"Oh no, I couldn't lick that!" "Please switch off the lights!" "You want me to [do] what?"

Are these some of the responses you constantly get from your partner when broaching the subject of trying something new in the bedroom? Fear not, you are not alone.

Many people find themselves in relationships where the one partner is sexually uninhibited and liberal, whereas the other is considered too conservative and not willing to try anything out of the box.

Jenni Holdsworth, a Cape Town- based owner of an up-market sex shop, Bella Rouge, encourages sexual liberation in couples and shares some tips.

But first, Holdsworth gets to the bottom of what a sexually conservative person is really like. "In my opinion, someone who is too conservative is someone that is not prepared to explore or be adventurous in the bedroom," she says.

"Someone who is conservative does not like to move out of their comfort zone of repeating the same thing over and over. It could also be someone that performs sex as more of a chore than to gain any kind of enjoyment from it.

"Women who are conservative do not feel comfortable with themselves sexually. They have been taught that only 'wild' girls do things like oral or anal sex. And so they fear doing anything 'dirty' that they think may be frowned upon."

She says when it comes to conservative men they can disregard the fact that women need to be made ready before penetration. For them, foreplay is nonexistent and sex is a quick in and out.

What could be some of the causes for someone being too sexually conservative?

"A person's upbringing and culture are the major causes for them being too sexually inhibited, but there could also be other contributing factors, such as poor self-image or low self-esteem. Other people have more serious issues that could have led them to be petrified of being vulnerable in the sack, such as a past trauma like molestation or sexual assault.

"This is where undergoing intensive therapy will be beneficial," she says.

Holdsworth goes on to give practical tips on how one could break out of their shell in the bedroom.

Try a new position

You can start small. Springing some complicated Karma Sutra position that requires your partner to be a pretzel is bound to be met with some resistance, particularly if they are sexually inhibited, so tread with caution.

Buy some sexy lingerie

Wearing sexy lingerie in the bedroom is bound to give one the confidence of seeing themselves as sexy, and it will certainly put in motion the mind shift that it is okay to be a little naughty.

Explore each other

Use the natural appendages that God gave you - your fingers . and your tongue. You can also use things like feathers, ice cubes or small vibrators, but to start with, just use fingers and tongues.

Go over your partner's entire body. Very slowly. I would blindfold them first. It makes the experience a lot more enjoyable for them and it makes you feel a lot less self-conscious about yourself.

Slowly introduce the concept of oral sex

If you have a partner who is completely opposed to the idea, start by leading by example. Instead of springing the topic on them by asking them to perform oral sex on you, perhaps give them oral sex.

Then over time, ask them to reciprocate.