Sex With Emily

I Don't Know What I Want Sexually (Help)

36 min
Feb 6, 20262 months ago
Listen to Episode
Summary

Dr. Emily addresses callers struggling with sexual identity, communication, and experience gaps in relationships. The episode emphasizes that sexual skill is built on curiosity, communication, and vulnerability rather than partner count, and provides practical advice for couples to rebuild intimacy and explore desires together.

Insights
  • Sexual experience is not determined by number of partners but by curiosity, attention, communication, and willingness to learn with a partner
  • Couples benefit from temporarily removing penetrative sex from their relationship to rebuild connection, presence, and arousal from the ground up
  • Vulnerability and honest communication about sexual desires—even admitting uncertainty—strengthens relationships and enables partners to explore together
  • Masturbation is a healthy sexual practice that should be normalized in relationships rather than shamed, and can be incorporated as part of shared intimacy
  • Consent for new sexual experiences requires enthusiastic agreement, not reluctant acceptance; 'hell yes' or 'hell no' framework prevents relationship damage
Trends
Growing normalization of discussing sexual health and pleasure in mainstream media and relationshipsShift from performance-based sex to presence-based, communication-driven intimacy in long-term relationshipsIncreased acceptance of diverse sexual practices (anal play, prostate stimulation, role reversal) among younger couplesRecognition that sexual exploration and growth continues throughout entire lifespan, not just early relationship stagesCouples therapy incorporating sexual behavior specialists to address intimacy issues alongside communication problemsDestigmatization of masturbation as essential sexual wellness practice rather than threat to relationshipsEmphasis on mutual pleasure and female sexual agency over traditional penetration-focused modelsUse of structured tools (pleasure planners, yes/no/maybe lists) to facilitate sexual communication and planning
Topics
Sexual experience and skill developmentPartner communication about sexual desiresMasturbation in committed relationshipsTaking sex off the table to rebuild intimacyProstate stimulation and anal playSexual dominance and submission dynamicsSwinging and partner swappingOrgasm techniques and sexual pleasureSexual vulnerability and shameMismatched libidos in relationshipsSexual self-discovery and explorationCouples therapy for sexual issuesPorn consumption in relationshipsSexual confidence and performance anxietyConsent and boundary-setting in sexual experiences
Companies
Dame Products
Mentioned as recommended product in Shop Sex with Emily store for supported sex positioning
Magic Wand
Waterproof vibrator recommended and curated in Shop Sex with Emily product store
Crave
Vesper massage candle product featured in Shop Sex with Emily curated collection
WeVibe
Touch clitoral vibrator recommended in Shop Sex with Emily store
B-Vibe
Beginner anal kit recommended for prostate exploration and anal play
Jeju
Hera rabbit vibrator featured with promotion code EMILY20 for 20% off
People
John Gottman
Relationship expert referenced for couples therapy approach involving taking sex off the table
Quotes
"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."
Dr. EmilyOpening segment
"Communication is a lubrication."
Dr. EmilyMid-episode
"Experience is not a numbers game. I've eaten a lot of meals. It doesn't make me a chef."
Dr. EmilyPost-Mackenzie call
"If it's about swinging or threesomes, it's got to be a hell yes. And if you're not a hell yes, then we got to stick with the hell no."
Dr. EmilyAlex call segment
"It really is about letting go and being free and not judgmental and open. It always can get better."
Dr. EmilySarah call conclusion
Full Transcript
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. It 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. Well, on 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. 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, why 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 if you've been listening to this show for a while, you know I'm not about random sex toys or gimmicks. I'm about tools that actually support your pleasure, your communication, and your connection. Well, that's exactly why we created the Shop Sex with Emily store. Everything in there is curated by me and my team. And these are products I trust, I recommend to clients, and would tell my friends about. I do tell my friends about what I talk about all the time. Whether you're exploring solo pleasure, looking to reconnect with a partner, or you really just want something body safe and beginner friendly, we've organized it so you don't feel overwhelmed. People love the Dame Pillow for supported sex, the Magic Wand Waterproof. Oh my God, it's so good. Crave Vesper, Massage Candles, Joe Flavored Lube, WeVibe Touch, Clitoral Vibrators. There's just so many things on there because pleasure shouldn't be confusing. It should feel empowering. You can check it out at shop.sexwithemily.com and find something that supports where you are right now or just click the link in the show notes. Also, keep an eye out for curated collections coming soon. We have Mackenzie, 30, from Florida. Tell me what's going on. So my husband and I have been together for 10 years and twice within the last like eight months, he had been talking to other people like outside of our 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, I guess the way we're like sexually charged has always been kind of off. 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. 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 phone. 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 you said it, you're like, but all these things have been happening. 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 Mackenzie 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, I get that. I understand that he's asking you what you want, what turns you on. And that could feel a little bit stifling because you don't have the answer. Maybe you 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, cause I've said, well, you know, obviously I don't have as much experience as him. Um, and that was 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 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 caught up 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. 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, 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 you to be less hung up on that and more like coming together on this sex life of yours and saying, 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 our 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 turns you on, you guys could do have some nights where maybe you're doing some mutual masturbation or, you know, you're going off taking time for yourself to masturbate and to really think about what turns you on. But I didn't know when I wasn't married in my twenties. 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 becoming expert golfer or something. Like you really are 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 kind of portray that to him just because like, I don't know, there's like things that I see 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 asked me what I want, I would so love to be able to answer that question. However, I've learned that there's some, there's something I need and I really need your help with this. I'd like to set aside time where we're exploring together. Maybe one night's all about your pleasure and he's pleasing you and he's going down on 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 Volvo owners, we just don't all have fantasies. A lot of penis owners don't either. So, and 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 to the podcast, surrounding yourself by sex positive people, follow other sex accounts on 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 um the texts in his phone oh yeah I mean we're like we're going to a couple counseling and she actually like has an extensive background in like sexual behaviors and affairs so we just started great well that really great self and I love that you both going which is incredible I can tell you how many times there couples where one person partner doesn want to go So you both showing up And so now I think it's just time for you, Mackenzie, 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 realized that I have a journey to do. I have to figure it out. You know, we did a great 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, Mackenzie. Thank you for calling in. I really appreciate it. Thank you. It's going to help a lot of people too. Thank you. 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 say this enough either, is that, listen, experience is not a numbers game. I don't care how many people you sub with that I can tell you firsthand. I was with many people who were like, oh, that person subbed with all these people, and they were not my best lovers. Maybe for them it was a numbers game, and they just kind of kept knocking, and now I'm going to do this one, and 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, 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 per se. That's how I feel about that. Let me know what you think. This is from Dan, 25 in Washington. 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'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. 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. 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. 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, this show is, it's not a typical conversation. A lot of people aren't talking like this with their partners. 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, 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 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. 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 a mutual masturbation where you're lying side by side and she's 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 go upstairs and knock one out. Okay, babe, I'll be down here finishing work. Like, that's how it should be. 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 and 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, 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. Okay, let's be real. Confidence is sexy in and out of the bedroom. 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And the best part, it's all natural, non-invasive, and totally shower friendly. You can literally work out your sexual wellness while you wash your hair. It's iconic. Right now, Bathmate Direct is giving our listeners 10% off when you use code SWE10 at bathmatedirect.com. That's bathmatedirect, B-A-T-H-M-A-T-E-D-I-R-E-C-T.com. Use code SWE10 for 10% off. So head to bathmadedirect.com, use SWE10 and level up your confidence. Hi thanks for calling in Oh my goodness My husband 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 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 like mastered the handjob, which was very, very exciting for me. I mean, it took me it took me 14 years of our marriage to get him off fully by myself with a handjob. So good for you. OK, I know. That's a commitment. So my next venture is I really want to give him a prostate orgasm. 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. 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-Vibe, 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 a little butt plug in there for us. Do it. That's a great birthday gift. I cannot imagine a better gift. The problem is, is I'm a 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, 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 yeah and it kind of freaks me out I don't I don't know what to do okay is it something that you could talk to him about outside the bedroom and just say I've notice you put my hand on your neck show me what you want and then you just see what he wants and then you can 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 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 gonna 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. 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 on his neck. 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 try this, especially for his birthday. 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 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 them up but I'm like I'm not dominant particularly but I 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. 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 could 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 him in other ways is going to be really, really hot and a wonderful birthday present. Thank you so much. I really appreciate that. I got the anal lube ready. It's just, I think it's just the mental block. It is a mental block. Yeah. The total, and, and, and just, they look so big. They're a lot big. They seem much bigger than a finger. And so I'm just, you know, I'm just worried about it because it's so big, you know, like. It's the beginner anal kit. So I would start really, really with the small one and put a lot of lube on it. Make sure that he's lued 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? 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 lube and going slow. And then we surprised that what kind of space they could find, especially if he likes the finger, he's probably going to be okay. Even with the small, definitely start with the small and you'd be surprised what the anus can handle. Well, I'm going to try it and let you know. I mean, it's, it's been amazing what we've been able to accomplish just from letting go and being free with each other. So it's, it's, out as 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 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 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. It was 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. 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, we have Alex, 24 in Canada, and he wrote, hey, Dr. Emily, my girlfriend and I have 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. My girlfriend finds that really intriguing and they want to do sort of a soft swap with having the girl give the guys oral sex. Three of us would be in separate rooms and take turns each night. Part of me wants this 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? 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 threesomes, it's got to be a hell yes. 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. She's hanging out with them. She's seeing it. She experiencing from their perspective what goes on And maybe you need a little bit more information You need to feel safer You need to see your girlfriend again So stick to your ground trust what you feeling right now 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. Well, 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 it, 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 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 mismatched libidos or someone's not in 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, in your sex, 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. And 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, 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. 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's 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 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. And so being more deliberate 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 um 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 gonna think our relationship's not good or you know and I then I think I probably put 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, 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 think that it shouldn't be all about penetration. So I get your 23, right? Your 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. 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. We'll put it on our calendars. Please let me know. You can download our pleasure planner as well. It helps couples plan, plan their pleasure for the month. 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. 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. 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 podcasts. 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 sexwithemily. Oh, and I've been told I give really good email. So sign up at sexwithemily.com for free guides and articles and more ways to prioritize your pleasure. 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 clitoral vibes Jeju is known for. Here's what I love. The external ears are powered by the same motor as the Mimi, which you've heard me rave about before. I love the Mimi. And the internal arm delivers deep, satisfying vibrations right to your G-spot. It's super soft, ultra quiet, and it moves with your body. So whether you're using it solo or with a partner, it has this feel like it's made just for you. And honestly, it's kind of a no-brainer. Everyone loves the Hera. 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