Create Your Own 50 Shades of Grey: Here's How

"It's just getting women thinking about sex more," Kerner says. "They're opening themselves up to more erotic stimuli. It's helped boost libidos so that more people are having sex as a result. It's great that they're also sharing it with their partners. It's a source of erotic titillation for couples.

"Some couples might want to dip their toes into the shallow waters of sexual adventurousness. It could mean playing with submission, domination, role-playing, exhibitionism or voyeurism. Most people I've talked to who have read 50 Shades are intrigued by it. They're not necessarily going out to pursue a hardcore S & M lifestyle. It titillates them to want to incorporate a little adventure into their sex lives. It encourages couples to push beyond their comfort zones and try new things."

For those folks who are in no way prepared to join the ranks of practicing BDSM aficionados, Kerner says there are plenty of ways to kick it up a notch. For a dialed-down version of the kind of naughtiness featured in 50 Shades, Kerner suggests tying up your partner or getting tied up. Experiment with teasing, tantalizing and taunting your partner while he or she is restrained. Light spanking is also an option.

Kerner notes that sometimes simply talking smack is enough to spice up your sex life. Some dreams just aren't meant to come true, he says.

"One of the more interesting things is just to fantasize about extreme fantasies. In my view, fantasies are fantasies because they are not a reality. Things that operate in a fantasy wouldn't necessarily translate well into reality and action."