A long-term relationship comes with so many benefits—company throughout life’s inevitable ups-and-downs, a #1 fan on the sidelines of your dreams, and the freedom to eat your messy tacos in peace. Even so, it’s natural to miss the sexy energy of when it all began: the lustful excitement, conversing deep into the night, and walking through life as a literal heart-eyed-emoji.

As a relationship graduates into the long-term realm, the passion will change—but it doesn't have to disappear. Even if the flame has fizzled, a juicy connection can be rekindled with intention and a little work (if you can really call Dame’s sexual wellness toys “work”). We know relationships are one of the most fulfilling aspects of life, so to keep your’s burning bright we connected with certified sex therapist Dr. Holly Richmond, Ph.D., LMFT, CST.

“The initial heat and passion people feel at the beginning of a relationship is called limerence, or ‘the honeymoon phase.’” says Dr. Holly. “This phase is a powerful cocktail of novelty (the seat of human desire!) and hormones including cortisol, adrenaline, dopamine, endorphins and oxytocin.” But as fun as the honeymoon phase is, it’s not sustainable. “We’d literally burn ourselves out if we continually moved through the world that way,” Dr. Holly adds.

Limerence inevitably fades, but something just as valuable takes its place. “In healthy, long-term relationships, security—secure attachment—starts to take the place of novelty and excitement, which leads people to believe the spark is gone. It isn’t necessarily gone, it just needs to be re-lit in a different way,” she describes.

Novelty and sexual desire go hand-in-hand. As novelty fades into familiarity, what excites us will change—but no need to panic. Relighting the spark is not a sign of failure, but an opportunity to understand our loved one in a new way. “To rekindle the spark, remember who each other is outside of the relationship,” Dr. Holly explains. “Reflect on the qualities that attracted you to your partner in the early days. Who are they outside of how they relate to you? Many times, when we move into security… we leave the independent and autonomous parts of ourselves behind. To reignite our partner’s interest in us and us in them, we need to re-engage our authenticity.”

But how do we turn that spark into a warm, romantic fire? By regularly stoking connection through activities that arouse intrigue and novelty:

Play and curiosity are natural byproducts of a new connection, but we can intentionally cultivate them in long-term relationships too. And what gets us embracing play more than toys? Dame’s products for pleasure are designed to nourish sexual wellness and deepen connection. Whether it’s the EvaⓇ, a best-selling, wearable clitoral vibrator purposed for pleasurable partner play, or the AerTM, a powerful arousal toy designed to mimic oral play—these thoughtfully-engineered toys inspire instant play and novelty between the sheets.

“New toys and products check the novelty box,” Dr. Holly confirms. “I recommend Dame products because I know they are safe and do not include toxic materials, and they are designed and engineered with female bodies in mind, which have been historically overlooked by many adult product manufacturers.” But beyond reigniting the flame, Dame helps us stay connected to the sexual aspect of our well-being. “I appreciate that Dame’s products consider sexual health as an essential part of overall health, and therefore create products that support a healthy lifestyle, inclusive of all types of people and relationships, as well as body positivity and sex positivity.”

No one’s here to deny the bright and shiny thrills of a new relationship. But expecting what worked in the honeymoon phase to light your fire now is a bit like comparing apples to oranges. When you’re with one person for long enough, the environment of your connection will evolve. And to keep things sexy, we have to let our expectations and rituals evolve too. “Focus on what makes your relationship unique,” Dr. Holly concludes. “How are you unlike any other couple? What makes your partner a romantic/sexual partner rather than just a friend?”

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.