sex

The Sex Lives of Insects

Melody Ko MD — Wed, 07 May 2025 15:47:43 +0000

Sex is always a hot topic. Sex in insects is even more intriguing. Most people’s first reaction when they think of insects, is disgust. After all, insects are (most of them anyway) ugly, strange, and a nuisance when they invade our households. But they are fascinating creatures and easy to study because they are just about anywhere! In fact, there are more insects in the world than any other type of animal, no matter how you measure their numbers, whether in terms of individuals or species.

Are Sex and Pickleball Keys to Longevity?

Joe Schwarcz PhD — Fri, 14 Feb 2025 22:44:36 +0000

This article was first published in The Montreal Gazette.

Want to lead a long life? Play pickleball and have sex. Who says so? Dan Buettner, a guy who knows something about longevity. After all, he is responsible for popularizing the concept of “blue zones,” regions of the world where people apparently have exceptionally long lives. And therein lies an interesting and somewhat controversial story.

Does peeing after sex prevent UTIs?

Ada McVean M.Sc. — Fri, 11 Aug 2023 06:17:37 +0000

This article was first published in The Skeptical Inquirer.

Want to cuddle? Personality is likely to get you further than oxytocin.

Joe Schwarcz PhD — Fri, 10 Dec 2021 21:34:54 +0000

Why do people cuddle? According to a slew of media reports, that answer lies in oxytocin, dubbed either the “cuddle chemical” or the “love hormone.” English pharmacologist and neurophysiologist Sir Henry Hallett Dale was the first to isolate oxytocin from pituitary extract in 1921, eventually receiving the 1936 Nobel Prize in medicine and physiology for the discovery. Dale’s work on oxytocin was prompted by his interest in the ergot fungus, extracts of which had a long history of use for stimulating the contractions of the pregnant uterus. The question was why.

Is "Spanish Fly" really an aphrodisiac?

Joe Schwarcz PhD — Fri, 03 Dec 2021 23:24:20 +0000

The extract contains cantharidin, a substance that supposedly increases sexual desire. Not only does it not do that, it may eliminate all desire permanently. When ingested, cantharidin can kill. But when used in small doses topically, it can be an effective treatment for warts.

The Kiss of Death- Almost

Joe Schwarcz PhD — Wed, 04 Aug 2021 20:11:04 +0000

An Italian lady showed up at a clinic complaining of generalized itching and swelling of her lips about 30 minutes after making love with her husband. The reaction disappeared after treatment with cetirizine (Reactine). Tests showed that she had no food allergies. Doctors finally traced the symptoms to kissing her husband during lovemaking! Actually, the problem wasn't the kissing, one would assume that this activity occurred on numerous occasions without triggering the symptoms. This time though the husband had taken an antibiotic, bacampicillin, about two hours earlier.

Facts And Myths Of Male Fertility: Tight Underwear, Hot Tubs, Marijuana, And More

Ada McVean B.Sc. — Wed, 26 Aug 2020 17:46:06 +0000

This article was first published in The Skeptical Inquirer.

The "Chemical of Love"

Joe Schwarcz PhD — Thu, 13 Feb 2020 21:22:50 +0000

The aphrodisiac story of chocolate is an ancient one, going back all the way to 1519 and the first visit of the Spanish explorer Hernando Cortes to Mexico. Cortes found much to his liking here, in particular the Aztec princess Dona Marina. Apparently the affection was returned because the princess introduced Cortes to a drink made from the pods of a tree which the Aztecs called "chocolatl," or "food of the gods." The concoction was also laced with dried chili peppers, and as Dona Marina said, would "stimulate amorous adventures."

They Say It’s Genetic But My Parents Don’t Have It

Jonathan Jarry, MSc — Tue, 11 Jun 2019 15:18:12 +0000

When we’re told a condition we have is “genetic”, it’s tempting to think it means our parents had it, and their parents before them, all the way up to some mysterious Eve-bites-the-apple event. But if you’re told you have muscular dystrophy and your parents don’t have it, what’s going on? A trip to IKEA may help answer that.

How You Can Save Your Child from Some Cancers

Alexandre Grant, OSS Contributor — Wed, 17 Apr 2019 13:00:00 +0000

That’s right, there is a vaccine against cancer, and it’s been on the market since 2006. This vaccine protects against the most dangerous types of human papillomavirus, a sexually transmitted virus often referred to as HPV.

Can Women Ejaculate? That Depends on Whom You Ask.

Ada McVean B.Sc. — Tue, 11 Sep 2018 15:45:40 +0000

Take-home message:
-Women have an organ analogous to the male prostate that is able to produce a liquid that can be ejaculated upon orgasm. Not all women produce ejaculate.
-The scientific study of female ejaculation and the female prostate has been greatly hindered by bad science, cultural taboos and sexism.

Happy Birthday, Viagra

Christopher Labos MD, MSc — Thu, 05 Apr 2018 19:30:30 +0000

Twenty years ago last month, a medication called sildenafil was approved by the FDA. It is perhaps better known by its brand name of Viagra. Very few medications have enjoyed such widespread pop-culture attention. Sildenafil was mentioned in numerous TV shows, was endorsed by actors and politicians like Bob Dole, and was the subject of a huge marketing campaign. In the early 2000’s it was almost impossible to watch TV without seeing a Viagra ad.

Rabbits, Reproduction and Making Mochi on the Moon

Ada McVean B.Sc. — Sun, 01 Apr 2018 15:56:09 +0000

Rabbits have an undoubtedly important association with Easter, but they’ve played important roles in many societies through the ages.

Apples and Sex

Joe Schwarcz PhD — Tue, 29 Jul 2014 12:38:17 +0000

Did Eve eat an apple to have a better sex life with Adam? One might come to that conclusion after reading a paper published in the Archives of Gynaecology and Obstetrics with the alluring title “Apple consumption is related to better sexual quality of life in young women.” Indeed one might come to that conclusion if one ignores the poor quality of the paper as well as the fact that the Bible never mentions an apple as being the fruit of the tree of knowledge.

Watermelon and Sex

Joe Schwarcz — Sat, 10 Mar 2012 16:56:27 +0000

“Watermelon has ingredients that deliver Viagra-like effects to the body’s blood vessels and may even increase libido.” When a major university, such as Texas A&M, puts out a press release with such a claim, it is guaranteed to get a great deal of media response.