Sexual myths debunked

Do men think about sex too often? Do women kiss with their eyes open? And should we all be sleeping in the nude? Readers' questions have been pouring in, begging ASK S to dispel some sex, dating and mating myths. So I thought we should put some of these legends to the test to determine whether or not they're real or fantasy ...

MYTH: It's healthier to sleep in the nude
FACT: It's true! Well at least according to the web portal sleepnaked.org. And while one in eight women like to get some shut-eye without any clothing on, according to a poll on the subject, 62 per cent of men do the same! Okay, so there may not be any scientific studies to back it up, but sleeping naked is said to be more comfortable and relaxing, making it easier to fall asleep in the first place, resulting in a deeper, longer sleep which enables your body to regenerate itself and have more energy the following day.
But do be cautious. Situations to avoid would be having your room-mate walk in on you, (warn them you sleep naked so they don't), being too cold (extra blankets do the trick), making your partner uncomfortable in the process (discuss it with them before you rip off your gear), and always have an extra pair of pyjamas or a gown close by incase there's an emergency. You don't want to be caught out on the street with your pants down ...

MYTH: Sex can make you skinny
FACT: That's right folks; apparently 30 minutes of the horizontal hanky-panky can help you burn 200 calories. Celebrity personal trainer Nicky Waterman reckons that by doing it five days a week, you're doing aerobic exercise equivalent of two and a half hours at the gym! Not to mention that having sex three times a week lowers your risk of suffering a heart attack or stroke by 50 per cent and you've got no more excuses.

MYTH: Men think about sex every seven seconds
FACT: That by the time a man finishes reading this column, he's thought about it 70 times! Not entirely true, but nevertheless close. The rumour came about after the Kinsey Institute released the results of a survey back in 1948 which found that 54 per cent men think about it every day, several times a day. (Only 4 per cent claimed they only think about it once a month.)

Myth: Women kiss with their eyes open
Fact: Most people kiss with their eyes closed. After all, it would be kind of weird if you're both eyeballing each other when going in for the smooch. Some say it's more sincere to keep your lids closed. Others say they do it so they can imagine they're locking lips with someone else, preferably a Pitt or a Jolie.

MYTH: All men want threesomes and all women enjoy them.
FACT: Just like men think all nurses dress up in miniskirts and do a whole lot of bending over, the truth about threesomes is quite different to the fantasy.

The question about this myth came from reader Sky, who asks this: "Do women really feel liberated by this practice? Surely the benefits for the guy must outweigh the benefits for the girls involved? I'm not prejudice towards bisexuality by any means, but when it comes to threesomes I do see women as compromising themselves for the sake of a man. It is almost to the point where it is demeaning and it is as if women are taking a step back in trying to be equal with men by acting this out. It's like they are pandering to mens needs, fantasies and wants rather than recognising their own sexual needs. It typically displays how women can be very selfless and are all too often trying to please others, whilst not considering their own desires and needs."