Latest news with #LorraineGrover
Daily Mail
18-06-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
Revealed: The X-rated sex practice older women are choosing to boost lacklustre love lives - as 70 per cent say they're starved of intimacy
Most coupled-up women over 50 are unsatisfied in the bedroom and some are resorting to extreme methods to compensate, a survey has suggested. The poll found that 69 per cent of older women aren't happy with their sex lives, with one in 20 women so starved of intimacy they have considered paying for sex. An additional 11 per cent debate having an affair to boost their love life. The poll suggested that male difficulties with erectile dysfunction could be driving these bedroom busts. Of the men surveyed in the poll, almost half (44 per cent), admitted they avoid sex with their partner because of erection problems. However stress was another common reason for dodging intimacy, as well as back pain. Just under one in five men said they had previously faked an illness to get out of love making. Lorraine Grover, a psychosexual therapist, said the results were sadly unsurprising. 'These findings highlight how intimacy can quietly fade in long-term relationships as couples reach midlife and beyond,' she said. 'Many assume desire naturally declines with age, but emotional closeness and sexual satisfaction remain crucial for a healthy relationship well into later life. 'When those disappear, it can leave partners feeling isolated and, sometimes, desperate.' However, she added that for men suffering from erectile dysfunction—sometimes called 'ED'—there are a range of potential solutions. 'It's common for men in particular to feel deeply troubled by declining sexual function but too embarrassed to discuss it, even with their partner,' he said. 'Many still see ED as a personal failure rather than a treatable medical condition, which puts relationships at risk. Starting the conversation is the first step to finding help.' Professor David Ralph, a consultant urologist at University College London Hospitals, said fortunately there are now a range of effective treatments. 'There are more treatment options than ever for managing ED—not just oral medications but also medical devices which offer a more permanent fix and according to clinical data, helping 85 percent of men within a month,' he said. While problems maintain an erection can be due to mental health issues, it can also be a potential sign of serious, and potentially deadly, health problems. These include issues like high blood pressure or high cholesterol, diabetes as well hormone imbalances and mental health issues like depression and anxiety. Impotency is thought to effect about half of men over 40. While most cases are isolated and nothing to worry about, repeated or sustained episodes of erectile dysfunction should be checked out by a GP. The new poll, of 2,000 people over 50 in committed relationships by impotency tech company Vertica Labs, also revealed it wasn't just women facing an unsatisfactory sex life. Almost half of married men surveyed, 46 per cent, also described the intimacy acts in their relationships as either 'non-existent' or 'under par'. While dissatisfaction in the bedroom can put a relationship in peril numerous studies suggest a lack of sex and intimacy can also be bad for your health. Regular sex and intimacy have been linked to several health benefits, including improving the condition of your heart, reducing stress and even boosting mental health. The new research follows a separate poll of 2,000 adults by the Royal College of Occupational Therapists which found men and women typically have sex 46 times a year—once every eight days. But some have far less frequent amorous activity, with a tenth reported having sex less than once a year. Earlier this month, researchers at the University of Manchester, also revealed women who have sex at least once a week are the happiest in their relationships. Their study showed that 85 per cent of women who had sex once a week described themselves as 'sexually satisfied'. Separate research, published last year, also suggested its not just the over 50s with a lust for life. A survey found 53 per cent of over 75s wanted to remain sexually active as they aged.
Metro
15-06-2025
- Health
- Metro
There are six different types of male orgasm, yes really
If you thought that men can only orgasm by ejaculating, well, you'd be sorely mistaken. Guys can actually experience six different types of orgasm. That's right, it's not just female pleasure that can feel complex and multifaceted. There's a whole world of orgasmic sexual pleasure for men that can be unlocked. But what are these different orgasms and how do you achieve them? Lorraine Grover, Psychosexual Therapist and Nurse Specialist, tells Metro that these big Os are each triggered in slightly different ways. 'Many men don't realise you can even orgasm without an erection,' she says. 'Understanding the different types of orgasm can help reduce pressure and improve pleasure.' It should be noted that not everyone will be able to achieve every type of orgasm, and 'that's okay'. 'Some men are more physically or emotionally tuned in, while others may need time, support or better health foundations. The key is curiosity, not comparison,' Lorraine adds. Well we asked a pharmacist and a sex expert to talk us through each one, and unlock this treasure trove of pleasure… Love reading juicy stories like this? Need some tips for how to spice things up in the bedroom? Sign up to The Hook-Up and we'll slide into your inbox every week with all the latest sex and dating stories from Metro. We can't wait for you to join us! This is the most familiar form of climax for men, and it's the one we see in movies and popular culture. 'It's the release of semen from the penis during orgasm which is usually achieved through physical or physiological sexual arousal,' Superintendent pharmacist, Abbas Kanani, tells Metro. He explains there are two key phases to achieving this climax. 'The first is emission, where sperm moves from the testicles to the urethra and mixes with prostate and seminal vesicles fluids,' he says. 'The second is the ejaculatory phase, where pelvic muscles contract and push semen out through the urethra.' Psychosexual therapist Lorraine says it feels like a short, rhythmic release of tension with pelvic muscle contractions. But just because it's the most common type of orgasm doesn't mean it's always easy to reach. After all, only 60% of men reach this type of orgasm everytime they have sex. 'It still depends on healthy erections and arousal. If orgasm feels weak or hard to reach, it's often a sign to look at the foundations — blood flow, confidence, and timing,' Lorraine adds. Into less familiar territory now, with pelvic orgasms, which are… less explosive. These orgasms are a result of pelvic floor contractions, which can be achieved with little to no touch, according to Lorraine. They may not involve ejaculation at all. She says: 'This orgasm feels like internal pulsations radiating through the lower body.' Pharmacist Kanani explains that practising pelvic floor exercises can help increase the intensity of these orgasms, which can be achieved by contracting your pelvic floor during sex. Orgasms are pretty great, but for men it turns out ejaculating very regularly could also significantly reduce the risk of prostate cancer. In fact, if you ejaculate once every day you really limit the chances, while another study suggests that a staggering 21 orgasms a month reduces the likelihood of prostate cancer by 20%. This comes as new research found global deaths from the disease are likely to double in the next 20 years. 'By doing this, men can also control ejaculation, maintain an erection and enhance their orgasm,' he adds. If this is something you struggle with, Lorraine suggests devices like Vertica, which boost blood flow and help maintain erection quality, to increase your chances. 'They don't cause orgasm directly — but they support the physical ability to reach and enjoy one.' This one's more of a slow build and it sounds pretty earth shattering. Some may get a little shy, as this one is typically achieved through anal sex, but it promises unparalleled pleasure, according to the experts. For context, the prostate is a walnut-shaped gland in your pelvis that rests beneath your bladder and in front of your rectum, which is why it can be stimulated with anal. 'Yes, this orgasm is achieved by the stimulation of the prostate gland through anal but it can also be achieved by stimulating the perineum – the external area between your genitals and rectum,' Lorraine explains. 'This orgasm feels like a slow build to a powerful, full-body release.' Pharmacist Kanani adds that these orgasms are thought to be felt more intensely that an ejaculatory orgasm, but research is limited. 'They can be incredibly intense,' Lorraine agrees. 'But many men avoid them due to stigma or nerves. Once men feel safe and curious, they often describe it as one of the most rewarding kinds of climax.' The moral of this sexy story is that you don't need to cum to climax. 'A man can achieve climax without ejaculating or releasing even a small amount of semen,' pharmacist Kanani explains. He adds that this orgasm is achieved in the same way as an ejaculatory orgasm, and feels the same, although Lorraine adds that it's like 'a more focused climax with less intensity but faster recovery.' She says: 'These often occur in men who have practised edging and control, or if they've had multiple orgasms beforehand.' While these are a perfectly legitimate form of orgasm, pharmacist Kanani adds that if dry orgasms begin to happen frequently for you, you should consult a doctor, as it could indicate an underlying health condition. What's better than an orgasm? More than one climax, simultaneously. Lorraine explains: 'A blended orgasm combines stimulation of the penis and prostate, creating a deeper, more layered orgasm.' It feels like 'surface-level pleasure merged with a deeper full-body release'. 'Delayed ejaculation and kegel exercises help to achieve this type of orgasm, allowing for a build up of tension without ejaculation,' pharmacist Kanani adds. 'This can lead to multiple orgasms once ejaculation occurs.' The top tip (no pun intended) here is to relax and take your time to experiment, rather than rushing to the finish line. Finishing off (sorry!) we have multiple orgasms, and this is essentially what it says on the tin: lots of orgasms in close succession. In some bad new though, Kanani explains that this is a 'rare' occurence. More Trending 'It's harder to achieve for men because most men enter the refractory period where they become less responsive to sexual stimulation,' he explains. Lorraine adds that if you are going to unlock this level of pleasure, the first orgasm typically needs to be a dry one. If you do manage it, she says: 'It feels like successive waves of pleasure with little or no need for a break.' View More » 'These aren't common, but they are real. It takes awareness, confidence, and physical control. Let go of goal-oriented sex — when you focus on sensation over outcome, your body often surprises you.' Do you have a story to share? Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@ MORE: I walked Spain's lesser-known camino — it surprised me in the best way MORE: Dads share the 'terrifying, amazing, surreal' reality of watching your partner give birth MORE: I slept for 24 hours straight and realised something was seriously wrong
