Sex Education Beyond the Basics - Vibrators for Couples You'll Want to Try

Times are changing, especially when it comes to sex. It's gone from being a taboo topic, to something that men and women can talk about with their friends. Hushed tones may still be present, or euphemisms used, but it's still being discussed. The same goes for acts that used to be considered kinky; now, light bondage is a part of many couples' routines.

Sex toys likewise are no longer hard to find, and it's rare to find a couple that doesn't use at least one. Some men, however, are wary about such things as vibrators, due to a belief that they can take the place of a guy during sex. Of course, this isn't true, and there are, in fact, toys made for couples to use during sex.

The saying is that three's a crowd, but in the bedroom, a little help from a third party is more than welcome. If you haven't tried them already, you can use the following couples' vibrators to bring some spice back into your sex life.

1. Duet Cock Ring. If you're female, and your guy hasn't heard of cock rings, introduce him to them in the best way possible with this toy made of soft, stretchy material. It has two bullet vibrators attached, one for his package, and one for you.

Your guy doesn't have to worry about taking too long to reach the finish line. In fact, it will help him last longer so you get to enjoy the ride, too. Plus, it will enhance climax for both of you. Remember your sex education lessons, though – clean it well after use, and definitely don't use it with another partner.

2. Minna Life Ola. Guys who have yet to use a sex toy won't struggle to learn how to operate this one. Rechargeable and waterproof, the Ola doesn't have any pre-set patterns, relying instead on you stroking or squeezing the pad, then repeating it.

You'll love it because you dictate how it will stimulate your girl so you can feel more involved. Or you can slip it in between your bodies to target her clitoris, not to mention feel the vibes yourself, for a more intense experience.

3. LeLo IDA Couples Massager. For guys, there's no need to worry about not fitting inside your partner with this one. It both rotates and vibrates while the two of you go at it, for the best sex sensations you'll ever feel.

It's remote-controlled, too, with 8 different stimulation modes, so you can definitely experiment and switch it up while you're having your fun. Try positions where the bigger, flatter end is against the guy's scrotum.

4. LeLo Tiani. Like toy number 3, it's remote-controlled. All you need to do, though, is tilt your palm or shake it a bit, and you get a new vibration pattern. Another way to take control of the situation is through the guy's thrusting or grinding. That makes sure both of you feel the same sensations.

Inserting it means the girl gets both clitoris and g-spot stimulation, while the guy gets some great vibes against his penis. If needed, couples can err on the side of caution and use a water-based lubricant, to make sure both vibe and penis fit.

5. Hot Lips Vibrating Cock Ring. Couples can use it during foreplay, like when the girl gives the guy a blow job. In that case, this vibrating cock ring will lead to a longer, stronger orgasm. He can return the favor by entering her with the cock ring still on, for more stimulation against her privates.

These are just a few of the couples' vibrators available, so it's up to you which ones you want to try first. Regardless of which vibrator you end up using, and how often, basic sex education should tell you to keep your toys clean, and use protection.

Sex Education | Drugs & Medications That Can Put A Damper On Your Sexual Performance

Of the many health issues that men (and even women) dread encountering, erectile dysfunction and a low libido are perhaps two of the most depressing concerns. Health experts estimate that 30 to 40 percent of people around the world experience low libido, or a dire lack of interest in sex, for at least several months in a year. The reasons for the dip in sexual performance vary, from stress to emotional problems and the use of certain drugs. Here’s a peek at the drugs and medications that can hamper sexual performance.

Medical Marijuana 

While most marijuana users will agree that the weed can give a soothing and relaxing high, it can severely hamper your performance in bed (especially in men). While medicinal marijuana is legal in twenty US states because it’s used to treat nausea, pain and even cancer, it has been noted to weaken or soften a guy’s shaft in bed

Antihistamines & Anti-Seizure Drugs 

Antihistamines are among the over-the-counter medications that can severely reduce your sexual stamina. Among the worst offenders include Chlor-Trimeton and Benadryl, which have been linked in clinical studies to a temporary loss in libido. But once these drugs have cleared your system, your libido should go back to normal levels.

Anti-seizure drugs on the other hand, can severely reduce the pleasurable sensations felt from sexual contact. The main culprits include Carbamazepine (Tegretol), which curtails the impulses from traveling along the nerve cells. Epileptic patients who took the drug were noted to have impaired semen quality, increased erectile dysfunction and reduced sexual intercourse frequency.

Opioids & Beta Blockers 

According to health and sex education experts, popular opioid pain killers like Percocet, Vicodin, Oxycontin and others are not just addictive, but they also severely reduce testosterone levels, and in turn trounce a guy’s libido too.

Beta blockers are taken by millions of people to reduce their blood pressure level. However, they can severely impact your sex drive, for quite longer periods of time. Even eye drops that contain small amounts of Timolol (a beta blocker) have been noted to lower libido levels.

Estradiol & Drospirenone 

These two medications are often prescribed for preventing pregnancy, as well as for treating dysmenorrhea or irregular and painful periods and for treating ovarian cysts. They however, have also been noted to reduce libido in women, as well as cause dizziness and breast disorders.

Tamsulosin & Dutasteride 

These medications are used for treating BPH or benign prostatic hyperplasia. Dutasteride is used for preventing the creation of a natural substance that enlarges the prostate, while Tamsulosin relaxes the prostate’s muscles. These two however, are also known to significantly reduce libido and cause headaches, fatigue and nausea.

Birth Control Pills 

For women, one of the main culprits for their loss in sexual interest includes taking birth control pills. Women who took oral contraceptives often reported a major reduction in sexual interest. It’s because birth control pills lower sex hormone levels (especially testosterone). A seven-fold increase in the libido-killing sex hormone binding globulin, or SHBG, was also noted in ladies who took the birth control pills.

And even if the woman already stopped taking birth control pills, the SHBG levels can still remain very high, and the reduced sexual interest and performance could also linger for much longer periods of time.

For those who are married, or are in committed relationships, make sure you talk to your doctor before taking any of these medications. And to naturally boost your libido, sex education experts suggest that you reduce the amount of sugars in your diet, eat a healthy diet, exercise regularly, avoid excessive smoking and drinking, as well as increase your vitamin D levels and get a lot of high-quality sleep.

Sex Education | Intimacy, Sexual Pleasure, Social Status – How Teenagers View Sex Today

If parents, teachers and health experts look at what teenagers are doing today, then perhaps they’d already be weeping and grinding their teeth. According to a survey done by the Guttmacher Institute, a US non-profit organization devoted to advancing reproductive health, 75% of teenagers engage in sex by the time they’re 19 years old. So, here’s a brief but eye-opening look at how teenagers view sex today.

Teenagers Are Clueless About Condom Use

According to the study made by the Guttmacher Institute, of the 75 percent of teens who had sex at 19, 25 percent of virgins over 15 have already experienced oral sex, and all of those who've already had intercourse have also engaged in oral sex. For teenagers under 15, a quarter of them have had at least one sexually transmitted disease already. Sex education experts also point out that the majority of teenagers are just clueless about using condoms, whether it’s vaginal or non-vaginal sex.

How Do Teens View Sex Today?

While it would be easy to blame the media for the increasing number of teenagers having sex, some say that the youngsters could also be motivated by other goals. According to some psychologists, young teens could be craving for intimacy and social status, apart from getting plain sexual pleasure.

An article in the June 2006 issue of Perspectives on Sexual and Reproductive Health noted that most teenagers (especially women) strongly expect that their goals of intimacy and social status will be fulfilled, if they have sex. On the other hand, boys only expect that sex would lead to greater sexual pleasure and improved social status, and did not have intimacy or relationship goals in mind.

Why Teens Should Be Alarmed About Having Sex Too Early

Here are a couple of facts that should make teenagers weary about having sex too early. Teenage pregnancies occur in around 750,000 girls annually. Compared with adults, teenage girls have an immature cervix, which is more than likely to catch a sexually-transmitted disease, as well bring forth problems like tubal pregnancies, cervical cancer and the transmission of STD’s to their offspring at birth. This warning goes to teenage boys too, although they’re likely to suffer fewer consequences as compared to girls.

While sex can be a quite perplexing and sensitive topic, sex education experts continually stress that parents and educators shouldn't just debate about abstinence versus safe sex, but instead focus on discussing sex from a more mature standpoint, and not separate it from love and bonding.

Sex Education - 5 Fun School Facts from Around the Globe

The K-12 (kindergarten to grade 12) system is prevalent in most areas, notably in the United States, Canada, South Korea, and Australia. Even with a similar system in other countries, different cultures will often result in schools having various approaches, rules, and so on.

Since schooling is so different from country to country, there are bound to be a few surprising facts here and there. Whether it's early integration of sex education, or more vocational classes than academic classes, here are a few random, fun, and surprising facts about schools and education.

1. School starts later in Finland. Finnish children don't start school until they're 7 years old, but even before then, they have day-care or preschool starting age 5. At that stage, social skills are the main focus. They also spend more time playing together than learning out of books.

2. Finnish children don't have tests. Yes, another fact from Finland. Unlike other educational systems, that in Finland doesn't believe in constantly testing and measuring students' progress. They also don't have a lot of homework. There is only one mandatory standardized test, taken when the children are 16.

3. Indonesian uniforms have only 3 basic colors. Excluding white for the short-sleeved shirts, the colours are red, navy blue, and blue-grey. Those are for primary, lower secondary, and upper secondary school, respectively. Boys usually wear shorts in the first 2 stages of education, exchanging them for trousers at the 3rd stage.

4. Japanese students clean their classrooms. The time after lunch is usually used for clean-up, including moving desks to the side of the room and sweeping the floor. Trash is usually thrown away during this time. In some public schools, students are also responsible for serving lunch portions as well as the after-lunch clean-up.

5. German schools have included sex education since 1970. It also covers a broad range of topics, from changes in puberty to homosexuality and the complications of abortion. While such in-depth sex education may be a shocker to more conservative parents, it helps. Germany actually has a very low rate of teenage births and pregnancy because of it.