Science Says Guys Assuming Their Partner ISN’T In The Mood Gets Them More Sex
It's a weird title, right? I thought so too when I first read a study that was published on Women's Health's site. Could it be that guys are actually out here sexually satisfying their partner with it (somewhat) being based on the fact that they are assuming that she isn't interested in doing it? How is that even possible? Based on a lot of the sessions that I have with married couples, when one partner assumes that the other isn't interested, that tends to result in a couple of hours of more sleep not extra orgasms. Still, there is some scientific data to back up the claim. If you stick around for a sec, I'll break it down as best as I can.
Here’s How Making (Sexual) Assumptions Is Resulting in More Satisfying Sex
First, let me start off by saying this study was based on 48 heterosexual couples who were in long-term relationships. Off top, two things about the study that stood out was the fact that 1) a lot of the men who participated totally underestimated how much their partner wanted to have sex and 2) they also assumed that when they didn't want to, their partner didn't either (hmph. Some of those fellas need to read articles like "If Your Husband's The One With The Lower Libido, Do This."). These two points alone reaffirm why it's so important for couples to verbally communicate their sexual needs, wants and expectations; preferably in that order (check out "9 Sex-Related Questions You & Your Partner Should Ask Each Other. Tonight."). In this case, the pun is totally intended when I say that closed mouths don't get fed.
However, the study revealed more than that. For 21 days, each couple had to fill out a 10-minute survey every night. Four things that the survey asked was how horny each person was, how sexually satisfied they were, how much they thought their partner wanted to engage in sex, and how often they actually had sex with their partner.
Now here's where it gets interesting. The researchers who conducted the study discovered that the guys who basically sucked at gauging when their wife or girlfriend wasn't in the mood were the same men whose ladies professed to have a really satisfying sex life (and life overall) with their husband or boyfriend. How weird is that?
Actually, it's not very, if you stop to really think about what's going on behind the scenes (or, in this case, underneath the sheets). Why would it be that a man who assumes that his lady doesn't want to have sex with him would end up with a woman who is truly satisfied with her sex life? The speculation is two-fold. First, if he's underestimating his partner's libido (or the timing of when she wants to have sex), that could increase the chances of him extending seduction and foreplay because, if he knew for sure that she wanted to get it on and in, he might not "try so hard" to "warm things up". Secondly, if his partner does happen to not have as high of a sex drive, because he assumes that she's not interested most of the time, she's more willing to oblige because she's not constantly being hounded to have sex all of the time. Interesting.
Why This Kind of Data Should Never Be Misconstrued or Manipulated
Although I like to share information, simply for sharing's sake (knowledge is power, right?), I do want to make sure that putting this kind of stuff out here is used for good and not for evil. What I mean by that is, I personally know some women who will read this and be like, "OK, so if I only want to have sex once a month and I don't act like I'm even in the mood then, the foreplay will get better, plus I won't have to do it as much." Yeah, naw. That's actually how assuming can totally backfire in another direction. While every couple is different, many studies reveal that happy couples who have a healthy relationship engage in coitus about once a week. That's not once a month but four times.
Personally, I don't care if the guy is 20 or 50, I don't know any man who is cool with only having sex once a month (if he's physically able to have it). Shoot, even once a week is probably more of a pacifier than anything else, but that's not my bottom line point.
Whether you and yours do it every day or only on special occasions, a rule of thumb that should be put in place for you both is assumptions nor manipulation should be brought into the bedroom—or any room of the house for that matter. Whoever has the higher libido (for the record, I know plenty of women who would be down to have sex daily as well) needs to voice that so they can come to some sort of compromise with their partner. Whoever needs more or better foreplay? They need to state that as well. Delaying how often sex happens, in hopes that your partner will be so "grateful" that they'll do whatever you want them to? That isn't a good foundation for true intimacy. Again, communication is.
Hmph. Most of us grew up hearing that assuming can make total asses out of us. Sexual assumptions are no exception. If you'd like your sex life to improve—whether it's based on frequency or foreplay—maybe start off by forwarding this along to your partner. If nothing else, it will probably get a conversation going about what you're (both) currently getting vs. what you're (both) currently desiring. Because, when it comes to true sexual satisfaction, it only counts when both people feel like they are truly fulfilled. Not only one or the other or one more than the other. Amen? Amen.
Want more stories like this? Sign up for our newsletter here and check out the related reads below:
6 Tips For Dealing With A Sexually Incompatible Spouse
How To Get In The Mood When You're Not Feeling It
Why You Should Stop Faking Orgasms ASAP
Apparently, There's A 'Six-Minute Rule' That Can Give You The Best Sex Ever
Featured image by Shutterstock
Different puzzle pieces are creating bigger pictures these days. 2024 will mark a milestone on a few different levels, including the release of my third book next June (yay!).
I am also a Professional Certified Coach. My main mission for attaining that particular goal is to use my formal credentials to help people navigate through the sometimes tumultuous waters, both on and offline, when it comes to information about marriage, sex and relationships that is oftentimes misinformation (because "coach" is a word that gets thrown around a lot, oftentimes quite poorly).
I am also still super devoted to helping to bring life into this world as a doula, marriage life coaching will always be my first love (next to writing, of course), a platform that advocates for good Black men is currently in the works and my keystrokes continue to be devoted to HEALTHY over HAPPY in the areas of holistic intimacy, spiritual evolution, purpose manifestation and self-love...because maturity teaches that it's impossible to be happy all of the time when it comes to reaching goals yet healthy is a choice that can be made on a daily basis (amen?).
If you have any PERSONAL QUESTIONS (please do not contact me with any story pitches; that is an *editorial* need), feel free to reach out at missnosipho@gmail.com. A sistah will certainly do what she can. ;)
ItGirl 100 Honors Black Women Who Create Culture & Put On For Their Cities
As they say, create the change you want to see in this world, besties. That’s why xoNecole linked up with Hyundai for the inaugural ItGirl 100 List, a celebration of 100 Genzennial women who aren’t afraid to pull up their own seats to the table. Across regions and industries, these women embody the essence of discovering self-value through purpose, honey! They're fierce, they’re ultra-creative, and we know they make their cities proud.
VIEW THE FULL ITGIRL 100 LIST HERE.
Don’t forget to also check out the ItGirl Directory, featuring 50 Black-woman-owned marketing and branding agencies, photographers and videographers, publicists, and more.
THE ITGIRL MEMO
I. An ItGirl puts on for her city and masters her self-worth through purpose.
II. An ItGirl celebrates all the things that make her unique.
III. An ItGirl empowers others to become the best versions of themselves.
IV. An ItGirl leads by example, inspiring others through her actions and integrity.
V. An ItGirl paves the way for authenticity and diversity in all aspects of life.
VI. An ItGirl uses the power of her voice to advocate for positive change in the world.
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Why We'll Probably Never Hear Lupita Nyong'o Share Her Relationship With The World
Lupita Nyong'o is sharing a transparent look into her life after a recent breakup.
In a cover story for NET-A-PORTER, the A Quiet Place: Day One star shed light on the significant heartbreak she experienced following the end of her relationship with ex-boyfriend and TV host, Selema Masekela.
As a public figure, Nyong'o, 39, sought to divulge the news of the breakup in hopes of presenting a more authentic perspective on the pain that follows a separation.
"I was living in a lot of pain and heartbreak," she told the publication. "I looked at the environment of my social media and thought I don’t want to be a part of this illusion that everything is always coming up roses. Surely there is a lesson for me to learn in this, and I just want to be real about it."
The Black Panther star went on to explain that her choice to be transparent with her fans about her breakup came from the certainty she felt after ending the relationship. “In my mind, when I shared my relationship status with the world, it was because I felt sure about it,” she said.
While she didn’t know how the news would land with her fans, she found relief in knowing she wasn’t alone in her experience.
“I knew how it could be interpreted; I knew it would have a life of its own,” she reflects. “But then I started to see the comments and people were being so loving and supportive. The ones that moved me the most were other people sharing their pain and their heartbreak.”
Nyong'o and Masekela went Instagram official in December 2022, publicly announcing their relationship in a couple's video. In October 2023, Nyong'o took to her personal Instagram account to share the news of her breakup in her caption, writing, "At this moment, it is necessary for me to share a personal truth and publicly dissociate myself from someone I can no longer trust.”
She continued the vulnerable note, "I find myself in a season of heartbreak because of a love suddenly and devastatingly extinguished by deception. I am tempted to run into the shadows and hide, only to return to the light when I have regained my strength enough for me to say, 'Whatever, my life is better this way.' But I am reminded that the magnitude of the pain I am feeling is equal to the measure of my capacity for love."
These days, Nyong'o tells NET-A-PORTER that she is prioritizing profound self-discovery that extends beyond her career. She notes having a deliberate and unhurried approach to understanding herself.
She also alludes to keeping her relationships private moving forward after noting it was "very, very sage" of her not to talk about her private life professionally in the days before her last relationship. "I'm going back to those days by the way," Nyong'o shares of her reinstated boundaries around her personal life.
Earlier this month, Nyong'o made headlines alongside her new boyfriend actor Joshua Jackson. Nyong'o and Jackson went through public splits from their respective SOs in October 2023, with the latter splitting from his long-time partner Jodie Turner-Smith following her divorce filing from the Dawson's Creek alum.
The pair have been spotted together as early as December 2023, but nothing screamed "couple" quite as loudly as their recent getaway to Mexico for Nyong'o's 41st birthday featuring passionate displays of affection.
"Our purpose in life is to love. And so you have to get back in it," she tells the outlet, seemingly alluding to her budding new romance.
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Featured image by Taylor Hill/Getty Images