Sex With Emily - I Don't Know What I Want Sexually (Help)

Episode Date: February 6, 2026

Whether you've been with your partner for ten months or ten years, knowing what you actually want in bed is harder than it sounds—especially if you never got the chance to explore. In this episode, ...Dr. Emily takes listener calls about the real challenges that keep couples stuck: shame around masturbation, mismatched experience levels, and the fear that fading passion means something's broken. From a wife who's never had a partner ask what she wants to a husband hiding his solo sessions in the basement, Emily breaks down why sexual self-discovery isn't selfish—it's essential. She also tackles what to do when your partner wants to swing but you're not sure, and why taking penetration off the table might be the fastest way to bring the heat back. In this episode, you'll learn:  • Why being a skilled lover has nothing to do with how many people you've slept with—and everything to do with curiosity and communication • How to take the lead in bed without becoming a completely different person (even if you've always been submissive) • The "hell yes or hell no" rule for navigating swinging, threesomes, and any sexual experience that makes you feel vulnerable More Dr. Emily:  • Shop With Emily! Explore Emily’s favorite toys, pleasure accessories, bedroom essentials, and more — designed to support your pleasure and confidence. Free shipping on orders $99+ (some exclusions apply). • Join the SmartSX Membership: Access exclusive sex coaching, live expert sessions, community building, and tools to enhance your pleasure and relationships with Dr. Emily Morse. • Interested in 1:1 Coaching with Emily? Reach out to enrollment@sexwithemily.com to learn more!  • Sex With Emily Guides: Explore pleasure, deepen connections, and enhance intimacy using these Sex With Emily downloadable guides. • The only sex book you’ll ever need: Smart Sex: How to Boost Your Sex IQ and Own Your Pleasure • Want more? Visit the Sex With Emily Website • Let’s get social: Instagram | X | Facebook | TikTok | Threads | YouTube • Let’s text: Sign up here • Want me to slide into your email inbox? Sign Up Here for sex tips on the regular. Timestamps: 0:00 - Introduction 1:33 - McKenzie: Husband complains about sex life to others 4:36 - Why partner count doesn't determine sexual skill 6:14 - How to discover what you actually want in bed 9:37 - Experience is not a numbers game 10:43 - Dan: Feeling guilty about masturbating while married 13:06 - Why masturbation shame hurts relationships 15:41 - Sarah: Giving her husband a prostate orgasm for his 50th 19:04 - Switching from submissive to dominant in bed 23:02 - Alex: Girlfriend wants to try soft swapping 25:17 - Hannah: Taking sex off the table to reconnect 30:03 - Building intimacy without rushing to penetration

Transcript
Discussion (0)
Starting point is 00:00:03 A lot of people think that like an experienced sexual partner has to do with the number of people that we've slept with. Oh, well, they've had 60 partners and I've had two. And so I'm showing up and I'm already behind the eight ball here because, you know, I can't possibly keep up with that. But I can tell you that being a skilled lover has a lot less to do with how many people you've slept with. And has to do with being somebody who is curious, who pays attention, who has learned with a partner how to fulfill each other's needs. You're listening to Sex with Emily. I'm Dr. Emily, and I'm here to help you prioritize your pleasure and liberate the conversation around sex. There are wants and then there are needs, sexual needs to be precise.
Starting point is 00:00:45 Well, in today's Ask Emily show, everyone has that one need that they're longing to satisfy. They just don't know how to do it. Well, good news, the sex expert has arrived and I'm here to help you take that next vital step. If you want a hotter sex life but your partner shuts down around sex combos, I've got communication tips. How about when you want your partner to have a crazy orgasm, but you just don't know the right techniques? Yep, I talk about the great ones.
Starting point is 00:01:13 And finally, if your partner desires a sexual experience like swinging, but you're not so sure, what in the world do you do? Answer, well, you listen to this episode because I promise for every sex problem, there is a path forward. All right, everyone, enjoy this episode. Okay, so let's talk about one of my favorite ways to upgrade your solo or part of play. It is the Hera by Jeju. It's a sleek, powerful rabbit vibrator that's basically the best of both worlds. It's incredible for internal stimulation and those rumbly, mind-blowing
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Starting point is 00:03:35 We have McKenzie 30 from Florida. Tell me what's going on. So my husband and I've been together for 10 years. And twice within the last like eight months, he had been talking to other people like outside of her marriage about like how like our sex was boring and I was never going to change and all this stuff. That's really hurtful. that sounds really hard but our like sexual um i guess the way we're like sexually charged has always
Starting point is 00:04:13 been kind of off um he's always like constantly asking me like what i want to do and i my husband's the second partner i've ever had and he has had many more than just me um so we're kind of like off there and so i guess just like trying to figure out like where we can kind of be on the same page like sexually or just like, you know, when I'm like going forward with doing things and what he's asking, then he's like telling me that things are fine. But then how did you find out that he was talking to other people about your sex life? I read it on his own. Yeah. I mean, that sounds like that's really, really hurtful. And I don't want you to justify the other things that have been happening that still doesn't feel good. So I just want you to know that because I, you said it,
Starting point is 00:05:07 you're like, but all these things have been happening. And it sounds like there's a lot happening. You're not, you're not able to have children. Things have been tough. It's been 10 years. You're 30 and you've been together since you were 20. Yeah. It's a long time. Yeah. It's a long time to be together and having only one other partner. A lot of people, that's the time where they explore and they masturbate, they date other people and they figure out what they actually like. You haven't really had any breathing room to even sit down and think, well, what does McKenzie like? What actually turns me on? And if the sex has been a lot of focused on penetration and his pleasure, then there's really not a lot of room for you. So in a sense,
Starting point is 00:05:44 I get that I understand that he's asking you what you want, what turned you on, and then that could feel a little bit stifling because you don't have the answer. Maybe I don't know what to do what to find that answer. And so do you think that he would be interested in partnering with you on figuring out what you do like and who you are as a sexual being and what turned you on. Yeah. And we've definitely talked about that before where, you know, because I've said, well, you know, obviously I don't have as much experience as him. And that is something that he said, well, that's something like that I want to experience with you. But to me, it's almost like, yeah, we've experienced obviously different things as we've continued to move forward with our
Starting point is 00:06:23 relationship. You know, it's not like we're just having missionary sex for the last 10 years. But to me, it almost feels a little bit different. It's not like, yes, I am experiencing those things, but it's not like apples to apples in comparison. So it sounds like you're kind of on this experience thing. Is he also your age? Yeah, we're the same age. Okay, so maybe he had a few sexual partners before you.
Starting point is 00:06:46 I mean, there's this notion that I'd like to debunk right now. A lot of people think that like an experienced sexual partner has to do with the number of people that we've slept with. Oh, well, they've had 60 partners and I've had two. And so I'm showing up and I'm already behind the eight ball here because, you know, I can't possibly keep up with that. But I can tell you that there's a very, that being a skilled lover has a lot less to do with how many people you've slept with and has to do with being somebody who is curious,
Starting point is 00:07:13 who pays attention, who has learned with a partner how to fulfill each other's needs. And they communicate and they talk and they evolve and they grow together. So I would love me to be less hung up on that and more like coming together on this. this sex life of yours and saying what here's the state of it as I see it and what can we do to build a new version of our sex life 10 years in for 10 year anniversary let's commit to setting a plan for our sexual future and I think that would involve if he's so curious about what you want in bed and what turned you on you guys could do have some nights where maybe you're doing some mutual masturbation or you know you're you're
Starting point is 00:07:58 going off, taking time for yourself to masturbate and to really think about what turned you on. But I didn't know when I wasn't married in my 20s. It took me a while. Like I had to really focus on it and study and learn. And I'm still learning. Like that's the other thing. Like you don't get to a point where you're like, I have enough experience with sex and now I'm going to move on and take up golf. Like it's really just part of your become an expert golfer or something. Like you really are on, growing with every decade, every year. He wants to know like what I want or what I want to do. And I just, I don't really know how to, you know how to, kind of portray that to him just because like, I don't know, there's like things that I see.
Starting point is 00:08:34 And I'm like, oh, yeah, that seems like it would be fun. But it's not like, yes, I would love to do that. What if you said to him? I really realized that I actually don't know what I want. When you ask me what I want, I would so love to be able to answer that question. However, I've learned that there's something I need and I really need your help with us. I'd like to set aside time where we're exploring. exploring together. Maybe one night's all about your pleasure and he's pleasing you and he's
Starting point is 00:09:02 going down and you. It's patience too. It's learning to kind of slowly, you know, touch your body, give you a massage and then you're really mindful saying, well, that felt good. I'm not sure about that. Maybe you can go harder, faster, slower. You know, and if you don't have fantasies, that's fine too. You can watch some porn together. For many of all the owners, we just don't all have fantasies. A lot of penis owners don't either. So, that's okay too. It's all okay. But if you'd like to know, have fantasies or you'd like to get more curious, it really is a combination of educating yourself. So I love that you're listening in the podcast. Surrounding yourself by sex positive people, follow other sex accounts on
Starting point is 00:09:42 Instagram, read some great books about sex, and then just start to kind of bring that into your relationship together and say, I would, will you come on a journey with me to really learn about who I am sexually and then we can grow together? Does he know. that you found the text in his phone? Oh, yeah. I mean, we're like, we're going to a couple of counseling. And she actually, like, has an extensive background in, like, sexual behaviors and affairs. So we just started.
Starting point is 00:10:13 Great. Well, that's really great self-care. And I love that you're both going, which is incredible. I can't tell you how many times there's couples where one partner doesn't want to go. So you're both showing up. And so now I think it's just time for you, McKenzie, to show a little bit more vulnerability about, you know what? this is really awkward. I actually feel bad that I don't know. You can even say you talk to me to listen to the show and I realize that I have a journey to do. I have to figure it out. You know, we did a great
Starting point is 00:10:37 podcast with John Gottman and he talked about a couple that was sort of similar in the sense of he had a lot more experience. She didn't. They were together for a while and they took sex off the table and she spent about eight months saying, you know, they were still intimate in other ways and doing like the recent, like the homework on her own self. So she could come back to the relationship knowing who she was, knowing what she desired. And I believe there's nothing sexier than a partner who actually really knows what they want in bed. Yeah. So you just got to do a little, some self-care, self-searching here and, you know, hopefully he'll be on board with it. Yeah. Thank you. All right, McKenzie. Thank you for calling in. I really appreciate it. Thank you. It's going to help a lot
Starting point is 00:11:19 of people too. Thank you. Bye. Bye. You know, I can't say enough how much talking to your partner about sex often and sharing your vulnerabilities and letting them know where you're at and how important that is to really change the trajectory of your sex life. And I'll say it on every show. Communication is a lubrication. And the other thing I want to add to that, I can't see this enough either is that, listen, experience is not a numbers game.
Starting point is 00:11:50 I don't care how many people you sub with it. can tell you firsthand, I mean, many people who were like, oh, that person's up with all these people and they were not my best lovers. Maybe they're like, for them, it was a numbers game and they just kind of kept knocking. Now I'm going to do this one. I'm going to sleep with 100 people. And now that means I'm a great lover. No, it doesn't mean anything. I've eaten a lot of meals. It doesn't make me a chef. Because I hear this a lot. People are so nervous that they don't have the experience. The great news here is that every time you're with a new partner, it's a new beginning. you can learn what your partner likes, what you're into,
Starting point is 00:12:22 and the way you're going to have sex with somebody with a new partner is going to be very different than how you had sex with someone else. So essentially, every time you're with someone, you're starting again. And what makes a skilled lover is someone who is open and curious and honest and vulnerable and pays attention who likes to give and receive. Those are all the things that really contribute to be a great lover, not how many people you've slept with or any really techniques person. say. That's how I feel about that. Let me know what you think. This is from Dan 25 in Washington.
Starting point is 00:12:54 Hey, Dr. Emily, I'm a married man, but I still like to masturbate. It was a problem in my relationship last year as I wanted to have sex with my wife daily and still masturbate. Now if I do, which is rare, I feel super guilty. How can I make it so that I don't feel guilty about it anymore? My wife never masturbates and says she hates that I do and will occasionally ask if I'm I've been doing it. And if I have, she becomes self-conscious. All right, Dan, what I'm going to guess from your email, extrapolate here, is that it sounds like you've been masturbating in the last year a lot to porn.
Starting point is 00:13:32 Your wife found out, or it was a secret, and she wasn't okay with it. And now you feel guilt about it, and that's a problem. I understand you also said that your wife hates that you do it. and she never masturbates. Now to me, that's a red flag in every relationship. In people who hate masturbating, I found have not really masturbated in a way where they are present and they're doing it to encourage overall sexual health and wellness because having a healthy masturbation practice is part of being sexually healthy overall. So I really don't want you to feel this guilt and shame around masturbation. People masturbate in relationships.
Starting point is 00:14:16 They masturbate out of relationships. And it's important for all of us to have a healthy practice. So I'm curious, first off, why your wife never masturbates? Would she be open to talking to you about why? Has she done it and she didn't like it? Is it something that she feels would be wrong? And therefore, she judges herself about masturbation. So she's judging you.
Starting point is 00:14:40 I don't want you to feel guilty for doing something that's a healthy practice and that's really quite helpful also for our own growth as a sexual being. And so I would love for you to have a conversation with your wife about the sexual health of your relationship, explaining to her the benefits. We have lots of great articles on our site about the health benefits of masturbation. Perhaps you guys can start to listen to this episode together. Remember what we do here is not, this show is, it's not a typical conversation. a lot of people aren't talking like this with their partners.
Starting point is 00:15:18 And so the reason why I really appreciate your question, Dan, is because I can't tell you over the years how many men have emailed and said that they feel shame about it, that they're in the basement hiding and masturbating so they're, you know, no one finds out. And then they feel this terrible guilt and shame after. Some have it because they're hiding it from their wife. Some have it because they grew up in an environment where it was shame to ever masturbate. And I just, I would love to all of you. and all the listeners and you, Dan, to start, you know, being your own best advocates for masturbation
Starting point is 00:15:50 and saying, you know what, I'm not going to perpetuate this guilt and this shame that's associated with masturbation. And actually, I want you to understand the benefits. I mean, it's not just me. I mean, you could Google it. Like, there are benefits to it. It's not evil, wrong, or shameful. It helps us become more in touch with our body.
Starting point is 00:16:07 So I want to know what kind of sex are you having with your wife. Does she enjoy sex? Does she have pleasure? Does she have orgasms? Has she ever talked to you? I know what we got is that she doesn't masturbate, but what does she do sexually? Is she into your sex life? I mean, perhaps some mutual masturbation where you're lying side by side and she's
Starting point is 00:16:27 exploring herself and you're exploring yourself might be something to get you guys over that hump of shame around it. I don't think that's your first step. There's still a few talks away from that. But see where I'm getting with this? I'm trying to paint for you what a healthy masturbatory relationship looks like within a relationship. It could be together. It could be separate. I mean, I know couples are like, I'm going to up stairs and knock one out. Okay, babe, I'll be down here finishing work. Like, that's how it should be.
Starting point is 00:16:51 Like, I'm going to the gym for a workout. Okay, well, I'm just going to go use this new vibrator I got. Oh, fun. Can't wait to hear about it when I get home. I mean, that's how it is in my relationships. Like, the guys I'm dating are like, hey, yeah, you can try that new toy tonight. Text me after. Tell me how hot it was. Or let me watch you use that toy. And no, it's not because the guys I date are in my industry. They know me. They listen to the show. Maybe at first they were self-conscious. But then they're like, oh, yeah, this is so normal and hot. And I love that you're a woman who knows your body what feels good. So what I'm saying is this is the world that I want you all to live in that it's literally like talking about the weather. I'm going to get a workout in.
Starting point is 00:17:27 I'm going to go have an orgasm and what's for dinner. Okay. Can we all get there? Dan, you got this. You guys, you're young into your marriage. You're 25 years old. Start having these healthy conversations. It's really important for the health of your relationship, your marriage, kids, whoever's around you, we need to start having these conversations without shame. I'll be right back after a quick break for our sponsors. So just stick around. Hi, thanks for calling in. Oh, my goodness. My husband's 50th birthday is coming up and I really want to knock his socks off. I've written into you before and expressed to you that he is a experienced lover and he does a great job of keeping our sex.
Starting point is 00:18:21 life fresh and keeping me pleased in many, many different ways. And I've always wanted to please him as good as he pleases me type of thing. And I've learned a lot from you. I've watched him masturbate and I've like mastered the hand job, which was very, very exciting for me. I mean, it took me, it took me 14 years of our marriage to get him off wholly by myself with a hand job. I'm so so excited. I know. That's a commitment. So my next venture is I really want to give him a prostate orgasm.
Starting point is 00:18:59 Okay. And I feel like it's a big job. And he's always been obsessed with my ass. And for a long time, I had a lot of problems with it and didn't understand it. And then recently, I've come to accept it and started to play with him a little bit. And he really, he likes it? Oh, awesome. Okay.
Starting point is 00:19:18 Happy 50th birthday. Let's find your prostate. Let's do it. Let's do it. But I can find his prostate with my finger, but I can't stimulate it enough to make it make him have that explosive orgasm. Exactly. So I got this. You got the beginner anal kit from B-Vive, right? That's a great present. Oh, my God. Good for you. Okay. I love it. I haven't showed it to him yet. But yeah, I'm thinking I want to try to put a little bupuby. plug in there for us. Do it. That's a great
Starting point is 00:19:53 birthday gift. I cannot imagine a better gift. The problem is I'm very submissive in the bed. Like he is the dominant in the bed. Always been the dominant and I enjoy that. I've always been the submissive in any relationship that I've ever had. Very dominant in my personal life.
Starting point is 00:20:11 My like professional life and my business. But in the bed I'm just like ravish me. Do what you will. And yeah, like, I'm up for whatever you want. But recently, he's been putting my hand on his throat and doing things that suggest that he wants me to dominate him. And it kind of freaks me out. I don't know what to do.
Starting point is 00:20:34 Okay. Is it something that you could talk to him about outside the bedroom and just say, I've noticed you put my hand on your neck. Show me what you want. And then you just see what he wants. Then you could just kind of. practice. The problem is when I try to talk to him about these things, he's a little like, yeah, whatever happens happens.
Starting point is 00:20:57 Like even when I asked him, do you want me to put my finger in your butt? I straight up asked him that. He said, well, I'm not going to ask you to do it, but if it happens, it happens. Okay. He's not very forward with what he wants. I've asked him, what are your fantasies? What do you fantasize about? Here's what I fantasize about.
Starting point is 00:21:16 What do you fantasize about? He says, I don't. really fantasize. I'm just concentrating on the moment and on you. Okay. Well, I mean, and that all could be true, right? Maybe he doesn't really have fantasies, but it sounds like he's showing you with little ways of like allowing you to, you know, to play with his anus and putting his hand. So it sounds like he doesn't want to talk about it, but maybe now it's like, I know that you're submissive in bed, but for all the years you have been submissive. Maybe sometimes you just say, I'm going to, I'm going to try this, especially for his birthday.
Starting point is 00:21:49 I'm going to climb on top of him. I'm going to, like, put my hand on his neck. And even though it might not be my main turn on, I love this man. And let's see where it goes. Because also the act of putting a butt plug into all of this is stuff that you might just, once you try it and start doing it, you'll be like, oh, it doesn't mean it's, because I feel like this whole like either your Dom or your sub is so binary, you're either or, but you could still be the dom, like taking control of the situation without being like,
Starting point is 00:22:19 lay down, you're my slave. Like, there's ways of just being like, how does this feel? Like, I've had that with partners where I'm like using the butt, but I'm like, I'm not dominant particularly, but I'm in charge. And I'm still myself, I'm like, how does that feel? This is what we're doing. Tonight's about you. And I'm just kind of, this is your night.
Starting point is 00:22:37 Like, that's what you could say to him too on his birthday. Like, this is your night. You lay out the toys. Maybe you can even blindfold him. get a massage candle, lay out all the butt plugs, have them all ready to go. And then you're just playing, but it's okay if you laugh or it's fun, you haven't done it before. And I think just the act of you trying to something different, trying to please another ways is going to be really, really hot and a wonderful birthday present. Thank you so much.
Starting point is 00:23:02 I really appreciate that. I got the anal lobe ready. It's just, I think it's just the mental block. It is a mental block. Yeah. The total, and just they look so big. They're a lot big. They seem much bigger than a finger.
Starting point is 00:23:17 And so I'm just worried, you know, I'm just worried about it because it's so big, you know. It's the beginner anal kit. So I would start really, really with the small one and put a lot of lobe on it. Make sure that he's lewd up with he's lying on his back. You massage him all around, like his butt, his inner thighs. Just make sure he's really relaxed. He has to breathe. And then you can just slowly, like, how does it feel?
Starting point is 00:23:39 Like, talk to him. Like, how's that? Have him breathe. How is that? Because it's going to be a new sensation for him as well. And they are, but the anus, like, you'll find that the hardest, like going in sometimes is the most uncomfortable. But, you know, again, it's all about breathing, using loob and going slow. And we're surprised that what kind of space they can find, especially if he likes the finger.
Starting point is 00:24:00 He's probably going to be okay, even with the small. Definitely start with the small. And you'd be surprised at what the anus can handle. Well, I'm going to try it and let you know. I mean, it's been amazing what we've been able to accomplish just from letting go and being free with each other. So it's amazing, even 15 years in. 15 years in. I mean, that's the thing is that it really is about letting go and being free.
Starting point is 00:24:26 It really is. You are such a great example of that. And I think this is going to be very inspiring for a lot of listeners to see, like, even after 14, 15 years, you are still working on it. And you would say that maybe the secret to it is being free and not judgmental. and open. It always can get better, right? It can. It's absolutely amazing. Thank you. Well, thank you for your call. Happy birthday to your husband. Please let me know how it goes. I'll let you know how it goes. I love it. Thank you. You're so good to hear from you. Thanks, Sarah. Bye. In every relationship, there's an opportunity to grow sexually, try new things, turn each other on in different ways.
Starting point is 00:25:06 like if your partner's birthday is coming up, what are you going to get them? Right? Sarah's getting a butt plug. What's one thing that you could do for your partner sexually that would be exciting for both of you? That's your challenge. All right.
Starting point is 00:25:20 We have Alex 24 in Canada and he wrote, Hey, Dr. Emily. My girlfriend and I've been dating for four years. She just moved away for a program and is living with her roommate. Her roommate and her boyfriend are both into swinging.
Starting point is 00:25:33 My girlfriend finds that really intriguing and they want to do sort of a soft swap with having the girl give the guy's oral sex. Three of us would be in separate rooms and take turns each night. Part of me wants us to happen, but I feel vulnerable for some reason. I really miss her. I've talked to the boyfriend and he's super chill about it. Am I the only one out of the four of us who isn't naturally into sharing our partners? How do I know if I should or shouldn't do this?
Starting point is 00:26:00 All right, Alex, I totally get it. Well, first, vulnerability makes sense in this situation. probably do miss your girlfriend. And then she's telling you about this situation, which, you know, for many people, like, oh, wow, you know, how great your partner wants to swing, but that's not for everybody. And you love her. It's a new scenario. It makes sense that you would feel vulnerable. And this can be a risky dynamic in the sense of you got to trust what feels right for you right now. When you ask if I know if I should or I shouldn't do this, in this case, if it's about swinging or threesome's, it's got to be a hell yes.
Starting point is 00:26:41 And if you're not a hell yes, then we got to stick with the hell no. Now, it doesn't mean it can be maybe a hell yes in the future. But it sounds like you need some more information. Maybe you need to meet the couple when you go visit without the expectation that all of a sudden you're going to be splitting up into rooms and swapping. I mean, that sounds like a lot of pressure with people you've never met that she's got a whole relationship with. So to give you a perspective, she knows them.
Starting point is 00:27:06 She's hanging out with them. She's seeing it. She's experiencing from their perspective what goes on. And maybe you need a little bit more information. You need to feel safer. And you need to see your girlfriend again. So stick to your ground. Trust what you're feeling right now.
Starting point is 00:27:20 And get some more information and see how you feel once you visit her. But you definitely don't need to make any promises, especially when it comes to your commitment with your girlfriend and the bond that you already have right now. Okay. Thank you for your question. I appreciate Alex. We have Hannah 23 in Wyoming. Hi. How are you? I'm great. How are you doing? I'm good. It's so nice to talk to you. Yeah. Thanks for doing this. And thanks for your show. I love it. I've been listening to it for probably the past two years and definitely changed a lot of things for me. Oh, I'm so happy to hear that. Let me know how I can help you today. Yeah, so it was about a month ago, my boyfriend and I, we've been dating for a year. And it just kind of seemed like during sex, like we weren't connecting. We were still having sex, but it just wasn't, like, there wasn't that much passion or connection there compared to how it normally is. And I remember an episode, I couldn't find the exact episode, but you telling a couple, like, just take sex. off the table and take the pressure off and to just like try to connect in your relationship in other ways. So we tried to do that. And it actually was really, it was helpful for us. But we
Starting point is 00:28:46 kind of just didn't know like what exactly the boundaries are that you set up. And yeah, that's a, it's a great question. It's something that I, I often tell couples to take sex off the table when it becomes, sex becomes the problem where either someone's not initiating and the other one is or they feel like mismatch libidos or someone just out of the mood or there's problems. What prompted you to say like maybe we should take sex off the table? What was happening in your sex life? I don't know really how to explain it other than we just weren't really connecting. Like we were having sex, but it was just really basic sex. It wasn't, like there wasn't that much passion. It was almost just like we were horny and wanted to have sex or felt like we needed to have sex or whatever.
Starting point is 00:29:36 I think many couples could benefit from taking sex off. And when I say take sex off the table, what I mean is penetration. And what I like about sex off the table is it sort of allows you to get to know each other again. You're like you put the building blocks. Like you're starting to build from the ground up again. like you're not going right into the passion and the heat. So you could also experiment with making out and just having a night where you're kissing and you're exploring, but you're not letting it go past making out.
Starting point is 00:30:12 You know, because that's like, think about when you were first dating and you had the butterflies in your stomach and you were excited and where is this going to go next. But why don't you kind of channel that feelings of discovery again, of curiosity, of newness? And then you could have a night where you say, well, let's just give each other massages, where one night it's all about you, Hannah, maybe the next time it's about him or you each take 15 minutes and you switch. And during that process,
Starting point is 00:30:37 it's like a really slow process of him using his hands over your body and you let you practicing asking for what you want, like faster or slower, even with the touch, pleasing each other. Maybe it's just a night of oral sex where it's just about your pleasure then it switches about his pleasure.
Starting point is 00:30:56 And so being more delusory. and more present and more mindful about where you want to go next with each sexual moment. Okay. Yeah. And I feel like, like, I don't know if it's maybe something kind of in my head, but we slept together, like, the first night we met each other. And then we kind of grew our relationship from there. And that's been, like, a lot of my experiences in college were more like one night stands or flings and this is my first real relationship like i feel like since we started with sex and we had so much chemistry and like when that starts to fizzle out at all like i worry that he's going to think our relationship's not good or you know and i then i think i probably put
Starting point is 00:31:51 that pressure on myself to have sex and have the sex like have really good sex and sometimes it's just not there. It's not there. So I, well, okay, so even better than for you guys to build now from a place that you kind of went right to the sex and then the relationship. And so it sounds like you need some period of really getting to know, know each other without just the rushing towards sex. But also if for you too, if you haven't had that experience, I think it's a really beautiful thing to just have a night of making out. and touching and and kissing and looking to each other's eyes and intimacy that so many times we do rush through these things and we don't really get to know each other and that you know I also
Starting point is 00:32:39 think that it shouldn't be all about penetration. So I get your 23. Yeah. You're 23. When you think of having great sex or you think of being a good lover, you think, well, I'm going to, I want to do all the moves and have penetration be really great and exciting every time and try all these positions. but what I'm encouraging you and all the listeners to do is to really make sex your own. Like make it. So I think it's totally acceptable to have a night of just oral or kissing or touching and seeing where it goes, role playing, dirty talk, watching porn together. And just putting that even on your calendar, like for the next month, you know, maybe once a week or twice a week, you could try something new.
Starting point is 00:33:19 You could check out our yes, no maybe list as well on our site that gives a lot of great suggestions. So that's what I'm talking about when I say off the table. Thank you. Well, we'll try that. Okay. Please let me know. You can download our pleasure planner as well. It helps couples plan their pleasure for the month.
Starting point is 00:33:38 It's a free guide on our site. Thank you, Hannah. I really appreciate your call. It's really helpful. Yeah, thank you so much. Bye. Bye. I love this question because there really is something to be said for slowing everything down.
Starting point is 00:33:52 And in fact, just go five times slower. The next time you're with your partner, you can practice. Going slow with everything, making out, taking each other's clothes off. Even if you are having penetrative sex, how can you slow it down? There's so much of sex that's oriented around orgasm and we rush everything or we want to rush to sex because we think it might not happen or I won't be as aroused or there's just so many things about it that really set us up for this. very one-dimensional way of thinking about sex and taking sex off the table and rebuilding what arousal and attraction and your sex life looks like is a great practice for a couple at any stage of your relationship.
Starting point is 00:34:42 That's it for today's episode. Thank you so much for listening to Sex with Emily. And if you love the show, please like, subscribe, and leave a review wherever you get your podcast. And hey, share this with a friend. or a partner, it might just spark something. It usually does. You can find me on Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, Facebook, and X. It's all at Sex with Emily. Oh, and I've been told I give really good email. So sign up at sex withemly.com for free guides and articles and more ways
Starting point is 00:35:12 to prioritize your pleasure.

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