http://kinseyconfidential.org Just another WordPress weblog Thu, 18 Mar 2010 14:00:23 +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/premature-ejaculation-in-sex-is-it-because-i-masturbate/ http://kinseyconfidential.org/premature-ejaculation-in-sex-is-it-because-i-masturbate/#comments Mon, 08 Mar 2010 14:00:02 +0000 Dr. Debby Herbenick (M.P.H., Ph.D.) http://kinseyconfidential.org/?p=1579 http://kinseyconfidential.org/premature-ejaculation-in-sex-is-it-because-i-masturbate/feed/ 0 3:31 Everyone Does It Most men and women have masturbated at some point in their lives whether during adolescence, adulthood, older age or throughout the lifespan. In ... Everyone Does It Most men and women have masturbated at some point in their lives whether during adolescence, adulthood, older age or throughout the lifespan. In fact, even research conducted with parents and teachers of young children shows that most young children touch their genitals for curiosity, to relieve an itch or because they like how it feels. Masturbation is generally regarded as a healthy form of sexual expression. Sperm Production Menrsquo;s bodies make sperm and the fluids that make up semen on an ongoing basis. Masturbating will not cause your body to stop producing sperm or semen. In case yoursquo;re curious, sperm only make up a small portion of the volume of semen. Much of a manrsquo;s seminal fluids come from his prostate gland and other glands called the cowperrsquo;s glands and seminal vesicles. Why We Do It There are many reasons that people masturbate including for fun, curiosity, to release sexual tension, to help themselves fall asleep or to enhance their desire or arousal. There are also different ways that people masturbate alone or with a sexual or romantic relationship partner. While many people touch their genitals, others find that they enjoy stimulating their chest or breasts, their inner thighs or their anus. Some people use their hands to masturbate and others find it pleasurable to use a sex toy, to rub their body against a bed or pillow or to stimulate themselves in the shower or bath. Masturbation Might Help Itrsquo;s also important to note that masturbation does not necessarily cause premature ejaculation or the experience of ejaculating more quickly than you or your wife might like. In fact, certain masturbation exercises might actually help you to learn to last longer during sexual intercourse. These exercises are called the stop-start technique and the squeeze technique. Essentially they involve stimulating yourself during masturbation, then just before the point when you are getting close to ejaculating you either stop all stimulation (for the stop-start technique) or gently squeeze the head of your penis (for the squeeze technique). This may help your arousal to decrease somewhat before you then start stimulating yourself again and repeat the process. Finally, I would encourage you to speak with your wife about her feelings about her sex life. It may be that she is happy with how long you spend having sex. More Information You can learn more about masturbation and partnered techniques to help you last longer during sex in The New Male Sexuality or Coping With Premature Ejaculation. Common,Problems,,Content,Type,,Podcast aschweig@indiana.edu no No http://kinseyconfidential.org/pregnant-guy-pulls-ejaculates/ http://kinseyconfidential.org/pregnant-guy-pulls-ejaculates/#comments Thu, 04 Mar 2010 14:00:03 +0000 Dr. Debby Herbenick (M.P.H., Ph.D.) http://kinseyconfidential.org/?p=1569 http://kinseyconfidential.org/pregnant-guy-pulls-ejaculates/feed/ 0 2:33 Affirmative Pregnancy Warning Yes, from what you describe, it would technically be possible to become pregnant from having unprotected sex with a man who has just ... Affirmative Pregnancy Warning Yes, from what you describe, it would technically be possible to become pregnant from having unprotected sex with a man who has just come, wiped off his penis and then put his penis back inside your vagina. This is because even if he squeezed what he thought was the rest of his semen out of his penis and wiped it on his towel or hand, he may still have some semen further down his urethra that he would not have been able to squeeze out. Getting Rid of Semen Men cannot reliably squeeze all of their semen out of their penis. Sometimes it trickles out a few moments later. Also, there may be sperm that are further down and then, when he is inside you and gets aroused again, his pre-ejaculatory fluids may sweep up the sperm several minutes later, or even longer, and carry it outside his body and into your vagina. Avoid Pregnancy If you do not want to become pregnant, you have several options. You could abstain from sexual activity with your partner altogether. Or you could engage in sex play with your partner but only the types of sex play that do not pose a pregnancy risk, such as making out and touching each othersrsquo; genitals with your hands or having dry sex with both of your clothes on. Reliable Birth Control Or, if you are both feeling ready to have sex, then you could have sex with each other but choose to use a reliable method of birth control such as a condom or hormonal birth control such as the birth control pill, patch or ring. More Information You can learn more about these methods of birth control by reading Our Bodies, Ourselves or The Guide to Getting It On. Planned Parenthood also has extensive information about birth control methods, condoms and preventing pregnancy. Each of these resources also has information about things you can do to increase your chances of becoming pregnant if that is something that you and your partner are interested in doing together. Content,Type,,Podcast,,Pregnancy aschweig@indiana.edu no No http://kinseyconfidential.org/sperm/ http://kinseyconfidential.org/sperm/#comments Thu, 03 Dec 2009 14:00:51 +0000 Dr. Debby Herbenick (M.P.H., Ph.D.) http://kinseyconfidential.org/?p=1289 http://kinseyconfidential.org/sperm/feed/ 1 2:41 Sperm only account for about 5% of a manrsquo;s ejaculation by volume whereas fluids from the seminal vesicles and prostate gland account for the vast ... Sperm only account for about 5% of a manrsquo;s ejaculation by volume whereas fluids from the seminal vesicles and prostate gland account for the vast majority of semen. As such, if you are hoping that more sperm will make for larger amounts of semen when you ejaculate, think again! Unable to Increase the Volume of Ejaculate In fact, I am not aware of any way to reliably increase the volume of your ejaculate. Some men find that they emit more semen when they have had less frequent masturbation or partnered sex or when they have allowed their arousal to build up substantially before ejaculating. Others notice little, if any, difference when they try these things. Now, if yoursquo;re not interested in changing your semen volume ndash; but rather you are interested in increasing your sperm count itself, that may be another story. Increasing Your Sperm Count If a healthcare provider has told you that you have a low sperm count, and you and your partner wish to become pregnant, then you may be able to make some lifestyle changes that can either result in more sperm per ejaculation or that may help the sperm you do produce to swim faster or to be of higher quality. Some research, for example, has linked high body fat to lower sperm count or to lower sperm quality. Other research has examined the relationship between caffeine consumption or cigarette smoking with the suggestion that high caffeine consumption and smoking can have a negative impact on sperm quality. Then there are temperature issues to consider in that men who are trying to conceive may find it helpful to steer clear of tight underwear, steam rooms or hot tubs so that their testicles ndash; where sperm are produced ndash; arenrsquo;t subjected to warm temperatures, which can impair sperm production. If you are concerned about your sperm count or your fertility, check in with a healthcare provider for advice about what you can personally to do improve your sperm count or quality. Depending on your personal health history and your goals regarding pregnancy, some strategies may be better choices than others and you can discuss these options with a healthcare provider. Common,Problems,,Content,Type,,Podcast aschweig@indiana.edu no No http://kinseyconfidential.org/orgasm-desire-vasectomy/ http://kinseyconfidential.org/orgasm-desire-vasectomy/#comments Thu, 16 Apr 2009 13:00:18 +0000 Dr. Debby Herbenick (M.P.H., Ph.D.) http://wfiutest.rtv.indiana.edu/qa-orgasm-desire-vasectomy/ http://kinseyconfidential.org/orgasm-desire-vasectomy/feed/ 0 3:22 Vasectomy is generally regarded as a highly safe and effective means of permanent birth control. There are various methods of vasectomy that are available to ... Vasectomy is generally regarded as a highly safe and effective means of permanent birth control. There are various methods of vasectomy that are available to doctors, with the end result being that the vas deferens ndash; which are the tubes that carry sperm from the testicles ndash; are clamped, cut or sealed so that sperm are no longer able to leave the body through ejaculation. Affect On Sexual Desire And Orgasm Because only the sperm are blocked, and sperm make up a very tiny proportion of the volume of a manrsquo;s semen, the amount of ejaculation released during orgasm is pretty much the same before vasectomy as it is after vasectomy. And when it comes to sex, research generally suggests that menrsquo;s sexual desire, satisfaction and erectile function are just as strong after vasectomy as compared to before vasectomy. In fact, without the anxiety about accidentally getting their partner pregnant during intercourse, quite a few men even indicate that they have stronger erections or are more sexually satisfied after their vasectomy. Less Pleasurable Sex Very Rare It is very rare for men who have had vasectomies to report having less pleasurable sex or no experience of release at the time of orgasm. Because this is so rare, many doctors ndash; even those who have performed hundreds of vasectomies ndash; may have never encountered a patient who told them that their experience of sex became worse after the vasectomy, and that may explain why the doctors yoursquo;ve met with have had little to say in response to your question. That doesnrsquo;t mean that your experience isnrsquo;t valid or doesnrsquo;t warrant attention. Having a vasectomy can affect menrsquo;s feelings about themselves, their bodies, and their sexuality in important ways, and it may be worth meeting with a trained sex therapist to further explore how having a vasectomy has impacted your sex life. You can find a sex therapist on the web site of the American Association of Sex Educators, Counselors and Therapists. You might also want to meet with a urologist or a neurologist who has experience in sexual issues as it is certainly possible that there may be physical causes related to your lack of pleasure in relation to orgasm. Recommended Reading Finally, you might find it helpful to read a book such as For Each Other: Sharing Sexual Intimacy by Dr. Lonnie Barbach that focuses on ways that couples can use sexual exploration to foster closeness, intimacy and pleasure. Bodies,,Content,Type,,Podcast aschweig@indiana.edu no No http://kinseyconfidential.org/taste-bodily-fluids/ http://kinseyconfidential.org/taste-bodily-fluids/#comments Tue, 17 Feb 2009 13:09:24 +0000 Natalie Ingraham (M.P.H.) http://wfiutest.rtv.indiana.edu/?p=927 http://kinseyconfidential.org/taste-bodily-fluids/feed/ 0 http://kinseyconfidential.org/pregnancy-planning-deception/ http://kinseyconfidential.org/pregnancy-planning-deception/#comments Mon, 12 Jan 2009 14:00:27 +0000 Dr. Debby Herbenick (M.P.H., Ph.D.) http://wfiutest.rtv.indiana.edu/?p=552 http://kinseyconfidential.org/pregnancy-planning-deception/feed/ 0 2:58 While it is possible to get pregnant from taking a man's ejaculate from the condom and inserting it into your vagina, I wouldn't recommend it ... While it is possible to get pregnant from taking a man's ejaculate from the condom and inserting it into your vagina, I wouldn't recommend it - as you can imagine. You said yourself that the fact that you emptied his condom inside your vagina is something you cannot explain to yourself, even now, except to say, of course, that you want to become pregnant and he doesn't. A Betrayal Of Trust It takes two to tango for a reason, I suppose, and perhaps a major reason is that maintaining a healthy pregnancy and raising a child is often healthier for the child - and healthier for the couple - when it has been done without deception. By having sex with a condom, you and your husband have made the choice to not risk getting pregnant at the moment. And while he may have moments of wanting to have a baby with you, he also has hesitations. Taking his semen in secret is a betrayal of the trust that he gives you, and such deception could cause problems in your relationship. It can be difficult, and sensitive, for a couple to talk openly and honestly with each other about their feelings related to getting pregnant and yet communication is very important, as is honesty. Talk To Your Husband If you would like to become pregnant, please consider ways in which you could talk to your husband about this possibility rather than going about it in ways that betray his trust. He may have good reasons for not yet wanting to become pregnant together than go above and beyond money. Also, if you are serious about becoming pregnant, it would be a wise idea to talk to your gynecologist to learn whether there are any personal health issues that you might want to address now rather than once a pregnancy is already underway. He or she might also advise you on other issues related to having a healthy pregnancy, that you can start now, such as taking prenatal vitamins, avoiding cigarette smoke, diet and exercise. Learn More You can learn more about pregnancy by reading Our Bodies, Ourselves: Pregnancy and Birth. Content,Type,,Podcast,,Pregnancy aschweig@indiana.edu no No http://kinseyconfidential.org/pregnant-from-dry-semen/ http://kinseyconfidential.org/pregnant-from-dry-semen/#comments Mon, 17 Nov 2008 14:00:38 +0000 Dr. Debby Herbenick (M.P.H., Ph.D.) http://wfiutest.rtv.indiana.edu/?p=421 http://kinseyconfidential.org/pregnant-from-dry-semen/feed/ 2 2:59 Any time that a man's sperm get inside of a woman's vagina, and she is not using any effective methods of birth control, there is ... Any time that a man's sperm get inside of a woman's vagina, and she is not using any effective methods of birth control, there is a risk of pregnancy. I am not sure how adequately your boyfriend wiped the head of his penis after he ejaculated, so it is unclear whether he removed all of the semen. Plus, if there were any sperm still inside his urethra (the tube that carries urine and ejaculate out of a man's body), then the sperm could potentially have been picked up by pre-ejaculatory fluids moments later, and then gotten into your vagina when he inserted his penis. If there was any ejaculate on his penis, or about to come out of his penis, when he inserted it into you, then there is a risk of pregnancy if you were not using other methods of birth control at the time, such as the birth control pill, patch or ring. Home Pregnancy Test If you have concerns about being pregnant, you might take a home pregnancy test after enough time has passed, or you might check in with a healthcare provider for a pregnancy test and to learn more about safe and effective methods of birth control. I would also encourage you and your boyfriend to learn more about sexuality and pregnancy if you plan on being sexual together, and to learn about ways to prevent pregnancy. You can find information about contraception and sexual health on our contraception resource pages or on Planned Parenthood's web site. You can also learn more about sexuality through the book The Guide to Getting It On. Not Recommended In short, however, I would not recommend this practice for the future. If you do not want to get pregnant, then you and your boyfriend might consider using condoms for penetrative sex play like you recently engaged in. If you are not comfortable with any degree of pregnancy risk, then perhaps you two just re-evaluate your decision to have penetrative sex, or any type of sexual contact that might put you at risk for pregnancy or infection. Given that you both have now been in contact with each other's sexual fluids now, too, you should both consider getting tested for sexually transmissible infections, or STIs, which can be passed between two people even with just brief contact, as you two had. Content,Type,,Podcast,,Pregnancy aschweig@indiana.edu no No http://kinseyconfidential.org/vagina-hurts-burns-pain-after-sex/ http://kinseyconfidential.org/vagina-hurts-burns-pain-after-sex/#comments Thu, 13 Nov 2008 14:00:58 +0000 Dr. Debby Herbenick (M.P.H., Ph.D.) http://wfiutest.rtv.indiana.edu/?p=418 http://kinseyconfidential.org/vagina-hurts-burns-pain-after-sex/feed/ 0 3:32 Although many women experience vaginal itching and burning at some point in their lives, it is always worth looking into. In some cases, vaginal itching and ... Although many women experience vaginal itching and burning at some point in their lives, it is always worth looking into. In some cases, vaginal itching and burning can be a sign of a sexually transmissible infection, also called an STI, so it is important to check in with a healthcare provider to rule out this possibility even if you feel as though there is little to no risk of that possibility. Possible Causes Other times, women experience vaginal itching or burning in response to chemicals or materials that they are sensitive to. For example, some women find that they experience vaginal irritation in response to certain lubricants or condoms, but not others. If you and your boyfriend are using lubricated condoms, then you might try to use a non-lubricated condom and add some of your own lubricant, such as one that is hypoallergenic or unlikely to cause irritation. The brand Good Clean Love, for example, is made without some of the common irritants found in certain popular brands of lubricants. Another lubricant that has been formulated to reduce the risk of irritation is called Pink. Although uncommon, some women are allergic or hypersensitive to men's semen. Some of these women have always been allergic or hypersensitive to semen, whereas other women develop an allergy or hypersensitivity over time, and may experience itching, burning, redness or other irritant reactions after they are exposed to semen, such as during intercourse. In rare cases, women may experience more severe reactions that require a visit to the emergency room. Check In With A Healthcare Provider For all of these reasons, it is important to check in with a healthcare provider when one experiences persistent vaginal irritation. Regular gynecological exams are recommended for women who are sexually active, anyway, and are particularly encouraged when vaginal symptoms are present. You can learn more about sexual and reproductive health needs of women, as well as locate a health care clinic near you if needed, from Planned Parenthood. Bodies,,Content,Type,,Podcast aschweig@indiana.edu no No http://kinseyconfidential.org/dry-sex-pregnancy-risk/ http://kinseyconfidential.org/dry-sex-pregnancy-risk/#comments Mon, 20 Oct 2008 14:00:37 +0000 Dr. Debby Herbenick (M.P.H., Ph.D.) http://wfiutest.rtv.indiana.edu/?p=393 http://kinseyconfidential.org/dry-sex-pregnancy-risk/feed/ 0 3:09 Although sperm are very good swimmers, they're not supernaturally good - I have yet to hear of a case where sperm have swam through both ... Although sperm are very good swimmers, they're not supernaturally good - I have yet to hear of a case where sperm have swam through both boxers and underwear and resulted in a pregnancy. Defining "Dry Sex" I imagine one reason why you might be reading conflicting information on the internet is because it's impossible to know what exactly people are doing when they say that they are having dry sex, or any other type of sex for that matter. And what people do can change from time to time - even with you and your girlfriend, sometimes your dry sex has meant that you both have clothes on and other times it has meant that she has underwear on but you are completely naked. The more clothes that come off, the more the potential for pregnancy exists if men's and women's genitals come together, and the guy ejaculates. So in the absence of knowing what exactly people are doing, you can imagine why sex educators, nurses and doctors are a little cautious about describing pregnancy or infection risks for dry sex. Consider Birth Control That said, I think you are very wise to consider more reliable methods of birth control, particularly since it sounds like you two sometimes take things a little further than planned, like when you've wound up naked. And you're absolutely correct that if your semen were to get near her vaginal entrance, then there could be a risk for pregnancy, even if you didn't have vaginal intercourse. Using a condom is certainly one strategy - it would provide a barrier between your semen and her vagina. It is possible that a condom might tear, particularly since dry sex involves more friction than intercourse, and you should check the condom here and there to make sure that it is still intact. Applying a bit of water-based lubricant on the condom, once it is already on your penis, can reduce the risk of the condom breaking or tearing. There are also a range of hormonal contraceptives that your girlfriend might consider such as the birth control pill, patch, ring or shot. The best form of contraception is one that you two can use consistently and correctly, so issues about convenience, access, ease of use and cost are important to consider. Content,Type,,Podcast,,Pregnancy aschweig@indiana.edu no No http://kinseyconfidential.org/period-length-pregnancy-risk/ http://kinseyconfidential.org/period-length-pregnancy-risk/#comments Mon, 21 Jul 2008 16:53:29 +0000 Dr. Debby Herbenick (M.P.H., Ph.D.) http://www.kinseyconfidential.org/2008/07/21/qa-my-boyfriend-put-his-hands-down-my-pants-could-i-be-pregnant/ http://kinseyconfidential.org/period-length-pregnancy-risk/feed/ 0 3:25 We get a lot of questions from women and men who are concerned about pregnancy risk. If anything, it reminds us how important it is ... We get a lot of questions from women and men who are concerned about pregnancy risk. If anything, it reminds us how important it is to educate young women and men about pregnancy and sexuality and what does (or doesnrsquo;t) put a couple at risk of becoming pregnant. In order to become pregnant, a manrsquo;s sperm need to be able to fertilize a womanrsquo;s egg, and then the fertilized egg needs to be able to implant itself into the lining of a womanrsquo;s uterus, which is called the endometrium. If your boyfriend didnrsquo;t have any recently ejaculated semen on his hand, and if his hand didnrsquo;t go very near your vaginal entrance or inside your vaginal entrance, then I cannot imagine a scenario in which you would become pregnant. He would have had to fresh, wet semen on his hand ndash; which you probably would have noticed - and then somehow have gotten it inside or awfully close to your vaginal opening. If you are worried about sperm somehow being ldquo;leftoverrdquo; on his hand from an earlier episode of masturbation, that is also unlikely ndash; clean, dry hands donrsquo;t keep sperm alive. Letrsquo;s turn now to womenrsquo;s menstrual periods. Even if you usually have 6 or 7 day periods, that doesnrsquo;t mean that you wonrsquo;t ever have shorter or even longer periods. Menstrual periods can change due to stress, weight changes, hormonal changes, health issues or for no apparent reason whatsoever. Periods are especially likely to change during adolescence. Girls who are used to having 5 day periods from age 13 to 16 may find that when they are 17 or 18 or 20, their periods become shorter or longer, or lighter or heavier. These types of changes are actually quite common, and may continue to change even in adulthood. If you are feeling anxious about being sexual with your boyfriend, it may be a sign that you need more information about sexual health, and maybe that you need to communicate more with him about your decision to be sexual together in this way. You may also want to spend more time thinking to yourself what your values, concerns and expectations are related to sexuality, so that you can have experiences that feel more comfortable and enjoyable to you. If you want to continue being sexual with him in this way, consider ways that can make it feel more comfortable to you, such as perhaps touching each other over each otherrsquo;s clothes, rather than under them. That way you can feel more certain that you will not become pregnant. To learn more about womenrsquo;s sexual health and pregnancy risk, consider reading the book Our Bodies, Ourselves. Content,Type,,Podcast,,Pregnancy aschweig@indiana.edu no No http://kinseyconfidential.org/semen-allergy/ http://kinseyconfidential.org/semen-allergy/#comments Mon, 30 Jun 2008 21:42:37 +0000 Dr. Debby Herbenick (M.P.H., Ph.D.) http://www.kinseyconfidential.org/2008/06/30/qa-could-i-be-allergic-to-my-boyfriends-semen/ http://kinseyconfidential.org/semen-allergy/feed/ 0 3:16 Yes, it is possible to be allergic or hypersensitive to semen. Sometimes this is referred to "human seminal plasma allergy" or as a hypersensitivity. It ... Yes, it is possible to be allergic or hypersensitive to semen. Sometimes this is referred to "human seminal plasma allergy" or as a hypersensitivity. It is also possible there are other things going on, so checking in with your gynecologist or other health care provider will be important. Many Possible Factors Sometimes women react to the semen of a specific man even if they never reacted negatively to the semen of previous partners; other times women report a history of reacting to more than one man's ejaculate. There are women who report having skin or vaginal reactions to semen since the very first time they were exposed to ejaculate, whether through unprotected intercourse or their partner ejaculating on their stomach or back. In other cases, a woman may begin reacting to a partner's semen after years or decades without problems. Sometimes this happens after a hormonal change such as beginning a new contraceptive method, having a hysterectomy, pregnancy, giving birth or menopause. In other situations, the reaction has been linked to something that the woman's partner has ingested, like a food or medicine that the woman is allergic or sensitive to, such as walnuts or penicillin. Try Using A Condom If you think that you're sensitive to his ejaculate, you might try using condoms until you're able to get in to see your health care provider. That way, your boyfriend's ejaculate won't come into contact with your vagina. If you're still irritated even with the use of condoms, then perhaps something else is going on. For example, you might be reacting to the type of lubricant you're using (if any), or you might have a vulvovaginal condition that's causing discomfort. You may find "The V Book: A Doctor's Guide to Complete Vulvovaginal Health" by Dr. Elizabeth Stewart and Paula Spencer to be of interest. Though the book doesn't provide much information on allergic or hypersensitive reactions to ejaculate, it might provide insight into other issues related to vulvovaginal health or perhaps other clues to your discomfort and irritation. Talk To A Healthcare Provider Telling your health care provider everything you can think of ndash; such as any lubricants yoursquo;ve used, types of sexual behaviors, other food or medication allergies, feminine hygiene products you've used -- might be useful in making a diagnosis or suggesting treatment. Plus, it's always a good idea to get tested for STIs if you've been sexually active, so good for you for looking into testing for yourself and for your partner. Bodies,,Content,Type,,Podcast aschweig@indiana.edu no No http://kinseyconfidential.org/leaving-space-at-the-tip-of-condoms/ http://kinseyconfidential.org/leaving-space-at-the-tip-of-condoms/#comments Mon, 12 May 2008 12:01:24 +0000 Dr. Debby Herbenick (M.P.H., Ph.D.) http://www.kinseyconfidential.org/2008/05/12/qa-leaving-space-at-the-tip-of-condoms/ http://kinseyconfidential.org/leaving-space-at-the-tip-of-condoms/feed/ 0 2:51 Good for you for seeking out information about a topic that is new to you and incredibly important when it comes to reducing the risk ... Good for you for seeking out information about a topic that is new to you and incredibly important when it comes to reducing the risk of unintended pregnancy and infection transmission. Half An Inch Generally, it is recommended to leave about a half of an inch of space at the top of the condom to "catch" a man's ejaculate. Condoms move around on a man's penis during sex - sometimes they become more snug at the head of the penis; other times they become a little more loose. The "half an inch" suggestion is just that - a suggestion - and not an exact science. Not only does the condom's movement change the amount of room at the top, but men vary slightly in how much they ejaculate, though usually it is about a teaspoon's worth. Most men do not report discomfort with ejaculate pooling in the top of the condom. If any of the ejaculate happens to flow back down your urethra, it is not harmful. Men have a "bladder valve" that opens or shuts off access to your bladder. When a man becomes sexually excited and erect, the valve closes the passageway between the bladder and urethra, which is why men typically don't pee when they mean to ejaculate. However, after ejaculation - when you a no longer erect and your body is no longer physically excited (even if you are still feeling excited) - the valve will "open" again to allow access to your bladder. As such, any ejaculate that returns to your body would likely end up in your bladder and then come back out when you go to the bathroom. Masturbating With A Condom If you are concerned about this issue, you might consider masturbating with a condom on your penis to see how it feels when you ejaculate. It might not be as bad as you think. Also consider adding a little water-based or silicon-based lubricant on the outside of the condom (after it is already on your penis) to enhance sensation for you and, during partner sex, comfort for your partner. Another option, if you are concerned about the ejaculate pooling in the tip of the condom, is to use a condom that has more room around the head of the penis. Birth,Control,,Content,Type,,Podcast aschweig@indiana.edu no No http://kinseyconfidential.org/amount-consistency-semen/ http://kinseyconfidential.org/amount-consistency-semen/#comments Tue, 04 Mar 2008 05:01:53 +0000 Dr. Debby Herbenick (M.P.H., Ph.D.) http://www.kinseyconfidential.org/blog/2008/03/04/qa-semen-has-become-more-clear-and-watery/ http://kinseyconfidential.org/amount-consistency-semen/feed/ 0 2:51 The color and consistency of a men's ejaculate (semen) can vary and often these changes are normal, may be associated with frequency of ejaculation, or ... The color and consistency of a men's ejaculate (semen) can vary and often these changes are normal, may be associated with frequency of ejaculation, or even diet or exercise and can also occur with age. Other times changes in the color or consistency of ejaculate may signal issues with one's testicular health, prostate health or other health issues. A urologist is a doctor who specializes in male sexual, urinary and reproductive health issues including issues relating to the prostate, testes and ejaculation. Check In With A Healthcare Provider Please consider checking in with a healthcare provider (a urologist would be a particularly good choice, but a general internist would be a fine choice too). This is particularly important when one is experiencing testicular soreness, which can sometimes be a sign of either trauma/injury, a bacterial infection or other issues. All cases of testicular soreness, "cracking" sounds or other discomfort should be checked out by a healthcare provider. Bodies,,Content,Type,,Podcast aschweig@indiana.edu no No http://kinseyconfidential.org/mutual-masturbation-pregnancy-risk/ http://kinseyconfidential.org/mutual-masturbation-pregnancy-risk/#comments Wed, 06 Dec 2006 16:57:57 +0000 Dr. Debby Herbenick (M.P.H., Ph.D.) http://www.kinseyconfidential.org/blog/2006/12/06/qa-can-i-get-pregnant-from-mutual-masturbation-with-my-boyfriend/ http://kinseyconfidential.org/mutual-masturbation-pregnancy-risk/feed/ 0 http://kinseyconfidential.org/how-to-last-longer-during-sex-masturbation-techniques/ http://kinseyconfidential.org/how-to-last-longer-during-sex-masturbation-techniques/#comments Wed, 06 Sep 2006 20:14:54 +0000 Dr. Debby Herbenick (M.P.H., Ph.D.) http://www.kinseyconfidential.org/blog/2006/09/06/qa-how-can-i-last-longer-during-sex/ http://kinseyconfidential.org/how-to-last-longer-during-sex-masturbation-techniques/feed/ 1