UW 'Sex Professor' Publishes 'Consent Manifesto' for Healthy Romance

Nicole McNichols' new book aims to help people have 'genuinely good sex' through ongoing consent conversations.

Published on Feb. 13, 2026

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University of Washington professor Nicole McNichols, known as the 'Sex Professor', has published a new book called 'You Could Be Having Better Sex' that includes a 'consent manifesto' to help people have healthier and happier sex lives. McNichols emphasizes the importance of continuous consent and open communication between partners to ensure mutual pleasure and respect.

Why it matters

As Valentine's Day approaches, McNichols' advice comes at an important time when many people have high expectations for romance and intimacy. Her 'consent manifesto' aims to reframe how we think about consent, moving beyond just physical boundaries to include emotional honesty and a shared commitment to mutual enjoyment.

The details

In her book and in an interview with KUOW's Soundside podcast, McNichols stressed that consent must be an ongoing conversation, not just a one-time agreement. She said, '[Consent] has to be something that's continuous... [with] clear expressions of enthusiasm by both partners throughout the whole thing.' Beyond just physical consent, McNichols wants people to consider consent as a reflection of emotional honesty and a shared commitment to mutual pleasure.

  • McNichols' new book 'You Could Be Having Better Sex' was published on February 13, 2026.

The players

Nicole McNichols

A professor at the University of Washington who teaches one of the most popular human sexuality courses on the Seattle campus. She is known as the 'Sex Professor' and maintains popular social media accounts where she gives advice on having a better sex life.

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What they’re saying

“If we want to really be having healthy sex, we need to be respecting and taking care of each other in all of those dimensions.”

— Nicole McNichols, Professor (KUOW)

“[Consent] has to be something that's continuous... [with] clear expressions of enthusiasm by both partners throughout the whole thing.”

— Nicole McNichols, Professor (KUOW)

What’s next

McNichols' book 'You Could Be Having Better Sex' is available now for purchase.

The takeaway

McNichols' 'consent manifesto' encourages people to rethink how they approach consent and intimacy, moving beyond just physical boundaries to include emotional honesty and a shared commitment to mutual pleasure. Her advice comes at an important time as people navigate the expectations and pressures of Valentine's Day.