Sex is delivering serious health benefits that most doctors never bring up in appointments
Sex is one of the most natural human experiences, yet it remains one of the least discussed topics in routine health conversations. That silence is becoming harder to justify. A growing body of scientific research is revealing that regular intimacy delivers measurable benefits across multiple systems of the body, from the cardiovascular system to the […]
Intimacy may be the secret ingredient behind a longer and healthier life
Intimacy is not just an emotional experience. It is a biological one. Every time two people share a moment of genuine closeness, whether physical or emotional, a cascade of chemical activity unfolds inside the body that influences everything from heart rate to immune function to how long a person is likely to live. Scientists have […]
Why is sex pleasurable?
Sex feels pleasurable largely because of what happens in the brain, not just the body. Hormones released during arousal shape how sensation gets interpreted, turning physical touch into something the brain registers as enjoyable. Some researchers argue the brain may be the most influential organ involved in sexual response, describing orgasm as a heightened sensory […]
HIV vs. AIDS: What is the difference?
HIV and AIDS get used interchangeably in everyday conversation, but they describe two very different things. HIV is a virus that attacks a specific type of white blood cell responsible for helping the body fight infection. Once present, it cannot be fully cleared, though modern treatment can suppress it so thoroughly that it becomes undetectable […]
Could your sexual health be suffering in silence?
A dimension of health that deserves honest attention Sexual health is defined broadly as a state of physical, emotional, mental, and social wellbeing in relation to one’s intimate life. That framing goes well beyond the prevention and treatment of infections. It encompasses the quality of a person’s relationships, their comfort with their own body and […]
The STI facts most sexually active adults still get wrong
A public health story that is not going away STI rates have been climbing steadily across multiple demographics for several years, a trend public health researchers describe with a mixture of urgency and frustration. The tools to prevent, detect, and treat the most common infections are better than they have ever been. Access to testing […]
Are these the intimacy gaps behind most relationship problems?
Intimacy is one of the most misunderstood forces in a long-term relationship. The initial phase of romance is a well-studied neurological event. The brain floods with dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin, producing the exhilarating, obsessive focus of early love that pop culture has catalogued endlessly. That chemistry is real, but it is also temporary. What couples […]
All women deserve great sex and doctors are finally saying it
Sexual health has long occupied an awkward space in medicine, discussed in hushed tones if at all, treated as secondary to what gets called “real” health concerns. Nicole Cirino, M.D., is a reproductive psychiatrist, certified sex therapist, and co-director of the Menopause and Sexual Medicine Program at OHSU’s Center for Women’s Health, which is recognized […]
Sexual health and STIs — the testing gap putting millions of Americans at preventable risk
Sexual health is one of the most consequential and most consistently neglected dimensions of adult wellness in the United States. The country has seen sustained increases in sexually transmitted infection rates over the past decade, with cases of chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis reaching record highs in recent years. The primary driver of this trend is […]
Nipple orgasm — the expert backed guide to unlocking a whole new kind of pleasure
Nipple orgasm experiences are more scientifically grounded than most people realize, and understanding how they work opens up a genuinely underexplored dimension of physical pleasure. While breasts and chests often play a supporting role during intimacy, research confirms that nipple stimulation alone is capable of producing a full orgasmic response in many people. A nipple […]