Sex For Dummies (For Dummies: Psychology & Self Help)

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In this chapter, I give you a brief course in Sex 101, so that you and I will be clear about what I mean when I talk about sex. Although sex hasn’t changed much since men and women emerged from the cave, today’s sexual environment is open to confusion, so this chapter covers the basics. What Is Sex, Anyway?

Even if you’re not a virgin, if you want to be a terrrrific lover you have to have a solid foundation in sexual functioning. When you understand how the male and female anatomy works and how our bodies develop into sexual beings, you’ve mastered the basics. After you’ve found a partner with whom you want to get intimate, you need to be prepared for all sorts of conversations, including one about birth control. I provide the facts you need to know in this part. Part II: Doing It This icon signals behaviors that could cause trouble, either for you or someone else, and tells you when to look before you leap to stay clear of pitfalls to your relationships. Where to Go From Here The Reverse is an excellent foreplay option for those looking to try something very new. Start by lying down with your knees bent and your feet planted in front of you. (The bend can be pretty subtle; just focus on what makes you feel stable and comfortable.) Invite your partner to lie down on top of you. They should be facing the ceiling, with their head aligned with your legs, and their legs bent, straddling your head. Once there, adjust until your partner’s genitals reach your mouth and you can engage in some serious oral play. Hunger by another name, the Pendant invites you and your partner to pleasure each other in equal measure. Invite your partner to lie down with their knees bent and their feet planted in front of them. From there, you can climb on top of them, facing them, with your legs straddling their torso and your head snuggled in between their legs. From there, you should have access to their genitals, and they should have just a little access to yours. This should give you both the opportunity to stimulate each other however you see fit—with your mouths, your hands, or a couple sex toys.You’ll see this icon next to medical descriptions of your anatomy or physical conditions. SexualMyth After another five minutes, begin to kiss — and only kiss. Focus on every physical sensation you’re feeling in the moment. Sex (is optional!) In the 21st century, this process of misinformation and confusion can’t continue. In the past, we had rules in place to guide us so that, even if we didn’t understand human sexuality all that well, as long as we followed the rules and got married before having sex, we couldn’t stray too far. There are many ways you can implement tantric principles when you’re alone. But remember, the end game isn’t always masturbation — you can work up to solo play or decided not to go there at all. Meditation

A fertilized egg continues down the fallopian tube on a journey that takes about three days. During the first 30 hours, the chromosomes of the egg and the sperm merge, and the cells begin to divide. This new entity is called an embryo. When the embryo finishes its journey and enters the uterus (see Figure 1-2), it gets nourishment from uterine secretions, and the cells inside it continue to divide, causing the embryo to grow. Approximately six days after fertilization, the egg hatches, emerging from its hard shell and then burrowing its way into the uterine wall, or endometrium. ClinicalInfo Unlike a man, who continually makes sperm (more than 26 trillion a year!), a woman has all her eggs already inside her at birth. These eggs — about 200,000 of them — reside in a woman’s two ovaries (see Figure 1-1). About every 28 days, a fluid-filled sac in the ovary, called a follicle, releases one of the eggs. When a follicle releases an egg, many women feel a dull ache, known as mittelschmerz, in the area around the ovary. Tip Because of Cowper’s fluid, a man may deposit sperm inside a woman’s vagina before he has an orgasm. That’s why the pullout, or withdrawal, method does not work as a means of preventing pregnancy. The sensations vibrators offer can become addictive. No man, without a vibrator in hand, can achieve the same level of sensation that a vibrator can. If you plan on having sex with a man sometime in the future, then don’t make a habit out of using only a vibrator to have your orgasms.

Sex. Once you’re under its power, you’re a captive for life. It starts when you’re young. When you’re a teenager and your hormones are surging, almost everything you do is connected to sex in one way or another. And although your sexual voltage goes down a notch or two as you get older, many of your daily activities are still influenced by sex. Most young people find it hard to believe that their parents still have sex, no less their grandparents, but it’s true. Our looks may change, even our desires, but sex is an integral part of our humanity, and it remains so throughout our lives. Are You Ready to Get Busy?