Dear Yvonne,
Are men’s nipples really that sensitive? I wouldn’t think so. What would make them so?
—Brad

Dear Brad,
In both men and women, the nipples are surrounded by the areola and consist of smooth muscle fibers that cause them to become erect, (like when cold or sexually excited). During sexual stimulation, the nipples fill with blood, becoming more sensitive to the touch in some individuals; male or female.

Dr. Yvonne Kristín Fulbright is a sex educator, relationship expert, columnist and founder of Sexuality Source Inc. She is the author of several books including, “Touch Me There! A Hands-On Guide to Your Orgasmic Hot Spots.”

Hi Dr. Yvonne,
Does water act like a spermicide if you have sex in it?
Stevie

Water is not a spermicide. While chlorine makes for a hostile environment for sperm (and latex), it will not kill sperm right away. While men who spend a lot of time in hot tubs tend to have lower sperm counts, the hot water cannot be relied upon as birth control. The general rule is – in or out of water – anytime semen is emitted in the vagina or on the vulva, there is the chance of pregnancy.

Dr. Yvonne Kristín Fulbright is a sex educator, relationship expert, columnist and founder of Sexuality Source Inc. She is the author of several books including, “Touch Me There! A Hands-On Guide to Your Orgasmic Hot Spots.”

Dear Yvonne,
Is it possible to have your period while pregnant?
—Liz

Dear Liz,
It is not possible for a woman to have an actual period while pregnant. She may, however, experience vaginal bleeding. It is not uncommon for women to experience some spotting and light staining during the first couple months of pregnancy. If you’re pregnant or suspect you may be, and are experiencing bleeding, consult with your health care practitioner immediately. If you have any reason to suspect that you’re pregnant, take a test!

 
Dr. Yvonne Kristín Fulbright is a sex educator, relationship expert, columnist and founder of Sexuality Source Inc. She is the author of several books including, “Touch Me There! A Hands-On Guide to Your Orgasmic Hot Spots.”

Dear Dr. Yvonne,
How do I know if my vaginal discharge is healthy or not?
-Name Withheld

 Dear Name Withheld,
A female’s vaginal discharge changes throughout the month and throughout her life cycle. Normal discharge tends to be thick and whitish, or slippery and clear – and may have a particular odor that is her “scent.” This healthy discharge can change depending on where she’s at in her menstrual cycle and can change with age and health conditions.

A female should plan to be examined by a healthcare practitioner when her vaginal discharge appears unhealthy. Symptoms of unhealthy discharge include being: foamy, discolored, or having an unpleasant odor. A female may experience irritation, burning, and/or itchiness as well.

Dr. Yvonne Kristín Fulbright is a sex educator, relationship expert, columnist and founder of Sexuality Source Inc. She is the author of several books including, “Touch Me There! A Hands-On Guide to Your Orgasmic Hot Spots.”

Dear Dr. Yvonne,
After a weekend of pre-marriage counseling, my fiancé and I have been challenged by our church to practice abstinence until our wedding night. My fiancé is super sexy and we’ve had such an active sex life that I think the next two months are going to kill me. Any suggestions on how I can reduce my sex drive??
Neil

Dear Neil,
What you’re referring to are anaphrodiaics – substances that decrease sexual urges. To reduce your libido, people have been known to:

1. Read something really boring.
2. Excessively use coffee, tea, tobacco, alcohol, lime juice, vinegar or lemons, as all are known to lessen desire. (Note: I’m not recommending them and it wouldn’t be wise to use these in great quantities).

My recommendation: Don’t worry about decreasing your libido, but allow yourself to embrace this time of being super-charged for your wedding night. In dealing with your sexual craving, simply find more time for self-pleasuring.

Dr. Yvonne Kristín Fulbright is a sex educator, relationship expert, columnist and founder of Sexuality Source Inc. She is the author of several books including, “Touch Me There! A Hands-On Guide to Your Orgasmic Hot Spots.”

Dear Dr. Yvonne,
My mother-in-law-to-be keeps putting pressure on my partner and I to get married. We’ve been together 3 years, living together for 18 months and we are in no rush to get hitched (though we plan to someday).
How do we handle this without being rude?
She has gotten really annoying.
Chris

Dear Chris,
Many couples, especially those who choose to cohabitate before marriage, often find themselves dealing with pressure from family members, friends, and even random strangers when it comes to tying the knot. Fortunately, there are a number of ways you can deal with your to-be-mother-in-law:

1. Explain that couples today are dating longer and getting married later. You’re part of a sociological trend that is becoming the norm. Stress the fact that there are generational differences when it comes to getting married and that many are waiting to get to know each other well – and not giving into pressure from others – when it comes to taking this most important step.

2.  Be honest and straight-forward. Let her know how you feel and that you don’t think your wedding date should be any of her business. You can say this delicately while being firm. Better yet, your partner should be the one having this heart-to-heart with this mother. One or both of you need to ask her to stop putting pressure on you. You need to make it clear that she needs to respect that and that you’re feeling disrespected that she’s made your union about her needs and not your own.

3. Change the subject. After a while, people will get a hint.

Dr. Yvonne Kristín Fulbright is a sex educator, relationship expert, columnist and founder of Sexuality Source Inc. She is the author of several books including, “Touch Me There! A Hands-On Guide to Your Orgasmic Hot Spots.”

Hello Dr. Fulbright:
I have heard that heat (such as a hot bath or directly-applied streams of hot water in the shower) can reduce sperm counts (like a natural birth control). How much truth is there to that?
DJ

Dear DJ,
Exposure to heat impacts a man’s semen in primarily two ways:
1. It affects sperm motility. This is in part due to heat exposure damaging sperm as they mature in the epididymis.
2. It affects normal sperm production. (Men with fertility problems are often discouraged from submerging themselves in hot bodies of water).

Heat should not, however, be regarded as a form of birth control. Having sex in a hot environment, like a hot tub, does not prevent pregnancy of sexually transmitted infections.

Dr. Yvonne Kristín Fulbright is a sex educator, relationship expert, columnist and founder of Sexuality Source Inc. She is the author of several books including, “Touch Me There! A Hands-On Guide to Your Orgasmic Hot Spots.”

Oops, they did it again. Major retail outlets are sexualizing young girls.This past spring, Kmart sold cropped sweatpants flashing the words “True Love Waits” across the derriere. The pants are no longer available in stores or online, but they have reignited the debate on how we’re dressing our children.

Whether they are wearing it or stating it, are we pimping our youth with sexual messaging? And if so, who is to blame?

Parents have long been dealing with the problem most recently tagged the “Britney Syndrome.” While the pop princess and her counterparts Beyoncé, Christina and Jessica have been pegged for corrupting American youth, it seems every decade has an icon who challenges our fashion tastes.

For my generation, it was Madonna. I remember longing to emulate the Material Girl’s netted, cut-off tops, lacy tights, short skirts and rubber bracelets. I begged and pleaded with my mother to let me do so. I could be super cool, and dance just like Madonna, if only I could bare my stomach with a midriff top. But my mum firmly said, “No.” Go figure — I was only 10.

You can’t quite put your finger on it, but your relationship feels troubled. In fact, things have become increasingly stressful and you’re constantly fielding unresolved relationship problems… but you don’t know why.You are starting to feel confused and distressed.

Could it be that your partner has a pornography problem?

What constitutes a porn addiction or compulsion is a hotly contested issue, which is why its symptoms are rarely discussed.

This lack of discourse has come at a hefty price. Many people who have been victimized by their partner’s porn problem wish that they had “seen the signs.” They wish they had known what indicates an active habit and an actual problem. They wish they had been able to solve the puzzle before their lives fell apart. And they probably could have. So now we are going to discuss the warning signs.

Many people are completely in the dark that their partner likes porn, much less has a serious relationship with it. Ignorant as to any issue, they trust their lover unconditionally. They assume their partner understands that using porn, at least beyond a magazine like Playboy, is the equivalent of having an actual affair. This ignorance, combined with the great lengths to which a porn enthusiast will go to hide erotica, can leave a partner in the dark for months or even years.

An issue affecting many is finally getting the attention it deserves.

Last week, the Center for Excellence in Sexual Health at Morehouse School of Medicine in Atlanta hosted a conference titled “Wounded Troops and Partners: Supporting Intimate Relationships.” With former Surgeon Generals Dr. David Satcher and Dr. Richard Carmona among the speakers, as well as former Senator Bob Dole, this effort is a glimmer of hope that America is finally ready to deal with the issue of sex and disability.

When most people think “sexy,” they don’t think disabled. Yet people with disabilities can be very sexual — much more than we give them credit for. Consider, for example, that some women with complete spinal cord injury experience orgasm.

Research by Barry Komisaruk, Beverly Whipple (The Science of Orgasm) and colleagues has shown that these women respond to vaginal or cervical self-stimulation because they could perceive it, with some reporting an orgasmic response.