It's always rough when you've been hanging out witha group of people for multiple weekends and for whatever reasonnever caught all their names. At that point, it just feels flat outdumb to ask, "So wait … what was your nameagain?" We tend to approach questions about sex in much thesame manner; if we didn't get our sex facts straight when wewere younger and less experienced, it feels a little too late toask these questions now that we are in college and expected to justknow the answers. Issues surrounding sex can be like those jokesthat everyone laughs at, but no one actually gets. Nobody wants tobe the sucker who admits that they have no idea why they'relaughing.
Many of us never got a formal sexual education as we weregrowing up. So we had to piece together our knowledge of intimatepleasures from the bits of information we picked up through otherpeoples experiences, Cinemax soft-core porn, and the book"The Joy of Sex" that one of our friend's parentshad in their bookshelf. Needless to say, for many of us, ourknowledge of sex has some holes. This column is dedicated toquestions that many of us may have, but are afraid to ask.
So what's the deal with balls anyway?
As a girl, a man's balls can be slightly intimidating. Imean, if the organs are so sensitive, why are they dangling on theoutside of men's bodies? It just doesn't make sense.And what are we supposed to do with them? Do guys want us to touchthem, or should we just pretend they're not there?
As it turns out, a man's testicles are a very sensitivepart of their body, and they do get pleasure when we touch them.Most guys enjoy this part of a sexual encounter, and no, it'snot strange or unusual to lightly caress a man's testicleswhile engaging in sexual activity.
Where is the clitoris, and do I really have to findit?
In classes, you have reading, and you have "reading."Some assignments you can get away with not doing, and some, if youdisregard them, will lead to an automatic F. The clitoris is amust. Most women's orgasms are clitorally based, so if youare interested in giving yourself or your partner an orgasm, you doneed to find this organ. The clitoris is the sticky-outty partbetween the two lips at the top (front) of the vulva (vagina). Fora more detailed picture, please go to http://www.drmatlock.com/images/matlk11a.jpg.
Have I ever had an orgasm?
No.If you are asking this question, most likely you have not hadone. Because women don't go around talking about how theirboyfriends can't get them off, or that they've neverhad an orgasm, it's easy to assume that if you'reinorgasmic, you're alone. But unfortunately, a very largenumber of women don't experience orgasms until they have hada significant amount of sexual experience. If you are part of thisgroup, buy a vibrator, and attempt to have an orgasm in the stressfree environment of your own bedroom.
Can sexual activities other than intercourse lead topregnancy?
With all the hysteria that surrounds getting pregnant, I canremember when looking at a penis was enough to send me to a storeto buy an EPT (early pregnancy test). Many girls fear that if a guyfingers them while he has semen on his hand they will get pregnant.This is possible… really anything is possible.Theoretically, you could get hit by a bus, but it is very unlikely.If this is the type of situation that will stress you out, however,have the guy wipe any possible stragglers off his fingers before hegoes near your vagina and look both ways before you cross thestreet.
(It is important to note, however, that while there isn't muchof a risk for pregnancy, anytime sexually fluids come in contactwith your genitals you run the risk of contracting hepatitis B,C,and HIV.)
Realistically, most people's knowledge base on any subjectis much more incomplete than they are willing to admit. And withregards to sex, people are even more full of sh*t than usual.Asking questions can be intimidating, but in the long runit's better to be the guy who asked for directions than theone who spent an hour rubbing a girl's pubic bone in anattempt to get her off.
Amber Madison is a junior majoring in American studies. Shecan be reached via e-mail at sex@tuftsdaily.com.
