Sex Talk: Girlfriend, get in some breathing exercises

What the report says

The Observer published a lifestyle column that argues body confidence and breathing habits can affect sexual satisfaction. The piece says women who are more comfortable with their bodies are, in the writer’s view, more likely to enjoy intimacy and reach orgasm, while self-consciousness about appearance can interfere with relaxation during sex. It also suggests that holding tension in the body, especially the stomach, may make it harder to fully relax.

The article cites sex educator Dr. Susan Campbell, referencing her book The Everything Great Sex Book, to support the idea that breathing freely and relaxing are important for sexual response. It says women who struggle to orgasm often hold their breath as arousal builds, and it extends a similar idea to men, noting that breathing more slowly and fully may help delay premature ejaculation.

The column uses a conversational, advisory tone and includes broader commentary on how women and men may differ in body image and sexual confidence. It also points readers toward online breathing exercises as a general wellness tip. More broadly, the article reflects a common sex-education theme: that stress, self-consciousness and poor breathing can affect physical response, though the specific examples and claims are presented as opinion rather than formal research.