In Case You're Curious

by Planned Parenthood

  A person won’t run out of cum (semen or ejaculate fluid). A person with a penis naturally starts making sperm and semen (cum) when they hit puberty, and they make it all day, every day from then on. As someone gets older, their production may slow down, but they will not run out. If a person ejaculates many times in a row, they may notice smaller amounts of fluid, but don’t worry—the body will eventually make more.

  Did you know that even if a person with a penis doesn’t have testicles (or has just one testicle) the body will still produce semen (cum)? That’s because semen contains more than just sperm; fluids get added as the sperm is ready to leave the body. So even if there aren’t actually sperm present, there is still the ejaculate fluid.

  Squirting is when someone with a vagina releases fluid from their urethra during sexual arousal or when they’re really turned on. This is different from peeing. It may happen when they orgasm, or not. Some people do it and others don’t. Both are healthy and normal.

  Nope, the vagina does not fart. Sometimes air gets trapped in the vagina, which can make a fart-like noise when released, but while the sound might be the same, that’s where the silimarities end. A fart is gas made from digested food in the stomach and intestines (digestive system). The vagina is part of the reproductive system, so gas or air cannot actually be created in the vagina. How the air gets inside the vagina can vary, and yes, it can happen when something gets inserted into the vagina. Often people call the sound made by air escaping the vagina a “queef.”

  HOW DEEP CAN A PENIS GO IN A VAGINA?

  This depends on the vagina. From the opening of the vagina to the cervix (the gateway between the vagina and the uterus), the vagina is, on average, about three to four inches deep. You can think of the vagina like a pocket: most of the time it stays closed, but when something is put inside, the vagina stretches to make room to fit what’s going inside. But no matter how deep a vagina is, a penis won’t get past the cervix. Just because the vagina can stretch doesn’t mean it has to. If something feels uncomfortable or hurts, it could mean the vagina is stretching too much. It’s important to talk to a partner about what feels good and what doesn’t. If something doesn’t feel good, stop the behavior and consider talking to a health care provider.

  WHAT DO SPERM LOOK LIKE?

  To be honest, sperm look like little tadpoles—they have a “head” and a “tail.” However, sperm are incredibly tiny and can only be seen under a microscope. The fluid they travel in is called semen, which consists of the sperm and nutrients that keep the sperm healthy and alive. Semen (or cum) is the fluid that is released during ejaculation. Semen often comes out as a clear or white fluid and can be sticky to touch.

  CAN YOU BREAK A PENIS?

  The answer is yes and no. Confusing, right? The penis does not have a bone in it, so it cannot break like someone’s leg would break. But if the penis bends too far or is injured while it is erect, it can cause a “penile fracture,” which can be painful and may need medical attention. When this happens, the person might hear a popping sound, caused by the spongy erectile tissue bursting. This injury can only happen when the penis is erect because when the penis is soft, or flaccid, it can bend more easily. Injury to the penis, though not common, is more likely to happen during vaginal sex, anal sex, or aggressive masturbation.

  DON’T YOU PEE OUT OF THE VAGINA?

  A lot of people think this! But the truth is that a person with a vagina pees out of their urethral opening, which is a tiny hole above their vaginal opening. The vaginal opening is where menstrual blood, vaginal discharge, and a baby may leave the body. The urethral opening is hooked up to your bladder and is part of the system that eliminates waste from your body, while the vaginal opening is connected to the reproductive system. So, there are two separate holes there! But even though there are two holes down there, there is no way you will get them confused because the urethral opening is super small. There is no way a tampon, finger, penis, sex toy, or anything else can “accidently” go in the urethral opening.

  “Popping the cherry” is slang for “breaking” the hymen. The hymen is a very thin membrane that partly covers the opening to the vagina. Sometimes when a person with a vagina has vaginal sex for the first time, their hymen may tear or stretch, and they may notice a pinching sensation and a small amount of blood. However, a person does not always bleed the first time they have sex because the hymen may have already torn earlier in life, or because the hymen hasn’t torn but is instead stretching.

  Other ways the hymen can “break”:

  Horseback riding

  Gymnastics

  Riding a bike

  Inserting a tampon

  During and after puberty, people with vaginas may notice a white or clear fluid in their underwear. This is typically called vaginal discharge. Vaginal discharge is how the vagina keeps itself clean. It is totally normal and healthy. Sometimes a person may notice that throughout their menstrual cycle it may change in texture and amount. If it ever changes color (like turns green or yellow), becomes chunky in texture, starts to smell different, or causes itching, they should go see a healthcare provider.

  Since the vagina is self cleaning, no fancy soaps or douches are needed—they actually do more harm than good. Douching can wash away all of the bacteria, including the good bacteria that works to keep the vagina healthy. Say no to douching!

  HOW OLD ARE YOU WHEN YOU HAVE TO GET YOUR VAGINA CHECKED?

  People should regularly look at their own genitals, so they know what is normal and will notice a change if one happens. This doesn’t have to be a big deal—just take a quick look before getting in the shower. There are special checkups called pap smears that people with vaginas should start getting around the age of twenty-one. This procedure checks the cells of the cervix for cancer. If you’re feeling pain in or around your genitals, or if you think something is wrong, you should see a health care provider regardless of your age. For people with a penis, your doctor will check your penis and testicles yearly. They are feeling for any lumps and making sure your genitals are developing at the same pace as the rest of your body.

  CAN MY CLITORIS GO MISSING AS I AGE?

  Good news: just like any other part of a body, the clitoris might change or feel different as a person gets older, but it does not disappear with age (because it is attached!). All people are born with skin that covers the clitoris (clitoral hood), and this can make the clitoris harder to see on some bodies. Some people with a clitoris also report that the sensitivity of the nerve endings change as they age. This can be a normal part of aging, and every body is different.

  CAN A BEAR SMELL PERIOD BLOOD?

  A bear does have a strong sense of smell, and it’s likely a bear can smell blood. But research says that a bear will not attack someone because they are on their period. Bears are much more interested in the smell of food than in the smell of pads.8

  While it might be cool if period blood were green and glittery, it’s still blood, so it’s gonna fall in the red category. Period blood can change depending on where you are in your menstrual cycle. It can be anywhere from dark brown and almost black to a rusty or even bright red. It is important for you to know your body and what is normal for you. If your period blood changes or seems unusual, it is okay to ask someone like a parent or health care provider.

  DO BREASTS ALWAYS HAVE MILK IN THEM?

  No, breasts do not always have milk in them. The duct system that helps the breasts make milk starts developing during puberty. Even though a person’s breasts can make milk, they don’t usually start creating milk until they become pregnant, and typically not until the fifth month of pregnancy. It’s important to know that sometimes the breasts can leak a clear fluid even when a person isn’t pregnant. This fluid is usually normal, but if this is new then it’s always a good idea to check in with your doctor.9

  Toxic Shock Syndrome (TSS) is a rare blood infection. One way it can happen is by leaving a tampon in the vagina much longer than recommended (read the i
nstructions on the tampon box to know how long it can be worn). Signs of TSS are similar to the flu and can include high fever, vomiting, drop in blood pressure, diarrhea, and rash. If a person thinks they have TSS, it’s important they remove the tampon and go to a doctor immediately.

  DO YOU CLEAN PENISES WITH EXTRA SKIN DIFFERENTLY?

  People with foreskin are referred to as having an intact penis. The way they care for their penis is different from the self-care routine of a person who has been circumcised (a person whose foreskin was removed). Everyone needs to clean their penis, and a person with an intact penis needs to simply roll back the foreskin to wash the head of the penis, using warm water and soap. This is necessary because bacteria can get trapped and build up between the foreskin and the top of the penis.

  HOW OLD ARE YOU WHEN YOU GET MENOPAUSE?

  So what is menopause in the first place? Menopause is when a person’s body stops having a period, stops releasing eggs, and greatly reduces the production of reproductive hormones (estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone). In the United States, the average age a person with a vagina starts menopause is 51. But it isn’t uncommon for menopause to start as early as 48 or as late as 55.10

  Signs of menopause:

  hot flashes,

  vaginal changes,

  breast shape changes,

  weight gain

  Nope! Bras can be uncomfortable, supportive, itchy, pokey, pretty, ugly, and so many other things, but there is no evidence that sleeping in one causes cancer. Many people do not sleep in their bras because it is more comfortable to have it off. But here’s the deal, everybody gets to decide what feels best for them. So take it off, leave it on, do whatever you like and whatever feels good to you!11

  Usually, when people ask this question they are asking about penis size. And here’s the deal with penis size: everybody’s penis is different. Penises can be smaller, bigger, wider, longer, shorter, or in-between. Whether or not it “matters” often refers to whether or not a partner prefers a certain penis size. Some people may prefer a bigger penis and some may prefer a smaller penis and some may not care at all. For many people, getting turned on is about much more than the size of their partner’s penis. It’s important to know that a person can’t change the size of their penis. So it’s not okay to make someone feel bad about their body. And no matter what size a penis is, they all work the same way.

  CAN TAMPONS GET LOST IN THE VAGINA?

  Many people think of the vagina as a deep, dark, mysterious, never-ending tunnel. Well, that is just not true! The front of the vagina is called the vaginal opening and the back or end point is called the cervix. The opening of the cervix is so tiny that only menstrual blood and sperm can get through, so it keeps a tampon and anything else that goes into the vagina from going farther into the body. The tampon will not get lost because the cervix is standing guard (thanks cervix!). So don’t worry—the tampon will be there.

  And while we’re at it—let’s talk about peeing and tampons. The tampon is in the vagina. Pee leaves the body through the urethra (a hole above the vagina). So, guess what, a person can pee and have a tampon in at the same time!!

  Oh boobs, most of the time they just hang there…but sometimes they ache, itch, get in the way, feel tingly, or even feel good. It is common for breasts to hurt. They can hurt during puberty because they are growing. They can ache before or during a person’s period because the hormones in the body are changing. They can ache after wearing a bra all day. If the breasts have severe pain or pain every day, ask a doctor about it.

  A person cannot have a fully functional penis and a fully functional vagina, but it is possible for a person to be intersex. Being intersex means that someone’s sex characteristics (how they look and what makes their body work in certain ways) can include a variety of different chromosomes, genitals, reproductive organs, or hormones. This can be really different for every intersex person. Some differences might be noticeable at birth, whereas other differences might not show up until later (like during puberty), or only show up with special tests.12

  Hair, hair, everywhere! Yep, even nipples! Just like other body hair, some people may grow hair around their nipples, while others might not. It might be thicker and darker than their other body hair or it might be lighter and fuzzy. It is nothing to be embarrassed about if you have hair around your nipples. Just like with other hair, a person can choose to leave it alone or remove it.

  WHY ARE TESTICLES OUTSIDE THE BODY?

  Do you remember the story of Goldilocks and the Three Bears? Goldilocks kept trying the porridge, and one bowl was too hot, another was too cold, but the last bowl was just right. Well, sperm are a little like that—they have to be made at just the right temperature to survive. The testicles hang outside of the body, in the scrotum, in order to stay at the right temperature to make sperm. If they were inside the body, the sperm might get a little too hot.

  Ah, the G-spot! Some people believe it is a myth, and some believe it is a magic button. The G-spot is an area one to three inches inside the vagina, towards the belly button, that has lots of nerve endings. For some people, having this spot touched feels good (and can cause an orgasm), and for others, there might not be much sensation at all. When it comes to what feels good, each person is different, and that’s okay! The G-spot is short for the Gräfenberg spot, named after the doctor that started the research. But it was introduced to the world by Dr. Beverly Whipple.

  CHAPTER THREE

  “DO GUYS REALLY CUM IN THEIR SLEEP?”

  AND OTHER QUESTIONS ABOUT PUBERTY

  WHY DO GIRLS AND BOYS FLIRT WITH EACH OTHER AND ACT WEIRD AROUND EACH OTHER?

  The stuttering, the blushing, the wondering where to put your hands! It can be really weird to watch people flirt, especially if it’s new for them. People flirt for different reasons. During puberty, hormones are being released in the body that can make people feel romantic or have sexual feelings they may never have felt before. Some people choose to act on these feelings (flirt, ask someone out, hold hands, kiss) and some people choose not to do anything at all. It is also common for people to feel nervous or even “weird” around someone they like because they may not know what to say, may be worried about saying the wrong thing, or may not know what they want to happen.

  No matter what the age, its not weird at all. People can have sexual feelings at any time throughout their lives and can experience them in many different ways. Often, these feelings get stronger once someone goes through puberty, but everyone is different. There is nothing wrong with having sexual feelings or not having sexual feelings. It’s what someone chooses to do with these feelings that is important. Some people choose to ignore them, some people choose to talk about them, some people choose to touch their own bodies, and if both people agree, some people choose to be sexual with each other. Only do what you feel comfortable doing.

  It’s not just sexual feelings that will change during puberty—it’s possible for all of your feelings to change. You may not feel as close to the people you used to, or you might bounce back and forth between liking and disliking people. Your emotions may feel like a rollercoaster, but don’t worry, they will even out over time.

  Totally, and it’s nothing to be embarrassed about. During puberty, it is common for the penis to get erect (hard) and ejaculate while a person sleeps. This is called a wet dream. It can happen to some people a lot, and might never happen to other people. A wet dream can happen when a person is dreaming about anything; it does not have to be something sexually exciting. When having a wet dream, a person is not peeing, even though the bed might be wet. They are actually releasing semen. Most people grow out of this in time.

  WHY DO I KEEP BREAKING OUT?

  Breaking out usually refers to acne, pimples, or zits. Acne can be common during puberty because during this time people produce lots of hormones, which can make their skin more oily. Acne doesn’t come from someone being dirty or not washing. However, one thing that can help reduce the amount of
acne a person gets is cleaning their face regularly. Washing your face cleans out the pores and gets rid of extra oil. If you are concerned about acne, talk to a doctor.

  WHAT AM I SUPPOSED TO DO WITH MY PUBIC HAIR?

  Guess that depends on what you want to do with it—you do you! Pubic hair can help keep the genitals safe and protected. Some people choose to remove their pubic hair by waxing, trimming, or shaving, but keeping it is also a great option. Whatever someone does with their pubic hair is their decision. They should choose whatever makes them feel best. And remember, if someone chooses to remove their pubic hair, it’s important to know that the skin in the pubic area is sensitive, so they should talk to an adult for advice before trying to remove it.

  Puberty doesn’t happen overnight! Instead, think of puberty more as a journey. Puberty is a time when a person’s body changes from looking like a child’s body to looking like an adult’s body. This can start to happen between the ages of eight and sixteen and can last for a few years. Some changes will be quick, and some might take longer. Everyone’s body is different. If any of the changes feel hard to deal with, find a supportive adult to talk to.