‘Fifty Shades of Grey’ is seen as improving women’s sexual health and wellness

“Fifty Shades of Grey,” the erotic novel by E L James, features cliche characters, highly implausible plot turns and dialogue that alternately induces cringes and giggles. (Sample line: “ ‘Look at me,’ he breathes, and I stare into his smoldering gaze . . . cold, hard and sexy as hell, seven shades of sin in one enticing look.”) But many of my friends — and, judging by the bestseller lists, millions of women across the country — can’t put the book down. Even I will admit to ignoring my children to read what’s being called “mommy porn,” which details the titillating adventures of the young, innocent Anastasia Steele, who is initiated into the world of kinky pleasures by one Christian Grey, a sexy older billionaire who woos her into a dominant-submissive relationship.

Literary demerits aside, experts contend that the novel and its two equally racy sequels, authored by a British woman, are having a positive impact on women’s sexual health and wellness. “ ‘Fifty Shades’ is getting a lot of people thinking and talking more openly about sex, sexuality, desire and interest,” says Debby Herbenick, a research scientist at Indiana University and author of “Sex Made Easy.” “It’s helping many women to feel comfortable enjoying something about sexual fantasy and arousal. . . . Not only is it okay to fantasize, not only is it okay to read really explicit info about sex, but right now, it’s the cool thing to do.”

Gallery

Publishing phenomenons: With the success of her hit erotic novel ‘50 Shades of Gray,’ author EL James has vaulted into the ranks of publishing superstardom.

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Indeed, by this point, “Fifty Shades” has become socially acceptable pornography — downloaded in relative anonymity on a Kindle or iPad, analyzed on blogs and spoofed on “Saturday Night Live” — and the book seems to be helping some women feel more empowered about their sex lives. That’s important, because whatever you think about the novel, better relations in the bedroom can enhance the quality of your life in general.

“There is good data showing that sexual health and wellness leads to overall health and wellness,” says gynecologist Michael Krychman, executive director of the Southern California Center for Sexual Health and Survivorship Medicine.

X-rated romance

Following in the footsteps of “Lady Chatterley’s Lover” and “Story of O,” and like all of those Harlequin novels that feature demure damsels in distress being carried off into the sunset by strong, shirtless men, “Fifty Shades” appeals to a sense of romance and fantasy, but in this case it’s X-rated.

“Research has shown that men are more visually stimulated, while women are more literary; they’re turned on by words or erotic stories,” Krychman explains. “This book is a revival of the Harlequin romances but without the ‘fade to black’ love scenes, which is nice because it helps with creativity and imagination, and can give people ideas that help counter sexual boredom,” which is often an issue in long-term relationships.

“We know that for women, the biggest sex organ is absolutely the brain, which has to work in sync with the body for optimum sexual function,” says Krychman.

Another benefit of a book such as “Fifty Shades” is that it just may get your mind off work pressures, the laundry or having to make the kids’ lunches — and back into the bedroom. “What we know from study after study is that women are far more prone to distractions than men are, and that’s a problem,” says Herbenick. She points out that erotic literature can help women focus more on sex, and this is key because “if your mind is in the game, you are far more likely to experience arousal and orgasms.”