Channel your inner meathead: Macho men have more satisfying sex lives, according to recent research from Notre Dame of Maryland University.
In the study, men who scored highest on a standardized questionnaire of masculinity rated their sex life as pretty darn close to ideal. The reason: Manliness is associated with confidence—which can help ward off any body image issues you may have—being goal-oriented, and high self-esteem, all of which have benefits in the bedroom, explains study coauthor Samantha Daniel, Ph.D.
Steal a secret from the assertive by getting vocal in the sack: When you’re able to communicate what you like in bed, there’s a greater likelihood that your sexual needs will be met, says Daniel.
As for voicing your request, make it part of the sex act. “Most women find dirty talk extremely sexy,” says Gloria Brame, Ph.D., a sex therapist and the author of Come Hither: A Commonsense Guide to Kinky Sex. And if you’re not comfortable with getting X-rated just yet, using grunts and moans are solid ways to communicate you like what she’s doing.
Additional reporting by Madeline Haller
