As many of you I hope know, March is Women's History Month. It is the month when we remember women from all walks of life who have contributed to most every aspect of human existence. It is a month designed to spark solidarity between women in recognizing that, though there has been much progress in terms of women's rights, we still have some way to go. In honor of Women's History Month, I am dedicating this week's sex article to the fascinating anatomy associated with the "fairer sex." This is because, in reading about all those kick-ass women who excelled in their fields and challenged society and the status quo, I am inspired by the fact that I too have a vagina. Even if I never accomplish anything noteworthy with my life, I'll be able to hang onto the fact that I have one thing in common with Marie Curie and Michelle Obama.
First, despite what porn might have you believe, most women have pubic hair. Sometimes a lot of it. Women get a lot of pressure to shave or wax or go to a clinic and get some laser/radioactive/nuclear treatment to get rid of it, but it's not as glamorous as the waiting room of a spa would have you believe. Most of these things hurt a lot. Having boiling wax pasted onto your skin about two millimeters away from the most sensitive organ in nature can be stressful. And it might look and feel great for a couple of weeks, but there is nothing sexy about ingrown hairs. Nor is there much sexy about sitting in class being consumed with the overwhelming desire to scratch your vagina because your hair is growing back. There are certainly plenty of women who enjoy the feeling of being hairless and many women who don't mind trimming their hair down there. It can be a fun thing to try if you're thinking about it. Just remember, ladies, that they're your ingrown hairs. If it's not worth it, it's not worth it.
Once you get past the hair, you find the most sensitive organ known to man or woman: the clitoris. Those of you who went to the "Vagina Monologues" know that the clitoris has the most nerves of any body part within both male or female anatomy (including the penis) and that it is the only organ designed purely for sexual pleasure. This is totally excellent for women—except that the clitoris doesn't come with an operation manual. It's like having a really, really, nice, expensive car with a ton of excellent features but no instructions so you have to figure them all out by fumbling around. Many women have difficulty figuring out their own clitorises, never mind how much difficulty their potential sexual partners have figuring it out. Every woman is different in her likes and dislikes but I can offer one key piece of advice: You want to figure out what that funky button on the dashboard does? Start the car.
This is where foreplay comes in. Foreplay can be a lot of touching or kissing, or it can be porn or erotica. Though the clitoris is sometimes referred to as a "love button," it is anything but a button. Poking the clitoris is probably one of the best ways to get kicked in the face. It's always better to err on the side of being too gentle with a clitoris. Being too rough can be painful and put her out of the mood. Vibrators are also a good tool for clitoral stimulation, especially vibrators with multiple speed settings. Vibrators come in all types, shapes, and sizes and therefore can be pretty easy to introduce to sexual activity with a partner or alone.
The clitoris is a very important part of achieving orgasm for an estimated 75 percent of women—the other 25 percent can achieve orgasm through internal stimulation of the G-spot alone. The G-spot is a gland that can be stimulated through the front wall of the vagina. It generally swells during sexual arousal, and is often demarcated with an area of spongy, bumpy tissue on the vaginal wall. G-spot stimulation can make a woman feel as though she has to pee because as the G-spot swells it presses on the urethra, but stimulating it does not usually cause a woman to pee. When penetrating the vagina, lubricant is a key factor. As vaginas naturally secrete lubrication when aroused this is sometimes not an issue, but for women with smaller or drier vaginas, lubricants are sold in most pharmacies and sex stores. For internal use or with condoms, make sure you're using a water-based lubricant instead of an oil-based lubricant.
Women are all different, but we have one important thing in common: vaginas. Happy Women's History Month everyone, and here's to the future happiness of vaginas everywhere.