A warning has been issued by sex experts over a potential bedroom mistake that could cause problems.

It’s officially Valentine’s Day, and for all you lovebirds out there, I’m sure there are extensive plans mapped out for tonight followed by more plans.

It is the day of love after all, so it’s understandable that you’d want to show your significant other that love in more ways than one.

You may have a fancy dinner or some fun date activities planned, but there is a certain aspect after – or maybe even before – your date that is an activity of choice for many.

Being intimate with your partner is almost a given on this celebrated day, and you may be looking to turn things up a notch in the bedroom.

You might do this by incorporating the use of lube into your plans, but before you do, experts at Condoms UK have urged the public to check something first.

The sex experts have warned people to check the expiry date of their lube before using it.

Condoms UK stated that there are a number of benefits to using lubricants in intimate moments, but it is crucial to be aware of the potential risks involved with using expired products.

The experts said: “Using expired lube can lead to various allergic reactions and infections. The chemicals in personal lubricants can degrade over time, potentially causing irritants that lead to reactions.”

They also explained that it could disrupt the body’s optimal PH, ‘increasing the risk of yeast infections and bacterial vaginosis’.

In addition, allergic reactions to expired lube can cause ‘itching, rash, swelling, hives, burning’, and in extreme cases, ‘breathing issues and anaphylaxis’, also known as a potentially life-threatening allergic reaction.

So I think it might be worth double-checking the date.

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The experts warned that it can heighten the ‘risk of genital infection and irritation’, with symptoms of ‘uncomfortable itching or even burning’.

But, how can you certainly tell if your lube is out of date or not?

If lube is stored properly, experts say that it will last for up to three years.

However, oil or silicone-based lubes have a longer lifespan than water-based ones, as a higher water content causes them to spoil at a faster rate.

Something worth considering next time you pop out to the shops.

There are six tell-tale signs that your lubricant is past its expiry date and it’s time to get rid:

• If it has changed in smell or texture.
• If it is edible lube and the flavour has changed or has an unpleasant aftertaste.
• If it feels stickier, or has reduced glide.
• If you have suddenly started experiencing skin infections after using it.
• If ingredients in the container are beginning to separate, signalling the composition of the lube being compromised.
• Finally a bit of a no-brainer, if there is mould or mildew visible in the lubricant, please throw it away.

As the number of people under 50 getting cancer is on the rise, one expert has come out to share why that might be.

Now, anyone can get cancer and it’s just the way things are, but there’s actually an indicator of whether you’re creating the perfect environment inside of your body to host cancerous cells.

According to a 2023 analysis, over the past three decades, the number of young people who are being diagnosed with cancer has increased by 25 percent in the UK, and 80 percent globally.

Although many professionals aren’t sure why, cancer expert Professor Charles Swanton thinks it’s all to do with our diets.

The oncologist and Chief Clinician at Cancer Research UK believes that what we eat is a clear indicator of the ‘disturbing’ cancer uptick.

Speaking at the American Society of Clinical Oncology last year, he explained that there have been studies conducted which show that some people with early-onset bowel cancer may have been ‘initiated’ by bacteria in the gut.

This bacterium is commonly found in the guts of those who eat a low fibre and high sugar diet.

He said: “What we are seeing in some studies is some tumours from patients with early-onset colorectal cancer harbour mutations that might be initiated by these microbial species.”

The mutations may impact your ability to ward off cancer.

Professor Swanton also stated at the National Cancer Research Institute (NCRI) Cancer Conference in 2015 that eating red or processed meats could give you a ‘much higher’ chance of developing bowel cancer.

These foods are most commonly ham or bacon.

Matthew Lambert, a nutritionist and health information and promotion manager at World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF), told the Mail Online: “We advise that people eat less overly processed, high in saturated fat, sugar and salt food.

Consistently eating red or processed meats – like bacon and ham – could give you a ‘much higher’ chance of developing bowel cancer (Getty Stock Image)

“This includes food like cakes, biscuits, pastries, crisps, sugar-sweetened drinks, and fast food like pizza and burgers.

“These types of food have no fibre and contain virtually no essential nutrients, they should only be eaten occasionally and in small amounts.”

Even though cancers are becoming more prevalent in people under 50, round 90 percent of all cancers are still prone to developing in those over 50.

According to Cancer Research UK, 50 percent of all cancers affect the over-75 age group.

Dr Nicholas DeVito blamed the rise of junk food diets for why the under 50s are being diagnosed with cancer now more than ever before – particularly in the US – and even wants to ban some foods.

He wrote for STAT News: “The desire to protect Americans from substances that cause cancer and other diseases should transcend party affiliation and political motivation to overcome industrial lobbying efforts.”

If you’ve been affected by any of these issues and want to speak to someone in confidence, contact Macmillan’s Cancer Support Line on 0808 808 00 00, 8am–8pm seven days a week.

We’ve all had the displeasure of dealing with a narcissist one time or another; whether it was your boss, your friend or even your partner.

With an unreasonably high sense of self importance, a tendency to attention seek and a habit of belittling or bullying others, you’d think these hallmark traits confirm all you need to know.

But a psychologist has revealed that you might not have to waste time and wait around for an egomaniac to reveal their true selves – as their face might be dropping a major hint all along.

Dr Ramani Durvasula explained that there is a certain facial feature which may indicate that someone is a narcissist.

Research found that a lot of people who suffer from the personality disorder seem to have a large similarity in an aspect of their appearance.

And shockingly, it seems to be those who we have serious brow envy over.

That’s right – people who have dark, bold and well-defined eyebrows could be hiding their narcissistic tendencies right under your nose.

Of course, some people are naturally blessed with bold brows and others just enjoy getting them done but the 2018 study found that individuals who take their self-love overboard are more likely to invest time and money into grooming their eyebrows in the hopes of achieving a more striking appearance.

It found that perfect eyebrows were a marker of grandiose narcissists, which is a form of narcissism characterised by an excessive need for recognition which makes people act as though they are superior to others.

Experts at the University of Toronto rounded up a group who filled in a self-assessment narcissistic personality inventory test to diagnose the disorder, before taking photographs of them.

These snaps were then cropped so that only their eyebrows were visible and then shown to a separate group to see if they could pick up on any common traits.

The second group rated the images for certain qualities, such as grooming, distinctiveness and femininity.

Results showed that it was the distinctiveness of certain people’s eyebrows – such as the thickness and density of them – which played a pivotal role in helping others to correctly identify them as more narcissistic.

The study said: “Because grandiose narcissists strongly desire recognition and admiration, they seek to maintain distinct eyebrows to facilitate others’ ability to notice, recognize and remember them, thereby increasing their likability and reinforcing their overly positive self-views.”

And because this feature is renowned as a way to rate someone’s attractiveness, it ‘makes sense that narcissists might selectively alter their brows to appear more attractive.’

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Experts said this could be because narcissists tend to want to have a feature which is recognisable and aesthetically pleasing, as they are keen to look as good as possible.

Los Angeles based psychologist Dr Durvasula told USA Today: “Narcissistic people care deeply about their appearance.

“They’d probably spend more on it – more time, more money – but not everyone who takes care of their eyebrows, obviously, by any stretch of the imagination, is narcissistic.”

She added: “One of the big problems with narcissism is a lot of people think it’s arrogance or being stuck up or just being selfish, when in fact it’s a much more complicated issue.

“If you’re only looking at it from the arrogant, superficial perspective, a person who has those really well-coiffed eyebrows may sort of seem more narcissistic.”

Dr Miranda Giacomin also chimed in, saying that eyebrows ‘facilitate facial recognition’ and that narcissists might ‘maintain distinct, thick, and dense brows to enhance recognition, which they are motivated to attain’.

Basically, keep an eye on those Cara Delevingne lookalikes.

Look, I hate to break it to you romantics and ‘loved-up’ lot but not all relationships work out.

Yeah it might be going well in the beginning or you just know from that one date that it’s going to work out but as many of us know, the likes of ‘fizzling’ and ‘zombieing’ are a thing.

For one reason or another, not every relationship lasts. That’s just the way it is.

But the worst part is probably that you don’t also know when it’s going to end until your mates are dragging you to the pub for sympathy pints.

And let’s face it, that’s just pretty depressing – you’d rather just know it’s not going to work instead of being left heartbroken or trying out couples’ therapy.

So, two experts have shared with LADbible the five signs your relationship is doomed to fail.

Relationship therapist Dr Emily May from Private Sugar Club and Sex therapist Melissa Cook explained the warning signs that might signify there’s trouble ahead.

A lack of fun

May says that if you’re not having fun together anymore then there’s serious cause for concern.

“Enjoyment and happiness are hugely important in a relationship, and the best ones prioritise shared laughter and positive memories,” she explains.

So, if these aren’t happening for you and are instead replaced by arguments, then it’s probably time to reassess.

Point keeping

One of the biggest traps you and your partner can fall into is keeping score – you know, keeping tabs on who did what and who said what.

That’ll make things pretty toxic and May says it will ‘prevent your relationship from moving forward’.

Unrealistic expectations

May explains putting too much pressure on or expecting too much from your partner ‘can set your relationship up for failure’.

This can create an environment full of disappointment and resentment.

“Instead, expectations should be grounded, and effective communication should be used when one partner is dissatisfied to create a healthier and more fulfilling connection,” she says.

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Other priorities

Cook explains neglecting your partner and their needs can cause a relationship to fail.

“When you don’t make time for them or choose others over them, your partner can feel undervalued and unappreciated, jeopardising the relationship,” she says.

Going to couples’ therapy can often help get over this hurdle.

An unhappy sex life

This one’s a biggie as Cook highlights how essential intimacy is for a happy and healthy relationship.

“If your sex life is struggling, this could be a sign of a deeper issue that needs addressing,” she says. “The sexual dynamics of a couple can often assess the health of relationships.”

The sex therapist recommends ‘open communication and a willingness to change’ in order to overcome this.

But of course, one important thing to remember in all of this is that no one should be staying in unhappy or toxic relationships.