bodies

We get asked this question a lot. A whole lot. The trouble is, there’s just no way to give you and others the sort of answer I suspect you are looking for. But I certainly can tell you why I can’t do that. Sex – of any kind, whether we’re talking about intercourse, oral sex, manual sex…

Know what? Even if NO other woman besides you in all of human history (which you and I know isn’t anything remotely close to the truth) needed or wanted other sexual activities before intercourse, the fact that YOU do should be all a partner needs to know. With someone who is being a good partner…

Freaking out because you think something must be wrong with your labia? Think again!

Breastfeeding can have a variety of impacts on one’s periods. Some people will start having periods again soon after birth (even if they are breastfeeding). Others may not start having periods again for 6 months or more. Some never have a period until they stop breastfeeding entirely. This is really…

Ten minutes is actually a longer time, not a shorter one, for an erection to last once intercourse begins, especially for younger men. But even if he lasted a half hour, it’s unlikely that you’d feel satisfied with intercourse alone or reach orgasm that way, since the majority of women do not. Your…

The difference is that PMS symptoms won’t cause your pregnancy test to turn positive. Using symptoms to determine if you’re pregnant is really unreliable. If you absolutely must know if you’re pregnant, wait 10 to 14 days after the sexual encounter in question then take a pregnancy test using the…

There’s nothing about having a menstrual period which makes it impossible or even difficult for someone to have any kind of sex. In fact, because there are extra fluids present, plenty of people find some kinds of sex – like vaginal intercourse – more pleasant during menses. People can also…

“Where the heck do the eggs go?” is a pretty common question around here, whether someone on a hormonal method is asking, or someone NOT on a method is asking. After all, when an egg isn’t fertilized it’s got to go somewhere, too. And when someone understands that we are born with WAY more ovum –…

The technical term for “blue balls” is vasocongestion. It really isn’t about balls at all, and it happens to people of all genders. Here’s the deal: when any of us gets very sexually aroused, one thing that happens is that our whole pelvic area tends to fill with blood. That’s how penises get…

Reprinted from S.E.X.: The All-You-Need-to-Know Progressive Sexuality Guide to Get You Through High School and College , © 2007 Heather Corinna/Marlowe & Company. Illustration by Molly Crabapple. Want to print out copies for yourself? Click here to download one in PDF format. Enjoy!