How Getting Really Sick Can Impact Your Marriage

As if the illness itself weren't bad enough...

Better bolster your immune system, ladies. According to a study published in the Journal of Health and Social Behavior, when a wife becomes seriously sick, her marriage is more likely to end in divorce.


 Using raw data from the University of Michigan’s Health and Retirement Study, researchers at Iowa State University and Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis examined 2,701 couples over the age of 50 and found that chronic illness in the wife meant divorce was six percent more likely. When the husband got sick, though, there was no greater risk of the marriage ending.

Unfortunately, the general causes of resulting marital discord are predictable: Caring for a sick spouse is super stressful, and the income lost when one half of a couple is out of commission—or if both have to forego work—can take its toll. In short: Marriage quality plummets with the female spouse’s health.


But that doesn’t explain why marriages in which the husband falls ill seem to weather the storm better. Although the data doesn’t illustrate which spouse filed the divorce papers, researchers think that women might be generally disappointed with their husbands as caregivers. It’s also been found that women seem to experience chronic illness with more pain and depressive symptoms than their male counterparts.

There are limitations to the research: The analysis looked at just four chronic diseases: cancer, heart disease, lung disease, and stroke, so not all illnesses were considered. The couples examined were all in a later stage of life, and of course certain qualities of their union up until that time couldn’t be measured (and even factors that were measured were self-reported, which isn't the most reliable form of data collection). Also worth noting is that since the couples were all over 50, they were probably more likely to adhere to gender norms than younger couples may have been.

Thankfully, women are less likely to contract a serious illness than men, and research shows that marriage may help make you healthier. But if you do become sick, don't hesitate to ask your husband to step up and take care of more things than normal—including you.

What Each Sex Position Feels Like for Guys

Take a wild guess at which one makes him scared for his penis.

It’s highly likely that you have a ranking of your favorite sex positions. Maybe girl on top makes you feel like the hottest cowgirl-goddess hybrid at the rodeo but doggy style just ends with your cervix feeling like one giant bruise. It’s the same for guys; here’s a glimpse inside a man’s mind when you’re getting it on.

Missionary
“It’s classic. I like starting this way the most, so it has the added benefit of being associated with the feeling of first entry. There's nothing like slipping into her warm wetness down there. It makes me think there's a reason humans evolved to have sex this way. Plus, if I get too close to coming early, I can just think about the name of the position, and it keeps me from going over the edge. Missionary: sexy position, unsexy name.” —Sam J.

 “Good old faithful. Though I think missionary is over-used, it serves several good purposes. It's the position where I feel most in control of what is going on, probably partially due to my familiarity with it since it’s over-used. When I have that control, I’m more capable of making myself orgasm, and I'm all for orgasms. It's also a good go-to position when you are working with inexperienced girls. They feel more comfortable when you’re on top doing the work. The drawback is that women sometimes feel like their role here is to just lie back and enjoy. As much as I love seeing a woman's face as she experiences pleasure, so much more can be done while you're on your back. Just because you're on your back doesn't mean you're out of the fight. You have hands, lips, a voice, etc.” —Adam K.

5 Weird Reasons Women Sometimes Fall for A-holes

It's not you, it's his striking resemblance to your father.

You probably think you have a good sense for what gets you totally smitten. A whip-smart wit, an awesome sense of adventure, a seriously huge heart—whatever it is, you can usually spot a good one. So why is it that you sometimes find yourself drawn to a guy who makes your head say no, no, no…but makes your heart say yes, yes, yes? Here are just a few things that science says might lead to you falling hard, despite your best intentions:

1. He's the Male Version of You
We know, we know, it's opposites that are supposed to attract—but several studies over the years have shown that the more alike you are, the stronger the attraction. From having the same sense of humor to looking similar, all the stuff you have in common could cancel out his more unsavory qualities (you know, the ones you don't share).   

2. You Met in a High-Pressure Situation
You may remember this one from Psych 101: When the adrenaline starts pumping, so does attraction. Suddenly, the crazy dates on The Bachelor make so much more sense—nothing forces you to fall quick and hard like bungee jumping, free falling, and climbing the San Francisco Bay Bridge on a date, right?

Myths About Pregnancy

Could everything you know about pregnancy be wrong? Get your facts straight

Think you've got the whole birds-and-bees thing figured out? Turns out, much of what we know about baby-making is based on old wives' tales instead of scientific research, according to the just-released book, Expecting Better: Why the Conventional Pregnancy Wisdom Is Wrong — and What You Really Need to Know. Prepare to have your mind blown.

Myth: Pregnancy Lasts Nine Months

Truth: In reality, the length of your pregnancy can vary by as much as five weeks, according to a 2013 study published in the journal Human Reproduction. When you deliver ultimately depends on your age, your weight, how much you weighed at birth, and a slew of other factors.



Myth: Sex while you're pregnant can hurt the baby.

Truth: In almost all cases, sex shouldn't affect your little one, says Shari Brasner, M.D. assistant clinical professor of obstetrics, gynecology, and reproductive science at Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York City and a member of the Women's Health expert advisory board. There are some exceptions, though: If your placenta is positioned between your cervix and vagina or if you're at a high risk for a preterm birth, ask your doctor before doing the deed.

Things Some Men Are Too Afraid to Ask For in Bed

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Are Your Birth Control Pills Hurting Your Sex Drive?

The experts say that oral contraceptives could be causing your libido malfunction — or not. We attempt to decode the mixed messages about birth control and sex.

1. Libido Loss

Scan the list of side effects that comes with your birth control pills — you know, the piece of paper that you toss in the trash every month. That little insert will tell you that oral contraceptives can cause everything from weight gain and breast tenderness to nausea, dizziness and...loss of libido? Come to think of it, you did start feeling a little different when you began taking these things. Could your birth control be preventing pregnancy in a way you hadn't planned?

According to some women who have experienced a drop in sex drive while on the pill, the answer is yes. Lisa*, a 33-year-old Web designer from New York City, blames oral contraceptives for a year-long libido malfunction she experienced after moving in with her now-husband. "When I realized I had no drive at all, I talked to my doctor, who said it was possible that it was the pill" causing the problem. "So I stopped taking it and used a barrier method, and things got really good again."