BIOLOGY & SEX

We got bodies! And we need to know how the hell they work!

Everyone’s body parts look a little different.
The size and shape of your exact biology may differ from these drawings, but the inner workings are all the same.

FEMALE ANATOMY

PERIODS

MALE ANATOMY

BIRTH CONTROL / CONTRACEPTIVES

INTERCOURSE & SEX

OVULATION & FERTILIZATION

FEMALE ANATOMY DIAGRAMS

REMEMBER: Everyone’s body parts look a little different.
The size and shape of your exact biology may differ from these drawings, but the inner workings are all the same.

ANATOMY OF THE VULVA

ANATOMY OF THE CLITORIS WITH INTERIOR VIEW

**CLITORIS FROM THE INSIDE**

This drawing shows what the clitoris looks like inside your body that you can’t see from the outside. They are the parts of your clitoris that fill with blood when you are turned on.

ANATOMY OF THE FEMALE REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM

**KEEP IT CLEAN + DON’T STINK**

It’s important to wash your body with soap and water regularly. Make sure you wash between and around your labia.

DISCHARGE

Vaginal discharge is normal & varies during the menstrual cycle. Before ovulation (the release of the egg through the fallopian tube), there is a lot of discharge produced. It is usually white, transparent, thick or thin, & odorless. This is formed by normal bacteria and fluids from vaginal cells. During ovulation discharge is clear & stretchy, similar to egg whites. Panty liners can be helpful with discharge. If you experience any discharge that is yellow, green, clumpy like cottage cheese, or has a bad odor, see a doctor.

It’s the body you were born with.
Know how it works, so you can have the most fun with it.

MALE ANATOMY DIAGRAMS

REMEMBER: Everyone’s body parts look a little different.
The size and shape of your exact biology may differ from these drawings, but the inner workings are all the same.

ANATOMY OF THE MALE REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM

**DISCHARGE**

Pee and semen are the two fluids that will come out of a penis. If it hurts to pee or reach orgasm, see a doctor. If you experience any discharge that is yellow, green, clumpy like cottage cheese, or has a bad odor, see a doctor.

STAGES OF ERECTION

**KEEP IT CLEAN + DON’T STINK**

It’s important to wash your body with soap and water regularly. If you have foreskin, make sure you pull it back and wash under it and around the head of your penis.

SEXUAL ACTIVITY

It’s most important to only do what you are comfortable doing, only with people you are comfortable doing it with. Never let someone else pressure you into doing something you’re not ready to do.

THERE ARE MANY TYPES OF SEXUAL ACTIVITY

Kissing — on the mouth, with the tongue, on body parts
Massages — touching someone’s body in an erotic way
Touching — a partner’s nipples, breasts, or sex organs
Sex talk — sexting, phone sex, cybersex, “talking dirty” during sex
Rubbing — bodies together — with or without clothing
Watching — or reading pornography
Intercourse — both anal and vaginal
Oral sex — stimulating a partner’s sex organs with the mouth
Using sex toys — alone or with a partner
Masturbation — or mutual masturbation

MASTURBATION

Masturbation is touching one’s own body, including sex organs, for sexual pleasure. It is a normal, common, reliable, and safe way to get sexual pleasure. Masturbation has many health benefits, such as: improved sleep, reduced stress, relieves menstrual cramps, and provides sexual pleasure for people who practice abstinence. Masturbation is a natural and common activity for everyone.

FEMALES: May stimulate any part of their vulva, including the clitoris, inner or outer labia, the vaginal opening or canal, and/or the perineum or anus. Many women prefer rubbing near — but not on — the clitoris because direct stimulation can be very intense. Everyone has their own preferences.

MALES: May stimulate the penis, scrotum, perineum, and/or anus. Everyone has their own preferences.

EVERYONE:

May touch other sensitive areas of their bodies. There are nerve endings that can create “erogenous zones” all over the body. People may experience pleasure by touching places like the breasts, nipples, or thighs. They may also use sex toys like vibrators and dildos during masturbation.
May use lubricant or lotions to increase pleasure and protect against irritation.
Sex fantasies are normal and healthy. They may fantasize with their own thoughts or with erotic images or language — in print, on video, or online.

Knowing more about sexual anatomy helps in understanding masturbation. See sexual anatomy pages for detailed diagrams.

SEX ACTS

NOTE:

**Shower and pee after sex to help avoid Urinary Tract Infections (UTI)**

Sex acts may involve other forms of genital stimulation, such as solo or mutual masturbation, which may involve rubbing or penetration by the use of fingers, hands, or with a sex toy, such as a dildo or vibrator. There are numerous sex positions that participants may adopt in any of these types of sexual acts; the number of sex positions is essentially limitless.

INTERCOURSE DIAGRAM

Sexual intercourse is something people do for pleasure, and to make more humans.

Sexual intercourse between a penis and a vagina is how pregnancy occurs. Semen, with sperm in it, is ejaculated into the vaginal cavity. The sperm then swims up through the cervix to the fallopian tube, where the sperm may meet an egg.

There are other types of sexual intercourse, such as the below combinations, but they do not directly lead to pregnancy. Most sex that humans engage in is for plea- sure as opposed to procreation.

Remember, any time semen spills on the vulva, there is a possibility the sperm can swim up the vaginal canal and meet an egg and possibly fertilize it.

OVULATION & FERTILIZATION

Ovulation is the release of an egg from the ovaries. After ovulation, the egg will be available to be fertilized by sperm. In addition, the uterine lining (endometrium) is thickened to be able to receive a fertilized egg. If no conception occurs, the uterine lining as well as blood will be shed during menstruation.

In humans, ovulation occurs about midway through the menstrual cycle. The few days surrounding ovulation (from approximately days 10 to 18 of a 28-day cycle), constitute the most fertile phase. The time from the beginning of the last menstrual period (LMP) until ovulation is, on average, 14.6 days.

Ovulation rarely occurs exactly on the 14th day of your cycle. Stress, exercise, diet, and sleep can change your cycle month to month.

Cervical mucus changes when ovulation occurs. During the first few days after your menstrual cycle, the cervical mucus will be dry. As you approach ovulation, the cervical mucus will increase and become slippery, clear, and stretchy.

ALL ABOUT PERIODS

FIRST: LET’S END PERIOD SHAMING

Every human with a uterus in the history of humanity has had a period.
Each month, the uterus sheds its lining, sending blood flowing out through the vagina.
This process is as natural as eating, drinking and sleeping, and it’s beautiful too.

*“There’s no human race without a period.”*

*– RUPIKAUR AND PRABH KAUR*

THE MENSTRUAL CYCLE

Usually runs about 21-35 days.
Our bodies are all different so cycles can range in length and still be considered normal.

PART ONE

The cycle begins on the first day of the period. The lining of the uterus and blood is shed out of the vagina (usually around 5 days +/-)

PART TWO

Bleeding has stopped, hormones stimulate the follicles to develop in the ovaries. Each follicle contains an egg. The lining of the uterus starts to thicken, waiting for a fertilized egg to implant there.

PART THREE

Around halfway through the cycle, hormones cause the follicle to burst and release an egg from the ovary. This is called ovulation. In the next few days the egg travels down the fallopian tube and attaches to the lining of the uterus. During this time, a sperm can fertilize the egg and cause pregnancy.

PART FOUR

If the egg is not fertilized, hormone levels will drop which signals the next period to begin. The egg will break apart and be shed out of the vaginal canal along with the lining of the uterus. If the egg does become fertilized, that is the beginning of pregnancy.

KEEP TRACK

Use a calendar, planner, or phone app to predict when your next period is coming or when you are ovulating (a.k.a.more likely to get pregnant). Your doctor will always ask you when your last period was.

PERIOD PROBLEMS:

Amenorrhea (ay-men-uh-REE-uh) The lack of a period Can be caused by pregnancy, extreme weight loss, eat- ing disorders, stress, and serious med- ical conditions. Talk to a doctor.

Dysmenorrhea (dis-men-uh-REE-uh) Painful periods, severe cramps
For some, heating pads or warm baths can help. Also taking over the counter pain medication (Advil, etc) can help. Talk to a doctor about what’s causing the problem to treat it.

PERIOD FACTS:

Stress, exercise, diet, & sleep can change your cycle from month to month.

Many have irregular periods, meaning they don’t happen the same time each month. The full cycle of a period can range from 21-35 days. This is consid- ered normal.

CONTRACEPTIVES / BIRTH CONTROL

When you use contraceptives during sex, it lowers the chance of catching diseases or getting pregnant.
THE KICKER: You have to actually use or do the contraceptive method in order for it to work.
They have varying degrees of effectiveness, mostly depending on user error.