Guide to the Vagina

"We tend to refer to a woman's entire genital area as the vagina, but female genitals are composed of many different parts which work together. The part of the vagina you can actually see is called the vulva, an umbrella term for several "external" parts which keep bad bacteria out and allow sperm in. The labia majora, or outer lips, are a layer of skin and fat that keeps sex comfortable. The labia minora, or inner lips, guard the interior of the vagina. Some women's labia minora actually extend past their labia majora, and this is normal and completely fine. Inside the labia minora are both the vagina-the canal through which a penis enters and a baby exits-and the urethra. The urethra is a tube that leads from the bladder to carry urine. Right behind it, along the inside of the front wall of the vagina, is the enigmatic G-spot, a dime-sized bulb of tissue that can lead to a powerful orgasm. Located on top of the vaginal opening is the clitoris, another orgasm-inducer, whose sole job is pleasure! It's little wonder, since the clit is composed of the same erectile tissue as the penis. The part of the clitoris that is visible, the glans, is covered by a small hood. A woman's cervix-the opening that leads to the uterus-lies directly north of the vagina. Eggs, which are made in two ovaries, travel to the uterus by way of oviducts which are connected to the ovaries. No wonder the vagina can seem so complicated to navigate!

A man's genital anatomy is much more than his penis. The male penis, which is the shaft that hangs outside of his body, generally lies limp. When arousal occurs and the penis fills with blood, however, it becomes erect. The testicles lie on either side of the penis. Their purpose is two-fold: To produce both sperm and the sexual hormone, testosterone. The testicles are surrounded by a thin membrane of skin called the scrotum. The scrotum acts as a temperature-control center for the testicles, keeping them slightly cooler than the rest of the body to ensure a pleasant climate for sperm. After the body produces sperm in the testicles, they are held in the epididymus, which is adjacent to the testicles, and then the sperm through a tube called the vas deferens. From the vas deferens, of course, the sperm travel to the penis to be ejaculated. The urethra is a tube that runs within the penis to transport urine and semen. And, surrounding the urethra at the penis's base, is the much talked about gland called the prostate. Although the prostate can be a source of pleasure, its reproductive purpose is to create a fluid that contains and nourishes sperm. This white, sticky fluid combines with sperm to create the ejaculatory substance known as semen. If you think the penis is complicated, though...check out all the parts that compose the vagina in our other videos!

As if the vagina wasn't mysterious enough, here are five other strange facts about the female anatomy. The clitoris is the only part of either sex's body whose purpose is solely for pleasure! Maybe that's because her bliss button is actually made of erectile tissue no wonder it feels so good when touched! Some scientists call this area the "mini-penis" since they believe the clit is the part of a growing fetus that becomes a penis when a baby ends up being male. Another fact that may surprise you: The average woman releases about one-quarter to one-half a teaspoon of normal discharge every eight hours. That may sound unappealing, but the vagina is one of only two self-cleaning organs-the the other being the eyes.There you have it: Five surprising facts about your (or her!) sacred spots!

Think you know everything there is to know about the penis? Think again! No matter your gender, you'll be surprised to hear these five shocking facts about the male genitals! There are two types of penises, one which expands and lengthens when it becomes erect, and one which doesn't change much in size during erection. Surveys say that 79 percent of men have the former type, while 21 percent have members that remain more or less the same size at all times. Interestingly, smoking can actually shorten your penis by as much as a centimeter! That's because a hard penis requires great blood-flow, and cigarettes stifle that circulation. No matter the size of the member, however, the average male orgasm lasts six seconds. Meanwhile, the average intercourse session lasts just three to seven minutes. There you go: five things you didn't know about your (or his!) magnificent member.

Even if you're a penis expert, there are at least five things you don't know about his member! Here's a wacky fact for you: Although it's likely that all men have tried it, only one man in 400 is flexible enough to give himself oral pleasure. But no matter how you do it, it's important to be careful during those masturbation sessions! The most common cause of penile rupture is masturbation. Fact three: You don't need a brain to ejaculate! That order comes directly from the spinal cord. What about reproduction? Turns out that better-looking men have better swimming sperm. The proof comes from a study that showed that men rated "most handsome" by women produced the strongest sperm. In addition, the longer the penis, the better "semen displacement" - that's babies made - when having sex. Who knew the penis was so full of strange secrets? If you want to learn more of them, check out other videos in this series!

Just like all men have penises, all men have prostates, but most are more acquainted with the former! The prostate is a walnut-sized organ which can be both a pleasure center and a place where cancer can reside. The prostate is located between the bladder and the penis in the front of the rectum. The urethra, which carries urine from the bladder through the penis, passes through the prostate's center. The nerves that control erection are attached to both sides of the prostate, as they extend to the penis. The prostate produces seminal fluid, which nourishes and "carries" sperm. Male ejaculate, or semen, is a mixture of this seminal fluid and sperm. The prostate is surrounded by sensitive nerves, which is why some men enjoy anal play. The organ is also the location where prostate cancer, one of the most common forms of the disease, shows up. So, particularly if you're a male over 40, get your prostate checked annually-it can only do you good!

For men and women alike, female anatomy can be daunting. To demystify a womans below-the-belt region, it helps to compare her pelvis to something less confusing. Allow me to introduce the three-room cottage analogy. The middle room is the vagina, bordered by the bladder in front and the rectum in back. All three rooms are separated by two vaginal walls. And at the top of the central room, perched like a chandlier in the ceiling, is the cervix, held in place by a pair of ligaments functioning like two strong support cables. These uterosacral ligaments connect the uterus at the level of the cervix to the front side of the sacrum. Projecting sideways from the top of the uterus, like two arms on a Mr. Potato-head, are the tubes and ovaries. Moving back down toward the foundation of the 3 room cottage sits a connective tissue wedge separating the vaginal opening from the anus this structure is called the perineum. At the level of the ground floor, these three rooms are surrounded by a wraparound terrace made up of levator ani muscles. You may know them as Kegel muscles. The Kegel muscles attach to the perineum something you can easily demonstrate yourself by using a mirror to watch the perineum retract with each Kegel contraction. Remember, this cozy, yet complex, house is just the INTERIOR, or pelvic, part of a womans anatomy. A closer look reveals that this house has quite the exterior. The vagina has two sets of vaginal lips: the labia majora, one on each side of the vaginal opening, with a pair of thinner inside lips called the labia minora resting between the labia majora. At the top of the labia minora is the clitoris, a small short tubular structure made of erectile tissue. The ultra-sensitive clitoris contains the highest density of sensory nerves of any human body part, many times more than the head of the male penis. The clitoris is covered and protected by the prepuce, or clitoral hood. During sexual arousal, the clitoris becomes erect and the prepuce retracts, making it more accessible.To learn more about female anatomy, from the importance of vaginal fitness, to disorders like pelvic organ prolapse, urinary and fecal incontinence, check out other videos on this site.

"The percentage of females who masturbate may be larger than you think. Up to 81 percent of women say they masturbate! While the majority of women stimulate themselves solo, more than 50 percent admit to feeling guilty about it. Here, we'll debunk the myths surrounding masturbation. It was once thought that men "had" to masturbate, while women had no such need. Despite being untrue, many such negative ideas about female masturbation stuck. Interestingly, masturbation provides a host of health benefits for women. A recent study noted that masturbation is a natural sleep aid for many women. In addition, solo sex can often provide pain relief from menstrual cramps and sore joints. But perhaps the best reason for women to masturbate is simply that it leads to self-discovery. Because female orgasm is not as automatic as male orgasm, masturbation can help a woman learn about what works for her. Solo sex is nothing to be ashamed of! So why not schedule a session today?

Ladies, worrying about smelling "down there" is normal. Here's how to tell if the smell, like the worry, is a-okay! First thing's first, when it comes to vaginas...every woman has her own scent. Depending on your body chemistry and diet, the vagina may smell: slightly sweet, musky, or even pungent! But where does the smell come from? Friendly bacteria in the vagina are the source of your natural aroma. The bacteria exist to keep your vagina at acidic levels, in turn preventing infections. But, if your vagina becomes compromised by invading "bad" bacteria, which can come from sources like feminine hygiene products, your odor may change. Periodic slight changes in smell are normal, particularly after sex or exercise. But a very pungent, or brand new, smell could signal a problem, like a yeast infection. If you develop a smell that's not normal for you, get thee to a doctor, especially if the odor is accompanied by discharge or itching.

Although many men wish they had a bigger member, some have penises that are just too big to pleaseOr are they? When a mans penis causes his partner pain, sex stops being fun and can start feeling awful! But heres good news: when properly aroused and penetrated gradually, a womans vagina can lengthen up to 200 percent from its un-aroused 3 inches. For excellent intercourse, ensure that the woman is fully aroused before penetration. Try using toys, like a vibrator, and add lots of water-based lubricant. When its time to move to intercourse, avoid positions that allow for very deep penetration, like rear-entry. Instead, aim for positions where thrusting is gentle, like the side-by-side or the spooning positions. Or give her control of depth by having sex in the woman-on-top position. Add these tricks to your routine, and in no time, too big, will become just right!

Relax, guys. No matter how small you feel, statistics show that over 85 percent of ladies are satisfied with their partner's penis. Still not convinced that your member measures up? There are ways to ensure that your penis pushes her buttons. Before you penetrate, focus on foreplay, making her pleasure your utmost priority. If you wait until she's fully stimulated to enter her, she probably won't know-or care-what size you are! There are a few sexual positions can help you make the most of every inch. Start with that tried and true favorite, rear-entry. Or try the "rabbit ears" position. Have her lie on her back and bring her knees to her ears. She should hold her knees there as you penetrate her. Another good bet is the snake, a position where she lies face down with her legs closed. Drape your bent knees on either side of her body and enter from behind. Give these tips a try and watch your partner become a member of the (happily satisfied) majority!

Many men wish for a bigger penis, but most don't realize how their member actually measures up against other guys. Study after study shows that the average penis measures between 5 and 6 inches long when erect, while even more studies prove that women feel size has little to do with a man's sexual prowess. Despite these statistics, almost half of men suffer from a condition called small-penis syndrome, which is ongoing worry that the penis is diminutive, despite it being normally sized. Small-penis syndrome, which is psychological, is different than the medical condition known as "micropenis," whereby the erect penis is less than 2.75 inches long. Micropenis occurs infrequently, but when it does happen, it is often diagnosed in infancy. The condition can often be improved with growth hormones when diagnosed. The bottom line is that most penises please just fine. If you're worried about micropenis, however, speak to a doctor about your concerns!

"Sure, she loves when you flick her nipples, but her most common "hot spot" isn't where you think it is! According to recent polls, a woman gets most aroused when a partner touches her hair gently. Sound crazy? The scalp contains millions of nerve endings, which feel amazing when stimulated. Meanwhile, running hands through hair is a primal form of nurturing. You know, like when monkeys pick nits off one another! Women also admit to loving it when someone kisses their shoulders. That's because she expects you to show desire by making a beeline for her "obvious" erogenous zones. A gentle kiss in a surprising location indicates that her pleasure is a priority, and frees her to take the time she needs to get primed for intercourse. Now that you know her top hot spots, why not put them into play in the bedroom tonight?