How Much Can You Trust 'I Love You' During Sex?
While I wish that what I'm about to say was a rare occurrence, it absolutely is not. I'd say that at least once every few months or so, a (single) woman will rave to me about how their new man has recently expressed just how into her he is.
When I ask her to share with me what he's done to make her think that, first she'll look at me like I'm patronizing her (I promise you, I'm not). Then she might say things like he spends lots of time with her. But 8.5 times out of 10, what really seals the deal, in her mind, is the fact that he tells her that he loves her.
On the surface, that's a beautiful thing. But my journalistic background always beckons me to ask for more details. No joke, a little more than half the time, the conversation goes something like this:
Me: "Soooo…he told you that the first time…when?"
Her:(now looking at me like "What does that have to do with anything?!") "While we were having sex."
Yeah. Naw. Unless he's said it again without any prompting on her part and when they are out of the bed, I'm not even the least bit moved. Call me a cynic if you want, but research, observance, and even a little bit of personal experience have taught me to be very discerning about "I love you" being expressed during sex.
Here's exactly why I say that:
Do You Know What Your Brain Is Going Through During An Orgasm?!
You'd have to be an 80's baby to recall the commercial that featured a person holding up an egg, cracking it, and putting it into a hot frying pan. The egg represented your brain. The frying pan represented drugs. The person would end the lil' skit by saying, "This is your brain", then after the egg started to cook, they would follow that up with, "This is your brain on drugs. Any questions?"
Where am I going with this? Aside from the extreme feelings of euphoria orgasms provide, guess what drug they are compared to? Heroin. There's a part of our brain that's located right behind our left eye that's called the lateral orbitofrontal cortex. It's what literally controls our ability to reason and make logical choices; during an orgasm, this part of our brain totally shuts down. Meaning, no one can be trusted to make wise decisions during an orgasm.
Not only that, but according to a study that was published in the Journal of Neuroscience, both a man and woman's brain have a similar appearance of someone who is on heroin whenever they climax.
Would you trust a heroin addict if they expressed how much they loved you while they were high? Exactly.
Why Would A Guy Then Choose To Tell You He Doesn’t Love You After Sex?
It could be an article in and of itself, just how manipulative it is to ask a man to tell you that he loves you — again, for the first time — while he's literally in you. What are you expecting him to say — "No, I'm using you for sex?!" No matter how "high" a guy may be, he's not stupid enough to insult his bedmate.
If you're doing this because you feel like if he says "yes", it's because he's being truly vulnerable during an intimate moment, think again. I have plenty of male friends who've told me that there are at least 3-5 women they've had sex with that they can't even stand. So, why did they do it? They were horny.
Moral to the story — just because sex with someone may be an intimate experience for you, that doesn't automatically or necessarily mean that they see it the same way.
If you really want a heartfelt answer, wait until you both are watching a movie while sitting on the couch. Better yet, try avoid asking him at all. Let him bring it up all on his own. That is far more reliable.
There’s a BIG DIFFERENCE Between “I Love You” and “I Love It” During Sex
Remember how I said that even a little bit of personal experience brought me to this conclusion? There are atheists who may say "Oh God!" during an orgasm (folks in porn do it all of the time and I doubt all of them have a strong spiritual foundation). Why? Because scientific research reveals that the oxytocin that increases during sex causes us to feel connected to a higher power (pretty deep, right?). A lot of times, folks don't mean to exclaim the Most High's name…they can't help it.
Along these same lines, sometimes sex can be so freakin' good that you feel the best word to use is "love". However, that doesn't always mean I love you; it could mean I love it — and by "it", I'm talking about the sex itself.
This is why I'm known for saying that I loathe the phrase "make love". Sex shouldn't be seen as a way to make love; it should be treated as a way to celebrate the love that exists outside of the bedroom.
So, am I saying that an "I love you" during sex can't be trusted at any time? No. A couple who's already said it when they're sane doesn't have much to worry about. I'm just saying that if you're not sure about how a man feels about you, trying to find out during coitus is not the time.
None of us are in our "right" minds while gettin' it on. This means you can't really trust what you ask. And you can't trust what you hear back either.
That's how truly (and literally) mind-blowing an orgasm is!
Featured image by Getty Images
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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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How A Stay At Switzerland's Luxurious 7132 Hotel Reminded Me To Live The Life I Deserve
Sometimes, as women—especially as single Black women—we simply need to be reminded that we are deserving of living a life we dream of. Even if that means creating it for ourselves. I recently set out on a weeklong trip to Switzerland, a trip I’ve been wanting to take for years, and near the end of my visit, I had an epiphany.
“DeAnna, this is the life you deserve,” I thought to myself as I took in the gorgeous bathroom in my suite at the famous 7132 Hotel and Thermal Spa. It was one of the most luxurious hotels (and bathrooms) I had ever stayed in—and that’s saying a lot for someone who often travels for work.
To help you better understand why this was such a mental awakening for me, I first need to give a bit of my backstory. I’m in my late thirties. I’m an attorneyand a journalist. I own a home and have traveled the world extensively. Essentially, I’ve done everything in life I set out to do. However, when it comes to dating, I struggle. Not because there is anything wrong with me per se, but because my career and “lifestyle” often create problems in my romantic relationships.
View from my hotel room
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I’ve been told everything from, ‘I can’t continue to date you because you seem to choose your career over wanting to settle down and have kids’ by a man after only the second date to ‘Maybe if you just sat down somewhere for a while, I’d actually wife you’ by someone who has honestly never proven themselves to be the settle down type. And these are only a handful of the things I’ve been told over the years.
It’s been frustrating, to say the least, and there have even been seasons where I purposely dimmed my light in hopes that my career wouldn’t push away potential suitors. I know what you’re thinking, “Girl, why would you even consider that? If they’re for you, it won’t matter what you do.” Hey, don’t judge me, but also, I one hundred percent agree.
My hotel bathroom
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That’s why this recent moment in Switzerland was right on time. When I first walked into the hotel to check in, I was blown away by the surrounding beauty. It was a five-star property with one of the world’s most famous thermal bathhouses. Yet, it was something about seeing that 90% of the hotel’s guests were couples, that forced me to sit back for a bit of introspection—while soaking in the thermal spa, of course.
As I went through the mental conversation, there was a battle of sorts. On one hand, I knew that being able to partake in experiences like the one I was having at that moment was important to me. I knew that, at times I actually love being able to dabble in the finer things—after all, I’ve worked hard to be able to afford them. On the other hand, and sadly, I knew that sometimes being a single Black woman that publicly showcases her “luxurious” habits can intimidate men and even scare them off from pursuing you under the guise of them feeling like they “can’t do anything for you, because you have everything.”
My hotel room
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So, what is a girl to do?
Do I minimize/hide the life and experiences that I have? Do I play down the hard work I’ve put in to get where I am professionally? Or, do I risk being single in exchange for being able to have said life, without backlash?
Luckily, the joy that I felt while being at this property won. There was something about taking a full day to simply pamper myself at the bathhouse and in my in-room steam shower and soaker tub, indulging in cuisine from a 2-star Michelin restaurant and doing all of this while surrounded by an amazing group of Black women that reminded me—this is certainly the life I was meant to live and that I deserve. Even if it means that right now, I’ll just have to provide it for myself until the right partner comes along. And honestly, I’m okay with that.
Restaurant at 7132 hotel
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