Why Do Girls Cream? 8 Types of White Vaginal Discharge

Vaginal discharge plays an important role in a woman’s reproductive system. The secretions carry away some of ‘bad’ bacteria in order to keep normal flora and normal vaginal Ph level, prevent infections. It is normal for the vagina to secrete a discharge, however, depending on a number of factors, the color, odor, and consistency of the discharge can vary. There are many other reasons why you may be experiencing an unusual vaginal discharge. These reasons may include menopause, pregnancy, vaginal, and stress.It is normal to have a discharge and it is something that occurs regularly. However, when the color, smell and consistency appears different from the norm, this is a sign of an infection.
Normal discharge often appears white in color. It has no odor and it is harmless. Abnormal discharge, on the other hand, may appear brown, green or yellow in color or even bloody. It may also be accompanied by a foul smell, which is a sign of bacterial or yeast infection.
You may also experience abnormal vaginal discharge if you have a pelvic inflammatory disease, chlamydia, gonorrhea, human papillomavirus, diabetes, vaginal atrophy, and vaginitis
Douching can also cause alter your normal vaginal discharge.
How does the doctor diagnose abnormal discharge?
If you notice your vaginal discharge is unusual and you are also experiencing symptoms such as abdominal pain, fever, and fatigue, visit a doctor.
You may need to undergo a physical examination as well as a pelvic exam. The doctor may also ask you some questions concerning your symptoms such as:
When did you first notice the discharge was unusual?
What color is the discharge?
Does the discharge have an odor?
Are you experiencing other symptoms such as pain, burning or itching around or in your vagina?
The doctor may also ask you questions concerning your sexual activity and menstrual cycle.
If the doctor is not able to diagnose the cause immediately, you may need to undergo more testing. Your doctor may take cultures from your cervix to check for cervical cancer or human papillomavirus.
Your doctor may also examine your discharge under a microscope to determine the cause. Once your doctor establishes the cause, they may prescribe medication and other treatment options.How is abnormal discharge treated?
The type of treatment for abnormal discharge depends on the cause. For instance, if the cause of your abnormal vaginal discharge is due to a yeast infection, your doctor may prescribe an antifungal medication. If the cause is a bacterial infection, your doctor may prescribe antibiotics.
On your own, you can prevent infections by doing the following:
Avoid douching
Keep your vagina clean by washing it regularly with warm water
Practice safe sex
Eat yogurt regularly to lower your risk of developing yeast infection.
Three types of white vaginal discharge 
The types of white vaginal discharge are:
Creamy or milky white discharge
When your period is about to start, you may notice an odorless white creamy discharge. You may experience vaginal discharge during pregnancy that has a similar consistency. But if the discharge is stretchy, this is a sign that you are ovulating.
Cloudy white discharge 
This is an odorless discharge that appears when you are on your menstrual cycle or at the onset of your pregnancy. It is harmless and therefore, it should be nothing to worry about.
Thick white discharge    
The color and consistency of your vaginal discharge changes as you go through your menstrual cycle. Before ovulation, the discharge is usually watery and clear. This is because of the high levels of estrogen being produced at that particular time.
Before your period starts, the appearance and consistency of your vaginal discharge may be white and thick. As long as it does not have a strong odor, you should not worry about it.
Excessive discharge

When you start to experience excessive vaginal discharge, this could be a sign of an underlying condition. There are a number of reasons why you could be having a lot of discharge.
Some of these reasons include:
Ovulation – when you are ovulating, you may notice that your vaginal discharge is thicker and creamy.
Pregnancy – during the early stages of pregnancy, your vaginal discharge may change in consistency, but not in color or smell.
Sexually transmitted diseases – gonorrhea is a sexually transmitted disease that may cause a change in your vaginal discharge. If you have gonorrhea or chlamydia, your vaginal discharge may appear green or yellow in color and it may be accompanied by a strong foul smell.
Stress – sometimes when you are overly stressed, it may cause changes in your body. You may start to notice that your vagina is producing way too much discharge than normal.
Douching – this is one of the most common causes of excessive abnormal discharge. When you introduce foreign objects into your vagina, you may experience excessive abnormal vaginal discharge. This happens because foreign objects tend to imbalance the normal PH levels of the vagina. 
What causes heavy white discharge?
Menstrual cycle
When your menstrual cycle begins, it is characterized by a creamy white or milky white vaginal discharge. This depends on what stage of your cycle you are on. This discharge is normal, it does not smell, and it is completely harmless.
Ovulation
When you start ovulating, the estrogen levels in your body go up, and your vaginal discharge increases. The discharge is usually creamy and milky which is a sign that you are ovulating.
It is also normal to have excessive milky white vaginal discharge at the onset of your pregnancy. This kind of discharge is accompanied by abdominal cramps and spotting.
Menopause
When you reach menopause, you may experience some symptoms including abnormal discharge because the hormone levels are fluctuating. The discharge is normally white and thick, but it is not excessive and so you should not worry about it unless the color or smell of the discharge changes.
Stress
When you are under a lot of stress, whether it is emotional or psychological, you may notice that your vaginal discharge is unusual. The discharge may be heavy, white, and creamy.
The reason why the discharge appears heavy and creamy is because of hormonal imbalances which alter the normal production of the vaginal mucus.
Vaginal lubrication
Sometimes you may find yourself needing vaginal lubrication especially when you are about to have sexual intercourse, but you are experiencing vaginal dryness.
While vaginal lubrication makes penetration easier and painless, it may cause abnormal vaginal discharge. This happens because the lubricant interferes with the normal PH levels of the vagina.
Cervical mucus      
Cervical mucus is considered as a type of vaginal discharge and it often appears when you are in your menstrual cycle. During this time, your vaginal discharge may appear white, thick and creamy.
Male partner ejaculates 
When you have unprotected sex, this may imbalance the normal bacteria in your vagina. As a result, this may cause your vaginal discharge to appear unusual.
You ejaculate
When you ejaculate or orgasm, you produce a white thick discharge, which has a different appearance to that of your normal vaginal discharge. In other cases, you may release a clear fluid, or urine but this happens when you “squirt.”    
5 types of abnormal white discharge
Genital yeast infection   
A genital yeast infection (candidiasis) is a type of fungal infection that is characterized by white cheese-like vaginal discharge as well as itching and burning sensations.
Some amount of yeast can be found in the vagina and that is normal. However, there are certain situations that may cause the growth of the yeast to multiply.
These include:
Birth control pills
Stress
Pregnancy
Diabetes
Medications such as antibiotics
Sexually transmitted diseases  
Although not all sexually transmitted diseases can cause you to have an abnormal vaginal discharge, chlamydia and gonorrhea can cause this problem.
When you have chlamydia or gonorrhea, your vaginal discharge may appear to have a different color, usually, yellow or green and may be accompanied by a foul smell. Other symptoms you may experience include painful urination, pelvic pain, and urinary incontinence.
Atrophic vaginitis Atrophic vaginitis is a thinning of the vaginal walls, which causes inflammation, abnormal vaginal discharge, vaginal dryness, and genital itching. This condition occurs when the estrogen levels drop significantly and it often occurs after menopause.
Vulvovaginitis
Vulvovaginitis is an infection of the vagina or the vulva. It is also referred to as vaginitis or vulvitis.
Vulvovaginitis is caused by yeast, sexually transmitted diseases, parasites or yeast. Symptoms include smelly abnormal vaginal discharge, itching, irritation and inflammation around the vaginal area.
Bacterial vaginosis 
Bacterial vaginosis is a bacterial infection. While it hardly causes any symptoms, if you have bacterial vaginosis, you may notice an increase in your vaginal discharge, which may have a strong fish-like odor.
Final remarks
Girls cream for various reasons. Maybe you are ovulating, pregnant or sexually aroused. Or you could be suffering from some type of infection or disease.
Furthermore, there are different types of vaginal discharge and this difference is owing to the cause of the discharge. The good news is that when you experience abnormal vaginal discharge, you may be able to treat it once the cause has been determined

16 Female Orgasms, Like You’ve Never Seen Them Before

"The world of orgasm is physical, but it is also a world of fantasy, culture, history — and very much a world of the soul," photographer Linda Troeller and writer Marion Schneider write in their book Orgasm: Photographs & Interviews. Troeller and Schneider collaborated on Orgasm to explore that world, inviting 25 women — nine German, six American, three Dutch, three Israeli, two Colombian, one French, and one Portuguese — to share their personal relationships with orgasm.


In the book, the women reveal their first memories of experiencing orgasm and the fantasies they have around the event. They also reveal their orgasmic feelings to the camera, showing with their bodies and faces what orgasm means to them. "The chance to be in an intimate situation with a female photographer and a female writer offered safety and security for the interviewers," Troeller and Schneider write, "enhancing the probability that their statements would be a genuine and authentic revelation."


Indeed, the stories and images in Orgasm are as intimate and honest as any coverage of female climax we've seen. Ahead are photographs of 16 of the women featured in the book. Many participated in selecting and editing their own photos, ensuring that Orgasm captures the moments of ecstasy as faithfully as possible. The end result is a joyful, raw celebration of female pleasure.

Sex During Pregnancy: Answers to Your Questions

Sex during pregnancy is safe for most women – and can be great at certain points along the way. And not so great at other times.

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When Krista Afumbom goes to bed these days, the last thing on her mind is sex. After 37 weeks of pregnancy, she just wants to sleep.
Between having sciatica and being very pregnant, the Lakewood mother cannot find a comfortable position for long periods of rest.
“I’m huge right now,” Ms. Afumbom says. “My husband and I are not having sex.”
Timing is everything
Like Ms. Afumbom, many women in their third trimester cannot fathom the idea of sex, says Cleveland Clinic certified nurse-midwife Joy Sedlock. Hormones, emotions and energy levels can fluctuate dramatically and affect sexual desire throughout the pregnancy. Generally, in the first and third trimesters, the desire to have sex is low.
“In the first trimester, many women feel nauseous, queasy and exhausted. In the third trimester, they feel big and uncomfortable,” Ms. Sedlock says. “But the second trimester can be awesome for women. The vulva is very vascular, with great blood supply. Orgasms can be enhanced during this time.”

Ms. Sedlock often advises her patients to go on a “babymoon” during the second trimester. “I tell my patients it is a good time to travel and reconnect as a couple, because their lives will soon be changing.”
For most women, it’s safe
But some patients worry and wonder if they should still be having sex while pregnant.
“Sex during pregnancy is safe and fine as long as the pregnancy is low risk,” Ms. Sedlock says. “Things that would make it potentially harmful are issues where there are signs of pre-term labor or vaginal bleeding, which could indicate placental problems.”
If a woman shows signs of pre-term labor, orgasms can cause uterine contractions. Also, semen has prostaglandins, which help ripen and prepare the cervix for labor and delivery. In fact, Ms. Sedlock and her colleagues advise patients who are full-term to have sexual intercourse to induce labor.
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“I tell them what got you in this situation can help get you out!” she says.
Women who are worried about having sex during pregnancy should discuss their concerns with their health care provider.
Answers to common questions
Can I keep having sex when I’m pregnant?
Yes, as long as the pregnancy is low risk and progressing normally.
Can having sex cause a miscarriage? No.

Is there any danger to the baby?
No, having sex will not harm the baby.
When is it not OK to have sex during pregnancy?
If you have had a cervical procedure before, such as a LEEP, make sure your doctor or midwife knows about it. If you have a high-risk pregnancy, you may be advised to refrain from having sex. If you are feeling pain during sex, or experiencing irritation or bleeding, tell your health care provider.
For most women, sex during pregnancy is safe. It’s a good way to stay close to your partner as your body changes – before everything changes when the baby arrives.
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To hear more of Krista’s story, please go to this post.

Why Sex Is Good for Your Health, Especially Your Heart

Sex offers more than a feeling of intimacy or pleasure — it also offers incredible health benefits. Besides the emotional aspects and feelings of well being, it can be good for your heart, relieve pain and help you sleep restfully. It also can ease headaches, despite common beliefs to the contrary.
How sex helps your heart
Researchers have found that men who had sex at least twice a week were less likely to develop heart disease compared to men who only had sex once per month, according to a 2010 study published in the American Journal of Cardiology.
Stories about men or women experiencing heart attacks mid-session are most likely due a stress or anxiety-ridden relationship.
Partners in trusting relationships usually aren’t at risk unless there are underlying risk factors. However, relationships where there is a cheating partner – where an increased level of distress may be involved – could put someone at risk.


If you can walk up a flight of stairs briskly, you have enough cardiac output to engage in sexual activity. In fact, if you have had heart surgery or a heart attack, I encourage you to talk to your physician about when you can get back to regular activities, including intercourse.
Natural relief from pain
Sex can also be good medicine for head pain. Despite this, you may have to push past a headache to see these benefits.
With sexual activity and climax, there is a release of endorphins, which are natural painkillers. Many people note less migraine headaches. They tend to feel relaxed, at peace with a sense of contentment.
Men and women may benefit differently
Sex may also help you sleep. This is especially true for men.  Scientists believe it’s because there is a part of the brain that winds down after sex, releasing calming chemicals. This causes many muscle groups to relax, too.


Both sexes experience climax, and there’s muscle relaxation and a natural sedation that follows. For women in particular, sex improves pelvic floor strength. Orgasms are associated with contractions of the pelvic floor. The stronger the pelvic floor, the better.
People in a loving relationship can enjoy the many health benefits of sex, in addition to the emotional connection and a shared feeling of well being.

Female orgasm may have evolved from a trigger for ovulation

Daly and Newton/Getty Images

What’s the evolutionary origin of the female orgasm? A study that involved giving antidepressants to rabbits has lent support to the idea that the female orgasm may have originated from a reflex that makes some female mammals ovulate during intercourse.
There are multiple theories regarding the function of female orgasms. Some studies have found that contractions of the uterus experienced during orgasm help transport sperm towards the egg. However, many women don’t orgasm during intercourse, and it is also common for women to conceive without climaxing.

 

There are also simpler explanations, including that sexual pleasure encourages women to have more sex, making them more likely to conceive, or motivates them to form committed relationships, which may be beneficial for raising children.                    

But how did the female orgasm evolve? Mihaela Pavlicev, currently at the University of Vienna in Austria, and her colleagues think that animals that ovulate during intercourse may hint at the answer.
While women release an egg roughly every month, ovulation in some other mammals such as rabbits is triggered by copulation. Pavlicev and her team think the hormones and brain circuitry involved in such reflex ovulation could also be involved in generating a pleasurable climax.

Evolving a new function

In 2016, they analysed 41 species of mammal. Of these, 15 species, including cats, koalas and camels, have reflex ovulation. The way these species are related across the mammal family tree suggests that this system is likely to have been present in the earliest mammal ancestors.
In their latest study, the team exploited the finding that the antidepressant fluoxetine, which is sold as Prozac, reduces people’s ability to orgasm. They found that, after giving rabbits fluoxetine for two weeks, the rate of ovulation during copulation fell by a third.

 

This supports the idea that the same hormones and brain circuitry could be involved in both sex-triggered ovulation and orgasm, says Pavlicev. It could be that both events happened in our mammalian ancestors – or perhaps the brain circuitry was once used for triggering egg release and has since evolved into a mechanism for triggering orgasm.

“Selection can take something and shape it for a new function,” says David Puts of Pennsylvania State University, who wasn’t involved in the work. “Our ear holes were gill slits originally. Functions evolve over time.”
One clue would be whether female rabbits and other animals with reflex ovulation also experience orgasms. “That’s a hard question – we can’t talk to them,” says Pavlicev.

How to Make a Girl Squirt

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So you’ve been browsing a few too many XXX-rated websites and decided to learn how to make a girl squirt in real life. At the very least, you probably want to find out whether it’s really possible and not just a blend of camera angles, pelvic floor exercises and water (or worse).

While we’ll leave you to judge whether the footage you’ve personally seen is real or staged, the good news is yes: squirting is a genuine phenomenon, and with a little bit of know-how and a fair stretch of patience, you can master the technique to get her there.

 

For many – men and women included – squirting is a mysterious occurrence. Where does the liquid come from? What does it feel like? And crucially, is it urine? You might laugh, but in 2014 the UK banned squirting in porn, apparently because it's difficult to tell the fluid apart from pee (which is also banned).

It isn’t urine, recent studies suggest – researchers reckon the fluid comes from the Skene glands, which are often loosely referred to as the ‘female prostate’ – but it’s also not entirely female ejaculate either, which is milky and white and produced in far smaller amounts.

By contrast, the fluid produced during squirting tends to soak the entire bed (though not always). It’s made up of a substance called urea, along with uric acid, ejaculation fluid, and creatinine (which is not to be confused with bodybuilder favourite creatine. So don’t get any ideas).

 

“The substance builds up in the bladder during good sex and releases at the point of orgasm,” explains women’s health expert Martina Mercer. “The simple fact is, it’s real, and it’s not wee. It’s actually a woman ejaculating. It feels great for a woman and now we know more about it, women can thoroughly enjoy the sensation.”

How to Make a Girl Squirt: Step by Step

While there’s no one-size-fits-all approach to making her squirt, there are techniques you can both try to make it more likely. Generally, squirting requires either G-spot stimulation or a combination of G-spot and clitoral stimulation. You’ll need two fingers, water-based lube and some free time. Oh, and plenty of patience.

It’s important you don’t put pressure on yourself or your partner to make her ejaculate, says Lelo sex expert Kate Moyle. “Squirting can be a part of an enjoyable sex life, but shouldn't be the be-all and end-all,” she says. “It may just be something that some women never experience and doesn’t define your sex life in any way.”

 

In any case, high expectations are likely to have the opposite desired effect, Moyle adds, by making you both tense and unrelaxed. “This will distract you from enjoying sex and the sensations that are the best part of sex,” she says. “The goal of sexual experiences should always be fun and pleasure.”

Step 1: Prep Your Surroundings

It’s not particularly sexy, but a little pre-emptive clean-up prep goes a long way. The amount of fluid varies from person to person – some might release a teaspoonful – but you’re best off chucking a towel down so you can both enjoy the moment, rather than stressing over any potential mess.

Step 2: Set the Scene

Make sure she feels completely comfortable and at ease, says Mercer. “If she has squirted in the past with a previous lover, she may be embarrassed about doing it with someone new and will seize up and contract her muscles in order to prevent it from happening,” she explains.

Step 3: Foreplay

Foreplay is crucial. We really can’t stress this enough. At the very beginning of foreplay, the top, bottom and sides of each breast is super sensitive, so gently caress these areas first. Build things up slowly from there, until eventually you’re stimulating her clit with your mouth, fingers, or a toy.

Step 4: Find the G-spot

Then, with your palm facing upwards, insert two lubed-up fingers and make a beckoning motion inside her. Use tapping, stroking and caressing movements on her G-spot, which is located on the vaginal wall towards the stomach. You’ll know when you’ve found the right area because it feels rough, almost like the skin of an orange.

Step 5: Keep Going

For most people, squirting only occurs when this area is filled with blood, so when you feel her G-spot start to swell, don’t be alarmed, and definitely don’t slow down or stop (unless she wants you too, obviously). Keep the same finger motion and pressure going. If she feels like she’s about to pee, it’s a sign she’s about to squirt.

Step 6: Don’t Stress

While stimulating the G-spot area will help her to ejaculate, says intimate health specialist Dr Shirin Lakhani of Elite Aesthetics, it isn’t a guarantee. “It’s important to remember that women’s experiences of ejaculation vary a lot, so what’s normal for one could be very different to another,” she explains.

“There isn’t one medical failsafe way of recommending ejaculation to occur, it’s about working out what works for the individual – and often this comes through lots of trial and error. As with anything to do with sex, it’s important to know your body and communicate with your partner.”

 

Some notes on the female orgasm in 2015

Without the perennially interesting problem of the female orgasm, it sometimes seems that the oddly sex-segregated world of men’s and women’s magazines would run out of content.
In 2015, for instance, Men’s Health ran a number of articles advising men on female orgasm, including: Ten Lessons about the Female Orgasm: Give Her the Big Finish She Deserves, Give Her an Orgasm in Fifteen Minutes: Bring your Lady to the Boil Quicker Than a Pan of Pasta and Four Sexy Ways to Speed up Her Orgasm: You Want to Leave Her Satisfied but You Don’t Have All Night.
Meanwhile, across the same year, Cosmopolitan offered equally expansive advice in a range of articles such as Eight Reasons You’re Not Orgasming, Ten Things Guys Don’t Understand about the Female Orgasm and Eight Genius Ways to Orgasm Together.
When Cosmopolitan published the results of its 2015 sex survey of more than 2,000 women aged between 18 and 40, it emphasised what it described as the “orgasm gap,” the decreased likelihood of a woman rather than a man having an orgasm during heterosexual sex.
The survey’s findings – that only 57% of women reliably have orgasms during partnered sex compared to the 95% strike rate of their partners or that 67% of women have faked orgasm usually in order to bring sex to an end without hurting their partner’s feelings – were widely reported around the world in a range of media outlets from The Guardian to the Huffington Post.
While the revelation of the orgasm gap is frequently met with renewed calls for “orgasm equality,” this is less a solution, I would argue, than a resubscription to the very coordinates that frame female orgasm as a problem in the first place.

The erotic scene that emerges from this mediascape is one in which orgasm is gender-stratified as either male or female. Men’s orgasms tend to be innate, instinctive and relatively unmediated while women’s are acquired with difficulty, unpredictable and the effect of a complex balance of biological, psychological, environmental and social components.
The radical non-synchronicity of women’s and men’s sexual responses makes heterosexual sex problematic and, whether erotically heroic or incompetent, men are the most significant social actors in securing female orgasms.
It would be easy to feel superior to the intended readerships of such magazines and media story cycles but, in my experience, when feelings of superiority come easy it is worth thinking again and differently about the issue.
For a start, it is important to remember that, despite its apparent topicality, the news of the alleged sexual incompatibility of the heterosexual couple is not actually new. As long ago as 1918, Marie Stopes, the author of the most widely
circulated marriage manual in the first half of the 20th century, regretfully noted that:

it is, perhaps, hardly an exaggeration to say that 70 or 80% of our married women (in the middle classes) are deprived of the full orgasm.
And by 1947, Helena Wright, the British medical doctor and contraceptive pioneer, had so lost confidence in the conjugal orgasm for which she had earlier been an enthusiastic spruiker that she confessed she had begun “to doubt the efficacy of the penis-vagina combination for producing orgasms in the woman”.
As Elizabeth A. Lloyd has noted, 32 quantitative surveys of sexual practice conducted between 1921 and 1995 consistently found that women tend not to have orgasms during penile-vaginal sex.
So rather than being part of the endless dissemination of this fact, whether in the masculinised mode of the statistic or the feminised form of complaint, a more interesting response to surveys like that undertaken by Cosmopolitan would be to ask instead what we can learn from the way that something widely known for a long period of time keeps circulating as news.
In my recent book, Orgasmology (2013), I’ve suggested that the answer lies in the historical conditions under which heterosexuality emerged in the late 19th century as a distinctive form of heteroeroticism, a principally erotic rather than conjugal relation newly characterised by equality and reciprocity.
Women’s orgasms, which many 19th-century medical experts wrote off not only as unnecessary but likely impossible, now carried a new burden of significance.
They testified to the mutual satisfactions of heterosexuality often figured in terms of its signature sex act, penile-vaginal intercourse or PVI, to give it the unbeguiling acronym it takes in more recent sexological literature.
Thus not just female orgasms but female orgasms simultaneously achieved with male orgasms in coitus were advocated as an erotic norm by numerous marriage manuals addressed to middle-class readers in the early twentieth century.
By the mid-20th century, however, the ideological claim to erotic relations of parity publicly rehearsed around the heterosexual couple had stalled out against another ideological formation, the sexual incompatibility of the heterosexual pair.
As modern sexual subjects, we still live under the constraining pressure of this contradictory cultural legacy. That is why the apparent revelation that heterosexuality is in trouble never fails to arrive freshly as the diagnosis of a particularly contemporary crisis.
However cannily got up as a sound bite, the fate of such information – 35% of women don’t orgasm during sex because they don’t get the right kind of clitoral stimulation from their partner; 39% of women mostly orgasm via masturbation – is to be repeated again and again without ever loosening the cultural imagination’s allegiance to heterosexual intercourse and its figuration of the sexual reciprocity that is the ethical model for modern heterosexuality.

Health Check: does the ‘G-spot’ exist?

It is perhaps one of the most controversial debates in sexual function: is there or isn’t there a G-spot? And if there is, how do we find it?
The G-spot is a purported highly erogenous area of the vagina that, when stimulated, may lead to strong sexual arousal and orgasm. Although the concept of vaginal orgasms has been around since the 17th century, the term G-spot wasn’t coined until the 1980s. The G-spot is named after Ernst Grafenberg, a German gynecologist, whose 1940s research documented this sensitive region within the vagina in some women.
The controversy surrounding the G-spot comes about because there is no consensus over just what the G-spot is, and while some women can orgasm through stimulation of the G-spot, others find it incredibly uncomfortable.
Where is the G-spot?
The G-spot lies on the anterior wall of the vagina, about 5-8cm above the opening to the vagina. It is easiest to locate if a woman lies on her back and has someone else insert one or two fingers into the vagina with the palm up. Using a “come here” motion, the tissue surrounding the urethra, called the urethral sponge, will begin to swell.
This swelling area is the G-spot. At first, this touch may make the woman feel as though she needs to urinate, but after a few seconds may turn into a pleasurable sensation. For some women, however, this stimulation remains uncomfortable, no matter how long the stimulation continues.
The G-spot orgasm and female ejaculation
Physiological responses from a G-spot orgasm differ to those responses seen in clitoral orgasms. During clitoral orgasms, the end of the vagina (near the opening) balloons out; however, in G-spot orgasms, the cervix pushes down into the vagina.
Up to 50% of women expel various kinds of fluid from their urethra during sexual arousal or sexual intercourse. Studies have shown there are generally three types of fluid that are produced: urine, a dilute form of urine (known as “squirting”), and female ejaculate.
While some women may expel these fluids during arousal or sex, they are most commonly expelled during orgasm, and particularly through G-spot orgasm. So what is the difference between these fluids?

The release of urine during penetrative sex is usually as a result of stress urinary incontinence. Some women experience no other symptoms of stress urinary incontinence, such as leakage when sneezing, coughing or laughing, but will leak during sex.
“Squirting” is the leakage of a urine-like substance during orgasm. It is thought to occur because of strong muscle contractions surrounding the bladder during female orgasm.
Female ejaculate, most commonly reported with G-spot orgasm, is a much different substance: women describe the fluid as looking like watered-down fat-free milk and report producing about a teaspoon in volume during orgasm. The contents of female ejaculate have been chemically analysed and found that it closely resembles secretions from the male prostate. This has led to many suspecting that glands known as the female prostate (formerly Skene’s glands) produce this ejaculate.
What could the G-spot be?
The G-spot is not a single, distinct entity. Much debate exists in the research field as to just what the G-spot is, and how it can produce orgasm.
The G-spot is located in the clitourethrovaginal complex – the area where the clitoris, urethra and vagina all meet up. There are several structures in this complex that could produce pleasurable sensations when stimulated – the G-spot might reflect the stimulation of just one structure, or multiple structures at once. Two structures in particular have been hotly debated and stand out as likely candidates for producing G-spot orgasms: the female prostate and the clitoris.
The female prostate lies within the urethral sponge, a cushion of tissue surrounding the urethra. The urethral sponge and female prostate are highly innervated, which may explain their sensitivity when stimulated.
The clitoris is more than meets the eye: we now know this organ extends far beyond what is visible externally. Apart from where the urethra and vagina touch, the clitoris somewhat encircles the urethra. Mechanical stimulation of the G-spot may in fact be stimulating the internal portion of the clitoris.
So, is the G-spot fact or fiction?
The G-spot certainly exists in some women. However, not all women will find the stimulation of the G-spot pleasurable.
Just because a woman is not aroused when the G-area is stimulated, this does not mean she is in any way sexually dysfunctional. Sexuality and arousal have clear physiological and psychological links. But, as human beings, we are all made slightly anatomically and physiologically different.
In the same way that what I consider “blue” may not be the exact same “blue” you perceive, an orgasm in one woman is not the same as an orgasm in any other woman. It is a unique experience. And although you and I both see blue through our eyes, the complexities of human sexuality and the female reproductive organs mean women may achieve orgasm in multiple ways.
Some women are unable to orgasm in the presence of a partner, but have no difficulty with orgasm with masturbation. Some women can orgasm only with clitoral stimulation, while others can orgasm through vaginal stimulation alone. There are reports of women who experience orgasm through the stimulation of the foot, and Grafenberg detailed in his report women who experienced arousal through ear penile penetration (but these reports are yet to be replicated!).
You are not abnormal or strange or dysfunctional if you cannot find your G-spot. Similarly, you are not abnormal or strange or dysfunctional if you expel fluid during arousal or sex. Sexual arousal, desire and pleasure are individual: if you are unable to find your G-area, work on finding something that does fulfil your sexual needs.
Harry Potter star, feminist and all-round superstar Emma Watson supports a great website for women wanting to explore their sexuality further. It’s called OMGYes and is a great place to explore the ways in which different women experience sexual pleasure.

The birth control pill and smoking

Dear Alice,
I've been on the pill for nearly 3 months, and although I've been a social smoker for slightly longer than that, the habit's beginning to get heavier. I need to know if smoking stops the pill from working, or if it reduces its efficiency. I want to stop smoking, but for my own ease of mind, I need to know if my smoking is putting me at risk of getting pregnant now by short-circuiting the pill.
— very worried teen

Dear very worried teen,
Kudos to you for reaching out and trying to put your health before your social life. While this may not put your mind at ease, there’s no conclusive evidence that either proves or disproves that smoking cigarettes makes birth control pills, in general, less effective. However, there’s evidence that combining the two can have greater health risks than pregnancy if your birth control contains estrogen. Keep reading to learn more about how nicotine and estrogen interact.
Scientific studies have been conducted on the effectiveness of the birth control pill in people who smoke. While there’s evidence that smoking can decrease the effectiveness of hormonal birth control, it’s not conclusive and it hasn't been studied again in some time. Additionally, smoking has been shown to lower estrogen levels in the body. Other health care experts don't indicate that smoking may be a cause of reduced effectiveness. However, again, there’s no consensus on this issue. More research needs to be conducted to better understand how, to what degree, and in what timetable smoking decreases the pill's effectiveness, if it does at all.
What may be more risky are the other health effects that smoking can have when combined with birth control containing estrogen. Cigarettes, hookah, and other tobacco products contain nicotine, which causes high blood pressure and increases the heart rate. This places a strain on the blood vessels, and estrogen amplifies this effect. All of this leads to an increased chance of developing heart disease, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, blood clots, or strokes. If you have a family history of any of these conditions and health issues, are above the age of 35, or smoke more than 15 cigarettes a day, the risk is greater.

Very worried teen, since you mentioned the pill, you might want to look into the kind of pill you're taking. If it contains estrogen, it may be worth it to consider the risks of combining smoking tobacco and taking hormonal birth control pills daily. Stopping smoking can provide benefits other than just reducing the risk of interacting with birth control. You may want to check out cessation support as you consider the pros and cons of this potential interaction, as well as how smoking can affect your overall health. Smokefree.gov is a great resource for those looking to quit. If you're a student, you may also want to find out if your campus health center has any tobacco cessation support for students. Another option, if you wish to continue to smoke or find it hard to quit, would be to switch to a non-estrogen-containing birth control method. These include intrauterine devices (IUDs), the birth control implant, the birth control shot, and progestin-only pills (also called minipills). You might consider speaking with your health care provider about your concerns and your social smoking, and they can help you decide the best course of action.
Hopefully your pregnancy worries have gone up in smoke,

Parental consent for abortion?

Dear Alice,
I am a freshman in college and I need to get an abortion. The problem is, I'm 17. Can I legally do this without parental notification? If not, in which states could I get an abortion without parental notification? Money is not a major prohibitory issue here. I would be willing to pay cash for a weekend airline ticket.
Frosh

Dear Frosh,
The answer to your question depends on a few factors. The laws around access to abortion and minors vary by state within the United States, but there may be other factors for you to consider as well. Some states allow minors (those under 18) to have an abortion without notifying their parents, while other states require parental notification or even parental permission. In terms of abortion access for minors, it’s also good to be aware of mandatory waiting periods between a counseling session and the abortion and whether or not abortion is covered, or allowed to be covered, by health insurance. Considering all of this information can help you determine whether you'll be able to access the services you need in the state where you currently reside.
Because each state varies in their abortion laws, especially around parental consent, it would be difficult to list them all out. However, the Guttmacher Institute offers a comprehensive overview of abortion-related laws state-by-state. Of these laws:
•37 states require parental involvement in an abortion decision by a minor.
•21 of these 37 require one or both parents to consent.
•11 of these 37 require one or both parents be notified.
•5 of these 37 require both parental consent and notification.
For those states that require parental involvement, the United States Supreme Court has ruled that parents cannot legally block their child from obtaining an abortion, so a judicial bypass procedure can be initiated. Essentially, this process is a way for the minor to appear in court to make their case for why they want to receive the abortion without the knowledge or consent of their parents. A judge may ask the minor questions to understand their reasoning. While the judicial bypass may provide abortion access to more minors, it can be a roadblock to obtaining a safe abortion procedure, as minors may not be aware of this option or may feel shame in trying to explain their reasoning to a judge. A judicial bypass is available for minors in the 37 states except for Maryland. As with most other abortion laws, access to an abortion for a minor due to a medical emergency or abuse also varies by state.

Insurance in general is another aspect to consider when seeking an abortion, even for those who are pregnant but not minors. Again, each state varies in the abortion-related coverage they allow providers to offer. Three states (California, New York, and Oregon) require all insurance plans to cover abortion, whether sold as part of the marketplace set up by the Affordable Care Act (ACA) or through private insurance. Twenty-six states don’t allow abortion coverage to be offered as part of the health insurance plans sold as part of the marketplace set up by the ACA. Of these 26 states, eleven don’t allow any private insurance plans, whether sold on or off the ACA marketplace, to cover abortion. Not only is private insurance regulated, but so is Medicaid, the program that uses joint federal and state funds to pay for health care for those who qualify for coverage based on their income. Thirty-two states and the District of Columbia don’t allow state funds to be used for abortion coverage. This restriction prevents those eligible for Medicaid to use it for such purposes, except in certain circumstances such as rape or risk to the person’s life.
It might also be good to consider and plan for any health or billing information that may be shared by insurance providers. If you’re still on your parents’ insurance plan, many times health information, such as birth control use, sexually transmitted infection (STI) tests, and abortion services, is made available to the primary policy holder of the health insurance plan. While the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) protects an individual’s health privacy and states that only necessary information needs to be included, the Explanation of Benefits (EOB) sent out by insurance companies can often include these details. What constitutes as “necessary information” is up to each individual insurer — however, a patient may be able ask an insurance provider what information is included on an EOB, where it will be sent, or even work with an insurer or provider to change what information is included on a specific EOB.
Another common barrier to abortion access is a mandatory waiting period. Every state requires patient consent and information before the procedure, of which 35 require patient counseling. Of these 35 states, 27 require at least a 24-hour waiting period between the initial session and the procedure. However, some states mandate up to a 72-hour waiting period. Fourteen states require that the first counseling session be done in-person, requiring two trips and potentially more time off of work or school. During the counseling sessions, some states require that certain information be covered, including information that hasn't been found to be medically accurate, which may further deter people from seeking abortions. Some of this includes inaccurate information about stopping a medication abortion, the future effects on fertility, and its effects on the risk of breast cancer.
The differences in states’ abortion-related policies and procedures can certainly be overwhelming. Frosh, the biggest takeaway from all of these numbers, though, is that your coverage and obstacles are different according to your location. It can also be helpful to note that in the United States, legislation and regulations on abortion can change frequently, which can make it more or less accessible depending on where you are. Keeping an eye on what is happening in your state and those around you will help keep you informed for the future. The Guttmacher Institute breaks down contraception and abortion regulations state by state, which can help provide some more information.
Wishing you the best,

All about lube

Dear Curious and Reader,
It’s no wonder you're both seeking information on lubricant (or “lube”); it’s a slippery subject with lots of moving parts. Lubricants are used to make sexual activity more comfortable and pleasurable by reducing friction. Lube can make masturbation more enjoyable and can facilitate vaginal or anal penetration with a toy or penis. Reader, as for what types of lubes are lowest risk with anal sex, it depends on a number of factors (more on this in a bit). The type of lube you choose depends on your safer sex needs, the sexual activities you're getting up to, and general preferences, so information gathering is an excellent first step in your journey of lubrication education.
Not only does lube increase pleasure, it also can help protect against sexual transmitted infections (STIs), pregnancy, and tissue damage. Lube itself isn't considered a method of contraception or a prophylactic, but it be a facilitator of risk reduction for both pregnancy and STIs by reducing friction that upholds the integrity of barrier methods when in use and reduces friction as a whole so that tissue damage is minimized. The friction created during sex can degrade and break condoms and cause micro-tears on the genitals, making it easier to contract an STI, and lube lessens this friction. It's especially key to use lube when engaging in anal play, as the anus doesn't lubricate itself naturally and has only a thin layer of skin that can rip and tear easily, making it easier to transmit STIs.
There are hundreds of choices of lube out there, but they fall into three main categories: water-based, silicone-based, and oil-based. Each type has different properties:

Water-based lubes tend to be the most user-friendly and all-purpose of the three types. They're safe to use with silicone toys and latex-based safer sex products such as condoms and dental dams. They're relatively easy to clean and generally aren't irritating (although some water-based lube contains glycerin, which has been known to cause vaginal yeast infections in some). The main complaint about water-based lubes is that they dry out more quickly than the others, so reapplication may be required. There's been some limited research that suggests that water-based lubricants may have some increased risks of STI transmission when used with the anus, but there isn't enough information to draw any firm conclusions on the matter.
Silicone-based lubes are a popular alternative to water-based products, as they can also be used with latex products, but are longer lasting and can hold up in water without being washed off. The flip side, however, is that silicone lube can be messier — soap and water is often needed to clean it up. Another thing to keep in mind is that silicone lube degrades silicone toys, so opt for water-based lube or cover the toy with a condom to avoid mishaps.
Oil-based lubes may be useful for masturbation with a penis, but aren't recommended for other sexual acts. Oil breaks down latex, which increases the risk of STI contraction and pregnancy, and it can leave a coating on the vagina or rectum that could cause infection. As such, they aren't recommended for anal sex. These kinds of lubes can also easily stain fabric.
Within these broader categories, you can find more specific kinds of lube, such as flavored lubes for oral sex or lubes that contain a spermicide such as nonoxynol-9. Note that nonoxynol-9 can cause irritation, which may increase the risk of spreading STIs. If you have sensitive skin, you may want to do a spot-test on your inner arm or thigh the day before you plan to use any new lube to make sure you don’t have an unwanted allergic reaction.
There are many factors to consider when choosing the perfect lube for you. Hopefully, you're now armed with the tools to slide into the world of lubrication confidently and safely.

What foods can be used safely for all forms of sex?

Dear Reader,
It sounds like you’re hungry for some delicious sexual exploration. Given the many factors to consider when incorporating food into a sexual repertoire, there’s no food that can be used safely with all forms of sex. However, depending on the type of sex or foreplay, certain food items may enhance sexual activity, as long as they’re used appropriately.
Use of oily and sugary products are best kept above the belt. Oil breaks down latex condoms, traps bacteria and irritants close to the skin, and is tough to clean. In warm, moist environments, sugar encourages growth of yeast and bacteria, encouraging various infections, such as urinary tract infections (UTIs), yeast infections, or bacterial vaginosis, among others. While chocolate and champagne may set a romantic mood, they could also cause some unwanted infections if brought into contact with the genitals. For safer substitutes, consider visiting sexuality specialty shops in person or online. They often stock sugar- and glycerin-free edibles that are safer to use in food-sex play.
Although not recommended by medical professionals, they do provide some suggestions to minimize risk of infection or getting food products stuck if you do choose to incorporate them into your sex life. Whatever your preferences, using food for sex play requires certain precautions. It’s good to carefully wash and smooth any loose, rough, or sharp areas, and use a condom to protect against potential irritation or infection. A bit of additional lube may also make the experience go even more smoothly. If you’re hoping to pass food between orifices, it’s critical to grab an alternate food item or a new lubed condom to avoid transmission of sexually transmitted or other infections. Shape and consistency are other factors to keep in mind. When inserting food into the vagina or anus, it’s recommended to opt for smooth, hard objects, such as cucumbers, rather than softer, messier foods such as bananas or peanut butter. However, food in the anus requires a non-slip base that's wider than the anal opening, allowing for a firm grip and safe removal. When it comes to sexy food play,


allergies, sensitivities, and intolerances are relevant concerns, so avoiding foods that you or your partners have reacted to negatively is a safer practice. Additionally, spicy food (such as hot peppers), acidity, and heat are all potential irritants, especially when dealing with the sensitive areas of the mouth, anus, penis, or vulva.
In terms of clean up, the vagina and anus are capable of self-cleaning, as their sensitive membranes are protected by natural secretions. Douches or enemas can wash away the body’s natural lubrication, which increases the risk of irritation or tearing during penetration. Additionally, rinsing out these cavities can have the unintended consequence of pushing food particles deeper into the body, which could result in bacterial growth or infection.
If you’re looking to get you and your partner in the mood for some sexy time, oysters, chocolate, strawberries, and avocado are thought to be aphrodisiacs, which are substances that stimulate sex drive when consumed. These foods contain certain vitamins and minerals that are may raise mood, boost some health measures, and increase sperm production, which can, supposedly, enhance sexual interest or performance. There’s been little confirmed research on the subject, but one study found that oysters did increase antioxidants (which are thought to boost libido) and enhance sexual performance in mice. Though there isn’t enough evidence to confirm a scientific relationship between aphrodisiac foods and sex, it doesn’t change the fact that strawberries, chocolate, and other foods have a sexy cultural connotation!
Hopefully this information will lead you to food play that is safe, sexy, and fun, and not a recipe for disaster. Bon appétit!