How to Have a Better Sex Life

Partners can pass these back and forth during s*x. (Yes, guys get yeast infections, too.) So if you notice the symptoms -- itching, burning, or a thick, white discharge from the va**na or p***s -- treat it before the next time you get busy. Talk to your doctor if you think you have one.

It's the best way to get rid of bacteria you might pick up from touching your or your partner's ge****ls. That's key to stop infections from spreading. Wash with soap and water, and make it part of your post-s*x clean-up routine.

Since it's a good idea to p*e after a roll in the hay, don't forget to drink water. When you stay hydrated, you'll p*e more, which means that more bacteria will wash out of your body before infections can flare up.

Along with douches, drug stores offer lots of wipes, creams, and sprays that claim to help you "freshen up" your personal areas. Some of them are made with harsh soaps, detergents, shampoos, perfumes, or lotions that can make your skin break out. Just stick to a gentle rinse with warm water after s*x. And avoid scented tampons, pads, powders, and sprays, especially if you tend to get infections.

You don't have to hop out of bed and into the shower right away. But gently cleaning yourself after s*x can protect men and women from infections, like of the urinary tract (UTIs). Wash the area around (not inside) your ge****ls with plain warm water. You can try mild soaps, but if you have sensitive skin or you already have an infection, they might dry out or irritate the area. Men with fo****in should gently pull it back and wash underneath.

Unfortunately, men may learn a lot of what they know about s*x from po*******hy. The problem with that is women and men who appear in p**n are often in great physical shape. Both women and men are well-endowed, which can create unrealistic expectations.

Men may brag to friends and exaggerate the frequency of their s*xual activity, but unlike women, men are less likely to talk about insecurities they have surrounding s*x. The result is that men create distorted pictures of s*xual frequency and prowess for themselves and one another.

"Great s*x is in the eye of the beholder, or the be-hander," says Patti Britton, a clinical s*xologist and author of The Art of S*x Coaching. "For some men, it might be the ability to produce fantabulous multiple or***ms in their partner. For other men, it might mean being able to last three minutes. Being a great lover means becoming a great lover to your particular partner, and that requires doing something very difficult: opening your mouth."

An Ohio State University study found young men think about s*x about 19 times per day (as compared to young women who think about it 10 times daily). Despite it being on men's minds much of the time, men still remain confused about what great s*x is, and how to have it. Men face both mental barriers and physical barriers to great s*x. They may be plagued with self-doubt, and cling to myths and misperceptions about s*x. Physically, many men could use some work on the mechanics of lo******ng.

In the movies, s*x always looks great. But if you're like a lot of men, s*x may not be as good as you think it could be. You might feel anxiety, concerns about your performance, or even self-consciousness about your body. No matter what the scenario, it just feels like you're not having s*x as often as everyone else.