Scatolophilia

Disclaimer: We acknowledge that there are many different words that individuals use to describe themselves after experiencing sexual assault. In this article, we only use the term “survivor” for the sake of consistency. We acknowledge that there are many ways of processing sexual violence, and we believe each individual should be able to choose the language that…

The Sexual Response Cycle

The sexual response cycle refers to a series of physical and emotional phases that occur when an individual becomes aroused or engages in sexually stimulating activities. Sexual stimulation during such activities is not limited to penile-vaginal intercourse. The full sexual response cycle can be experienced during masturbation, manual stimulation by one’s partner, oral sex, or fantasy.  A comprehensive knowledge and understanding…

Spermatogenesis

Spermatogenesis is the production and development of sperm.  This process begins at puberty and continues for the remainder of a male’s life.  The sperm and the egg, which are the male and female gametes, meet during fertilization.  Both gametes are haploid cells; these cells contain 23 unpaired chromosomes, which is half of the human genetic…

Genital Folliculitis

Folliculitis occurs when hair follicles become damaged, infected, and inflamed.1 Genital folliculitis, or vaginal folliculitis, is a form of folliculitis that occurs in the female genital area.2 Although the infection is not contagious, the close proximity of hair follicles in that region can allow for the infection to spread.2 This infection can cause the inflamed…

The Menstrual Cycle

The menstrual cycle is an automatic and self-regulating process during which the female body undergoes physiological and hormonal changes over the course of 24 to 42 days. This process plays an integral role in to the overall health and function of the female reproductive system and fosters the growth of fertilized ovum into developing fetuses….

The Clitoris

The clitoris is a female sexual organ located at the top part of the vulva, or external female genitalia. The clitoris is an erogenous, highly sensitive zone that contains more nerve endings than any other body part. During sexual arousal, the clitoris becomes larger and firmer due to erection. Although stimulation of the clitoris is…

The G-Spot

The Gräfenberg spot (G-spot), named after German gynecologist Ernst Gräfenberg, is an erogenous area in the vagina, which upon proper stimulation may cause a person to experience sexual arousal that can lead to orgasm, and in some instances ejaculation. The G-spot is located approximately two to three centimeters inside the vaginal canal on the anterior (front wall) of the vagina and changes in size in response to physical stimulation. 1 Prior to stimulation, the…

Overview of the Reproductive System: People with Vaginas

Note: This article was previously titled ‘An Overview of the Female Reproductive System.’ We have changed the language from ‘female’ to ‘people with vaginas’ in the title and throughout the article to be more inclusive, as not all people who identify as women or female have vaginas and not all people with vaginas identify as…

The Breasts

The breast is a tissue that covers both male and female chest muscles. They are secondary sex characteristics and develop differently in males and females. When talking about breasts people generally refer to those of the female. This is because they are an important part of breastfeeding and sexual pleasure. Breasts vary in size, shape,…