Sex/Relationships

4 Digital Rules You Should Follow When You're in Love

Online issues can affect real-life relationships

By Jamie Ducharme February 14, 2019

IUD Insertions Spiked After Trump's Election, Study Says

Long-acting contraceptive insertions rose by nearly 22%

By Jamie Ducharme February 4, 2019

Artificial Intelligence Could Change the Fertility World

From apps to IVF

January 17, 2019

I Spent My Fertile Years Training to Be a Surgeon. Now, It Might Be Too Late for Me to Have a Baby

Prioritizing my career over my personal life has come at a cost

By Arghavan Salles January 3, 2019

The Most Common Type of Birth Control In the U.S. Might Surprise You

About two-thirds of women use some form of it

By Jamie Ducharme December 19, 2018

Sex Really Does Make Your Life Better—Even As You Age

It's an important part of overall health

By Jamie Ducharme December 13, 2018

This Is the Best Way to Break Up With Someone, According to Experts

It's never easy, but you can make it less painful

By Jamie Ducharme October 4, 2018

What to Know About the Surprising Modern History of Contraception

"You hear women in the present saying that men should take responsibility, but men were given responsibility for millennia and they didn’t do it very well."

By Lily Rothman September 26, 2018

Syphilis Rates In Babies Are At a 20-Year High, CDC Says

Twice as many newborns had syphilis in 2017 as in 2013

By Jamie Ducharme September 25, 2018

Why STD Rates Are Higher Than They’ve Ever Been

Inadequate funding may be to blame

By Jamie Ducharme August 29, 2018

Americans Are Getting STDs at Record Rates

2017 was a record-setting year, for the fourth year in a row

By Jamie Ducharme August 28, 2018

Why Getting Back Together With Your Ex May Be Bad for Your Health

On-again, off-again relationships can be risky

By Jamie Ducharme August 27, 2018

How to Use Dating Apps Without Hurting Your Mental Health, According to Experts

Swipe smart

By Jamie Ducharme August 16, 2018

Micro-Cheating Could Be Ruining Your Relationship. Here’s What to Do About It

Infidelity is everywhere: Studies have shown that around 23% of married men and 12% of married women have at some point had sex with someone other than their spouse. But while something like extramarital sex...

By Jamie Ducharme July 31, 2018

Why Having Sex Makes You Feel Better the Next Day, According to Science

Sex has long been linked to a lengthened life and a lower risk of cardiovascular disease. But new research suggests that it may have powerful emotional benefits, too: it seems to strengthen the bonds of...

By Andrew Gregory July 26, 2018

Should You Stay Friends With an Ex? Here's What Experts Say

There are pros and cons

By Jamie Ducharme July 10, 2018

How To Tell If You're In a Toxic Relationship — And What To Do About It

According to experts

By Jamie Ducharme June 5, 2018

The Best Way To Get Over a Breakup, According to Science

Think negative thoughts

By Andrew Gregory May 29, 2018

Older Couples Are Increasingly Living Apart. Here’s Why

"We don’t need to be together 24 hours a day”

By Judith Graham / Kaiser Health News May 10, 2018

Poll: American Seniors Have Active Sex Lives

And most of them are sexually satisfied

By Jamie Ducharme May 3, 2018

How a Bad Relationship Can Literally Make You Sick

It's not just about your feelings

By Keck School of Medicine USC / Quora May 1, 2018

The One Thing Happy Couples Do Every Day to Keep Their Relationship Strong

'It basically communicates, ‘I’m on your side’'

By Danielle Friedman / Health.com February 14, 2018

Friends More Similar Genetically Than Strangers: Study

You may have more in common than you think

By Jamie Ducharme January 12, 2018

Frozen Embryos Are Just as Good for IVF as Fresh Ones

Two new studies find that fresh and frozen embryos lead to similar pregnancy rates and live births in IVF

By Alice Park January 11, 2018

Smelling Your Lover's Shirt May Make You Less Stressed

The scent of a romantic partner can help lower stress levels, finds a new study

By Amanda MacMillan January 9, 2018

Regular Ibuprofen Use May Contribute to Male Infertility, Study Says

People who take Advil or Motrin could be affected

By Jamie Ducharme January 9, 2018

Fewer High School Students Are Having Sex

Across the U.S., the number of high school students who report having sex has dropped, according to new federal data. The report, based on a nationwide self-reported survey of high school students and published by...

By Alexandra Sifferlin January 4, 2018

Birth Control for Men? Researchers Will Test a Hormone Gel in 2018

A new kind of male birth control may be on the horizon. The largest clinical trial to date on hormonal male contraception is slated to begin in the first half of 2018, and aims to...

By Amanda MacMillan December 22, 2017

People Are More Interested In Sex Over the Holidays

Regardless of what season it is where you are

By Amanda Macmillan / Health.com December 22, 2017

This 26-Year-Old Woman Had a Baby From a Frozen Embryo Only a Year Younger Than Her

It's believed to be the longest frozen embryo to result in a live birth

By Jamie Ducharme December 20, 2017

Teenagers Today Are Having More of This Type of Sex

Teenagers and young adults are engaging in a wider variety of sexual practices than they did 20 years ago, according to a new study in the Journal of Adolescent Health. Among sexually active heterosexual young...

By Amanda MacMillan November 21, 2017

Hormonal Birth Control Is Linked to a Higher Risk of Suicide, Study Says

Contraceptives are effective ways to prevent pregnancy, alleviate menstrual pain and ease heavy bleeding, but the hormonal changes needed to accomplish that may have some negative psychological side effects. In a study published in the...

By Alice Park November 21, 2017

People Who Smoke Pot Have More Sex, Study Says

Marijuana can affect sexual lifestyles in various ways

By Amanda MacMillan / Health.com October 27, 2017

1 in 9 Men Have Oral HPV

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is one of the most common sexually transmitted infections in the U.S. It’s so common that federal experts say that nearly every sexually active man or woman will be infected with at...

By Alexandra Sifferlin October 16, 2017

Men Are More Satisfied By ‘Bromances’ Than Their Romantic Relationships, Study Says

Young men get more emotional satisfaction out of “bromances”—close, heterosexual friendships with other males—than they do out of romantic relationships with women, according to a small new study published in Men and Masculinities. Intimate male...

By Amanda MacMillan October 12, 2017

5 Easy Ways to Make Any Marriage Better

These simple strategies take just a few minutes, but the rewards are real

By Anthea Levi / Health.com October 11, 2017

While Moms Do Housework on Weekends, What Do Dads Do? Not Much, Study Finds

New research suggests that men kick back on their days off, while working women take fewer breaks from kids and chores.

By Amanda MacMillan / Health.com October 10, 2017

The Surprising Link Between Marriage and Heart Health

People in marriages that steadily get sweeter have lower cholesterol and healthier weight than marriages that stay the same, according to a new 16-year study. But both were preferable to marriages that got worse: couples...

By Amanda MacMillan October 9, 2017

You Asked: Can a Breakup Make You Sick?

Absolutely—especially if the emotional fallout is extreme.

By Markham Heid September 20, 2017

Teens Today Are Having Sex, Dating and Drinking Less Than They Used To

Contrary to popular belief, today’s kids are not growing up too fast. According to a new study published in the journal Child Development, they’re growing up slower than they used to. The researchers analyzed survey...

By Amanda MacMillan September 19, 2017

You Taste Food Differently When You're in a Relationship

People change and adapt when they're in a relationship—and not usually in ways that make them more unique. Studies suggest that over time, romantic partners can become more similar in subtle ways. Younger couples tend...

By Alexandra Sifferlin September 15, 2017

10 Things That May Be Wrecking Your Sex Drive

There are several factors both mental and physical

By Amanda MacMillan / Health September 14, 2017

This Is the Meanest Reason to Break Up With Someone

Rejection hurts. But it stings even more when you're turned down for another person: dumped because your partner found someone better, for example, or passed over for a great job because of a more qualified...

By Amanda MacMillan September 7, 2017

14% More Men Are Using Condoms: Study

Condoms are one of the best ways to prevent sexually transmitted diseases, but they are not an especially well-used form of birth control in the United States. However, new data indicates that 34% of men...

By Alexandra Sifferlin August 10, 2017

You Asked: How Many Calories Does Sex Burn?

Sex can be a good workout. But for a lot of us, it probably isn't. Here's what you need to know to optimize your calorie burn from sex

By Markham Heid August 9, 2017

More Than Half of Teens Are Having Sex and Most Use Birth Control

Just over half of American teenagers are sexually active, and most report using some form of contraception, according to new research. The study from the National Center for Health Statistics found that 55% of teens...

By Alexandra Sifferlin June 22, 2017

Sex/Relationships

How Often Do People Lie on Dating Apps? Here's What Two Researchers Found

Why Do So Many Couples Look Alike? Here’s the Psychology Behind the Weird Phenomenon

A New Male Birth Control Pill is Being Tested. Here's What to Know

This Type of Date Night Activity Could Make You Feel Closer to Your Partner