Dopamine & Love: Why Falling in Love Feels Addictive
Dr. Lena Ashford
August 14, 2025
Have you ever wondered why falling in love feels so intoxicating? Why that first flutter
Honest writing about sex, intimacy & human connection
For adults who want better information, fewer myths, and the kind of guidance that's surprisingly hard to find.
After testing dozens of options, our editors break down everything first-time buyers actually need to know — types, choosing, using, and common mistakes.
Bedroom & Lifestyle Editor · 14 min read · Updated June 2026
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Research-led explorations of attraction, desire, and how the brain creates intimacy.
Have you ever wondered why falling in love feels so intoxicating? Why that first flutter
Introduction In today’s fast-paced world, stress has become an unwelcome companion in many of our
Introduction Have you ever wondered why some people seem to fall head over heels in
Real techniques, real materials, real reviews — by editors who actually tested them.
Introduction Physical touch is one of the most powerful ways to connect with your partner, yet many couples fall into routine patterns that can become
Four editors with complementary backgrounds, applying their disciplines to questions worth answering well.
A clinical psychologist who spent eight years as a licensed sex therapist before turning to writing full-time.
A former beauty journalist who writes about wellness with the same eye for craft she once brought to luxury skincare.
PhD in Public Health with research focused on sexual health epidemiology. Leads our original research and myth-debunking work.
A certified sexuality educator and former workshop facilitator. Leads our interactive content and reader Q&A.
Practical exercises and frameworks for couples doing the daily work of staying close.
Love doesn’t have a price tag, but sometimes it feels like romance does. Between expensive restaurants, pricey entertainment, and the pressure to create Instagram-worthy moments,
Dr. Lena Ashford · 7 min
Quizzes, first-person experiments, and reader-driven studies exploring intimacy through hands-on inquiry.
A 12-question quiz to understand how your body and brain respond to different kinds of intimacy.
Rae Coleman · 5 min quiz
days of pre-sleep hugs
Rae Coleman · 8 min read
lubricants compared blindly
Rae Coleman · 10 min read
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We take widespread assumptions about sex and relationships, and check them against the evidence.
"Longer sex always means better sex."
Most couples report optimal sexual satisfaction at 7-13 minutes — not 30+.
"Masturbation hurts your sex life."
Studies consistently link masturbation to better sexual function with partners.
"Long-distance relationships rarely work."
Long-distance couples actually report higher trust and satisfaction in some studies.
Every week, our editors answer one reader question — anonymously and with the care it deserves.
“Is it normal that my partner and I have completely different libidos? I want sex 3-4 times a week, they want it once a month. Is this a relationship dealbreaker?”
— Anonymous, 31, in a 5-year relationship
Answered this week by Dr. Lena Ashford
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adults surveyed across North America
of women in long-term relationships
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“The research, in other words, ends up affirming what many people have long sensed: that what gets in the way of pleasure is rarely the body, and almost always the noise around it.”
