SEX THERAPY
Sex and Relationships
Sexual Dysfunction
Answers to questions about sex therapy and sexuality
Copyright (C) 1998, 1999, 2000 William F. Fitzgerald, Ph.D.
Welcome to ASK THE SEX DOC
Answer page #25
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THE SEX DOC
I'm sure you have heard this story a thousand times over, but I have
yet to
hear a strait answer. I'm currently married to a very beautiful
woman who I
have been with for 9 years. We have only been married for just
a year and
ever since we've been together, I've always hungered for sex with other
woman. I love my wife very much and I don't want to leave her.
I just
enjoy having sex and if it's with my wife, than fine. If it's
not, than
that's fine also. I do not incorporate sex with love. I
never have! I
feel you can have sex with someone, without loving them. It even
makes me
want sex with my wife even more.
Question: Is this common with men???? Or am I just addicted to
sex with
other woman?
A: The male animal is genetically perfected to want to inseminate as many women as possible. That is part of survival of the fittest and it diversifies the gene pool to minimize recessive genes from one parent and the same recessive genes from the other parent. So just like a shark is perfectly engineered genetically to be the perfect eating machine, man is similarly optimized for sperm distribution.
Unfortunately, we hunter-gatherers have not been around for very long, and the functionality of monogamy is quite new and actually counter-intuitive. Research over and over again shows that men in committed relationships have intercourse, on average, many more times per year than their uncommitted single counterparts, and couples in bonded partnership relationships live longer than those not coupled.
So it is perfectly normal for you to lust after all the women you want, but as a negotiated agreement of monogamy, few women with intact self-esteem will tolerate your having casual sex with other women.
So your choices are monogamy, being single and having sex with as many different partners as you wish, and being in a committed relationship and lying, sneaking, and risking infection. Being your wife's only lover while you have casual sex with other women while she knows about it is not an option -- or won't last long. It almost never has.
Some European cultures accept marriage with a mistress if the man is wealthy enough, but until you have the mansion with 47 polished marble floors and two other residences in different parts of the world for inclement weather, I suggest weighing the above options very carefully.
sexdoc
up to a few years ago I used to practice regular healthy ass-play,
however one day I had a bit of a rough anal-sex session that left me
a
little souvenier, a hemorrhoid.
Although it doesn't hurt at all, and it never bleeds or gets irritated,
it sure looks ugly.
It's like a little raisin always sticking out of my butt. I'm really
self-conscious about it and as a result I don't feel comfortable having
anal-sex. A little while ago I went to a doctor to see about getting
it
removed. When I told him that it didn't give me any phisical problems
but that I wanted to get rid of it only for estetic reasons, he
practicly laughed in my face, and told me he had people with "real
problems" to deal with.
I really want to get it removed, but I don't know what doctor to go
to,
someone will be open minded enough to take me seriously.
Got any suggestions?
A: SHAME on that doctor! I am so sorry you got that reaction.
I respectfully suggest that you probably developed the hemmie quite independently of ass play -- so don't feel "branded" in sin.
I suggest calling around and persisting. This is NOT a vain cosmetic thing. It can mushroom and become a problem. Explain that you want to "nip it in the bud" no matter what the chances are of it becoming worse.
sexdoc
p.s. I don't know which doctor you asked but if it wasn't your OB-GYN she or he might be more sympathetic. ANY MD can do this!
Please don't let one uncomfortable person discourage
your persistence.
Thank you for you help in this matter.
A: Some women have one and some do not. I have heard it is in the same location always.
Have her lie on her back and draw her knees up, one of you stimulate her clitoris until she is pretty excited. You insert the middle finger of a hand into her vagina as far as it will comfortable go and press up gently with the pad of your finger (toward her pubic bone).
Rub that upper wall of the vagina about an inch in circles, front to back, side to side while her clitoris continues to get her closer and closer to orgasm, and IF she has a g-spot, you will feel something between half a pea and two fifty cent pieces glued together sticking down from that upper wall. As soon as she has the start of her orgasm, you use the fingers of one hand on her clitoris (she will soon be uncontrollably spastic) and the other stimulating that spot, and observe her behavior carefully. If she has a g-spot you can increase or decrease your stimulation of both her g-spot and her clitoris to keep her "dieseling" -- in a constant state of mini-orgasms that may be between 10% and 25% of the muscle intensity of the big O -- until one of you cries "uncle."
A very good friend sex therapist described observing this and being profoundly jealous that she didn't have one. The demonstration lasted for 30 minutes before the woman, totally drenched in sweat, gasped "Stop. I can't take it anymore." The negative side effects are sore abdominal muscles (passive exercise?) and that she might lock you in the attic and never let you touch another woman. The positive is that she will be forever grateful.
Sincerely,
C
A: Dear C,
Many people are incredulous when they learn that "private" masseuses are OFTEN asked to provide an erotic massage to female clients of all ages. This is not covert lesbianism in the vast majority of cases. Women feel safer with a woman massaging them, with no worry that a man will "take liberties," and often it is sort of a motherly or sisterly thing. Make sure that you find out if it is OK with the masseuse that the client is a woman, and be prepared to describe in detail exactly what sequence, frequency and pressure you like best. Similarly, do NOT feel rejected if the first 3 you call say "no way, dyke." Even private masseuses have issues with sexuality. Good private masseuses will watch you carefully for feedback, but they are not mind readers, and some people grimace during sexual excitement and an observer can't tell if that's pleasure or pain.
In the interest of money, some women use the personals ("women looking for women") to trade erotic massages, and some of them are lesbians, but what the hey, set your limits and stick to them.
The "thorny" question has to do with fidelity. If your contract is "no sexual contact with anyone else," you have a problem. How would you feel if your husband approached you and asked if it was OK if he and a buddy got together once in a while and masturbated each other? Many homophobic men would never consider that, and insecure men would worry that you and your female friend might find that sexual contact better than with them. And some guys would say "Sure, just don't get a disease and tell me all about it the next time we make love."
All of this having been said, be braced for the possibility that the fantasy may be better than reality. I hear that all the time regarding a three-way, sex with a dog, going to a dominatrix, etc.
Please do me and the readers of the web site a favor: Keep me posted by e-mail regarding what happens -- telling your husband, phone calls, what happens, etc. -- and remind me to post that on page 25 at 9/12/00.
9/18/00 She writes: Well, today I actually went for a massage
at a salon
that had advertised as "personal/private", thinking I
could have a more intimate experience. (By the way, I
had read this ad before and my husband and I had
driven by there together to make sure it wasn't a
sleazy place, which it isn't. He knows what I'm
wanting and is okay with it - except for the expense
of it!) I asked the therapist if I could get a real
full body massage (but couldn't bring myself to say
genital). She answered that she didn't massage the
front/abdominal area but that she does do the
buttocks, which was nice in itself since I don't
believe I've ever had a professional buttock massage
before. Anyway, although I was somewhat disappointed
the massage was a good one. And it did occur to me
that it might be rather awkward to have someone touch
me that way - someone I don't know who is right there,
face to face with me practically. The room would have
to be somewhat dark, I suppose. However, I have
already chosen the next therapist I will call to see
if perhaps I can't find someone who is a little more
thorough. But I'm going to wait a month or two. Like
you said, the fantasy might actually be better. In the
meantime I'll stay busy with work and world peace.
Thanks!
Ain't the anonymity of the internet GRAND!
A: If neither of you has cooties, you can't pass them to the other person. HIV is a virus -- a kind of bug, and it invades the body more easily through unprotected anal sex but to "get HIV" one of you has to have it to give it to the other person.
If it's any consolation, I get this question over and over again.
sexdoc
He writes near the end of his reply: I suppose
I screwed myself somewhat by
sticking with it for so long, the longer it goes the
harder it is to accept
the inevitable. Such is life. Thank you very
much for your advice. I've
never seen a therapist before BTW (and I suppose I
would need to speak to
someone specializing in relationships and sex as opposed
to a "general"
guy?), and never really intended to, to be honest,
but your site and your
kind attitude have given me a new perspective on therapy
in general. You're
a credit to your profession. Thank you.
To which I reply: "Sir, you are welcome."
A: Dear S. Yes, much to many people's surprise, men can experience orgasm without an erection, and sometimes there is no fluid emitted. Orgasm is the same in both genders: involuntary pelvic contractions about eight-tenths of a second apart, and anywhere from 3 to 30 contractions.
Some men achieve orgasm from prostate stimulation alone. Have him have a bowel movement, then use a rectal rinse of plain water (see the links to "anal sex" on my home page), then put on a latex examining glove and insert a well lubricated, glove-covered, short-fingernailed finger and press up toward his pubic bone with a "come hither" motion.
If I were he, I would use penile injections of Prostaglandin E1 (see the link to ED from my home page).
In regard to the Viagra not working, I have had many patients volunteer that it works better on an empty stomach and that sometimes in men for whom it has been effective, there is little response on a full stomach. I will ask Dr. Fisher if there is a medical reason for this or it is superstition.
Dr. Fisher kindly comments: Viagra does tend to work best on an empty stomach because the food absorption does not affect the uptake of the Viagra into the bloodstream. Basically, the fat content in food diminishes the effects of the drug. If you want to make the process of Viagra work faster, try crushing the pill up in hot water (about the size of a dixie cup) and drink. It cuts the activation time from 45 minutes to about 15 or 20 minutes.
A: Dr. Chance Fisher replies: Yes, it is
normal for both men and women to have hair around the anus. Hair
doesn't always grow only where it is suppose to. You can remove it
if it is that bothersome for you, but it is not a life or death situation
if you don't. DO NOT use Nair or any other hair removal cream near
your anus or vagina! It will burn and cause severe irritation.
Some people will use hot wax or wax strips to remove the hair. Most
of the time people will
"carefully" shave the hair from the crack. You
can simply pull it out with your fingers if you desire.
A: Each of you has a preference for frequency and clearly you two are incompatible.
You already took the important step of talking about it and seeking a compromise.
Your choices are to suffer in silence and feel like she is a gatekeeper, and experience growing resentment which will terminate the relationship, or make a clean break and find someone with whom you are more compatible.
A: "Talk more during sex" can mean anything from romance and compliments to explicit body parts to "dirty" talk. Because she says "If I have to tell you ..." your only approach is to try all three out and be sensitive to her feedback (and if she gives none then you'll have to ask). Examples:
Romance: "Darling, your eyes are like limpid pools, and the sparkle of love I see in them fills me with great passion for you. When we are making love I feel boundless energy and a totally intimate connection with you. I am sooooo glad I am married to you. Be mine for eternity."
Explicit body parts: "I just love feeling the shaft of my penis sliding in and out of you. I can see your labia clinging to it, with constant caresses. Feeling your nipples get erect when I suck on them makes me feel so powerful."
Dirty talk: "Your slutty little cunt just loves it when I ram my cock into you, doesn't it. Be good or I'll flip you over and shove my prick up your asshole. And I won't make it slippery first."
Good luck and let me know what happens.
sexdoc
Readers: How about a contribution of what you
like to say or hear and I'll include it here. Please put "Talking
9/7/00" in the subject line of an e-mail.
My wife and I have been married over 10 years. Our sex life has
always been
active (intercourse two to three times a week) but I feel we are in
a rut
now. My wife only enjoys herself when we have intercourse and
she is in the
missionary position or "on top" position. She is capable of having
mulitple
orgasms and really enjoys herself. She would rather not have sex than
change
from those positions. She also is only comfortable if sex lasts 10-15
minutes or less. Get to the orgasms quickly and thats the end
of it. I
would like much more duration at least once or twice a week.
She also is
very willing to give me oral sex. She says she enjoys that as well
though
she has no creativity and nothing would ever change and would be very
routine if I did not specifically tell her how to please me.
That in itself
bothers me because past lovers have enjoyed giving me oral sex and
being
creative as much as I enjoyed receiving it. She is not interested in
receiving oral sex which is a bummer cause I enjoy giving it to a woman.
I have tried to introduce new things to spice things up. All the suggestions
in the "how to spice up your love life books" have been attempted by
me.
Recently we decided to try a very lifelike dildo. She sounded
interested
and told me to order one. When it came she immediately tried
it out, said
it felt amazing, then 30 seconds later lost interest and won't touch
it
again like it has the plague.
I am at my wits end for a way to change our now boring love life.
I know
some guy off the street would think she was this great lover but would
soon
come to realize that it's the same show over and over again.
Is it me? Am I nuts? Should we go to sex therapy? Help.....
Thank you in
advance for answering my questions.
A: Thank you for acknowledging sex therapy as a possibility. American society is full of conflicting messages that account for all kinds of rigid behavior. "Nice girls don't, and those who do are sluts" has made many a woman frightened by her sexual desires and lust. The most common theme in romance novels is the "gentle rape" -- the concept of a woman "being taken" without her consent, but gently (and often by a stranger to whom she is indebted in some way). We impose daunting restrictions on women with initiative, accusing them of being castrating, ball busters, or bitches. I remember in the middle '60's learning the words "Hoyden" and "Virago" (look THOSE up in your Funk & Wagnall's!) and being apprehensive about meeting one (the wicked witch of the West personified), and thinking that if I met a woman who knew those words that that could be the cruelest thing I could say.
And in the privacy of your marital bedroom, she probably harbors some fear of your rejection if she gets "too" sexually experimental. You cannot be part of the solution to that because you are part of the problem. The good news is that in the hands of a skilled sex therapist, techniques such as Sensate Focus -- don't try this at home; it needs weekly debriefing with a skilled sex therapist -- directly deal with disinhibition. I get a kick out of describing the protocol to a new couple, and to hear one or both insist that there are no inhibitions, only to have them walk in three or four therapy sessions later acknowledging that they found something. And many couples, married for 8 to 28 years, discover in sensate focus that they BOTH like something they call "kinky," but each was afraid to propose it for fear the other would think they were a pervert. And then they'd have to live together knowing this. And this ranges from her sucking his nipples (ho hum) to various kinds of ass play (about which many people have inhibitions) from his finger in her rectum during vaginal intercourse, to hers in his during fellatio, to anal intercourse to her strapping on a harness and having anal intercourse with him using a dildo. Spanking, light bondage, using ice cubes and clothes pins as well as cross-dressing (she "makes" him wear thong underwear, for example) also sometimes come up.
So yes, I encourage you two to see a sex therapist. Sexual flexibility and enhancement are a delightful change of pace from men with psychogenic erection dysfunction and couples with sexual desire discrepancy, for any sex therapist. You two have probably gone as far as you can between the two of you. Professional intervention will probably be best.
Please let me know what happens (remind me to find this on page 25 at 9/7/00) and what I have your permission to post here.
sexdoc
A: I can't tell whether she needs education (this is extremely common) or reassurance. A good sex therapist could find out.
Many women have internalized the idea that "nice girls don't and if they like sex, they're sluts (thus dirty)."
If she's worried about fecal matter on your penis, have her rinse her rectum with a rectal syringe or low volume enema before anal sex.
One or two therapy sessions with a sex therapist might do wonders!
sexdoc
Your site is a wonderful source of information, and I commend you for the valuable advice you have given to so many people. I've learned quite a bit by reading through your past Q&As, but my question seems to be unique.
I've been dating a terrific woman for 8 months now, and we're planning to get married soon. I am 27 and she is 24, and I feel we have an extremely solid relationship built on love and communication. We acknowledge we are both sexually inexperienced, neither of us had intercourse before. We talk about anything and everything, and there is very little we don't know about each other at this point (we've been living together for the past several months). I honestly can't see myself without her in my life, she is my best friend and lover.
We make love once or twice a week, and although we both derive pleasure from it, I am the only one to orgasm. In fact, she has never had a orgasm in her life... and she isn't terribly interested in ever achieving one. She doesn't see the need, doesn't see what the big deal is about. Don't get me wrong, she's not a cold fish. Our relationship isn't lacking passion, at times we have a hard time keeping our hands/lips off of each other, and I know she isn't making love to me out of obligation.
She has never masturbated, and finds the idea of touching herself disgusting. She also finds the idea of vibrators/dildos disgusting too, as well as oral sex. She doesn't have any sexual skeletons in her closet (such as abuse or rape), she wasn't raised in strict religious setting, she isn't on any medication or the pill (we use condoms), she doesn't drink or do drugs, and neither of us lead particularly stressful lives. Although she feels pleasure from intercourse and easily becomes wet, she isn't turned on when I touch her with my hands on either her breasts or pubic area. She says she just doesn't feel anything, and being touched there can be "annoying". Of course she can't assist me, because she doesn't know where or what would feel good.
I am no stranger to masturbation, and would be more than willing to explore each others sexuality's with oral sex and manual stimulation. She knows this, but doesn't share my interest at the moment. I think she's hoping that someday she'll just naturally experience an orgasm while we are making love, which I suppose could happen although I know the odds. I want to be able to give her the same level of pleasure I receive. After we make love I feel sexually satisfied, but I don't feel completely satisfied because in my mind things aren't "complete".
Oh, another piece of information that my be pertinent is she did a LOT of bareback horse riding while she was growing up. It's my personal theory that this may have something to do with her lack of sensitivity, although I'm certainly not a doctor!
So FINALLY here's my question Dr. Fitz... Should I just let things take their own course, or should I push this issue? I don't want to put any pressure on her to have an orgasm, because that won't help things at all- but on the other hand if I'm unable to EVER give this woman that I love an orgasm I may lose interest in sex all together over time because I'll feel inadequate. Am I obsessing on this too much? She specifically asked me to never buy her a vibrator or self help book, and given our financial situation at the moment we certainly can't afford to see a therapist. Is it unrealistic to hope that she'll someday have her first orgasm through vaginal intercourse? I don't want this seemingly small issue at the moment turn into a bigger problem later.
Thank you ever so much for your help!
A: First the easy part. The "standard answer" to women about this question:
The most effective way to become orgasmic during intercourse is to learn what you have to do to yourself to achieve the orgasm, then teach your lover(s) what to do. Also, it is surprising to me that a number of women do not know what an orgasm is. The absolute sign of an orgasm in both genders is involuntary pelvic muscle contractions approximately eight tenths of a second apart. There may be 3 or 30 and there could be some, then a pause, then more. Most women can achieve orgasm from clitoral stimulation, by finger, tongue or vibrator. You can feel these contractions with one or two fingers either in your vagina or in your rectum. Only about 40% of women achieve orgasm from penile thrusting alone. Others have an orgasm before penile penetration, after, never, OR they stimulate or their lover stimulates, their clitoris DURING intercourse.
If YOU can’t bring yourself to orgasm, don’t expect your lover to.
Before you go to the link below, you need to know that you can't come back here by clicking on "back" on your browser. Either bookmark this page or on the faqtory site, click on my picture.
If you are a woman who cannot bring herself to orgasm, please go to
there click on the search tab in the upper-right corner, and in the text window type in
Barbach
Barbach's book, For Yourself, is the best self-help book for women who experience difficulty achieving orgasm. VERY IMPORTANT: Read it cover to cover, page by page, without skipping ahead, and do each and every exercise no matter how easy you think it is.
If that doesn't result in your having orgasms you need professional help (start with your OB-GYN).
Now on to the hard part. Sexual discrepancies in frequency and/or type of activity are cited as one of the top 3 reasons for divorce among a vast majority of people. I have had couples with what you describe struggle for 12 years to sort this out and by that time there is so much damage in the relationship it can't continue.
I hate to tell you but I think that you two need to acknowledge that you are seriously sexually incompatible and that perpetuating your relationship is simply disaster.
So many couples I have helped to reach this conclusion have wailed and moaned and wished they had been more realistic in the beginning.
Beware of pastoral counselors on this matter. They will likely tell you to pray and that it will all work out. Doesn't happen.
If you have a hard time biting the bullet I suggest
working a second job to afford at least one but possibly three therapy
sessions!
>From what I've read in prior answers I would seem to be facing a sexual
incompatibility situation. I've seen this term in many Answers, but
what
does this mean in detail? At what point do you draw the line and declare
yourselves
incompatible? My situation is a bit odd to me. While I've
read many cases
of women not wanting to perform oral sex on men, the number of women
who
don't like oral sex performed on *them* seems to be smaller. Of those
I
expect many are uncomfortable because they think they smell or taste
bad.
Well, I am a certified pussy-eating freak, if you'll pardon my being
blunt.
Never had any complaints about it either, believe me. Until now that
is.
My new girlfriend does not like having that done to her. I assumed
it was
because she was self-conscious, to my surprise she claimed she is afraid
of
mouth germs or some such, as if she could get a yeast infection or
some
such nonsense. In other words the reverse of the usual issue, instead
of
her pussy being "dirty", my mouth is. However I don't buy this excuse.
She
takes fingers and penis just fine without worrying about germs. She
will
give me a BJ, and even
swallow and think nothing of it, so it just doesn't make sense. She
is just
uptight about body orifices and finally admitted as much. She
needs to use
a vibrator to orgasm, although she knows this is from force of habit
and
can be trained away. She has let me eat her out before, and even achieved
a
non-vibrator orgasm from it, which was a lifetime first. She
knows I love
doing it, and I know that the fact that I like it so much turns her
on. So
I thought I was making major progress being the amateur therapist and
getting her used to the idea. ;-) But she still fights me off most
of the
time when I want to go there. The worst part of it is...she tastes
incredible! The frustration level for me is insane, I would lick her
night
and day. She'll wear little skimpy outfits and I'll catch a glimpse
of her
beautiful ass and pussy and want
to dive in tongue first, and she won't have it! Even after tons of
kissing
and foreplay she won't have it. I have to laugh a little bit considering
that I don't think this is a common situation, and most women would
probably be happy to be so appreciated. At least in my experience.
I'd
love to get kinkier with some rimming and "around the world" stuff
but you
can imagine how that would go over. I once let my tongue rove a bit
close
to her anus and she claimed she would run screaming if I did that.
What's
an oral sex freak to do? This is a fairly new relationship. We
haven't
invested *that* much emotionally yet. This is part of the
compatibility-testing phase in my book, and this is a big red flag.
I
intend to keep trying as gently as possible to get her to relax
about this, but I know for a *fact* I can't have a serious relationship
with a woman who can't stand being licked. I'm a 100% believer
in finding
out what you want and testing your sexual compitibility long before
marriage enters the discussion. Maybe I like it a bit more than some
men,
but I think this is pretty bread-and-butter sex, nothing wild (well
OK the
rimming is a pretty
kinky, but we all have our turn-ons), and she is not religious or a
prude
in any other way. I think the relationship is too new for me to suggest
therapy, even though I think learning to enjoy receiving oral sex is
*very*
worthwhile and would be good for her whether with me or other people
throughout her life, but I'm not sure that I want to declare
incompatibility and split up just yet. So how do you define
"irreconcilable" incompatibility, to what extent is something like
this
"curable" or "resolvable", how do you handle something like this in
a newer
relationship (5 months) vs. one with more time and emotion invested,
etc.
Thanks! Whether you answer or not, you have a great site!
Best regards, P
A: Dear P,
Matters like this are disinhibited in sex therapy 95% of the time, but there are men and women whose beliefs are so deeply rooted that they just can't get over certain things. It is interesting that there are men and women who really get off giving oral sex and there are those who get just plain nauseous at the thought. I know for a fact that there are women who experience orgasm from sucking on a penis (just from the sucking action -- could be on a finger, as well).
Your interest in anilingus (tongue contact with anus) implies a degree of sexual flexibility and lack of inhibition that sounds incompatible with hers. Your choices are to respect her limits or to find a woman with whom you are more compatible. There are women out there who cherish a good cunnilinguist and who would kill to have you for a boyfriend. Neither you nor your girlfriend is "better or worse." Please focus on incompatibility (and she might adore being with a guy who can't stand giving oral sex to a woman).
And, because the anus is so richly enervated, there are men and women who are absolute devotees of anal pleasures. If you find a girlfriend who goes into paroxysms of extreme pleasure when so stimulated, be careful that she doesn't lock you in the attic to keep you all to herself.
sexdoc
p.s. Thanks for your kind comments about the web page and thanks for a great question!
When a man gets an errection, a colourless fluid flows out of his penis.
I would like to know if this fluid contains any sperm or can it cause pregnancy
? When we are avoiding pregnancy, is it safe to enter the woman's vagina
with the initial fluid flowing out and than take the penis out of the vagina
after a little while? If a man now puts the condomn on and have the actual
act and come inside the condomn can he still make a woman pregnant with
that initial fluid that was coming out of the penis during the erection
stage?
I will be very greatful if you can help me out.
A: The clear liquid that comes out of MOST penises
when erect is produced by Cowper's gland, and on average contains about
80,000 sperm. In the pornographic literature it is called "pre-cum"
because ejaculate is called "come" or "cum." Ejaculate contains on
average between 200 million and 400 million sperm. Withdrawing during
intercourse before the man ejaculates is technically called "coitus interruptus"
and we call people who practice this form of birth control by the not-so-technical
term: "parents." Any questions? (Come on, now, let's not always
see the same hands being raised!) p.s. Some men do not have
the clear liquid come out. That is also normal.
A: This is common and factors include less stimulation orally or manually, to anxiety over doing something "dirty" or fear of ejaculating in her mouth.
The behavior modification approach is to use manual
stimulation until you are about to come, then have her take the penis in
her mouth. Every time you repeat it you use less hand time and more
mouth time. If that doesn't work, it just might be the need for more
stimulation.
A: I think this is in the category of "not seeing the forest for the trees." From my perspective external to your situation, I think the question is not how those things affect his sex drive, but why you are sticking around when you are clearly not getting your needs met! At a minimum you two are sexually incompatible. And in the sense of "that's easy for you to say, Dr. Fitzgerald," and "if it doesn't work out it's a learning experience." I respectfully suggest that you catalog all the things you value in this relationship, then find one that has all that you value PLUS what you are not getting: sexual intimacy.
John Bradshaw, the TV pop psychologist is fond of saying that people stay in relationships that are "fucked but familiar." Hope is a wonderful human emotion, but there has to be a progressive trend for behavior change to justify it. If you were having sex once a month then once a week, I'd encourage you to stick in there and see if you can improve on that (if that is what you want). But from your description, the handwriting is on the wall. Clarify your needs and values and search for a relationship that has enough of a critical mass in all areas. If this doesn't inspire you, please, for your sake, talk with a therapist!
Chance Fisher, M.D. replies: Varicose veins in
the genitals of men is a common condition. About 30% of
men have this problem, but fail to realize it because
most of the time the
varicose veins are not noted upon visual examination.
Varicose veins are
70% heredity. They result when the vein twists
or becomes weak. This makes
it hard for the blood to circulate properly.
The main symptoms are pain during intercourse or upon
ejaculation, swelling
and itching on the skin around the vein. They
usually are not life
threatening. Blood clots can form, but usually
remedy themselves. The
main danger is in dealing with fertility. If
the varicose veins are in or
near the testicles (often called Varicoceles) they
can cause the testis to
malfunction and not drain properly. The varicose
veins are thought to cause
a rise in temperature and in turn causing defects
in sperm production,
travel and shape. If fertility is an issue,
it can be checked with a simple
sperm "donation" at the doctor's office.
Surgery is only advised if you are having fertility
problems. Most of the
time, fertility can be saved if detected and measures
are taken. Now days,
microlaproscopic surgery can be used as a surgical
technique. The surgeon
can remove the problem vein completely or insert
a wire into the vein to
"straighten" it because of twisting. Surgery
is often used to relieve pain,
but it has to be severe.
You can help prevent further varicose veins or help
the current condition by
exercising and keeping your blood pumping through
those veins.
Still Frigid
A: Psychologists are trained to deal with the emotional-behavior aspects of the person; psychiatrists are medical doctors trained to deal with that segment of the mentally-compromised population that needs medication, such as psychotics and clinically (biochemically) depressed people. Yes, you need a sex therapist, not a psychotropic medication, for this recovered memory and guilt. I am literally ignorant of anyone being able to deal with this effectively through self-help. Time is of the essence. The longer your unconscious tries to make order out of this chaotic memory, the more deeply it will be etched in your thought process. Please get competent psychological help as soon as possible. And thank you very much for the update!
I heard you on KYNG-FM ("The Talk That Rocks") in Dallas yesterday and
I was
quite impressed how you handled one particularly touchy subject: Pedophilia.
I've never heard it referenced as a "third orientation", but that's
exactly
what it is. The fact that you did not react violently to the subject
impresses me, however one of your Frequently Asked Questions on the
search
site doesn't word things quite so kindly.
Those of us cursed with this "third orientation" usually get nothing
but
hatred, shock, and discust. Strangely, the other "deviant" orientation
--
homosexuality -- is becoming more and more accepted in our society.
I never
see this same acceptance happening with pedophiles, even though there
are
distinct parallels between the two.
You are also absolutely correct about making comparisons between homosexuals
being unable to be aroused by members of the opposite sex, and pedophiles
being aroused by adults. It's as unnatural to us as trying to get a
hetrosexual to become aroused by a member of the same sex.
I just wanted to write to you and say "thank you" for not being judgmental.
For those of us who are not sexual offenders and have chosen to keep
their
sexuality dormant, I truly appreciate that.
I would be remiss if I didn't add that the primary
psychological objection to pedophilia is that being hyper-sexual before
adequate coping mechanisms are mature enough causes psychological trauma
to SOME children -- but not to all! And with all the people I have
talked to about their entire sexual history, I have found no consistent
differentiating factor that accounts for trauma in some and not others.
And it also depends heavily on society's attitude. In Victorian England
there were numerous accounts of mature women leading perfectly normal and
maybe sexually more uninhibited lives, who described playful sexual encounters
involving mutual masturbation and oral sex with older men when they were
6 to 14 years of age. It was not prohibited as much and it was not
prosecuted as vigorously as now in America.
I am a 21year old female - and i am quite conservative - my problem is that i don;t know when is the correct time to have sex with my boyfriend.
I have been going out with my boyfriend for almost 3 months - at first he only started touching me on the clothes but then things started to get more intimate and he is now touching me even underneath!!
However i still am afraid to have sex - i am still a virgin and until i meet this guy i always was of the idea that i will have sex only after i get married - however he is constantly telling me that he really wants to have sex with me - and i am afraid that i will eventually let him since i am sure it will feel so good!!
Dearest doctor - what am i to do ?? Am i doing right in letting my boyfriend ( who say he loves me ) touch me and eventually have sex with me?? Am i wrong in wanting to have sex after marriage?? - i am so afraid to tell him so - as he might not want to wait for so long!!!
I would appreciate it much if you would help me !!
thanks
A: And in the final analysis, the answer is that you must decide and be responsible for the consequences. Determining that you are sufficiently compatible with your husband before you get engaged is the greatest guarantee that you won't divorce or be miserable. You wouldn't consider marrying someone who is so intelligent that you constantly feel stupid, nor would you want to be with a man who you think is dumber than water. If he were insensitive to your emotions, you would feel invalidated and a marriage with that would not last. But so many people still have this naive belief that "love conquers all" and that after they are married it will all "work out." WRONG! The most difficult couples I work with are those who were virgins when married and seriously sexually incompatible. Now that we have birth control and a great deal of knowledge about sexually transmitted diseases ("STDs"), and an acceptance by some religious leaders that recreational (or at least affectionate) sex without the intent of pregnancy is OK (but only if you're married), things have relaxed somewhat.
So my general answer is that if you are mature enough to handle sexual intimacy, and prudent so you minimize the probability of getting pregnant or contracting an STD, IF you wish to assess your sexual compatibility as well as your intellectual and emotional compatibility, toward the goal of preventing fatal discrepancies in a committed dyadic relationship, the only way to determine that is to be sexual with each other. But I can't make that decision for you.
Many women have e-mailed to say that starting intercourse
before 17 or 18 (or 21 in some cases) was, in their opinion, a very serious
mistake. And others have seriously regretted waiting until they were
23 or older. In American society, I think that the woman of AVERAGE
maturity is ready optimally around 18 to 20. Does this help?
Other reader comments?
A: For many men, sex is sex and love is different and there is no contradiction! I can easily understand that he loves you but enjoys an occasional roll in the hay for fun. It is entirely plausible that he is able to compartmentalize loving sex with you as categorically different from casual sex with a new partner.
The critical question is what your promise to each other is and if that is monogamy, what you are going to do about the breach of contract. There is a sense in which you could thank him for letting you know this early in your contact with him what his behavioral decisions are.
Swinging always runs the risk of disruption in a dyadic relationship.
sexdoc
A: Please relax! You are experiencing the perfectly normal adaptation of the anal sphincters (internal and external circular muscles) to repeated dilation. You reptilian brain, responsible for riding a bicycle and engaging in sex, is learning how to take something into your rectum in the opposite direction it is expecting. Unless you are tiny and your husband's penis is monstrous in diameter, you have nothing to worry about. Fecal incontinence (as you say, the "poop will just fall out") can occur if you stretch the anal sphincters to the point of tearing, but among my patients who are fond of anal fisting (also called "wristing") in which the entire hand is inserted into the rectum up to the wrist, not one has reported any problem whatsoever (somewhat to my surprise, I might add).
If you surf the internet and find still pictures of a gaping hole into the rectum, don't be alarmed! Fast frame photography can capture the dilated anus as it gradually closes after the removal of a dilating object. You can verify this by using very slow motion while viewing a pornographic videotape of anal intercourse if there is a close-up just as the penis or object is removed.
A: Sexual incompatibility is almost always one of the top three reasons listed for divorce. I have had couples who have intercourse (their only sexual activity) once every 6 weeks, and are perfectly happy, and couples who are sexual every morning and every evening (plus weekend afternoons) for over ten years. In general, before the late 30's (age) men have a higher sex drive than women, and after then it reverses. Men and women can fine tune their sex drive and modify it a bit (unless they are inhibited or over-controlled by religious messages), but basically you have your preferred frequency of sex and he has his. I respectfully suggest that you see a marriage counselor (or sex therapist) to assess this and that you both be prepared to accept that you may be sexually incompatible with each other. Please, please do not lull yourselves into the false hope that this will "all change once we are married." In the grand scheme of things 'tis better to know now (and maybe each of you find someone with whom you are more compatible) than to get legally entangled (marriage) and possibly have a child.
I have had patients who were inhibited and/or beaten up by religion who responded quite nicely to therapy, but you might just simply have your unique sexual frequency preference.
I want to have a better relationship with my husband, and would love to know what it is like to have a healthy sexual relationship. I don't think my marriage will weather this storm much longer, and it's starting to show in the actions of our daughter. I just don't know what the answer is.
Can you please help?
A: This is a classic case of the effects of childhood sexual abuse. As a boundary violation, this needs intensive individual therapy, and group therapy one to three times per week. The major problem here is that the abuse was assimilated into this woman's psychological reality (" ... the only way for anyone to love you was if you let them "fuck" you."), and she rehearsed the association between sex and abuse to the point that it is crazy-making as an adult because it doesn't make sense and doesn't "fit" any more. If she had said that she had spent three years in intensive therapy that specialized in childhood sexual abuse, THEN was encouraged to try the vibrator, masturbation, etc., I would be less critical. But she says: "I have been in therapy for over a year, we talk mostly about my hatred for sex and intimacy, but it doesn't seem to help." It is of great professional concern to the sexdoc that the health-care consuming public is unable to know whether they are receiving the "correct" psychological treatment. You must trust your professionals, but you have the right to ask for, and receive, an approximate description of what will signal progress and in what time frame. Some of psychotherapy, especially the "brief therapy" models, are experiential. That is, in the interest of helping the patient function better as soon as possible, some high impact short-term treatment might be tried, with a 50-50 chance of working. If that doesn't work, a longer-term approach with a higher probability of success could then be employed.
Based on what she has said, I think that this woman does not have a sexual problem. She has a "childhood abuse" problem which is currently manifested sexually and I am positive in other dysfunctional ways, as well. If this describes you, do a search engine search for "Parents United" or "Giaretto" or look in your phone book white pages for Parents United (the independent organizations that are run by therapists who have been trained by the Giaretto Institute to provide effective treatment for victims of sexual abuse [as well as for the siblings and parents of the victim, and for the perpetrator and spouse of the perp]).
Too often I have people come in and say "You are the fifth therapist we have seen who says he or she can deal with sex problems. All the others so far, when sex came up changed the subject or insisted that we'll get to the sex part later. Please let us know now if you are going to avoid the subject of sex so we can all save time."
By the way, when I took re-training for the diagnosis and treatment of childhood sexual abuse in 1988 at the Giaretto Institute, the training required 9 days of 12 hours a day. It was particularly gut-wrenching for me because my daughters were then 3 and 7 years old.
To answer her question "Can you please help?" my advice is for her to thank her therapist for doing what he or she believed to be in her best interest, to acknowledge to the therapist that what is being tried isn't working, to find the nearest chapter of Parents United, and to start therapy with someone known to be trained in childhood sexual abuse. To the one in four women who were sexually abused before their eighteenth birthday: get competent help as soon as possible. Because today really is the first day of the rest of your life, the sooner you effectively deal with childhood trauma, the more happy functional days you'll have left.
8/24/00 She replies: Thank you,
I don't know what to think at this point. I am desperate, and depressed. The thought of all those years of one counselor, therapist, social worker, after another not doing any good is crushing. I've often wondered if this is just my lot in life? Is the damage just not reversible? Today that is how it seems. Starting all over again seems so hopeless, but I want more for my family and myself so I continue.
I checked out the Parents United web page and apparently there doesn't exist a chapter in Grand Rapids, MI. I emailed them to see if they have anyone listed who is a member or if they know of a therapist trained in the Giaretto program in my area. I called a local mental health institution and asked if they could recommend a "sex therapist". They gave me a recommendation, but how am I supposed to know if he's qualified? I have been in and out of therapy since I was 16, and frankly I am tired of repeating my story over and over again and being left feeling like I do. My husband has had it, and is really putting on the pressure for me to perform sexually. The tension in my marriage is making us all miserable.
What questions should I ask when looking for a good sex therapist in my area? Since the Giaretto Institute is on the other side of the country, I doubt I will find someone familiar with it. Grand Rapids is a fair sized city, I should hope there is someone who is qualified, but how do I find that person?
Thank you for your time and opinion. I plan to start all over again, hopefully for the last time.
A: There are three internationally-known centers for training mental health practitioners in the treatment of childhood sexual abuse. The Giaretto Institute attracts people from all over the world. In my (re-)training program there were clinicians from London, New York, Chicago, and many small cities in the US. I would be quite surprised if there wasn't someone in Grand Rapids.
Have you seen the link on my home page to "How to find a sex therapist?" I suggest calling the local county Psychological Association and the Chair of the Department of Psychology at your nearest universities, and asking the Chair of the Department of OB-GYN at local hospitals.
Ask the sex therapist you are referred to what training he or she has had. I am prejudiced in favor of traditional conservative education so a Ph.D. in Psychology would top my list and a "degree" in "sexology" would make me wary.
Too many therapists advertise that they treat sexual problems when they have not had advanced training.
Thank you for letting me be a part of helping you. When you find someone I encourage you to ask them point blank how you will know if the therapy is working. Demand specific concrete behaviors and an approximate time frame. Expect stages of behaviors -- i.e., reduction in frequency of revulsion at the thought of sex, able to sustain a hug for 60 seconds without anxiety (I'm guessing here because I don't know your baseline behaviors), mutual genital touching, etc.
I hope this helps. And yes, we both wish you were local to me so I could accept you as a patient.
8/28/00 She again writes: Hello again,
Just wanted to let you know I followed your advice and finally was referred to a therapist trained and experienced in childhood sexual abuse and its effects. I met him this morning, and I think he may be able to help. I'm not too excited about starting all over, either is my husband, but we are going to do it. I think the therapist I was seeing in the past is a little upset about the change, but I feel I needed to do something.
Please accept my heartfelt thanks. I was beginning to think there was no where else for me to turn. I emailed the Sexdoc web site to a friend, and she told me this morning she was up all night reading all the question pages! She loves it.
Thanks again,
Dr. Hinkle replies:
Dear M:
My heart goes out to you.
This is a deeply disturbing issue for you. I
hope these thoughts of mine, based on 35 years of
experience helping people
with relationship problems, can be of use to you.
First, your friend is
seriously psychologically disturbed, having been abused
by her father,
suicidal ideas, cutting her wrists, drugs, and a powerful
gender identity
problem. She is in need of long-term psychotherapy
with a psychologist
skilled in working with teenagers, childhood abuse,
and gender identity
issues. You said that her psychiatrist is not
helpful. She should
immediately seek an appropriate psychologist.
These psychological problems
are not cured by medical pills; they are psychological.
You can not be
responsible for her mental health. She would
be a challenge to the most
skilled of psychologists.
Secondly, any intimate relationship
in which you can not communicate
fully and honestly is not worth keeping. Open
communication is the very
foundation of any worthwhile friendship. I would
encourage you to show her
an exact copy of what you sent to us. You were
honest and loving. If she
can not deal with your reality, then exit the relationship
as soon as
possible. Does your friend honestly think that
making love to a plastic
dildo could be enjoyable for anyone? Such self-centered
selfishness! Our
first responsibility as human beings is to take loving
care of ourselves;
when that is done, then it is easy to be caring toward
others. This is not
selfishness; it is the necessary loving care of ourselves.
Thirdly, you believe that leaving
this relationship will leave you
painfully alone, so something is better than nothing.
Not true; being alone
will only be a temporary state for you. One's first
love is unlike all the
others, because we can not imagine its end.
Yet it does for almost
everyone, and that is a good thing. What you
can't realize at 17 is that
you will love many people in your life. No one
should think of making a
life commitment at your age! You have not experienced
the countless
alternatives that are open to you. Did you know
that 95% of all teenage
marriages end in divorce, yet they all believed they
had found true love!
You say that you are even unsure of your own sexual
orientation and have
only 2 friends. How can you possibly understand
what is possible for you
with such a limited sample? There are literally millions
of females and
males available to you. At your tender age,
you owe it to yourself to
explore as many non-exclusive relationships with both
sexes as you can.
That way you will discover the many paths to your
bliss. Most relationship
problems can be avoided by careful rational selection.
Imagine that you had
a daughter you loved. Would you advise her to
commit herself at 17 to a
person exactly like your psychologically disturbed
friend? I think not.
Use your head rather than your emotions! It
is important to acknowledge our
feelings, but the psychologically healthy person looks
at the bigger picture
and acts with knowledge, rationality, and wisdom.
You will meet many
wonderful people in college, and you will change.
We all do. Life is
perpetual change. Welcome it! Embrace it!
Be on with it! Fear not!
Dennis Hinkle, Ph.D.
A: Dr. Chance Fisher replies: Your clitoris
is highly vested with nerves. You may want to try using a peppermint
oil or some mint gel (Kama Sutra product) to give it a "numbing"
effect. Ice cubes can also be used as a numbing device.
If you start
stimulating the clitoris and it starts to become too
sensitive, stop and then
proceed a little bit later. This will help you
build a tolerance to touch.
For vibrators, try using a vibrator with your underwear
on or placing a
small hand towel over the clit area to give it a barrier
so it will not be
as powerful. And remember, just because a vibrator
comes with different
speeds doesn't mean you are required to run it on
"high."
A: Dr. Fisher replies: First, the vagina
and it's various parts, especially the inner lips, will
secrete an oil that helps lubricate the vagina and
surrounding tissues.
This oily substance is usually not detected, but it
can cause an odor,
especially when you are excited. That's why the odor
is more noted during
sexual activity.
It is true that sweat, moisture and the natural flora
of the vagina will
cause a slight odor and this is normal. What
can cause an odor that seems
to be confined to the inner lips is what you call
smegma. Smegma is the
product of the oily secretions of the clitoris.
The glans of the clitoris
produces the oil to allow the hood of the clit to
slide off the clit during
sexual stimulation and thus provides an orgasm. This
oil dries and becomes a
white, curd-like substance under the hood of the clit.
You can keep this
from happening by sitting in a warm tub of water and
gently rubbing the hood
of the clit back and forth several times.
In general, if you rinse all the soap from the vagina
and area and keep it
dry, the odor seems to be kept to a minimum.
A: It could be any of a number of things: irrational fear of pregnancy, fear of loss of control, fear of embarrassment if she loses bladder or bowel control on orgasm (some men and some women have this happen), internalized messages that nice girls don't and women who enjoy sex are sluts, etc.
I suspect that talking with a sex therapist could yield some insights.
sexdoc
A: I know of no such studies and there is absolutely no way a dog can impregnate a woman.
A: (by Dr. Chance Fisher): First,
right off, I'm going to state that there has not been any "Reliable"
research pertaining specifically to diet and semen in humans. Most
of the
information about the subject comes from surveys and
a consistency among
certain semen tastes and diet correlations.
For the most part, the taste of semen is reliant on
each individual's body
chemistry. There is not a specific equation
that can be followed to produce
a certain taste or texture of semen. Some macrobiotic
nutritionists say
alkaline based foods such as meat and fish produce
a bitter taste, while
fruits and quality fermented alcohol produce a sweet
taste. Processed
liquors tend to produce an acidic taste. The
most awful tasting semen is
said to be the result of eating dairy due to high
bacterial purification and
asparagus.
The medical basis for these "tastes"? While there
appear to be a couple of
theories as to the culprit behind the odor or taste,
a prime suspect seems
to be a breakdown product of amino acids that are
in certain foods and ends
up in the semen. For example, in asparagus,
the amino acid methionine is
broken down and methyl mercaptan is produced and ends
up in the urine
producing an awful odor. If you think of semen
as a by product of the body,
like urine, than it makes sense.
Some people report a metallic taste to semen, like
when you put coins in
your mouth. Semen contains a large amount of
zinc compared to the other
trace components counterparts. In fact, men
that ejaculate a lot lose a
large portion of their body's zinc content.
I have read in medical journals as well as past experience
with patients,
that nicotine and certain drugs such as cocaine can
be deposited in genital
organs like the epididymid and seminal vesicles and
tend to be detected by
the taste buds. Researchers have found that
sperm carry certain receptors
for cocaine. Cocaine is a common practice in
sex because people think it
enhances it, but it doesn't. It actually as
a numbing effect.
As far as medicines go, there hasn't been a lot of
reports on this and the
correlation to semen taste. But I do know that
if a man has certain
diseases or conditions it can affect the taste.
Diabetics tend to have a
honey or cantalope juice taste, most likely due to
the spilling over of
excess sugars in the body. While some report
that semen of men that have
prostate and cowper gland problems produce a more
acidic tasting semen.
On an interesting note, Most people have a particular
gene in their DNA that
allows them to sniff or taste a offensive odor, but
both senses are dulled
when a person is sexually aroused.
Anyway, I got an offer to be in a threesome with a gorgeous 17-year
old girl
(16 years is the minimum legal age where I come from), and her ex-boyfriend.
This girl has only ever been with her ex-boyfriend sexually, and was
madly
in love with him, so I guess she offered the threesome to be with him
one
more time. Anyway, I didn't think I could refuse, since I thought it
sounded
very exciting.
My problem in this, is that she kissed him on the mouth, and let him
fuck
her, but when I asked if it would be ok to kiss her, she said "I don't
know", which I interpreted as a no (maybe my first mistake?) -so I
didn't.
She didn't seem that interested in my presence at all, though she let
me
caress/kiss the rest of her body, and masturbate her. When her ex had
fucked
her, he urged me to do it too, but again, I thought she seemed reluctant,
and didn't want to pressure her. ( I'm not even sure if she actually
said
no). I know she did think I was a bit old for her, and since I didn't
know
her this well, and she also only had been with one other guy before,
I
didn't dare pressure her...She later apologized, saying she hoped I
didn't
feel to ignored (which of course I did, but didn't say straight out).
I guess my first question is, because I am very confused here; should
I be
flattered/happy she would at least let me join them, or should I kick
myself
in the leg for being so passive?
The second question is related to my penis; As I mentioned, I have a
complex
about it, and I don't think it was fully erect once throughout this
3 hour
threesome-session, so I am not sure I could actually have fucked her
if I
got the chance. I sort of dismiss this as a problem, thinking that
if she
had been more positive, I would feel less self-conscious, and more
aroused.
In addition, being my first time in the sack, so to speak, I guess
it wasn't
ideal to start right away with a threesome...And it didn't receive
much
attention from her or me (meaning, I usually need some form of physical
contact to get erect.) Do you think this experience could be damaging
to my
allready low self-esteem in this area?
I truly hope you can help me get a perspective on things, since I promised
the girl not to tell anyone about the threesome to people I know, in
case
somebody could put 2+2 together.
Thank you for your time!
Sincerely
"Insecure"
A: She used you as a way to get with her ex one more time. It was disrespect from the two of them and you were the hapless pawn.
You should neither be flattered that you were invited (they took advantage of your inexperience) nor kick yourself for being so passive. You behaved in an appropriately gentlemanly way and did not commit what could have been date rape.
I suggest that you chalk this up to an interesting learning experience and that you connect with an emotionally and physically available companion with whom to launch your sexual experiences.
Ignore the size of your flaccid penis. It is erect that counts. And because you can't safely enlarge it, I suggest that you be very friendly with it.
sexdoc
8/17/00 He writes back:
Thank you for your amazingly prompt reply!
Though, I feel sad I was used this way (I can see that now!), I am very
thankful for your insight. I am also glad I did the right thing, not
trying
to have intercourse with the girl; it was just that I've heard the
phrase
"she might be saying no, but she really means yes" before, and was
unsure
whether or not this is something one should consider. I won't consider
it
anymore, after receiving your advice, though.
The sexdoc-service is a great service to the people of the world, and
I can
not thank you enough for doing this!
Sincerely
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