What is dyadic research, and why is it so important?

By Megan Muise As the name of our lab suggests, the majority of our research focuses on couples. We collect and analyze data from both members of the couple, which is often referred to as dyadic research. Dyadic research is important because it allows us to examine the influence one partner’s responses have on the […]
Couple Sex Therapy versus Group Therapy for Women with Genito-pelvic Pain

Co-authored by Elyse Burchill and Kat Merwin This post is a summary of our published article: Bergeron, S., Merwin, K. E., Dubé, J., & Rosen, N. O. (2018). Couple sex therapy versus group therapy for women with genito-pelvic pain. Current Sexual Health Reports, 10, 79-87. doi:10.1007/s11930-018-0154-5 Pain during sex: While it is not uncommon for women to experience pain […]
Becoming Four (Or More!): Consensual Non-Monogamy and Parenthood

Photo Source: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-passion-paradox/201208/what-are-peoples-perceptions-open-relationships By: Meghan Rossi One of the main research programs in the Couples and Sexual Health Laboratory is exploring how new parents manage changes to their romantic and sexual relationship when they first become parents. We know that this period is full of both excitement and challenges for couples (see blog posts 1, […]
Page Turner! Buzz: A Stimulating History of the Sex Toy by Hallie Lieberman

A brief book review by Kat Merwin The book: Buzz: A Stimulating History of the Sex Toy Author: Hallie Lieberman, Ph.D. I like to think of myself as relatively knowledgeable about sex researchers—especially those who also write books on the topic—yet I hadn’t heard of Hallie Lieberman prior to reading this book. After reading this […]
Partners Experience Consequences, Too: A Comparison of the Sexual, Relational, and Psychological Adjustment of Women with Sexual Interest/Arousal Disorder and Their Partners to Control Couples.

By Justin Dubé This post is a summary of a recently published article from the CaSH Lab: Rosen, N. O., Dubé, J. P., Corsini-Munt, S., & Muise, A. (2018). Partners Experience Consequences, Too: A Comparison of the Sexual, Relational, and Psychological Adjustment of Women with Sexual Interest/Arousal Disorder and Their Partners to Control Couples. The […]
Couples coping with PVD: Motivation to Meet a Partner’s Sexual Needs

By Sam Dawson This post is a summary of a recently published article from the CaSH Lab: Muise, A., Bergeron, S., Impett, E. A., Delisle, I., & Rosen, N. O. (2018). Communal motivation in couples coping with vulvodynia: Sexual distress mediates associations with pain, depression, and anxiety. Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 106, 34-40. Provoked vestibulodynia […]
Navigating Pain and Intimacy in the Postpartum Period

By Meghan Rossi Welcoming a new baby into your family is both an exciting and challenging time. For many parents it is a time of joy; however, some couples can experience unanticipated difficulties that are hard to navigate, both individually and as a couple. Pain during sexual activity is one challenge that couples may experience. […]
What’s new and exciting in Canadian sexuality science?

by Samantha Dawson The lab just returned from another fabulous meeting of the leading national organization for sexuality science—the Canadian Sex Research Forum (CSRF). One of the best things about attending academic conferences is that you get to hear about the cutting edge research being conducted, usually long before the findings make their way into […]
A Comparison of Goals for Having Sex in Couples with and without Vulvodynia

By Justin Dubé This post is a summary of our published articles: Dubé, J. P., Bergeron, S., Muise, A., Impett, E. A., & Rosen, N. O. (2017). A comparison of approach and avoidance sexual goals in couples with vulvodynia and community controls. The journal of sexual medicine, 14(11), 1412-1420. Provoked vestibulodynia (PVD) is the most […]
#PostBabyHankyPanky: Sharing our Knowledge about Sexuality During the Transition to Parenthood

By: Megan Muise, Research Co-ordinator Welcoming a new baby into the family is often a time filled with joy and excitement for couples. During this time couples are also faced with many new challenges, including strain on their romantic and sexual relationship. Research has shown that parents experience sharper declines in relationship satisfaction […]