What Watching Porn REALLY Does To Your Relationships

Dr. Ava Cadell is the leading love and sex therapist to Hollywood's biggest stars. A few years ago, she joined the cast of Bravo's hit show "LA Shrinks," which follows high-end relationship experts.

It may not be a popular opinion, but I believe porn can be used for therapeutic purposes to help couples explore their sexual fantasies, reduce inhibitions, avoid boredom in the bedroom and spice up their sex lives.

As an AASECT certified sex counselor, I've helped people to negotiate romantic porn for couples that each partner can enjoy watching — such as female-friendly porn produced by women like Veronica Hart, Candida Royal, and Nikka Noel. Contrary to what you might think, these movies have storylines, romance, intimacy and lead to sexual activities.

Still doubtful? Don't be! It's a fact that watching porn can increase sex drive and arousal by producing feel-good hormones such as testosterone, estrogen, and dopamine. In fact, porn has been used in clinical studies on genital arousal to help women with low libido and Anorgasmia (the inability to orgasm), proving that some women get just as aroused by watching porn as men.

Admittedly, watching explicit sex scenes is not everyone's idea of a turn-on and many women prefer to watch erotica rather than porn.

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What's the difference? Erotica is like a feast for all of the senses that begins with an appealing aperitif, followed by a romantic appetizer, a sensual soup, a stimulating salad, an exciting entrée (with oh-so-sexy sides) and topped with a deliciously decadent dessert. This erotic feast fulfills our emotional and sexual appetite in the form of words, sounds, visual images and products that inspire our imaginations and empower us to act out those fantasies.

Looking for a good website to get you started? Try TV shows about love, relationships, and sex on Lion's Den. With titles like Couples Retreat and No Vanilla, this kind of erotica gives couples plenty to talk about.

In fact, I'm currently producing my own series that is educational, entertaining and erotic. There's a need for these videos because nobody teaches you how to be more creative and playful sexually. And way too many couples take sex much too seriously; sex should be adult play.

In my videos, I incorporate all kinds of sexy products such as lubricants, sex toys for clitoral stimulation, G-spot exploration and even anal play. Think of it as something the two of you can do together.

It enhances your intimate communication while expanding your boundaries without feeling embarrassed. What could be better?