Direct from Mars and Venus, our sex columnists Ziad and Zeina get to the bottom of your most intimate questions. Got a problem? Email getnaked@timeoutbeirut.com

Q Dear Z & Z, My boyfriend asked me recently how many people I’ve slept with. I decided to be honest because I’m a very transparent person, and he was really shocked. I was shocked too – I’ve never counted them before and didn’t realise it was so many. Now he says he can’t get the number out of his head and refuses to havesex with me again. I lost my virginity at 18 and now I’m 28. Can you answer the question everybody wants to know – how many is too many? Anonymous

A Zeina says... While I could sit here and tell you that it’s having a healthy attitude to sex that matters, not the notches on the bedpost, that simply isn’t true. You’ve been brave by being honest. Most people lie when asked to count their conquests: women downplay and men exaggerate, women are judged and men are not. A cliché, but sadly a true one. Your boyfriend has a right to feel cheated: he wants you all to himself. And as you’re abandoning meaningless sex for meaningful, it’s hard to make him understand that he’s not just another guy. So how many is too many? Let’s say you’ve been single since you lost your virginity and sleep with roughly two different partners every year. That gives you 20. Logically, for guys, this is acceptable. Realistically, for girls. anything above 10–15 is going to raise some eyebrows.
Ziad says... I’ve devised a little mathematical equation for you to get to the root of the problem. Take your magic number (how many people you’ve slept with) and square it. Add 15, divide by three and then add the magic number again. Let me guess what number you have? Wait a minute, it doesn’t matter! Please do me a favour – next time a guy asks you how many people you’ve slept with, forget being ‘transparent’. Just lie. He expects you to – or he wouldn’t ask in the first place.

Q Dear Z & Z, I broke up with my girlfriend a month and a half ago and I just can’t get over it. What makes it worse is that we both live in Hamra. I’m trying to avoid our usual bars and friends but we always, always bump into each other anyway. We even slept together a couple of weeks ago. The sex left me speechless – better than our entire four year relationship. I know we broke up for a good reason, but how will I ever get over it? Hady, H

A Zeina says... I know for us ladies, sex with an ex is a big no-no. Share your secret with a friend and you can expect a firm lecture. Nevertheless, we’ve all done it. Why? Because it’s as hot as hell. Just the fact that you shouldn’t be doing it can make ex-sex addictive. But don’t confuse it with the thought that you’re going to get back together – once things start to get too emotional it’s best just to walk away.
Ziad says... I agree, sex with an ex is hot. It ranks somewhere between finding a girl on the rebound and sleeping with your friend’s mum. Your problem right now is that it’s easier to ‘bump’ into your ex than face your newfound freedom. Why have those awkward first encounters you’re not ready for, when your ex is offering sex on a plate, with a healthy side dish of ‘we might get back together’? I think it’s time to get over it.