http://kinseyconfidential.org Just another WordPress weblog Thu, 11 Mar 2010 14:00:33 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 en hourly 1 2006-2007 aschweig@indiana.edu (Kinsey Confidential) aschweig@indiana.edu (Kinsey Confidential) posts 1440 Just another WordPress weblog Kinsey Confidential Kinsey Confidential aschweig@indiana.edu No no http://kinseyconfidential.org/wp-content/themes/kinsey/images/kinsey-podcast-300.jpg http://kinseyconfidential.org 144 144 http://kinseyconfidential.org/women-orgasms/ http://kinseyconfidential.org/women-orgasms/#comments Mon, 01 Feb 2010 14:00:30 +0000 Dr. Debby Herbenick (M.P.H., Ph.D.) http://kinseyconfidential.org/?p=1360 http://kinseyconfidential.org/women-orgasms/feed/ 1 http://kinseyconfidential.org/clitoris-vulva-fusing/ http://kinseyconfidential.org/clitoris-vulva-fusing/#comments Mon, 18 Jan 2010 14:00:26 +0000 Dr. Debby Herbenick (M.P.H., Ph.D.) http://kinseyconfidential.org/?p=1321 http://kinseyconfidential.org/clitoris-vulva-fusing/feed/ 2 2:45 I think itrsquo;s pretty fantastic that you are looking at your own genitals and have a sense of what is normal or not normal for ... I think itrsquo;s pretty fantastic that you are looking at your own genitals and have a sense of what is normal or not normal for your own body. Not all women have seen their vulva even once or know the names of their genital body parts, so itrsquo;s impressive to me that you know these things. The Clitoris: The Basics The clitoris is bigger than it looks from the outside. Although about frac14; to frac12; an inch of the glans clitoris can be seen externally, there are two branches of the clitoris that go backward into the body. The glans clitoris ndash; the part that can be seen from the outside ndash; sometimes seems to fuse to the clitoral hood. The glans may even appear to be trapped inside the clitoris. Changing Bodies Changes to the structre of the vulva, whether to the clitoris or the vaginal lips, can occur as part of menopause, when estrogen levels decrease, or as a result of a genital skin condition such as one called lichen sclerosus. And while this commonly happens to adult women, it can also happen to infant girls or to children or teenagers. If you have questions about your genital appearance, I would encourage you to check in with a gynecologist or a dermatologist who has expertise in genital skin health and disease. You can find such a specialist through the International Society for the Study of Vulvovaginal Disease's web site. What Can Be Done In some cases, treatments such as topical creams may be used to reverse changes to parts of the vulva. Treatments may be more effective if a medical condition is caught early or treated. In some cases, if a problem has been allowed to persist without treatment, it can be more difficult to restore through the use of creams. That is why I would encourage you to check in with a specialist sooner rather than later just in case. Bodies,,Content,Type,,Podcast aschweig@indiana.edu no No http://kinseyconfidential.org/virgin-orgasm-intercourse/ http://kinseyconfidential.org/virgin-orgasm-intercourse/#comments Thu, 07 May 2009 13:00:04 +0000 Dr. Debby Herbenick (M.P.H., Ph.D.) http://wfiutest.rtv.indiana.edu/qa-ways-orgasm-intercourse/ http://kinseyconfidential.org/virgin-orgasm-intercourse/feed/ 0 3:25 People generally think of a virgin as a woman or a man who has not intercourse, although there are different definitions for virginity that people ... People generally think of a virgin as a woman or a man who has not intercourse, although there are different definitions for virginity that people sometimes use. Regardless of your definition of virginity ndash; in other words, regardless of whatever sexual behavior you have or have not done (such as had vaginal intercourse) ndash; women and men can experience sexual pleasure and sometimes even orgasm from a variety of different types of stimulation. So yes, even though your girlfriend has not had sex, she is still likely capable of experiencing orgasm from different types of sexual stimulation, such as stimulation of her clitoris. Difficulty with Orgasm During Intercourse Letrsquo;s back up a few steps, though. First, it may be helpful for you to know that many women find it difficult to orgasm during intercourse. Itrsquo;s not uncommon for it to take months or years for a woman to learn to orgasm at all, let alone from vaginal sex. Second, women often find it easier to orgasm from direct stimulation of the glans clitoris, which is the part of the clitoris that one can see from the outside. The glans clitoris is usually about a quarter or half of an inch long and is often quite sensitive to the touch. Because itrsquo;s such a sensitive body part, not all women like to be touched directly on the clitoris ndash; or if they do, they may prefer certain types of touch over others. Don't Pressure Her As such, if you and your girlfriend talk about your ideas about sexual intimacy and decide that you want to try clitoral stimulation, keep a few things in mind. Try not to pressure her to have an orgasm, as it can take time for women to develop an orgasmic response to sexual stimulation. Try instead to think of your sexual exploration as a chance to find out what feels pleasurable and enjoyable for each of you. You might also try different types of touch ndash; gentle but first pressure on each otherrsquo;s bodies, light touches, quick touches, slow strokes, or other types of touch that you discover together. Try Oral Sex Oral sex is another possible way of stimulating womenrsquo;s or menrsquo;s genitals. Again, there is no one way to do it so exploration is often helpful. Because it is possible to pass sexually transmissible infections, or STIs, during oral sex, yoursquo;ll want to make sure that neither one of you has an STI before deciding to have oral sex. If either of you have ever had any type of oral, vaginal or anal sex with other people, then you should get tested for STIs before getting sexually involved with each other. Remember: there is no one way that sex has to happen, and you two are free to invent your sex play in a way that fits with your values, your feelings for each other, and your ideas about how you want to relate to each other sexually. Further Reading To learn more about sexuality, check out The Guide to Getting It On. Content,Type,,Podcast,,Pregnancy aschweig@indiana.edu no No http://kinseyconfidential.org/trouble-reaching-orgasm-through-masturbation/ http://kinseyconfidential.org/trouble-reaching-orgasm-through-masturbation/#comments Thu, 09 Oct 2008 14:00:48 +0000 Dr. Debby Herbenick (M.P.H., Ph.D.) http://wfiutest.rtv.indiana.edu/?p=382 http://kinseyconfidential.org/trouble-reaching-orgasm-through-masturbation/feed/ 0 3:15 Most women are capable of experiencing orgasm from some type of stimulation or another, so it is unlikely that you're completely unable to do so. ... Most women are capable of experiencing orgasm from some type of stimulation or another, so it is unlikely that you're completely unable to do so. In fact, it is quite common for women to find that learning to orgasm is a process, and one that takes time, patience, and practice. Boys commonly begin masturbating around the time that they reach puberty, give or take a year. Girls, on the other hand, may begin masturbating at a wider range of ages. Many young women begin masturbating as teenagers or young adults and so it's no wonder that it takes a while to learn to orgasm if one is less familiar, or rather newly familiar, with their body's sexual response. Pressure Gets In The Way Pressure gets in the way of some women learning to orgasm, too. Often, women will pressure themselves, or feel pressured by a partner, to orgasm - which, not surprisingly, often leads to women pretending to have an orgasm when they're with a partner. Even in masturbation, with no partner present, some women feel pressured to climax. And yet pressure and being overly focused on orgasm can make it difficult for a woman to relax and enjoy the way that her body responds to stimulation. And that relaxation is key - at least as a starting place - to learn to orgasm. Usually orgasm is helped along if a woman is feeling relaxed, sexually aroused or interested, and able to pay attention - and be open to enjoying - the physical sensations that her body is experiencing. Women's Bodies and Sexual Response You may find it helpful to learn more about women's bodies and sexual response. I'm not sure how it is that you are self-pleasuring but you might spend some time exploring your body, without any intention or pressure to orgasm, and see what feels good. Some women enjoy direct stimulation of their glans clitoris, the part of the clitoris that is above the vaginal entrance at the 12 o'clock position. Others prefer vaginal stimulation and at different parts within the vagina. And while hand stimulation is enjoyed by some women, others find that using a vibrator or other sex toy delivers the type of stimulation that makes sexual play more pleasurable or orgasmic. There are many paths to orgasm, and also many issues that make it difficult for women to experience orgasm right away. Recommended Reading You might find the book Becoming Orgasmic to be of help as you explore your body in pleasurable - and potentially orgasmic - ways. Content,Type,,Pleasure,,Orgasm,,Podcast aschweig@indiana.edu no No http://kinseyconfidential.org/clitoris/ http://kinseyconfidential.org/clitoris/#comments Wed, 24 Sep 2008 10:49:08 +0000 Dr. Debby Herbenick (M.P.H., Ph.D.) http://www.kinseyconfidential.org/2008/09/24/curious-about-the-clitoris/ http://kinseyconfidential.org/clitoris/feed/ 0