Are you curious about open relationships? This morning on Global TV's The Morning Show, I discuss consensual non-monogamy in research and practice with the lovely Carolyn Mackenzie. Check out the video and full notes (we always run out of time!) below.

 

What did the study find?

• The study, conducted by the University of Michigan, involved 2100 people; they examined satisfaction, commitment, trust, jealousy and passionate love, which is the intense love feeling often described in new relationships.
• Researchers found no difference between monogamous couples and consensually non-monogamous (CNM) couples with regard to satisfaction and passionate love.
• CNM couples revealed lower levels of jealousy and higher levels of trust than monogamous couples.
• Overall, the researchers conclude that CNM and monogamous relationships offer similar benefits.
• To date, research that addresses CNM has been significantly biased with researchers using loaded terms like...

You're likely familiar with a wide range of birth control options from oral contraceptives to intrauterine systems. But have you heard of Fertility Awareness Methods (FAM) like the Justisse Method of Fertility Management. According to experts, the method is over 99% effective when used correctly, and not only preserves your health and fertility but enhances it by pointing you towards your own health needs and providing a means of monitoring improvement.

I had the opportunity to chat with the Rent Tent Sisters about reproductive health awareness and the Justisse method to learn more about their work and this health-focused approach to birth control. Check out the interview below and if you have any questions, please leave them in the comments below.

What inspired you to create awareness around fertility and reproductive health?

Amy: My work is inspired by my own health journey. As a teenager I had very, very heavy periods and irregular cycles. I had terrible...

Note from Dr. Jess: In this post, guest blogger Kathryn Peterson, offers advice specific to women who perform oral sex on penises. Obviously, people of all genders can enjoy fellatio and female energy is not unique to people who identify as female; regardless of your gender identity, hopefully you can learn from and experiment with these visualization and energy techniques to enhance your sexual pleasure.

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Fellatio is not just about men – I’ve learned that by using some ancient practices and new tricks, it can be a deeply intimate and pleasurable experience for both partners! One of my favorite ways to ensure mutual pleasure during fellatio practice, is by cultivating female sexual energy. This is a Taoist technique that has a similar counterpart in Tantra. In both systems, female sex energy begins at our breasts, flows down to our genitalia, and back up to our breasts. The breast is the female positive pole which symbolizes our strong heart center, while the...

The challenge of keeping your relationship exciting and fulfilling is universal. Relationship and sex therapists report that reigniting the passion is one of the most common challenges their clients face despite the fact that few people discuss the struggle publicly.

When long-term couples struggle to "spice up the bedroom" it's often because they have stopped taking the time to make one another feel special by trying new, exciting and fun things -- in and out of the sack. It's easy to fall into patterns and feel like you've done everything under the sun, but there is always a new adventure or sexy activity you can try. Start by trying something simple like setting aside a few hours with your sweetie to reconnect. The process of spicing up the bedroom can be fun and help increase intimacy and connection with your partner. Check out the video below for more info!

Trying new things can have several positive benefits on your relationship including:

• Releasing...

Want more passion in your relationship? First you have to understand the science of passionate love and then you can make specific behavioural changes. In the video below, Jess breaks down the science of passion in relationships with Jeff McArthur.

The Science of Passion:

• Passion and love don’t always go hand in hand; you can love someone deeply without feeling passionate desire for them sexually.
• Experts believe there are two phases of love: passion & attachment and the former only lasts 6-18 months.
• During the passionate phase, you experience spikes in dopamine, adrenaline & serotonin.
• During the attachment phase, you remain connected via oxytocin and vasopressin
• Each phase involves a chemical process; you can’t stay in passionate love forever.
• If you want to work on attachment-based love, perform exercises to boost the attachment chemicals: daily physical affection, purposeful eye contact, expressions of gratitude, learning...

All good (and not so good) things must come to an end and if you've recently undergone a break-up, you know that the transition out of a relationship can be simultaneously intense, challenging and exciting. Wherever you are in your post-relationship evolution, we've got some advice to help you move on and thrive in the next stage of your life:

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Make it a clean break. I know it’s tempting to want to check in once in a while or catch up for old time’s sake, but if you’re still not over him and are struggling to get back into the dating game, remaining friends can do more harm than good. You don’t have to pretend that he never existed or go out of your way to avoid him at all costs, but you can’t support one another through a tough break-up or you’ll remain reliant on one another for support.

Change your daily routine. Sometimes the hardest part of a break-up isn’t the loss of companionship, but the major shift in...

Have your kids ever walked in on you in the heat of the moment? Did you ever catch your parents gettin' busy when you were younger? Dr. Jess’ Facebook followers shared their views on this topic a few months back. Here’s what they had to say…

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"Why is it ok for children to see violence, yet any source of affection or lovemaking is frowned upon?" - Todd

"You didn't mean to have an orgy in front of your child. You do what you can do to ensure you and your partner are alone. But is it really that awful to have a child walk in on you?" - Chantal

"I walked in on my parents and years later after their divorce I walked in on my mother and her boyfriend too. Not exactly what I wanted to see and wouldn't recommend to others, but it wasn't devastating and hell bounding. Didn't make me need a shrink. The fighting in the home did though." - Bob

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"I think we raise better quality individuals when we share respect and honor our flesh. Make it normal...

Earlier this week, Jess hosted a Facebook Live broadcast in partnership with a cool new dating app, Zepeel. In the video below, she shares fun, practical and effective tips to make online dating more effective. Give it a watch and be sure to leave your top dating tips in the comments here.

Jess’ top tips summarized:

1. Creep your “competition”. Although fellow daters aren’t technically your competition, reading through profiles of similar daters (e.g. people of the same gender, age and region) will inspire you to craft a more effective profile. Questions to ask yourself: What do these profiles have in common? Do I want to avoid repetitive content (e.g. cliches)? What makes a profile stand out? How can I differentiate my profile?

2. Use your Twitter or Snap feed to populate your profile. It’s an accurate picture of your recent interests and activities. Share a few of your top tweets (without revealing your handle).

3. Ask your friends to write you a...

March Break is upon us which means that some of the busiest travel days of the year are just around the corner. And though vacations are supposed to be relaxing, many couples find that relationship strife spikes while they're on holiday. Jess joined Jeff McArthur to discuss the science of vacation fights and tips for enjoying a harmonious holiday. Watch The Global Morning Show segment replay below.

The Science of Vacation Fights:

• In airports, cortisol levels spike due to the stress and some research suggests that the noise of airports alone is tied to elevated levels of the stress hormone.
• When travelling, long lines and unpredictable wait times can exhaust your self-control “muscle”. You only have so much self-control and when this muscle becomes burnt out, you may not have any strength left for your partner.
• Research suggests that 1/4 of travellers find airports as stressful as moving! One-quarter consider airport travel as stressful as work.
• While on vacation,...

Sex and the brain is an area of active scientific investigation. Studying the brain helps us understand the big why questions in sex science.

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Sex is so much more complicated than just the act itself; it encompasses all of the attitudes, thoughts, and behaviours that revolve around it. Our sexual experiences aren’t only about having an intense orgasm but everything that comes before that. So you can imagine that there is an infinite number of why questions that have been asked and are still being asking today. The answers to these questions can help us not only better understand typical human sexuality but also it’s variations. There really isn’t a right or wrong when it comes to sexual experiences grounded in consent. One thing is certain though, having a healthy sex life starts with your psychological wellbeing. Poorly managed stress has consistently been linked to lower levels of sexual desire, contributes to a negative body image and often has an...