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/qa-strong-genital-odor-oral-sex/ http://kinseyconfidential.org/qa-strong-genital-odor-oral-sex/#comments Mon, 10 Aug 2009 14:00:50 +0000 Dr. Debby Herbenick (M.P.H., Ph.D.) http://wfiutest.rtv.indiana.edu/qa-strong-genital-odor-oral-sex/ http://kinseyconfidential.org/qa-strong-genital-odor-oral-sex/feed/ 0 3:33 What yoursquo;re going through is a very common process for young women and men who are beginning to think about sharing their body with another ... What yoursquo;re going through is a very common process for young women and men who are beginning to think about sharing their body with another human being in a way that they have never chosen to do before. It is a big decision to make oneself physically and emotionally vulnerable to another person ndash; in this case, to let your boyfriend look at, touch, and ndash; yes ndash; even smell and taste your genitals. A Personal Choice The decision to have oral sex, or any other type of sex, is an enormously personal choice and nothing you should feel that you have to do if you donrsquo;t feel comfortable doing it. Your doctors are absolutely correct that all women have some type of vaginal odor. And you are correct and seemingly in tune with your body to notice that a womanrsquo;s natural vaginal odor tends to change throughout her menstrual cycle as her hormones change. Odors: Not Necessarily A Problem Interestingly, doctors are trained to be able to distinguish common vaginal odors from odors that signal a health problem. Many gynecologists use such as odor to help them make a diagnosis. The fact that you have asked your doctors about your vaginal odor suggests that you feel comfortable talking about your body with a healthcare provider. The fact that trained doctors have suggested your odor is nothing to worry about suggests that it is nothing unusual or indicative of a health problem. If your boyfriend has had oral sex or other types of sex before, or if he has fingered you or other girls before, he likely knows from experience that vaginas have different odors and that it may vary slightly from woman to woman, or from day to day. Even if he has never done any of these things, he has likely heard about vaginal odor from his friends. What you may not know is that many men and women enjoy the way that vaginas and penises smell. Some people chalk up genital odor as par for the course ndash; meaning itrsquo;s nothing they get excited about but nothing that bothers them either. Other people get enormously turned on by the way that their partner smells. Talk About Your Concerns If you want to try oral sex with your boyfriend, and the only thing getting in your way is your concern about odor, you might either just go ahead and try it or you might let your boyfriend know about your concerns. Doing so will give him an opportunity to reassure you of his excitement about being with you. Generally speaking, many healthcare providers do not recommend feminine hygiene products which can irritate the vagina as well as the skin on a womanrsquo;s genitals. Recommended Reading You can learn more about these concerns, as well as natural vaginal odor, in The V Book: A Doctorrsquo;s Guide to Complete Vulvovaginal Health. Bodies,,Content,Type,,Podcast aschweig@indiana.edu no No http://kinseyconfidential.org/genital-itching-burning-sex/ http://kinseyconfidential.org/genital-itching-burning-sex/#comments Thu, 09 Apr 2009 14:00:28 +0000 Dr. Debby Herbenick (M.P.H., Ph.D.) http://wfiutest.rtv.indiana.edu/qa-genital-itching-burning-sex/ http://kinseyconfidential.org/genital-itching-burning-sex/feed/ 0 2:29 Womenrsquo;s genitals are quite sensitive; as a result, itrsquo;s not uncommon for women to occasionally notice genital itching or burning. Depending on the details of this ... Womenrsquo;s genitals are quite sensitive; as a result, itrsquo;s not uncommon for women to occasionally notice genital itching or burning. Depending on the details of this sexual encounter, you may have experienced vaginal burning for any number of reasons. Condoms and Lubricants Some condoms, for example, contribute to vaginal burning or irritation. Nonoxynol-9 is an ingredient that is used in the lubricant of spermicidal condoms ndash; which some men and women use in hopes of further reducing their risk of pregnancy ndash; and yet this chemical can sometimes contribute to genital irritation. If you used a lubricated condom or if you added lubricant during sex, it may be that the lubricant contained other ingredients that your body is sensitive too. Sexually Transmissible Infections (STIs) You also might check in with your healthcare provider, as some sexually transmissible infections ndash; or STIs ndash; can cause vaginal burning. You didnrsquo;t mention how soon after having sex you experienced vaginal burning, but some STI symptoms may show up within days or a week or two after infection. Other STIs have few, if any, symptoms. Friction Vaginal burning can also be sparked by the friction involved in sex. If the sex you had was particularly rough or vigorous, then the act itself may have irritated your sensitive vaginal or vulvar tissues. That happens! However, if vaginal burning continues for several days, if it worsens or is associated with pain, or if you simply have questions about it, please check in with your healthcare provider. Learn More You can learn more about vaginal and vulvar health by reading The V Book: A Doctorrsquo;s Guide to Complete Vulvovaginal Health by Dr. Elizabeth Stewart. Bodies,,Content,Type,,Podcast,,Special,,flagged,-,still,needs,some,edits aschweig@indiana.edu no No http://kinseyconfidential.org/strong-odor-during-sex/ http://kinseyconfidential.org/strong-odor-during-sex/#comments Thu, 12 Mar 2009 14:00:28 +0000 Dr. Debby Herbenick (M.P.H., Ph.D.) http://wfiutest.rtv.indiana.edu/?p=879 http://kinseyconfidential.org/strong-odor-during-sex/feed/ 0 3:08 Although both womenrsquo;s and menrsquo;s genitals may have particular smells associated with them, the odor is typically not foul-smelling to most people. Bacterial Infections In some cases, ... Although both womenrsquo;s and menrsquo;s genitals may have particular smells associated with them, the odor is typically not foul-smelling to most people. Bacterial Infections In some cases, women may indeed have bacterial infections or bacterial imbalances that can cause a strong odor. The vaginal environment is quite sensitive and women can have vaginal infections that have nothing to do with sexually transmissible infections, or STIs, so this odor is not necessarily a sign of an STI. Other times, strong genital odor can be a sign of a problem with a personrsquo;s sweat glands. Discussing Genital Odor It can be difficult to talk to a sexual partner about genital odor, particularly since many women and men are sensitive about how their sexual partners perceive their bodies. People generally want to feel attractive, desirable and sexy to their partner ndash; and feeling as though they smell bad can make it hard for them to feel desirable. As such, yoursquo;ll want to be as gentle and caring in this conversation as possible. One options is to let her know that therersquo;s something yoursquo;d like to talk to her about, and that you feel uncomfortable saying it because you donrsquo;t want her to worry that you donrsquo;t find her attractive, desirable or sexy ndash; because you do. However, you could say that yoursquo;ve noticed a strong odor during sex and that yoursquo;re not sure if itrsquo;s coming from your body, her body or the combined smell of your two bodies. And that while itrsquo;s not a bad odor, itrsquo;s strong, and you wonder if you should both talk to a healthcare provider about it just in case itrsquo;s a sign of a health issue. Not Just Her Leaving it open in this way might help her to feel less criticized, or as if you are blaming her. Itrsquo;s also a very real possibility that the smell is less about her body and more about the combination of your two bodies. Women and men both sometimes notice that their genitals smell different when their fluids get mixed together with a partnerrsquo;s bodily vaginal fluids or ejaculate. Further Reading To learn more about vaginal health, check out The V Book: A Doctorrsquo;s Guide to Complete Vulvovaginal Health. For information about sex in general, since yoursquo;re both new to it, check out The Guide to Getting It On. Bodies,,Content,Type,,Podcast aschweig@indiana.edu no No http://kinseyconfidential.org/clitoral-vaginal-dryness-vaginal-discharge/ http://kinseyconfidential.org/clitoral-vaginal-dryness-vaginal-discharge/#comments Mon, 10 Nov 2008 14:00:52 +0000 Dr. Debby Herbenick (M.P.H., Ph.D.) http://wfiutest.rtv.indiana.edu/?p=414 http://kinseyconfidential.org/clitoral-vaginal-dryness-vaginal-discharge/feed/ 0 3:33 All women experience vaginal discharge, though the color, consistency and amount can vary over the course of a woman's menstrual cycle, as well as with ... All women experience vaginal discharge, though the color, consistency and amount can vary over the course of a woman's menstrual cycle, as well as with age or in relation to other health issues, gynecological or otherwise. If these changes are significantly different for you, I would encourage you to check in with a healthcare provider who can examine you and give you more personalized information about your health. A Range Of Smells The smell that you describe is also well within the healthy, normal range of scents that women notice in regard to their genitals. After all, most everything has a scent to it and the vagina is no different. Quite a lot of women feel that their vagina smells slightly sweet, slightly sour or even slightly yeasty. In fact, smell is such an important characteristic that healthcare providers sometimes use it as part of their diagnosis. Don't worry - that doesn't mean that a gynecologist gets in very close to smell a woman's vaginal odor, but in the course of doing an exam, they can often pick up cues such as odor that can help to inform their diagnosis. Vaginal Dryness As for your clitoris, it is unclear to me in what way you feel that it is dry, as you mostly talked about discharge that appears on your underwear which would be from your vagina rather than your clitoris. If your clitoris feels dry, itching or uncomfortable, these are symptoms that you can talk to your healthcare provider about. If the lack of vaginal moisture that you've noticed has become uncomfortable, you should also mention this to your healthcare provider who may suggest a vaginal moisturizer. If you experience discomfort during vaginal intercourse, but not at other times, then using a personal lubricant may be helpful. Recommended Reading To learn more about vaginal discharge, vaginal odor and the clitoris, you might read The V Book: A Doctor's Guide to Complete Vulovaginal Health by Dr. Elizabeth Stewart. Bodies,,Content,Type,,Podcast aschweig@indiana.edu no No http://kinseyconfidential.org/yeast-infection-oral-sex/ http://kinseyconfidential.org/yeast-infection-oral-sex/#comments Thu, 16 Oct 2008 14:00:48 +0000 Dr. Debby Herbenick (M.P.H., Ph.D.) http://wfiutest.rtv.indiana.edu/?p=388 http://kinseyconfidential.org/yeast-infection-oral-sex/feed/ 2 3:27 Great question - and one that's on the minds of many men and women. In most cases, oral sex performed on a woman does not ... Great question - and one that's on the minds of many men and women. In most cases, oral sex performed on a woman does not raise her chances of getting a yeast infection. Saliva and Yeast Infection Risk But for some women who are prone to yeast infections, it does. Another sex act that can increase the odds of having a yeast infection - as you hinted at - is having vaginal intercourse with a man after one has just performed oral sex on him. In both cases, it's the saliva that can raise the yeast infection risk. That said, it is completely possible for one but not both of these sex acts to contribute to a woman's yeast infection risk. Maybe your saliva on her genitals interacts with her body in a way that promotes yeast overgrowth whereas her saliva on your penis, which then goes into her vagina, does not have the same effect. That is certainly a possibility. And while this used to not be a problem for you two, it's also true that women who never used to get yeast infections can become more prone to them at different points in their lives, particularly due to hormonal changes. Check In With A Specialist If your wife is particularly prone to yeast infections, or finds that her body doesn't always respond easily to treatment, she might consider checking in with a specialist in vulvovaginal health. You two can also learn more about yeast infections, sex and other vaginal health issues in The V Book: A Doctor's Guide to Complete Vulvovaginal Health. The International Society for the Study of Vulvovaginal Disease is another good resource for information about vulvovaginal health and you can also contact them to locate healthcare providers who specialize in vaginal health issues, like yeast infections, in your area. Satisfying Sex And Communication Having a satisfying sex life in the midst of dealing with yeast infections is definitely possible, though you might find that communication becomes even more important. If you're feeling disappointed about not being able to perform oral sex on your wife, this is something that you might try talking with her about so that she can reassure you that it's not about you, but about her body. And there may be other ways to work around the situation, such as using a dental dam or condom cut in half as a barrier between your mouth and her genitals. That way you might be able to occasionally indulge in oral sex without putting her at risk for an uncomfortable or painful yeast infection. Content,Type,,Health,,Disease,,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 http://kinseyconfidential.org/dry-vaginal-lips-itchy-vagina/ http://kinseyconfidential.org/dry-vaginal-lips-itchy-vagina/#comments Mon, 25 Aug 2008 22:30:19 +0000 Dr. Debby Herbenick (M.P.H., Ph.D.) http://www.kinseyconfidential.org/2008/08/25/qa-preventing-dry-vaginal-lips/ http://kinseyconfidential.org/dry-vaginal-lips-itchy-vagina/feed/ 0 2:47 Itrsquo;s difficult to know exactly which part yoursquo;re talking about, because women and men use such a variety of words when it comes to talking ... Itrsquo;s difficult to know exactly which part yoursquo;re talking about, because women and men use such a variety of words when it comes to talking about womenrsquo;s genitals. Female Genitalia The vagina is technically the term for the birth canal, or the inside part where a penis or fingers may be inserted, or where a woman inserts a tampon. The word ldquo;vulvardquo;, on the other hand, refers to the external genitals of women and includes parts such as the labia majora and labia minora (also called the outer vaginal lips and inner vaginal lips), as well as the clitoris, clitoral hood and opening to the vagina. Womenrsquo;s labia ndash; also called the lips ndash; sometimes become dry because of certain skin conditions or hormonal conditions that a woman may have, or else they may become dry if her skin is very sensitive to laundry soaps, bath soaps or other products she may be using on her genitals. Still, other women may find that their labia rub up against each other when they walk, and that may cause chafing or discomfort. Check With A Healthcare Provider Consider checking in with a healthcare provider who can take a look at your genitals and give you some feedback about what may be causing your feelings of genital dryness and discomfort. Even though women often think about seeing a gynecologist for everything related to their genitals, sometimes dermatologists are particularly good choices too for genital skin issues because they specialize in the health and medical conditions related to skin, including genital skin. Recommended Reading You can learn more about the vulva and vagina, and related health and comfort issues, by reading The V Book: A Doctorrsquo;s Guide to Complete Vulvovaginal Health by Dr. Elizabeth Stewart. Another book that includes a good deal of information related to womenrsquo;s genital health is Our Bodies, Ourselves by the Boston Womenrsquo;s Health Book Collective, and which is available in both English and Spanish. Bodies,,Content,Type,,Podcast 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/vaginal-tearing-healing-time/ http://kinseyconfidential.org/vaginal-tearing-healing-time/#comments Mon, 24 Mar 2008 13:32:48 +0000 Dr. Debby Herbenick (M.P.H., Ph.D.) http://www.kinseyconfidential.org/blog/2008/03/24/qa-vaginal-tearing/ http://kinseyconfidential.org/vaginal-tearing-healing-time/feed/ 0