7 Scientifically-Proven Ways To Have Better Sex

I understand just as much as anybody that a lot of people want to have better, hotter, mindblowing sex, and more of it, which is why these proven hacks for better sex are certainly going to come in handy. Of course, I wanted to select the things that were super easy to do because, while many of us want good sex in our lives, we also don’t have the time or the funds to treat our partner to an all-inclusive trip to Fiji complete with candlelit dinners prepared by Gordon Ramsay (it sure does sound romantic, though).

So instead of packing your bags, taking a long flight, and spending a week in a tropical paradise (and refinancing your house to do so), you can instead invest in some of these science-backed tricks for better sex below, which cost nothing (or very little) to do. These things that sexually satisfied couples do require just a little bit of effort, and include everything from incorporating sex toys to cuddling to even the way you discuss sex with your partner. So if better sex is what you seek right now, see below for a variety of easy options from studies and surveys.

1. Try New Things

A study of over 38,747 couples aged 18-65 who are married or living together found that “trying new things” was the strongest element toward maintaining a great sex life. Over one-third of sexually satisfied couples from the survey selected “passionate” as the best word (out of six) to describe their latest sexual encounter. On top of that, one-third of respondents also said trying new things kept intercourse as passionate as it was in their early days of courtship.

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2. Incorporate Sex Toys

Want another reason to use your vibrator? A study from the Kinsey Institute found that women who masturbate using vibrators experience “higher levels of desire, arousal, lubrication, and orgasm.”

Try: Bombex Temptation Vibrator, $38.99, Amazon

3. Cuddle

Research published in the Archives of Sexual Behavior discovered that post-sex affection, such as cuddling and all that other gooey stuff, translated to higher sexual satisfaction among couples. This was found to be true in both genders, meaning everyone loves some cuddling.

4. Use Lube

Yes, lube. It's inexpensive and makes all the difference. Sex researcher, Debby Herbenick, Ph.D. at Indiana University concluded that women who use lube during sex have significantly more sexual satisfaction than those who don’t. Herbenick and her colleagues surveyed 2,453 women who were were assigned to use one of six water- or silicone-based lubricants during intercourse or masturbation. Results found that all different types of sex were enhanced by both lubricants, though water-based performed better during anal sex, as it reduces the risk of anal tearing. Which sounds terrifying.

Try: Shibari Intimate Lubricant, $14.51, Amazon

5. Toss On Some Tunes

In the Music Makes it Home study, it was found that couples who cranked some tunes at home with their partners had 67 percent more sex compared to those who didn’t listen to much music at all. These couples were found to express more love with each other as well. Win-win!

6. Say "I Love You"

Researchers from Chapman University, California State University, Sonoma State University, and the Kinsey Institute at Indiana University surveyed nearly 39,000 people who had been in relationships for at least three years and ultimately discovered the importance of saying “I love you" during sex. It was found that 75 percent of sexually satisfied men and 74 percent of women reported that “I love you” was said during their sexual encounter, compared to 49 percent of sexually dissatisfied men and 44 percent of women. This led researchers to conclude how important this phrase truly is in relationships, no matter how long you’ve been together.

7. Talk About Sex In This Way

Seems easy enough, doesn’t it? According to this same study by Chapman University, California State University, Sonoma State University, and the Kinsey Institute at Indiana University, talking about certain sexual topics will make a partner more sexually satisfied. What’s better: the more of these topics you breach, the more sexually satisfied partners were. These are the most important things to communicate sexually, by importance: Praise your partner for something they did in bed, are asked by your partner for something you want in bed, ask for something you want from your partner, talk on the phone or email with your partner during the day to tease about something they wan, ask for feedback on how something felt.

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