love & sex
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My life is full of religion and education – but no menAt only 27 years old, a high-performing woman fears she is having a midlife crisis: she feels her conservative and Christian beliefs have prevented her from finding love. Mariella Frostrup encourages her to emerge from her chrysalis -
True love waits? The story of my purity ring and feeling like I didn't have a choiceWhen my dad gave me the ring, he said it represented my commitment to guard my heart. But after a while, my virginity vow no longer felt empowering
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'I didn't realise he was dying': the day I lost my fianceThey were engaged and on the trip of a lifetime when tragedy struck. What would she tell his parents? -
My father’s claim on my heart put an end to my young love affairWhen his mother left, Alan Balfour, aged six, vowed he would never let his father down. But when he fell in love with a German girl, he knew his Jewish father would never approve
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Blind date: ‘He’s a smooth talker. I think he enjoyed himself’‘Super, super cool’ Dominique, 30, meets ‘confident gentleman’ Ed, 37
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Listener feedback with Jacqui Gabb - Close Encounters sex podcastEpisodes six to eight of our Close Encounters sex podcast got people talking. Here we share listeners’ own tales, comments and questions
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Sex when you're asexual – Close Encounters podcastJords has always known he was asexual, but his partners have struggled to understand. Can you compromise over your sexuality for the sake of companionship? WARNING: EXPLICIT CONTENT
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Polyamory, sexual unicorns and Google Calendar – Close Encounters sex podcastMichelle and Reuben live together, sleep together and date other people together. Alix Fox finds out how their polyamorous relationship works. WARNING: EXPLICIT CONTENT
advice
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Private livesPrivate livesMy wife has had an affair and I am struggling to get past the hurtShe told me she had a six-month affair and she is trying to make things work, but I don’t see what I did wrong and can’t seem to get over the pain
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Dr Dillner’s dilemmasDr Dillner’s dilemmasHow much screen time should I let my teenager have?A new study says that up to six hours a day is perfectly normal, and unlikely to do any harm – as long as your child is doing fine at school and getting enough exercise
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Dear MariellaDear MariellaMy life is full of religion and education – but no menAt only 27 years old, a high-performing woman fears she is having a midlife crisis: she feels her conservative and Christian beliefs have prevented her from finding love. Mariella Frostrup encourages her to emerge from her chrysalis
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Sexual healingSexual healingI've always felt too much guilt to enjoy sex – and now I've got no libido eitherAt last, I’ve met someone I would like to enjoy life with. But, thanks to my Catholic upbringing, I’ve always had problems with sex, and now I’m perimenopausal
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Problem solvedProblem solvedA friend is flirting with my husband. She cheats on all her partners, so I don’t trust herI find it hard to believe any man would not want sex with her, but won’t confront her unless she goes further. Annalisa Barbieri advises a reader
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Ask AlysAsk AlysAsk Alys Fowler: I want to get rid of concrete slabs and create a gardenOur gardening expert has some excellent advice
Women and desire: the six ages of sex