Encountering the occasional embarrassing moment during sex is inevitable. Whether you’re walked in on or have a little too much “drank in the tank,” the result is instant mortification–for you and her. But don’t worry: There’s a way to survive every awkward sexual encounter. We took five more-common-than-you’d-imagine scenarios to sex educator Barbara Carrellas, author of Urban Tantra: Sacred Sex for the Twenty-First Century, who gave us rock-solid advice on how to fix slipups between the sheets.
It’s a killjoy for her—and pretty embarrassing for you—when it all ends in less than 60 seconds. When you haven’t seen your girl in a while (hey, long distance can be a killer for the little guy), it’s easy to get too excited, too fast.
Deal with it: Every man suffers from premature ejaculation at one time or other. If it’s an occasional occurrence, don’t worry about it. There are infinite ways you can give your partner pleasure and orgasms without using your penis. If PE is an ongoing problem, you can learn ways to last longer,” Carrellas says.
You didn’t have time to shower
Your girl surprised you, and you didn’t have time to lather up after your workout. You’re embarrassed of what things may smell like down below, but you obviously don’t want to say no to her—or gross her out.
Deal with it: “The key here is prevention,” Carrellas says. “Take a shower! If you weren’t expecting to have sex and are suddenly presented with the opportunity, invite your partner to join you.”
You’ve had a long night out and maybe a little too much to drink. You’re thinking, “I can do this,” but turns out, you just can’t seem to get it up.
Deal with it: “This is one of those cases where you can have it all, just not at the same time,” Carrellas says. “If you want to drink, go ahead and drink, but don’t expect to have fulfilling sex. If you want sex, don’t have more than a couple of drinks. Simple. Penises are often smarter than the men they are attached to. Penises don’t respond in situations where they don’t feel safe, like when the men who want to use them are incapacitated by alcohol.”
You let it rip
Just like everyone sneezes and coughs, everybody farts, and sometimes nature calls at the wrong moment. You’re in the middle of having sex with your partner and all of a sudden…boom. It just came out (loud) and the lingering smell is killing the mood.
Deal with it: Make a quick recovery without killing the mood. “For me, the protocol is the same for all unintentional bodily sounds: “Excuse me,” notes Carrellas. “I see no need to apologize for the natural functions of the body, but ‘Excuse me’ is a polite way of acknowledging that it happened.”
The door you thought was locked all of a sudden opens, and in walks your roommate. Or worse, your mom dropped in for a surprise visit—and the mood is dead.
Deal with it: “If you’re caught in the act by a family member, there’s not much you can do but walk away as gracefully as possible,” Carrellas says. If you’re simply worried about being overheard, “embrace your inner exhibitionist,” she suggests. “It could make the sex hotter.”
