A study published in the New England Journal of Medicine shows that a testosterone patch, marketed by Proctor & Gamble Pharmaceuticals under the name Intrinsa, can enhance the sex drives of postmenopausal women. The patch is placed on the abdomen like the birth control patch and changed twice a week.

Participants in the study wore a patch that released either 300 micrograms of testosterone a day, a patch that released 150 micrograms, or a placebo patch. Women wearing the 300 microgram patch reported an average increase in their “satisfying sexual experiences” of 2.1 times every four weeks. Researchers called the improvement “modest but significant.”

The study was funded by the manufacturer of the patch, following the FDA’s denial of approval for use of the patch in the U.S. in 2004. The FDA cited a lack of long-term safety data as the reason for denial, and the results of the study indicate that further research is still required.

While one of the minor side effects of the hormone therapy—unwanted hair growth—did not bother any of the test subjects enough for them to discontinue use of the patch, a potential, if tenuous, link to breast cancer is more disturbing.

During the study, four out of 814 women receiving either 150 microgram or 300 microgram doses of the hormone were diagnosed with breast cancer, compared to no women in the placebo group. In an article posted on Health.com, Lead Researcher Susan R. Davis, MD, PhD, of Monash University in Australia, called it a “chance finding” that four women in the treatment groups were diagnosed with breast cancer, noting that four breast cancer diagnoses among 814 women during a two-year period is “not unexpected.”

Nevertheless, it seems like a dangerous chance to take for a drug that yields only modest improvements to a woman’s libido.

Not to minimize the impact that menopause and a lack of estrogen can have on a woman’s sex drive, but I’d urge women to investigate more natural methods to boost their libido first, keeping in mind that the most powerful sex organ is the brain. This may be even more true for women than for men; fantasy alone can be a powerful aphrodisiac, as can sexy lingerie, the right mood, and (of course) the right lover’s touch.  Lack of lubrication is a true physical symptom in postmenopausal women, but there are plenty of safe lubricants available to solve that stumbling block.

Even if Intrinsa does become available as a “viagra for women,” satisfactory long-term safety trials could mean five years or more before the patch finds its way to a drugstore near you. And if the drug alone yields a marginal improvement in the sex lives of postmenopausal women, combining it with natural mood enhancers should raise the bar for amazing sex well into a woman’s golden years.

Change of weather. Colds and flu. Back-to-school. Holiday displays side-by-side with back-to-school sales. Is there anything about fall that isn’t stress-inducing?

Experts agree that sex is a great stress-buster. But getting in the mood with a million things on your mind isn’t easy. Contrary to clichés and popular belief, lack of a sex drive affects both genders when life gets hectic.

Some people, however, turn to sex when things get tough. Are these lucky types naturally conditioned for this healthy response, or have they trained themselves over time to know that sex will make them feel better, so why not just do it?

When two partners handle stress differently—one turning to carnal diversions, the other shutting down—that just adds another stressor to your life. You crave more nooky while your partner crawls further into that emotional hidey-hole (and not the fun one, either!)

So what’s a stressed-out, horny girl or guy to do? Sure, you could turn to Vibrator.com’s huge array of toys, but sometimes you crave emotional intimacy, too. Try these tantalizing seduction tactics to show your partner that the studies are right—sex is a stress-buster.

• Don’t push, just suggest. Every lover should have at least one move that she knows makes her partner melt; it’s time to use it. This soft-core tactic should work if the stress level isn’t too high – particularly if it’s been a while for both of you.

• Start with massage. Non-threatening, relaxing and seductive, if a massage doesn’t end in one of your favorite positions that night, it may just give your partner the stress relief she needs to get in the mood the next day. Or maybe she’ll be so appreciative of the massage, she’ll feel she “owes you one.” Either way, mission(ary) accomplished.

• Play. My husband and I play paintball together, bicycle regularly, and are always on the lookout for other fun athletic activities. Since exercise (much like sex) boosts your mood and alleviates stress – and extreme sports or healthy competition creates an adrenaline rush that helps you forget all your problems – fun vertical activities may lead to horizontal adventures.

• Get away. Who has time or money for a vacation right now? If that’s out of the question, take a weekend trip: no cell phones, no lap top, no Blackberry.  Make sure to pack the lingerie and the water toys, but don’t put pressure on your partner. You’re there to relax. If he’s not feeling better by Saturday afternoon, try some of the tactics above.  A nice hotel or cozy Bed and Breakfast just a few hours away from home is a great place to try these diversions.

The Pubococcygeus Muscle

The vagina—just like every other part of your body—needs regular exercise to keep it resilient, healthy and happy. Overtime, the vagina and its surrounding muscles on the pelvic floor can weaken, stretch, become torn and no longer offer support due to pregnancy, childbirth, aging, being overweight, abdominal surgery and inactivity. An important part of vaginal health is exercising a muscle called the PC muscle (pubococcygeus muscle). It is a hammock-shaped muscle that stretches from the pubic bone to the tail bone. It forms the pelvic floor and supports the pelvic organs including the bladder, urethra and vagina.

Advantages of Good PC Health

Exercising your PC muscle has numerous advantages because it strengthens the pelvic floor. Strengthening this area will help prevent prolapse (slipping or sagging of the uterus), incontinence (loss of bladder or bowel control) and constipation. For women who are pregnant, a fit PC muscle will help relax muscles during birth allowing for easier deliveries through the birthing canal. After vaginal births, working the PC muscle will benefit you by restoring vaginal muscle tone and promoting perineal healing (the area between the anus and vagina that can stretch or tear during birth).

Some women suffer from painful disorders like vaginismus (pain from vaginal insertion), dyspareunia (painful intercourse) and female sexual dysfunction (loss of sex drive or diminished sexual satisfaction). Working your PC muscles will help make your vagina and pelvic floor stronger and more elastic which means it will stretch easier during sexual intercourse. It will also help stimulate the sex drive by increasing blood flow to the pelvic region which will enhance sensitivity and arousal as well as allow you to achieve orgasm easier. It is important however to consult your doctor if you suffer from any of the above disorders, before beginning any exercise routine.

Enhancing the Sexual Experience

Training your PC muscles is not only for women who suffer from disorders. PC workouts are very beneficial for all women, regardless of your age, your vagina’s physical condition, or whether or not you have given birth. Why? Since the PC muscle also encircles the outside of the vagina, healthy PC muscles will improve sexual arousal, allow you to feel your partner more fully during intercourse and intensify your partner’s pleasure by tightening the vagina cavity, thus enhancing lovemaking for both of you. And, that’s not all. Strong PCs allow you to reach orgasm more easily, experience more powerful and pleasurable orgasms, and may even help you achieve multiple orgasms as you learn to better control and respond to your sexual arousal. Fit PC muscles also improve G-spot stimulation and can help you learn to experience G-spot orgasms and female ejaculation. Rhythmic squeezing of your PC muscles during intercourse will help increase lubrication, stimulate the clitoris, and massage your partner’s penis to take him to new heights of sexual ecstasy.

Finding your PC Muscle

It is very easy to find your PC muscle. You probably use it on a daily basis without even being aware of it. It is the muscle you use when you stop urinating mid-stream. The muscles of your pelvic floor tighten and your vaginal muscles clench when you activate this muscle. A method of locating the PC muscle is to insert a finger or two inside your vagina and squeeze until you feel the muscles gripping your fingers. So now that you’ve found it, how do you exercise it?

Kegel Exercises

Kegel exercises are how you work the PC muscles, strengthen the pelvic floor and restore muscle tone to this area. Named after Dr. Arnold Kegel, kegels consist of contracting and relaxing the muscles in rhythmic intervals. There are different types of kegels and different methods for exercising them. Regularity when doing kegels is more important than how many you do in sequence. It is therefore recommended to do any of the following exercises three times a day. You can even mix them up. The exercises become easier the more often you do them. Remember to relieve your bladder first before performing kegels.

Basic Kegel

The Basic kegel is a slow, controlled squeeze of the PC muscle, as you draw upward and inward. Imagine that you are sucking water up through your vagina (you can actually do this in the bathtub when your PC muscles are strong). Each time you do this hold for a count of 3-5 seconds. Repeat 10 times.

Pulsing Kegels

Pulsing kegels involves squeezing and releasing the PC muscle rapidly in quick succession, in a pulsing tempo. It is important to maintain control during these, instead of aiming for speed. It is not a race. Work your way up 25 or 30 pulses.

Kegel Push-Outs

This exercise engages the PC muscles more thoroughly giving a great workout. Slowly squeeze in, taking a deep breath, then slowly, gently push out, releasing your breath. Continue in a slow, in-out sequence, breathing in, and then out in time with each contraction. Repeat 10-20 times.

Elevator Kegels

This is my favorite kegel and I find it really works to tighten those muscles. Imagine that your vagina is an elevator shaft with the opening at the vagina entrance. Slowly pull the muscles in starting at the vagina, continuing to tighten as you go up the shaft like an elevator going up to the top floor. Pause at the top, and then slowly lower in reverse sequence. You will feel the difference just after a few times. Repeat 10-20 times.

Kegels and Sex Toys

There are several “sex toy” products now available on the market that enhances kegel exercises. I think of them as barbells for the vagina. Just as adding weight-training to an exercise routine helps improve strength and muscle tone, adding sex toys to your kegels increases resistance and gives you something to squeeze around, adding an extra benefit to the workout. You can do this as part of your regular kegel workout, or during masturbation. Who knew that doing something so pleasurable could benefit you as well! Try using the following toys while enjoying clitoral stimulation simultaneously to enhance your enjoyment as well as the power of your orgasms.

Duo-tone, Orgasm or Ben Wa Balls

You’ve probably heard of Ben Wa Balls . These are small weighted balls (usually plastic or metallic) that are inserted into the vagina for the purpose of kegel exercises and enhanced masturbation. The balls feel like they move around inside you because of the weights as they boost sensation to the entire area. Use them by clenching and doing kegels with them.

SmartBalls by FunFactory

SmartBalls are my favorite kegel sex toy. Like everything made by FunFactory, Smartballs are both innovative and high quality. Smartballs are two small metal balls inside a coating of silicone connected by an elastomer string that make them comfortable and sleek. They are inserted into the vagina where they vibrate and titillate, giving you a targeted work out for your PC muscles. They are a little larger than most other orgasm balls as well, making them easier to clench on to.

Berman Center Isis Beginning Pelvic Exerciser

The Isis is a dildo type pelvic exerciser made of smooth glass that is bowed at the ends. One end is inserted into the vagina and acts as a resistance to squeeze your vagina and PC muscles around. Try the Isis with any of the former mentioned exercises or during masturbation for enhanced play.

Natural Contours Energie

Natural Contours has designed a great product for doing kegels called Energie. It is weighted vaginal barbell that works the same as the Isis, but even better. The Energie is made of sleek hard plastic that is ergonomically shaped for ultimate comfort. Not only will this barbell strengthen your PC muscles while doing kegels, but it is perfectly shaped for G-Spot stimulation and self-pleasure. One end is slightly larger than the other as well, giving you a bit of variety.

So there it is. An exercise that will benefit your sexual pleasure as well as your health that you can do while masturbating or having sex. Who could ask for anything more? And, don’t underestimate the power of you PC. The first time you squeeze your vagina around your partner’s penis you will be delighted by his response. Not to mention the delight you will feel by your own heightened sexual experience. So, don’t delay. Keep your vagina resilient, healthy and happy. And, as Sue Johanson says: “Use it or loose it!”

Masturbation has been one of the most tabooed subjects throughout history and destructive myths still circulate in today’s society. Yet, it is the most common form of sexual play and a study by the Kinsey Institute maintains that between 62 percent of women and 92 percent of men jill and jerk-off regularly.

So, where did the negativity and guilt stem from?

Historically, masturbation was condemned due to the assumption that the “spilling of seed”—since men allegedly had a limited amount—was a wasteful act that endangered the survival of the species. The ancient Taoists believed that sperm held the life force (chi) and ejaculation would cause as loss in virility. Hippocrates believed that loss of semen would result in spinal problems. These days, we know that men produce 50,000 sperm per minute, so those ancient stigmas no longer make sense.

The “wasting of seed” further gained negative associations with the dawn of Christianity. The Church condemned masturbation as a “selfish act” because it allowed one to experience a kind of ecstasy that conflicted with religious ecstasy. “Onanism” originates in Genesis 38:9 . Onan refused to have sex with his brother’s widow and “spilled his semen on the ground to keep from producing offspring”. Although this taboo finds its seeds in Onan, the term is inaccurately associated with masturbation, for it was “coitus interruptus” or premature withdrawal that was the actual sin committed. Many Christian leaders today support the practice of masturbation as an act of self-love.

Thomas Laqueur traces the negative attitudes about masturbation to the following text in his book Solitary Sex: Cultural History of Masturbation.
In 1712, an anonymous physician published a text called “Onania” or, The Heinous Sin of Self Pollution, and all its Frightful Consequences which warned about the dangers of defiling your own body. He linked masturbation to sodomy and homosexuality and claimed it caused numerous ailments including blindness, insanity and stunted growth.

Over the centuries, physicians considered masturbation the worst form of the “wasting.” These corrupted ideas were the basis for an obsession to exorcize society from “self pollution” and was blamed for everything from acne and gout, to backache and epilepsy, madness and nymphomania. Female masturbation was viewed as a “moral leprosy” and many diseases were blamed on it such as cancer, hysteria and mania. Female clitorectomy—or, the surgical removal of the clitoris—was one of the terrible mutilations performed on girls under the guise of a cure.

Negative attitudes were further supported in the early 1900s by Graham (Graham cracker) and cereal developer John Harvey Kellogg who described masturbation as “the vilest, the basest and the most degrading act that a human being can commit.” Both of these men lead a health food crusade against sexual excess, including masturbation. Numerous “anti-masturbation” torture devices were invented with their stamp of approval including genital cages, spiked chastity belts and shock therapy applied to the genitals of young boys. Other inhuman therapies included the use of blistering powders on the genitals or leeches and bloodletting. Cutting the foreskin was also a popular remedy and in some extreme cases, patients had their foreskin pierced by a wire and soldered together. Most brutal was forced castration.

Current myths about masturbation or (OM) still inspire guilt. As recently as 1994, at least 50 percent of adults said they still felt guilty about masturbating. Most of these concerns are due to the persistence of social stigmas associated with masturbation and the “discomfort associated with discussions of sexuality” in general. But, rest assured. They are only myths and will not:

• reduce your arousal over time
• turn you into a homosexual
• cause infertility or impotence
• make your penis shrink
• cause STDs or AIDS
• make you go bald
• cause hair to grow on your palms
• or turn you into a werewolf

Today we know the myths associated with masturbation are no more than sex-negative propaganda. Solo sex is no longer a crime to be punished, nor a disorder to be cured. Sexologists now recognize that masturbation is a normal, natural act that promotes vitality and health. Research shows that masturbation has numerous health benefits and improves prostate health in men, reduces pre-menstrual cramping in women, provides a healthy release for sexual tension, and is the ultimate in safe sex. Psychotherapists agree “that a lack of masturbatory experience may be related to psychopathology, rather than the practice of autoeroticism.” In fact, Masters and Johnson—a team of physicians responsible for pioneering the field of human sexuality—have established that masturbation does not cause any “negative short-term or long-term medical health effects” what-so-ever. Therefore, the only dilemma that masturbation may cause is “laundry problems.”

It’s a telltale sign that I’m a product of Generation X, but when I saw this news report talking about a study on the dangers of oral sex, all I could think of was the line uttered by Dante in the original Clerks: “You sucked 37 dicks?!”

I’ve long believed that the 1994 Kevin Smith movie played a role in blow jobs becoming, for better or worse, the teenage equivalent of making out in recent decades. My husband often laments that the movie hadn’t been made yet when he was a teenager; I tell him to quit complaining and then I start making up for lost time.

A study from Johns Hopkins University, however, shows that unprotected oral sex, especially with multiple partners over time, may not be the “safe sex” alternative many teenagers view it as. Sure, it can’t get you pregnant, but strains of the HPV virus, shown to cause cervical cancer in women, can be transmitted orally and are linked to head, neck and throat cancer.

Anyone who is not monogamous should understand the risks associated with oral sex without a condom or dental dam. Not only can HPV be spread through unprotected oral sex, but so can gonorrhea, syphilis, herpes and HIV. Maybe this is old news, but it bears repeating.

What surprised me is the prevalence of HPV-related throat cancer. According to the Johns Hopkins report, the cancer afflicts approximately 11,000 people in the U.S. each year, making it an equal threat as cervical cancer.

To date, no study has been done regarding the effect of Gardasil, Merck’s questionable vaccine to protect against certain strains of HPV, to prevent throat cancer.

Now, I’m the first one to rail against “alarmist” studies. But I feel this is important information that should be shared. Condoms and dental dams can reduce the risk of spreading HPV, but not eliminate it entirely.

Still, with the lines of colorful and tasty condoms available today, there’s really no excuse, if you’re not in a monogamous relationship, to use a condom during oral sex.

And if you take some time and learn to put the condom on using only your mouth and tongue, I seriously doubt you’ll hear your partner complain!

From rhinoceros horns to Spanish Fly, even oysters and chocolate-covered strawberries, mankind has relied on natural foods and herbs to boost his libido. But do they work?

According to an FDA report published in 2006, probably not.

But you don’t have to believe the FDA. Even renowned sex expert Dr. Ruth Westheimer has been quoted as saying, “There’s no such thing as a true aphrodisiac.”

It’s more likely that an aphrodisiac’s power lies in a person’s belief that it works… the old placebo effect. The mind is our most powerful sex organ, so if we believe a food will make us sexy, sensual and desirable, it will.

A food’s desire-boosting abilities may also have more to do with the environment in which it is eaten than the food itself. Sucking down oysters during a candlelight dinner, soft music playing, champagne sparkling in fine crystal flutes… Who wouldn’t begin to feel amorous?

The placebo effect is definitely powerful. That’s why certain foods, due to their nutritional value, the physiological effects they have on your body, and centuries of folklore, are considered highly effective aphrodisiacs.

Amy Reiley, author of Fork Me, Spoon Me: The Sensual Cookbook likes ginger, because it makes your tongue tingle and swells your lips, turning them red and kissable, and also raises your body temperature slightly.

You won’t get these effects from a can of Canada Dry, though. Try some fresh ginger in a crisp veggie stir fry or make your own homemade ginger ale to really experience the powerful herb.

Discovery Health recommends asparagus, chili peppers and chocolate for their stimulating powers. Asparagus is rich in Vitamin E, thought to stimulate production of sex hormones. Chili peppers release capsaicin, a chemical that stimulates our nerve endings and also releases endorphins. And dark chocolate—in addition to its creamy, sweet taste and sensual texture—contains phenylethylamine, which gives us a natural high. Recent studies show that dark chocolate not only makes us feel good, it’s good for the heart, too.

Even if the aphrodisiac effect in these foods is purely psychological, nutritionists and sex experts agree that healthy foods are more likely to have long-term positive effects on your sex drive by giving you more energy and helping you look and feel better.

But there’s one aphrodisiac that won’t even count toward your daily caloric intake: regular exercise. The release of testosterone during workouts, along with feel-good endorphins and adrenaline, has been shown to boost the sex drives of both men and women.

A friend of mine says he’s started having sex three times a day since he began working out. I know an hour of bicycle-riding on the weekend always puts me in the mood. Besides, regular exercise will help you look better, feel better about yourself, and give you more energy. What’s not to love about that?

There’s a lot more to the HPV vaccination debate than whether or not it will encourage sexual activity in young women by providing peace of mind in the form of protection against one sexually transmitted virus. Merck’s HPV vaccine, Gardasil, is purported to protect against two strains of Human papillomavirus (HPV), which could lead to cervical cancer, and two strains of the virus connected to genital warts.

The debate pits public interest groups and the profits of one of the largest drug companies in the world against conservative ideals and unrealistic beliefs about sexual activity and teens. But there’s more to the argument. The vaccine is under attack by many leaders in the field of natural health and concerned parents on both sides of the political fence. With the health and well-being of tens of millions of young women at stake, who do you believe? Is Gardasil effective, and, more importantly, is it safe? Some say it’s neither.

Mike Adams, known as the Health Ranger, exposes what he calls the “Great HPV Vaccine Hoax,” in a special report at Natural News. At the core of his argument is the assertion that, according to an FDA report, most HPV infections are “short-lived and not associated with cervical cancer.” Additionally, if the vaccine is given to a young woman already carrying HPV in a dormant state, it could activate the infection, causing precancerous legions, according to Adams.

Equally scary are attempts to push the vaccination on young boys! Clearly, they are not at risk for cervical cancer, but Merck claims the vaccine will help prevent the spread of HPV and genital warts. It sounds to me like they are just trying to widen the market for this new “miracle vaccine,” without considering the possible long-term health consequences.

In what looks like another attempt to force usage and increase profits, the powerful pharmaceutical lobbyists have convinced many states to introduce legislation making the vaccination mandatory for girls entering sixth grade. According to recent accounts, none of the bills have passed yet, and those without an opt-out clause for philosophical or religious reasons have died. In Texas, Governor Rick Perry signed an executive order mandating the vaccine for all girls entering the sixth grade. Upon careful examination, we discover that Perry’s former chief of staff, Mike Toomey, is now a Merck lobbyist. Perry also allegedly received significant funds from Merck’s political action committee in 2006. However, the Texas legislature over-rode the executive order.

Understandably, many parents are up in arms about the vaccine, and especially about the government trying to mandate its use. Because Gardasil only works if a woman has not been exposed to HPV, it is most effective in young girls who have never had sex. Some medical professionals recommend starting the vaccine, given in a series of 3 shots over 6 months, at age 9.

Some parents believe the vaccine will encourage promiscuity or sex without a condom. Others simply can’t fathom the thought of their daughters having sex, and eschew any discussions along those lines.

This faction ignores the fact that adolescent girls turn into grown women who do, indeed, have sex and who also have the right to protect themselves against sexually transmitted infections. Fifty percent of all sexually active women have, at one point, contracted HPV. If the vaccine really works, it offers the chance to beat those odds.

These “watchdog” groups hide their true objections behind the medical arguments, which are more difficult to refute. So we’re back to the original question: does Gardasil work?

The fact is, existing evidence does not consider the long-term effects of the vaccine. (It hasn’t been around long enough). However, clinical studies have shown Gardasil to be more than 95 percent effective in protecting against four different strains of HPV.

In deciding whether to have your daughter (or yourself, if you’re under the age of 26) vaccinated, consider this: all vaccines carry some risks. Do the drawbacks (which may or may not be evident at this time) outweigh the benefits of becoming, as the commercial goes, “One less?” Like most decisions related to sexual activity, lifestyle and your health, it’s a decision only you can make.

“I take it to enhance my endurance” says Motley, a 27yr old soldier from Pennsylvania who has never had performance issues. He buys his Viagra through an online pharmacy located in Mexico.
Viagra and it’s newer rivals, Levitra, Cialis, are erectile-dysfunction drugs, which were originally intended for older people who had a problem performing. But in the last few years these drugs have caught on as recreational drugs. Studies published state that while the largest groups of Viagra users are still in the 56 – and – older age group, there’s been a sudden increase of over 300% in prescriptions for men under 45 since the drug was first launched in 1998.

But ………. And there’s always a but!

The increasing usage of the drug by un-intended users has been raising eyebrows in the medical community. Viagra works for four to six hours, when combined with alcohol it leads the user to make very unwise late night decisions. For example, the user may decide not to use a condom one night or perhaps if they cannot find sex they will call an escort service.
Scientists have found that men don’t develop physical dependencies on the medications or loss of normal function if they stop taking them after extended use.  The recreational user might take Viagra to sell himself as a sexual superman early in the relationship. But once things get serious, he has to perform without the support of his little diamond-shaped friend.
All erectile-dysfunction drugs work in the same way. Each blocks an enzyme called phosphodiesterase-5, relaxing smooth-muscle cells to allow increased blood flow to the penis and all three have the same possible side effects. Most common being headaches and facial flushing.

Why use Viagra? Here at Vibrator.com we recommend the following items to keep you at your peak performance.

Julian’s Rock Hard Cream: Helps the man maintain and prolong his erection and delay or prevent premature ejaculation. Odorless and tasteless, this product can be even more helpful if used with also used with a cock ring(i.e. Twin Rabbit Cock Ring).

Kama Sutra - Pleasure Balm: Designed to prolong the pleasures of lovemaking! This uniquely formulated emollient for men imparts a tingling, slightly numbing sensation that helps him preserve his powers way into the night.

Check out our other variety of Sexual Enhancing, Lotions Oils Creams and Gels.