Author: Couples & Sexual Health Laboratory

Sexual Intimacy and Wellbeing Study

In this study, we recruited couples to participate in both longitudinal and daily online surveys about romantic and sexual relationships.

We look forward to sharing the results of this research with you soon!

The Partner Addition to the Childbirth Study

We recruited the partners of members of the Childbirth Study (Genito-Pelvic Pain in Pregnancy and Postpartum Study) at 3-months postpartum to participate in a couples’-focused substudy.

Check back for findings from this study!

Genito-Pelvic Pain in Pregnancy and Postpartum (The Childbirth Study)

In this study we recruited over 900 women when they were at 20-weeks gestation with their first child. Our goals were to assess the prevalence of genito-pelvic pain and pain during sex both during pregnancy and in postpartum, as well to determine the biological, social, and psychological factors that can contribute to this pain. 

We are excited to share the results of this study with you soon! Check back for our findings!

Couples Coping with Low Sexual Interest/Arousal Study

In this study we recruited couples in which a woman experiences distressing low sexual interest or arousal. Our goals are to understand possible protective factors – meaning aspects of the relationship that might promote or interfere with sexual desire, as well as sexual and relationship satisfaction – that might help couples dealing with low sexual desire and arousal. The results of this study could then be used to develop psychological treatments.

Check back soon for findings from this research!

CODEs: Couples Sexuality and Relationship Study

The CODEs Study was an online couple’s study, and our participants’ data acted as control data for the Couples Desire Study (SIADS Study).

Check back soon for findings from this research!

Postpartum Couples Study

Research on how couples manage discomfort or pain in the postpartum period.

Check back soon for findings from this project!

Pain and Pregnancy and Sex, Oh My!

by Meghan Rossi This blog is a summary of our published article: Rossi, M. A., Mooney, K. M., Binik, Y. M., & Rosen, N. O. (2019). A Descriptive and Longitudinal Analysis of Pain During Intercourse in Pregnancy. The Journal of Sexual Medicine. doi.org/10.1016/j.jsxm.2019.09.011 When women experience pain during intercourse, both they and their partners report lower […]

Does sex lead to well-being?

By Heather Oliveria Couples skipping in the streets, whistling, and smelling the roses are a few of the ways that media portrays the after-effects of sex. Although exaggerated, those examples resonate with us. Despite our familiarity with images of happy people with lifted moods post-sex, there has been little research examining how sex contributes to […]

My needs also matter! Why women with low sexual desire/arousal continue to have sex…

By Erin T. Fitzpatrick This blog is a summary of our published article: Hogue, J. V., Rosen, N. O., Bockaj, A., Impett, E. A., & Muise, A. (2019). Sexual communal motivation in couples coping with low sexual interest/arousal: Associations with sexual well-being and sexual goals. PLoS ONE, 14(7), e0219768. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0219768 Did you know that nearly 25% […]