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Posted: January 16th, 2008 at 2:41am By: Sorah Dubitsky
Last semester I taught a course in the Psychology of Human Sexuality. Thank God that the textbook publishers sent along some really good teaching materials, including video clips that kept my students entertained. The video clips were a much appreciated adjunct to my lectures. Watching and listening to people share the real-life experiences of dealing with sexual issues highlighted the depth of confusion that surrounds sex and sexuality. The video clips addressed marital happiness and unhappiness, coming out as gay, admitting bi-sexuality, the role of a sex therapist, what's involved with vasectomy and tubal ligation, how to tell your partner that you want to try a new technique, among others.
One video clip dealt with genital self-examination. I didn't show the clip in class, but referred students to the section of the textbook that covered the same material. The clip showed a college-age woman reading a book about sexuality. The book she was reading recommended doing a genital self-exam. The clip showed her holding a mirror in front of her vulva and examining her anatomy in light of the book's diagrams. The film clip featured her running internal commentary as she followed the book's directions and anatomical descriptions. The reasons given for conducting genital self-exam are 1) it makes you more comfortable with yourself and 2) it will help you be aware of any health-related changes. Genital self-exam is recommended for both women and men.
Tyra Banks devoted an entire TV show to the "vajayjay," alternatively known as "down there." Tyra told the audience that her mother taught her that the vajayjay was just another part of her anatomy and that she needed to know what it looked like and how it worked.
I appreciated Tyra's candid "vajayjay" talk. I also appreciated the candidness with which the sexuality texts approached genital self-exam. It reminded me of the feminist movement in the '70s in which women would meet in groups, mirrors in hand, and study the anatomy of their genitals without embarrassment.
Years ago I heard a psychologist on TV talk about how if we're made in the image and likeness of God, what is there to be ashamed of about our bodies? And yet shame is something that many, many people feel about their bodies — even in marriage.
To me, the height of sexiness is to be comfortable inside your own skin. How can you be comfortable in your own skin if you're ashamed of any part of your anatomy? Men worry about whether their penises are big enough. And women worry that their labia majors aren't symmetrical enough or are too big or too little. Both maladies can be corrected by surgery: For men, it's possible to get a penile implant; for women, labiaplasties have become much more commonplace. Women can get plastic surgery to make their labia majors more symmetrical.
The genitals are the most sensitive organs of the body. The clitoris has the same number of nerve endings as the head of the penis concentrated into a much smaller space. It also appears that the clitoris' only function is sexual arousal and pleasure.
Great married sex depends on being comfortable with one's own body. It also depends on loving every inch of your body and your spouse's body. A great way to get comfortable with yourself and enhance your sensuality is to buy an anatomy book, grab a mirror and study yourself. Compare what you see in the mirror to what the pictures are showing you. Learn the proper names of each of the parts, including the ones that you can't see - the more internal structures. The vagina and penis are remarkable creations. They not only conceive life, they also eliminate waste, and through their stimulation, people experience the height of ecstasy.
Another reason to do a genital self-exam is to become aware of any changes that take place, no matter how subtle or superficial. Discoloration, pimples and discharge could be symptoms of infection. If you notice anything that looks out of the ordinary, have it checked by a doctor.
The more you know yourself, the more you will experience sexual satisfaction. The more you experience sexual satisfaction, the more you'll awaken to your spiritual nature.
— — —
Sorah Dubitsky, Ph.D., is an author, speaker, teacher and healer. She conducts workshops and seminars on love, marriage, sexuality and spirituality as well as offers individual and couples counseling. She is also a fellow at Florida International University's Center for the Study of Spirituality, where she also teaches psychology classes. Her book "A Chorus of Wisdom" is available at Amazon.com and all major online and retail book outlets. Send an email to {email dr.sorah@drsorah.com}dr.sorah@drsorah.com{/email} and visit Dr. Sorah's website www.drsorah.com. © Copyright 2008 by Dr. Sorah Dubitsky.
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Last semester I taught a course in the Psychology of Human Sexuality. Thank God that the textbook publishers sent along some really good teaching materials, including video clips that kept my students entertained. The video clips were a much appreciated adjunct to my lectures. Watching and listening to people share the real-life experiences of dealing with sexual issues highlighted the depth of confusion that surrounds sex and sexuality. The video clips addressed marital happiness and unhappiness, coming out as gay, admitting bi-sexuality, the role of a sex therapist, what's involved with vasectomy and tubal ligation, how to tell your partner that you want to try a new technique, among others.
One video clip dealt with genital self-examination. I didn't show the clip in class, but referred students to the section of the textbook that covered the same material. The clip showed a college-age woman reading a book about sexuality. The book she was reading recommended doing a genital self-exam. The clip showed her holding a mirror in front of her vulva and examining her anatomy in light of the book's diagrams. The film clip featured her running internal commentary as she followed the book's directions and anatomical descriptions. The reasons given for conducting genital self-exam are 1) it makes you more comfortable with yourself and 2) it will help you be aware of any health-related changes. Genital self-exam is recommended for both women and men.
Tyra Banks devoted an entire TV show to the "vajayjay," alternatively known as "down there." Tyra told the audience that her mother taught her that the vajayjay was just another part of her anatomy and that she needed to know what it looked like and how it worked.
I appreciated Tyra's candid "vajayjay" talk. I also appreciated the candidness with which the sexuality texts approached genital self-exam. It reminded me of the feminist movement in the '70s in which women would meet in groups, mirrors in hand, and study the anatomy of their genitals without embarrassment.
Years ago I heard a psychologist on TV talk about how if we're made in the image and likeness of God, what is there to be ashamed of about our bodies? And yet shame is something that many, many people feel about their bodies — even in marriage.
To me, the height of sexiness is to be comfortable inside your own skin. How can you be comfortable in your own skin if you're ashamed of any part of your anatomy? Men worry about whether their penises are big enough. And women worry that their labia majors aren't symmetrical enough or are too big or too little. Both maladies can be corrected by surgery: For men, it's possible to get a penile implant; for women, labiaplasties have become much more commonplace. Women can get plastic surgery to make their labia majors more symmetrical.
The genitals are the most sensitive organs of the body. The clitoris has the same number of nerve endings as the head of the penis concentrated into a much smaller space. It also appears that the clitoris' only function is sexual arousal and pleasure.
Great married sex depends on being comfortable with one's own body. It also depends on loving every inch of your body and your spouse's body. A great way to get comfortable with yourself and enhance your sensuality is to buy an anatomy book, grab a mirror and study yourself. Compare what you see in the mirror to what the pictures are showing you. Learn the proper names of each of the parts, including the ones that you can't see - the more internal structures. The vagina and penis are remarkable creations. They not only conceive life, they also eliminate waste, and through their stimulation, people experience the height of ecstasy.
Another reason to do a genital self-exam is to become aware of any changes that take place, no matter how subtle or superficial. Discoloration, pimples and discharge could be symptoms of infection. If you notice anything that looks out of the ordinary, have it checked by a doctor.
The more you know yourself, the more you will experience sexual satisfaction. The more you experience sexual satisfaction, the more you'll awaken to your spiritual nature.
— — —
Sorah Dubitsky, Ph.D., is an author, speaker, teacher and healer. She conducts workshops and seminars on love, marriage, sexuality and spirituality as well as offers individual and couples counseling. She is also a fellow at Florida International University's Center for the Study of Spirituality, where she also teaches psychology classes. Her book "A Chorus of Wisdom" is available at Amazon.com and all major online and retail book outlets. Send an email to {email dr.sorah@drsorah.com}dr.sorah@drsorah.com{/email} and visit Dr. Sorah's website www.drsorah.com. © Copyright 2008 by Dr. Sorah Dubitsky.
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