That's Fit

Did you ever see that episode of Friends where Phoebe had a cold but loved it because she was singing with a "sexy" voice? It turns out a bad head cold isn't the only way to acquire a sexier voice than usual. Research indicates that women's voices become more alluring when they're at their peak of fertility.

Recordings were taken of women's voices at different times during their menstrual cycle. When replayed to both women and men, the recordings taken closest to ovulation were rated as more attractive. Researchers think that hormones may affect the voice box, creating a sexier voice. More work is needed to determine exactly how the voice is affected. But I think we all know why, don't we?

Check out AOL Body for more on women's sexual health. Guys, here's a link for you, too.

Though I know that yoga is so beneficial for flexibility as well as mind-body strength, I have yet to try it. But reading Prevention's article about how yoga can lead to a better sex life... well, who wouldn't be tempted to give it a try?

Flexibility obviously can help lead to success in the sack. Many of yoga's moves will increase your flexibility. Yoga is also beneficial for balance which could be helpful if you're, oh, more ambitious and inventive than most. But other yoga moves have more specific bedroom cred. "Root Lock" (or Mula Bandha) will help strengthen your pelvic muscles for increased sexual sensation and control. And "Legs Up the Wall" can help you energize you and leave you ready for other non-yoga positions. And guys? Yoga has some benefits in the bedroom for you, too.

AOL Body has more information on women's sexual health. They've got tips for guys, too.

It's not the latest French perfume. It's not an after-bath body splash. It's not a fake tan. So what is this spray on substance that can give your sex life a jump start? Hormones.

Researchers have conducted a study with a hormone that's administered as a spray. The testosterone spray was given to women who hadn't reached menopause, had low natural testosterone levels, and had little interest in sex. On an intermediate dosage, the women realized a significant increase in their interest in sexual activity.

Though testosterone is considered a "male" hormone, all females have low levels of testosterone in their bodies. Even after administering the testosterone spray, 95% of the women in the study still had normal ranges of the hormone in their system.

There is one notable side effect, however. Women who used the spray developed an excess of body hair. Not exactly the turn-on their partner might need now, is it?

Ladies, hop on over to this AOL Body site for more on women's sexual health. Guys, here's an AOL Body site for you.

Italian researchers have concluded that wearing high heels makes for a better sex life, but not for the reasons you're probably thinking. Although high heels are undoubtedly considered sexy, according to the research the sexual benefit doesn't come from attracting more men but instead from developing the right muscles. Wearing high heels tones leg and strengthens pelvic muscles, or in their words "directly works the pleasure muscles linked to orgasm."

Hmm, I'm generally more of a sneakers and flip-flops kinda girl and I have to wonder -- is the benefit a big enough deal to outweigh the negative of sore aching feet?


Via Shiny Shiny

A recent survey, by lifestyle website Wanobe.com, revealed that people over 50 are more likely to have sex on a first date than those who are under 40. In addition, 50 percent of the over 50 group rated lust and passion as more important than marriage.

Nearly 40 percent of the over-50s would sleep with a partner on a first meeting – compared with just 18 percent of under-40s.

Wanobe managing director David Noble, 60, said: "Being over 50 doesn't mean you give up on love. The under-30s may feel they invented sexual liberation, but it was the baby-boomer generation that staged the first summer of love – more than 40 years ago."

What drives workaholics to keep pushing, even when most normal people would give up and call it a day? A recent study suggests that it's not money, prestige, or an obsessive nature -- but rather a tepid sex life.

In a study of 32,000 men and women, researchers discovered that -- of those who reported having a lackluster sex lives -- 35 percent channeled that frustration into extra work. Among those who reported having no sex at all, the number was even greater -- with 45 percent voluntarily putting in extra hours on the job.

Let's hope this doesn't get into the hands of any corporate CEOs. I have a sneaking suspicion that this might become the new "genius" plan to increase worker productivity.

When I was in junior high my friends and I knew next to nothing about sex. I went to a Catholic school and when your sex education classes are taught by a nun, well, you can imagine how ineffectual they are. When I switched to the public high school however, kids were a bit more knowledgeable. Scary knowledgeable when, at my current age and parent status, I reflect on it. Kids today seem to be aware of things even sooner; so have things changed through the years? As a nation, are we sexually active earlier than we used to be? Even in the wake of sexually transmitted diseases do we have more partners than before? The National Center for Health Statistics conducted a survey on sexual behavior, orientation, and attraction.

The survey questioned men and women ranging in age from 15-44. Some of the surveys results include:

• 12% of males and 10% of females from ages 15-19 had engaged in oral sex, but not vaginal intercourse. The number drops to 3% by ages 22-24.
• 30-44 year old males report an average of 6-8 sexual partners; women in the same age group report about four.
• 3% of males and 4% of females report having sexual activity with a member of their same sex within the past 12 months. When a similar question was asked except the time frame expanded to over their lifetime the numbers rose to 6% for males and 11% for females.
  
• 29% of men who had engaged in male-male contact had been tested for HIV. Only 14% of men with no same-sex contact had been tested.

One day, Doug and Annie Brown looked around and realized that they had it all: the kids, the careers, the mini-van, the house...but what they'd lost in the process was the active sex life they'd had before they had it all. Determined to put the heat back into their marriage, they challenged themselves to have sex every day for 100 days. Not only did they spice up their marriage, they also have a book deal about their "marathon," set for release in fall of 2008.

So can 100 days of sex really rekindle your passion for each other? Marriage counselors are torn, saying that trouble in the bedroom usually means trouble in your marriage that needs to be addressed. For the Browns, it worked because not only were they paying attention to their sexual health, they were also putting more effort into their marriage as well. Read more about the Brown's story here.

What's more likely to give you throat cancer: smoking, alcohol use, or oral sex?

As it turns out, the risk of throat cancer isn't just higher, it's nine times higher for people who have had oral sex with more than six partners.

But, shocking as it sounds, it probably shouldn't be all that surprising. We already know that HPV is behind most cases of cervical cancer, and that 80% of sexually active women will get an HPV infection at some point in their lives. So, it only follows that we'd see similar numbers when it comes to oral sex.

Before you swear off oral sex forever, you know should that most HPV infections are relatively innocuous -- clearing with little or no symptoms. In fact, researchers stress that "oropharyngeal cancer is relatively uncommon and the overwhelming majority of people with an oral HPV infection probably will not get throat cancer."

However, a small percentage of people will contract a high-risk strain, and in those cases, they are more prone to developing the disease.

Sex columnist Brian Alexander lists "Lose the weight, get in shape" as the "most important thing you can do this year to improve your sex life." While this isn't to say that voluptuous folk can't have a good time, for most people, your libido and performance drop when you're overweight and out of shape.

While overweight men exhibit significant drops in testosterone levels, exercise creates pulses in sex hormones -- so take Brian's advice, and "get off the couch."

Looking for other solutions to spice up the sex life? Try having a conversation, dropping the sexual politics, and promising to make sex about the other person.

Fancy dinners, wine, nice chocolate -- sounds sexy, right?

Apparently not.

When it comes to sex-drive, the key is circulation, circulation, circulation. To get the blood flowing, try foods that are high in Omega-3 fatty acids (like mackerel and salmon), or L-Arginine (like nuts, granola, and chickpeas).

Women should try eating more soy. This binds estrogen receptors, which helps the vaginal area stay lubricated. Men need to know that "anything that's good for your heart, is good for your penis." For instance, artery-cloggers like saturated fats prevent blood flow to a man's genital region, which in turn effects his ability to perform.

And speaking of traditional romance -- fine dining, gourmet chocolates, late night cocktails, etc -- it should also be noted that studies show a very strong correlation between obesity and erectile dysfunction. So, next time you need to spice things up, don't be afraid to try some exercise!

Are Americans in need of in-depth sexual education these days? According to two former U.S. Surgeon Generals, perhaps we are. Former Surgeon Generals Joycelyn Elders and David Satcher recently help a news conference -- based on the concept that a broad effort was needed to create and promote the "sexual literacy" of Americans.

But why? According to Satcher and Elders, more sexual education is needed to to counter unacceptable levels of sexually transmitted diseases -- or STDs -- and unplanned pregnancies. Unplanned pregnancies plague teens and young adults especially.

Elders, who was fired as U.S. Surgeon General by then-President Bill Clinton for suggesting that schools teach kids about masturbation, echoed Satcher's sentiments that education on abstinence does not go far enough. Elders went on to state that "The vows of abstinence break far more easily than latex condoms."

British researchers recently found that people aren't losing their virginity at ever younger ages among other myths commonly reported to in the media these days. In addition to the virginity study, married people have the most sex and there is no firm link between promiscuity and sexually transmitted diseases according to the researchers.

Now, those are pretty harsh findings since they all counteract rather strong media messages many in the U.S. and internationally continue to hear every single day. The more sexual partners you have, for example, is a common theme when sexually-transmitted diseases are the name of the hour somewhere in the journalistic marketplace.

Although the study looked at self-reported results -- hence, there could be room for many errors -- many experts say the study will be useful not only in dispelling popular myths about sexual behavior, but in shaping policies that will help improve sexual health across the world. I agree -- let's just all hope that the participants in the study were not pathological liars.