loses 4, a new study finds. The report, which was conducted by online pharmacy UKMedix, suggests many women experience this due to an increase in their own happiness. Only 16 percent of the women surveyed indicated losing weight in the first 12 months of their current relationship, and most claimed to have been at their...

Steadily gaining weight after marriage is a pattern often associated with women, but new research is finding men are by no means immune. In fact, married men were found 25 percent more likely to become obese compared to men of the same age who did not wed. According to the study, which was published in the journal Families, Systems and Health, married men were more likely to be overweight than single men, those in...