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/women-easily-achieve-orgasm/ http://kinseyconfidential.org/women-easily-achieve-orgasm/#comments Mon, 16 Nov 2009 14:00:06 +0000 Dr. Debby Herbenick (M.P.H., Ph.D.) http://kinseyconfidential.org/?p=1278 http://kinseyconfidential.org/women-easily-achieve-orgasm/feed/ 2 http://kinseyconfidential.org/glass-pyrex-sex-toys-safe/ http://kinseyconfidential.org/glass-pyrex-sex-toys-safe/#comments Mon, 06 Jul 2009 14:00:20 +0000 Dr. Debby Herbenick (M.P.H., Ph.D.) http://wfiutest.rtv.indiana.edu/?p=1091 http://kinseyconfidential.org/glass-pyrex-sex-toys-safe/feed/ 1 2:41 Even though research suggests that more than half of women and nearly half of men have used vibrators, there has been strikingly little research related ... Even though research suggests that more than half of women and nearly half of men have used vibrators, there has been strikingly little research related to the toxicity of sex toy materials. However, the little that we do know about sex toy materials suggests that toys made of glass, medical grade silicone or hard plastics are likely among the least toxic. Keep in mind that even the toys that are thought to be made with more toxic materials, such as many Jelly toys, are unlikely to cause any significant or long term harm under normal use conditions. Consider Using A Condom If you are very concerned about sex toy materials, consider putting a condom over any sex toy that you put into your body. That way, the condom can act as a barrier between your body and the sex toy. You should still plan to clean your toy before and after using it. One study related to sex toy materials suggested that a water based lubricant may be safer to use with sex toy materials compared to oil based lubricants, as oil based products may cause a greater release of chemicals from the more toxic sex toy materials. Know Where The Toy Came From Also, if you want more information about sex toy materials, you might consider purchasing toys that are manufactured in countries that have strict standards about chemical processing. It may take more time to learn where your favorite sex toys are manufactured but if this issue is important to you, it may give you more peace of mind. Recommended Reading You can learn more about how to shop for sex toys, types of lubricants to use with sex toys, and sex toy materials in my new book Because It Feels Good: A Womanrsquo;s Guide to Sexual Pleasure and Satisfaction, which also has tips for how to use sex toys alone or with a partner. Content,Type,,Pleasure,,Orgasm,,Podcast aschweig@indiana.edu no No http://kinseyconfidential.org/vibrator-pain/ http://kinseyconfidential.org/vibrator-pain/#comments Mon, 16 Mar 2009 14:00:27 +0000 Dr. Debby Herbenick (M.P.H., Ph.D.) http://wfiutest.rtv.indiana.edu/?p=882 http://kinseyconfidential.org/vibrator-pain/feed/ 0 2:53 There are numerous causes of pain during intercourse and this is definitely something that you should ask your healthcare provider about if the pain or ... There are numerous causes of pain during intercourse and this is definitely something that you should ask your healthcare provider about if the pain or discomfort continue, or if it bothers you. Vibrators are commonly used by women and men, and they are rarely associated with negative side effects such as discomfort, pain or injury. Negative Side Effects That said, vaginal sex, anal sex and masturbation ndash; with or without a vibrator ndash; can all result in negative side effects such as genital itching, burning, irritation or tearing. Mostly a personrsquo;s risk of such side effects depends not only on how they are having sex, but also what their personal health status is like. For example, some women find that they are particularly prone to tearing if they have certain genital skin disorders or if their genital skin is thin, as occurs during times of low estrogen, such as menopause. Vaginal Tears If you have accidentally caused tears in your vagina, they will likely heal on their own within a matter of days, provided you donrsquo;t keep irritating them through partnered sex or masturbation. Once vaginal tears are healed, however, women can usually return to their usual preferred sexual behaviors. The risk of getting small vaginal tears, often called micro-tears, can be reduced by spending more time enhancing your arousal before starting penetration, or by using a store-bought lubricant for masturbation or partner sex. That said, it could also just be a coincidence that you experienced pain around the time that you used a vibrator and then had sex. There are many different reasons why a woman might experience discomfort or pain, including medical conditions, and Irsquo;d encourage you to check in with your healthcare provider. Annual pelvic exams are recommended for all women who are sexually active or who are at least 18 years old, whichever comes first. Learn More To learn more about womenrsquo;s sexual health issues, check out Our Bodies, Ourselves: A New Edition for a New Era. Bodies,,Content,Type,,Podcast aschweig@indiana.edu no No http://kinseyconfidential.org/multiple-orgasms/ http://kinseyconfidential.org/multiple-orgasms/#comments Thu, 26 Feb 2009 14:00:07 +0000 Dr. Debby Herbenick (M.P.H., Ph.D.) http://wfiutest.rtv.indiana.edu/?p=865 http://kinseyconfidential.org/multiple-orgasms/feed/ 0 2:56 Although it is uncommon for women to experience many orgasms in a row, some women do have the experience of having orgasms with ease and ... Although it is uncommon for women to experience many orgasms in a row, some women do have the experience of having orgasms with ease and with a higher than average frequency. Ease of Orgasm For Women Womenrsquo;s ease of orgasm may be influenced by a number of factors including feeling relaxed, open to pleasure, unafraid to let go, and able to focus on the physical or emotional sensations that enhance your arousal. Ease of orgasm can be influenced by other factors, too. For example, some research suggests that women who feel comfortable about how their genitals look tend to find it easier to orgasm. The type of sexual stimulation can also affect a womanrsquo;s orgasmic ability. For example, some women may find that they can easily have 5, 10 or more orgasms when they use a vibrator for sexual stimulation, but that they cannot have any orgasms, or only have one, from oral sex or vaginal penetration. Recommended Reading If yoursquo;re interested in exploring your orgasm abilities, there are two books that you might find helpful. The first is called Becoming Orgasmic and the second is titled For Yourself: The Fulfillment of Female Sexuality. Although both books are directed toward women who are trying to learn to orgasm at all ndash; in other words, to have their first orgasm ndash; women who would like to learn to change their experience of orgasm in other ways may benefit from reading these books, too. Thatrsquo;s because these books offer many suggestions related to becoming comfortable with onersquo;s body, addressing memories of trauma or abuse, enhancing arousal, and learning to cue onersquo;s desire in ways that can help to make orgasm easier. Although both books have a heterosexual focus, many of the exercises are easily applied to women in relationships with other women, too. Finally, although you may hear stories about how hard it is for many to orgasm once, let alone multiple times, let me reassure you that although thatrsquo;s true, it doesnrsquo;t mean that your goal isnrsquo;t worth considering. After all, whether or not you ever have as many orgasms as your girlfriend does, you may find that it is quite possible for you to enhance your experiences of pleasure, connection, intimacy and orgasm in ways that you will find fun, exciting or meaningful. Content,Type,,Pleasure,,Orgasm,,Podcast 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/using-vibrator-vaginal-bleeding/ http://kinseyconfidential.org/using-vibrator-vaginal-bleeding/#comments Thu, 25 Sep 2008 14:00:19 +0000 Dr. Debby Herbenick (M.P.H., Ph.D.) http://wfiutest.rtv.indiana.edu/?p=358 http://kinseyconfidential.org/using-vibrator-vaginal-bleeding/feed/ 0 3:09 If you have never had vaginal penetration before, it is more likely that the bleeding you are experiencing is the gradual tearing of your hymen, ... If you have never had vaginal penetration before, it is more likely that the bleeding you are experiencing is the gradual tearing of your hymen, which is a thin tissue filled with blood vessels that covers much of women's vaginal entrances. Some women gradually wear their hymen away through tampon use or finger stimulation alone (or with a partner) during adolescence. Also some women naturally have thinner or thicker hymens than other women, so bleeding can vary when one first penetrates their vagina. Some women report quite a lot of bleeding and for other women the bleeding is barely noticeable. Different Definitions of Virginity Sometimes women worry that if they penetrate their vagina - and thus tear their hymen - then they are no longer a virgin, but that is not true. People have different definitions of virginity, but most commonly it is considered that a virgin is someone who has not "had sex" yet (and people have different definitions of what "sex" means too - such as oral sex, vaginal sex, anal sex, etc, so even that varies a bit). Given your age, it is a good idea to check in with a healthcare provider to get a gynecological exam which is an important step in taking care of your sexual and reproductive health - even if you are not having sex with a partner, you still have important reproductive organs that should be checked out. That may give you some peace of mind about your genital and reproductive health as well. Learn More To learn more about sexual play with a vibrator, you might want to read The Good Vibrations Guide to Sex. Also keep in mind that you don't have to use your vibrator to penetrate your vagina unless you want to or find that it feels good. Quite a lot of women hold their vibrator up to their clitoris (without using it to penetrate their vagina) so that is another option too. Bodies,,Content,Type,,Podcast aschweig@indiana.edu no No http://kinseyconfidential.org/embarassed-about-buying-sex-toys/ http://kinseyconfidential.org/embarassed-about-buying-sex-toys/#comments Thu, 15 May 2008 13:00:46 +0000 Dr. Debby Herbenick (M.P.H., Ph.D.) http://www.kinseyconfidential.org/2008/05/15/qa-im-embarassed-about-purchasing-sex-toys/ http://kinseyconfidential.org/embarassed-about-buying-sex-toys/feed/ 0 3:45 What a great question! Many women and men wonder where they can buy vibrators or other sex toys. Not everyone feels comfortable shopping in an ... What a great question! Many women and men wonder where they can buy vibrators or other sex toys. Not everyone feels comfortable shopping in an adult bookstore, and even if they do, not all stores are equipped to display sexual enhancement products in a way that helps consumers to learn more about them. Purchasing Vibrators When it comes to vibrators specifically, women and men are often curious about the size, material and texture of the toy, as well as its volume or intensity. Some people prefer very strong vibration whereas others prefer light vibration. Then there are toys with multiple speeds or certain speed patterns, such as those that pulse. These are the types of issues that are better addressed in person, particularly for women and men who are new to toys. Sex Toy Parties In the past 5-10 years, in-home sex toy parties have become one way that an increasing number of women have been learning about and purchasing vibrators and other sexual enhancement products such as dildos, personal lubricants, and massage products. In-home sex toy parties are usually run in a way that connects the women who sell the products with a woman hostess who invites her own women friends or co-workers to come to her house and enjoy the party. In this way, some people have described in-home sex toy parties as being similar to Tupperware or Mary Kay parties, but they happen to sell products related to sex, rather than kitchen tools or make-up. An advantage of these parties is that women can touch and turn on many of the sample products so that they can get a better idea of the size, material, texture, volume and intensity of the vibrator they are considering buying. Woman-Oriented Adult Bookstores That said, there are also an increasing number of woman-oriented adult bookstores. In Chicago, one will find Early to Bed, Tulip and G Boutique. In San Francisco, therersquo;s Good Vibrations. And in New York and Seattle, Babeland. These stores are among a growing trend of female-friendly shops that sometimes look more like boutiques than stereotypical adult bookstores. They are often well-lit, are sometimes in prime retail space, and tend to be staffed with female employees who are often both comfortable and knowledgeable about sexual enhancement products. Recommended Reading There are also two books that you may find helpful as you explore more about toy options including The Good Vibrations Guide to Sex and another book called Sex Toys 101. In short, there are a range of options for learning more about sexual enhancement products, including vibrators. Content,Type,,Pleasure,,Orgasm,,Podcast aschweig@indiana.edu no No