• First, these over-the-counter offerings are not often diverse or powerful enough to satisfy your average baseball mom that shops at the drug store. The battery life is laughable and the vibrations are meager.  I can’t count the number of times I have heard from frazzled women that think there is something wrong with their vagina or their mind because “not even the vibrator I used from Walgreens can get me off!” It’s not you; it’s the inferior product you are using to get the job done.

• Second, and most importantly, the setting is not ideal for pleasure purchases. In an in – home party setting, you can touch the merchandise (with your hands!), feel the ball bearings (again, hands only please) and decide what works best for you.  At the drugstore,  it is awkward to compare features lest you attract attention from the men buying their monthly dose of Rogaine, you can’t take them out of the box (trust me on this one) and you have no real idea what your battery operated friend can do until you get him home. Sad story because they are definitely non-returnable.

Bananas – Begging for More
No, it’s not just the suggestive shape — the healthy doses of potassium and B vitamins in bananas help boost the production of important sex hormones.

Oysters-Running for the Door

It’s a myth! This sensual food has been credited for increasing men’s libido due to high levels of iodine and zinc — iodine can help boost respiration and body temperature, and zinc boosts testosterone. In fact, a team of American and Italian researchers recently found that mussels, clams, and oysters deliver two types of amino acids that spark a rush of sex hormones. But in order for it to work, a guy has to eat at least 50 oysters in one sitting, and nothing kills the mood like overeating shellfish.

Chocolate Covered Strawberries – Begging for More

This sexy combo isn’t just a Valentine’s Day gimmick. The phenyl ethylamine in chocolate releases the same hormone released during sex, and strawberries contain vitamin C, which helps libido. Plus, Italian researchers found that women who often eat chocolate have a higher sex drive than those who don’t. Just make sure the chocolate you’re using has at least 60 percent cacao for the maximum benefit.

Chili Peppers – Running for the Door

You might think that a food that makes you so hot and bothered would get you  ready to go, but there’s no research out there to suggest that chilies do anything for your libido.

Saffron – Begging for More
The luxuriant spice has been found to work as an antidepressant and a pain-blocker — both these effects can help calm any desire-killing storms. Saffron also contains picrocrocin, a chemical that makes your body more sensitive to the touch.  New addition to my grocery list!

Pomegranate – Begging for More

Pomegranate contains boatloads of antioxidants, which can help increase blood flow to all parts of the body, including the genitals.

Asparagus – Begging for More

It may not seem like a sexy veggie (considering it makes your pee smell), but asparagus is one of the oldest aphrodisiacs out there. And for good reason — asparagus is packed with vitamin E, which stimulates the production of sex hormones. Well, let’s get it on then.

Sirloin Steak – Begging for More

A 6-oz. sirloin is a fantastic source of protein, which boosts dopamine and norepinephrine, chemicals that heighten sensitivity. It’s also packed with zinc, which boosts libido by reducing the production of mood-killing prolactin.

Vanilla Ice Cream – Begging for More!

Not only has the scent of vanilla been found to put people in the mood, the calcium and phosphorus in the ice cream build muscles’ energy reserves, boost libido and make orgasms more powerful. Oh yeah!

Tomatoes – Running for the Door

They’re great for your heart, but tomatoes’ lycopene and phytofluene can decrease testosterone levels. The effect isn’t dramatic, but you may be better off skipping the marinara sauce if you want to get saucy.

When Pure Romance asked Dr. Herbenick and Dr. Reece to design a big study, they took the challenge to
heart! More than 2,500 women were enrolled, making it by far the largest and most comprehensive study ever conducted on women’s use of personal lubricants.  Women who joined the study were asked to use one of six different lubricants during the study.
Three of these lubricants were Pure Romance products (Just Like Me, Sweet Seduction, and Pure
Pleasure) and the other three lubricants were mainstream brands that are widely available to
women in local stores.
The study was considered “double blind” meaning that neither the women participants nor the research team knew which woman was getting which lubricant. That way, no one’s bias would enter into the picture and the research team would get the most valid study results. During the 30-day study period, women were asked to use the “study
lubricant” whenever they had sexual activity (masturbation,partner play, vaginal sex, or anal sex)and to
complete online surveys about their sexual experiences and use of the lubricant. At the end o f the
study, tens of thousands of surveys had been completed by these women.

What We Learned
Lubricants and Pleasure -
The biggest take-home message from this study is that lubricants tended to make sex feel more pleasurable
and satisfying for women in the study (duh).  Lubricants are not just meant for women who experience vaginal dryness or other sexual difficulties. Lubricants can add to a woman’s sexual pleasure, and that of her partner, no matter a woman’s age or health status. This was also true for a wide range of sexual activities including masturbation, toy play, vaginal sex, and anal sex.

Lubricants and Safety-
Another important finding is that lubricants were generally highly safe for women to use. Reports of vaginal
pain, burning, itching, irritation, or tearing as a result of using lubricants were very rare. For example, of all the
times that women used Just Like Me, Sweet Seduction,or Pure Pleasure, they reported vaginal itching less than 2% of the time. Discomfort or pain was reported about 6 to 7% of the time – again, very low. Vaginal burning was also rare, and occurred only 3 to 4% of the time. This is great news for women who are curious about using a lubricant and who want to make sure that Pure Romance products are safe to use. The results of this study show that they are indeed safe for the vast majority of women to use without risk of irritation.

Comfort, Pleasure, and The Big “O”-
As a consultant, one of the most common benefits I hear from women is that using a lubricant can make sexual activity more comfortable. Knowing this among ourselves is one thing but many women ask whether there has ever been any research on these issues. Now, thanks to our study, there has!
Pure Romance has found that nine out of 10 (90%) women who used a Pure Romance lubricant felt that the lubricant made sex feel more comfortable. Plus, about 84% of women said that using these lubricants made sex feel more
pleasurable. Interestingly, about 60% reported an unexpected benefit – that using a lubricant made it easier
for them to have an orgasm. Overall, eight out of 10 (80%) women said that they would use Just Like Me,
Sweet Seduction, or Pure Pleasure again, and would recommend it to a friend.

Order Pure Romance Lubricants here

]]> http://www.katiethepureromancelady.com/wp_blog/the-lube-study/feed/ 1 http://www.katiethepureromancelady.com/wp_blog/battery-operated-stats/ http://www.katiethepureromancelady.com/wp_blog/battery-operated-stats/#comments Tue, 07 Jul 2009 00:01:53 +0000 Katie http://www.katiethepureromancelady.com/wp_blog/?p=39 Two recent Indiana University studies show that approximately 53 percent of women and 45 percent of men (yes, men) ages 18 to 60 use vibrators either alone or with a partner! Not only is vibrator use common, but the two studies also show that vibrator use is associated with more positive sexual function and being more proactive in caring for one’s sexual health.

The studies, led by researchers at the Center for Sexual Health Promotion in IU’s School of Health, Physical Education and Recreation, are the first to publish data about vibrator use from nationally representative samples of the U.S. population.  We’ve come a long way baby.

One study surveyed women. The other surveyed men. Both were published last week by the “Journal of Sexual Medicine,” a leading peer-reviewed journal in the area of urology and sexual health.

“The study about women’s vibrator use affirms what many doctors and therapists have known for decades — that vibrator use is common, it’s linked to positive sexual function such as desire and ease of orgasm, and it’s rarely associated with any side effects,” said Debby Herbenick, associate director of the Center for Sexual Health Promotion.

The studies are the first to document insights into how and why people use vibrators, examine side effects and to explore associations with sexual health behaviors, sexual enjoyment and quality of life measures.

Findings – For women

• More than half of the women (52.5 percent) had used a vibrator with nearly one in four having done so in the past month.  (I think we are still dealing with some women that are not comfortable with their sexual selves, 50% – come on, we can do better than that)
• Vibrator users were significantly more likely to have had a gynecological exam during the past year and to have performed genital self-examination during the previous month.
• Vibrator use was positively related to several aspects of sexual function (desire, arousal, lubrication, orgasm, pain and overall function) with recent vibrator users scoring themselves higher on most sexual function domains, suggesting more positive sexual function.
• Most women (71.5 percent) reported having never experienced any side effects associated with vibrator use. Those side effects that were reported were typically rare and of a short duration. (Example: holding a powerful clitoral stimulator against your clitoris for prolonged period of time can cause temporary loss of sensation. Like when your foot falls asleep)

Findings – For men

• The prevalence of men who had incorporated a vibrator into sexual activities during their lives was 44.8 percent, with no statistical differences between the rates of vibrator use between men who identified as heterosexual and those who identified as gay or bisexual.
• Heterosexual men most commonly reported having used vibrators during foreplay or intercourse with a female partner, with 91 percent of those who had used a vibrator reporting that they had done so during such activities with women.
• Of men who have used vibrators, 10 percent had done so in the past month, 14.2 percent in the past year and 20.5 percent more than one year ago.
• Men who reported having used vibrators, particularly those with more recent use, were more likely to report participation in sexual health promoting behaviors, such as testicular self-exam.
• Men who had used vibrators recently also scored themselves higher on four of the five domains of sexual function, as measured by the International Index of Erectile Function (erectile function, intercourse satisfaction, orgasmic function and sexual desire).

So, this study is about more than vibrators.  Yes it’s great the the use of battery operated bedroom playthings is up. The more important part, however, is that more women (and men) are expressing themselves sexually, figuring out what works for them and going for it.

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Layoffs, furloughs and shrinking 401(k)s may not seem like natural aphrodisiacs, but according to experts in relationships and sex, the depressed financial picture is leading some couples — and singles — to better appreciate each other.

“The recession brings with it a re-evaluation of what’s important in life,” says Manhattan psychoanalyst Amy Joelson.

It’s too early for empirical studies evaluating the effect of the recession on the sex lives of Americans, notes Chicago psychiatrist Paul Dobranksy, author of “The Secret Psychology of How We Fall In Love.” He says it takes years to compile a meaningful picture of how the downturn has changed the intimate lives of Americans. “See me in five years,” he says.

But anecdotal information exists. While many of Joelson’s patients, for example, have expressed anxiety about spending money on frivolous items, they still feel good about engaging in physical intimacy.

“People wrestle with guilt about indulging in all kinds of pleasures, like going shopping or eating at expensive restaurants; that’s seen as politically incorrect,” she says. “But you don’t need a 401(k) to have sex.”

Physical intimacy is also a great way to relieve anxiety, tension and stress, points out Wayne, N.J., psychologist and dating coach Victoria Zdrok, author of “Anatomy of Pleasure: The Head to Toe Guide to Better Sex.”

“People are turning to sex to boost their endorphin levels,” observes Zdrok. Tightening budgets means more time at home, says Zdrok. “That allows people more one-on-one time and more intimacy,” she says, “which leads to more sex.”

Because of all the bad news about plunging markets and escalating unemployment, says Zdrok, some couples may be turning off the television and turning to one another. “It’s been shown that people who watch more TV have less sex,” she notes. “In one Italian study, when television was removed from the bedroom, couples’ sex lives improved.”

Another upside of the down economy: With many Americans out of work or on furlough, people have more time to exercise.

“Exercise is one of the ways people deal with stress and anxiety,” notes New York City relationship counselor Ian Kerner, author of “Sex Recharge: A Rejuvenation Plan for Couples and Singles.”

“Exercise is also a great libido-booster and a great part of sexual health,” adds Kerner. “Exercise increases blood flow and predisposes you to sexual arousal.”

Layoffs and furloughs can also shake up the daily grind and introduce the concept of novelty, which can spur spontaneous sex. “Whenever you introduce novelty, it stimulates dopamine transmission in the brain,” notes Kerner. “I advise couples to use the recession to break out of routines.”

Experts agree that tough economic times can motivate couples, as well as singles, to turn to simple pleasures. For singles, that can mean greater use of dating websites followed by low-key in-person meetings that can lead to more intimate conversations and deeper relationships.

“To go out there and use the more traditional method of a night on the town — that’s too costly,” points out Manhattan psychotherapist and advice columnist Jonathan Alpert.

Couples, likewise, can forgo lavish vacations or dinners in upscale restaurants in favor of affordable pastimes that stimulate bonding, like cooking dinner at home, renting a movie, cuddling on the couch or taking a walk in the park and talking. “All of these activities,” says Alpert, “encourage an intimacy and a closeness that improves the quality of a couple’s sex life.”

Dobranksy agrees. “Anybody who loses a job is going to take a hit to his dignity,” he says. “That presents a couple with an opportunity to rediscover the non-material values in life, which are certainly the stuff of love and romance.”

Meantime, notes psychoanalyst Joelson, couples should stay focused on the value of an active sex life. “Sex is a great expression of intimacy in a relationship,” says Joelson. “It’s a really optimistic thing, to have sex; there is hope built into the belief that together, you can create something better.”

Provided by Forbes.com