New Kamasutra

Women

SEX ORGANS

Sex is an act performed emotionally and physically. Sex organs play an important role. Here is the description of sex organs-

Male Organs

The sex organs of a male are quite complicated form of a reproductive system. They produce semen, store it and release into the woman’s vagina at the time of ejaculation. Procreation, therefore, is the result of the union of the sperm cell and the ovum.

Testes

The male organs comprise of the two testes or testicles hung side by side in a sac called the scrotum, behind the penis in its relaxed state. The testes are oval in shape and about an inch long and wide and have two different functions. They are made up of a series of lobes composed of minute tubules in which the sperm cells or the spermatozoa are formed and liberated. The internal secretion of sex hormones which create sex impulses and cause the essential male characteristics in the individual and play its role with the other secretory glands in sustaining the normal functioning of the body are achieved by it. In case this function is impaired before puberty, the development of the individual becomes seriously altered in form, temperament and impulses. Since it is directly absorbed into the blood, these secretions are termed as internal secretions.

In the seminal discharge the male sperms formed in the testes are the vital elements because these sperms have the power of fertilising the egg of the woman to conceive a new life. These highly vitalized cells consist of a head, neck and long tail. It is in this head that the nucleus is contained which transmits the hereditary characteristics of the individual. Having the power of independent motion these sperms propel themselves in the liquid secretion in which it floats, it requires an hour or more for the sperm to reach the cavity of the uterus and a few hours to gain the oviduct or the tube where it fertilises an ovum (egg). When the released female egg encounters one male sperm or spermatozoon it penetrates the cell wall of the egg in a complex series of rearrangement of both cells, known as fertilisation. Though in single male orgasm about 200 to 500 million sperms are discharged, only one is able to reach the walls of the cell. The remaining cells are cast out along with the other residues of the physiological process. The spermatozoa are being slowly formed and released in the testicles all the time.

Epididymis and Vas Deferens

Each of the cluste of convoluted tubes in the lobes of the testes in which the sperm cells are formed merges into a single tube and the resulting mass of tubes in turn forms a complex network which constitutes a large annexe to the body of the testes. It is known as epididymis. The network of the tubes of epididymis unite in turn to form the seminal duct or vas deferens. From the epididymis each seminal duct passes upwards in the scrotal sac and enters the pelvis cavity where it continues its upward course, then curves forward and downward to enter the urethra which conducts the urine from the bladder.

Seminal Vesicles

The vas, issuing from each testes, takes a round of the bladder and then empties into the seminal vesicles. These vesicles are two small pouches situated just behind the urinary bladder. The function of seminal vesicles is to store the semen and secrete a gelatinus substance which by mixing with the sperm thickens the semen and increases its volume. The secretion also provides nourishment and strength to sperms.

Since these testes and seminal vesicles are always secreting and manufacturing semen, sometimes the vesicles are filled to capacity and nature empties them in the form of nocturnal emissions as is in the process of orgasm. The phenomenon is usually accompanied by erotic dreams and pleasurable sex feelings of an orgasm.

It is a mistaken belief of old theories that nocturnal emissions or wet dreams are a sign of weakness. These are natural, harmless occurrence to be expected in most normal men, particularly between the ages of fourteen and thirty-five. There is nothing to worry about. Untold mental torture and unnecessary expense had been caused to millions of men through the misrepresentation of quacks and ignorance of men in these matters.

Seminal emissions vary greatly in frequency of occurrence from men to men and in the same man at different times. Normally the frequency may range between once a month to several times a week. Many factors - physical, mental and temperamental - are responsible for it. There are some young men who rarely or never experience nocturnal emissions. Though the occurrences of emissions are natural, their absence does not necessarily indicate any abnormality. It is quite possible in such case the contents naturally ooze out in the ducts aided by bowel movements, to be thrown out with the urine from the bladder.

Nocturnal emissions generally occur when a man sleeps on his back. The reason being that in this position the weight of the partly filled or full bladder resting upon the vesicles increases the irritation to set off the reflexes ejaculating semen. To avoid this, heavy food should not be taken before going to bed and constipation should not be allowed.

Prostate Gland

It is shaped like a horse chestnut. Surrounding the neck of the bladder and the junction of the urinary and spermatic ducts, the prostate empties its contents through some thirty outlets. The prostrate secretion is also added to the semen before it is ejaculated in the vagina. Thus semen is a combined product of all these glands. Each of these glands imparts to the semen its many peculiar characteristics. The prostate is also a sexual gland, which is situated below the urinary bladder. During coital climax, the prostate contracts and mixes its own secretion in the semen. To sustain sexual vigour and strength, it is considered necessary that the prostate functions properly. The prostate secretes a thin milky, alkaline fluid the function of which is similar to the products of the vesicles. The alkalinity serves to protect the spermatozoa against acidity arising from the urine. The acidity damages the vitality of the sperm cells.

Urethra

A small duct called urethra runs through the centre of the penis down to its glands from the urinary bladder. This duct serves the double purpose - it empties the urine from the bladder and ejaculates the semen from the seminal vesicles. Thus, urethra is connected with both the systems of seminal discharge and urine elimination. The urethra in penis discharges both semen and urine but sex mechanism of male body is such that both the actions cannot take place together. During seminal discharge a special valve automatically shuts off the urine.

Penis

A child’s penis is small which grows long with the other organ of the body after the onset of puberty. Penis, through which the bladder is emptied and the sperm is discharged during intercourse, is normally three to four inches long and in normal flaccid state about one and a quarter to two inches in diameter. When a man is sexually aroused his penis grows erect and the organ measures about one and a half inches in diameter and five and half to six and a half inches in length along its upper side. It is made up in part of spongy tissue which becomes gorged with blood, making the organ hard and rigid. In excited state it stands out an angle from the body to confirm in general to the normal vagina angle of the woman. The erection is essential in order to achieve the penetration of the vagina. In response to mechanical or psychic stimulation, the erection is achieved through a nervous mechanism which causes a rush of blood into the organ and at the same time greatly restricts its flow, thus causing rigid distention of the penis. Like the size, the shape also varies from man to man. Penis is the male copulating organ which conducts the semen into vagina There is no correlation betwen the size of a penis and a man’s sexual strength and capacity. The erect size also does not make much difference because vagina has such an elastic cavity to accommodate any size of penis. The most sensitive nerve ending in a vagina is the clitoris which can always be reached by any penis howsoever it be small.

Glans Penis

The foremost end of the penis, round like a knob, is called glans penis. It is slight thicker than the rest of the shaft. In the flaccid state of the penis the head or glans penis is partly or wholly covered by a loose layer of the skin, in the uncirumcised, called the prepuce of foreskin. This is retractable for the purpose of cleaning and it becomes naturally retracted after entry in coitus. The surface of the foreskin is somewhat mucous owing to the glans which secrete a substance called smegma. It is an irritating secretion and should be regularly cleaned, otherwise it makes the forepart of the penis become cheesy in appearance by breeding germs. It should be daily washed with soap. The glans penis has the most sensitive nerve endings. A slight soft touch is enough to excite a man and to make the penis erect. It is mainly the glans penis on which a little rubbing whether by hand or by vaginal contact sends the sex waves in the entire body, culminating in orgasm or ejaculation.

Erection and Ejaculation

As also referred to earlier, the effect of the sexual arousal in man is physically manifest in the erection of the penis. A direct and gentle stimulation of the penis almost always causes erection. This is borne out of reflex action and may occur in sleep. Erection may be caused without any rubbing of the penis; just by erotic thoughts or dreams it goes erect. In the early morning it may be aroused because of the urge to urinate. Most such erections terminate without any discharge.

Ejaculation is the culmination of sexual stimulation in man. Having entered the vagina, the most sensitive nerve endings of which the penis is made up become tense and excited on account of the friction against the walls of vagina, the cozy heat it may experience further fanned by the secretion of the fluid in the vagina. To and from movements of the penis add on the arousal. The tension gets higher and higher till it reaches the climax and the release of the seminal fluids is known as ejaculation. The basic difference between the sex mechanism of the man and the woman is, in man the climax and ejaculation or orgasm take place simultaneously while in woman these are two different states. At the time of the climaxic height or orgasm the seminal discharge takes place through the penis in a number of spurts. The first menses indicate the onset of puberty in a girl, the first ejaculation marks the boy’s entrance into adolescence.

Female Organs

The female organs are more complicated because they are confined in the body and not openly visible. Because of the apparent invisibility most of the girls are unaware about their internal sex organs. Hence, it is all the more necessary that full knowledge about the female organs structure and their function be discussed in full details.

Vulva

The two visibly fleshy folds, covered with hair are the outer lips or labia majora. When parted they reveal two smaller or inner lips of labia. The insides of the inner labia are covered with mucous membrane. The inner lips or labia are one of the several sexual sensation centres. In sexual intercourse these labia remain constantly massaged by the rubbing of penis. In some women the inner lips protrude somewhat. The inner lips meet their upper ends which when separated look like the wishbone of a hen.

The principle of the sex feeling, the clitoris is situated just above the junction of the inner lips. The clitoris looks like a mini penis having erectile tissue and a head and foreskin similar to the penis of the man. It is covered from above by a hood of skin. The clitoris is made up of highly sensitive nerves which respond very well to sexual stimulation. It is from this centre that the sexual feeling begins and permeates in the entire body through vulva and vagina. When erect the clitoris looks like the size of or shape of small bean. About an inch below the clitoris is a small opening of the tube called urethra. Its duct conducts the urine from the bladder. The urethra has only the urinary function and no sexual function.

The mucous membrane above the clitoris, like the penis of a man, is covered with glands which secrete smegma. Owing to the structure, cleanliness in the woman is somewhat more difficult than it is in the man.

It is not hygienically necessary to keep it clean but also for this reason that it emits smell which tend to inhibit sexual desire in man.

Hymen

Just below the urinary passage is the entrance to vagina. In the normal virgin girl this opening remains partially closed by a thin membrane called the hymen. Though it appears in different shapes but normally it looks like a crescent in shape appearing as the forward extension of the back walls of the vagina. In many cases during the first intercourse when the hymen is ruptured there may be slight bleeding and pain. But this should not cause any alarm. It is a false notion, which the orthodox still maintain, that the hymen is the symbol of virginity. A nicked or stretched or tattered hymen does not mean that the body has been penetrated into. It could be ruptured on account of many a jerk or fall that a young girl might have experienced. Many girls may not have much of it or others may lose it in doing some kind of vigorous job. Sometimes the insertion of a finger into the vagina may prove too hard for any hymen. Occasionally a hymen is so tough that it remains intact even after several sessions of sexual intercourses. It all depends on the kind of hymen a girl is bom with. Generally during the first coitus, the penis tears it till hardly a few shreds mark its former presence. At times in certain cases it was found to be so flexible that instead of breaking into pieces by the penile thrust, it merely bends and allows the penis to glide over it. It may, in certain cases, remain there even after delivering a child. In some cases the surgeon’s aid is obtained to slit open the membrane. But the bleeding and discomfort, when they occur, are not of sufficient consequence to warrant fear on the part of the woman. This is psychologically important because this fear powerfully inhibits her sexual responses and the function of the lubricating glands, leaving the parts dry. This increases the probability of discomfort and bleeding and diminishes the possibility of experiencing any sex pleasure at the first coitus.

Vagina

It is a tube or canal extending from vulva to the neck of the uterus. It is three and half to 4 inches in length in its normal relaxed position. It is here that the penis in intercourse is sheathed with its elastic walls. It receives the seminal discharge and allows the sperm to travel forward towards the womb in search of the ovum. It is through this tube that a child passes to the outside world. During pregnancy the vagina and its outlet becomes capable to great expansion, permitting the passage of the child from the womb without injury in most cases. In some instances, however, more or less laceration of the muscular structure-controlling the opening and of the vagina occurs. It should be vitally important that such tears receive prompt surgical attention. The use and control of the muscles about the vaginal opening of the entire pelvic floor are necessary to woman’s most effective participation in coitus. The relaxed condition and the loss of muscular control which results from the failure to repair perineal and vaginal tears may result in greatly diminishing sexual satisfaction in coitus for both partners and may render it impossible for the woman to achieve orgasm at all. The flexible walls of the vagina are lined moist and clean. It has a great relaxing and contracting power. It is because of this reason that the vagina, besides being made up of flexible walls, is able to accommodate much larger penis notwithstanding its small cavity.

Womb or Uterus

It is a pear-shaped organ of heavy muscular walls. The virgin uterus measures about two inches wide. Its elastic muscles expand considerably during pregnancy with the growth of the baby. Its upper part is connected with ovaries by two ducts called fallopian tubes. The organ is supported in the pelvis by strong ligaments. Its position is at right angles to the vagina, the upper, heavy end being directed forward towards the front of the pelvis. The small end opens into the vagina and closes its upper end. After childbirth the organ gradually retracts to its normal size. The organ has powerful muscles to help push the baby out through the vagina. During pregnancy, the uterus retains and supplies nourishment to the growing baby till the delivery.

Fallopian Tubes and Ovaries

The upper end of the uterus as referred earlier are joined by the fallopian tubes, each about five and half inches long, which extend right and left to the ovaries. The function of the fallopian tube is to conduct ovum from the ovaries to the uterus. This is achieved through contractile action of the tubes’ finger-like fringes called fimbria. The sweeping motion of fimbria is in one direction, which helps the egg cells in moving towards uterus. In most cases, the fertilisation of an egg cell or ovum takes place during its journey through the fallopian tube. The process of passing an egg cell through the tube is called ovulation. The fertilised egg is then moved down the tube towards the womb.

The ovaries can be compared or likened to the testes of the male. They produce the female reproductive cells, the ova (eggs) and internal secretions. Situated at the outer ends of the tubes, one on each side of the uterus, an ovary is about the size and shape of a large almond in the shell. Though they are comparable to the testes in their function, the hormone function of the ovaries is apparently more complex than that of the testes of the male. In addition to the internal secretion which governs development of the specific female character and helps to sustain the normal functioning of the individual as an organism, the ovaries elaborate other chemical substances which control the reproductive functions. If the ovaries are removed before puberty, the development of the individual gets drastically altered. Even after marriage, if ovary is removed for any reason, there could be certain changes felt physically and mentally.

When a girl is born, her ovaries already contain these egg cells or ova in tens of thousands. But then these are not mature. With the onset of puberty the ovaries start their work of maturing ovum. During the life time of woman about 400-500 of egg cells mature. From the time of puberty till menopause, every month a mature egg is produced by one of the ovaries. The mature egg cell passes through the fallopian tube towards the uterus. If an egg is fertilised it starts growing before it enters the velvety lined uterus which nourishes the egg well. If the egg is not fertilised it remains alive for about 20-44 hours after entering the tube and then it disintegrates and gets absorbed into the body. In that case soft and velvety lining of uterus is not required, the blood and the blood vessels forming the protective lining are cast out through vagina.

Menstruation

When the egg cell is not fertilised, the monthly preparation by the womb to receive a fertilised egg cell goes a waste and the debris is cast out, the whole process is known as menstruation. Menstruation generally continues for three to five days but even longer in a few cases. While it is a normal physiological function, not to be regarded as a ‘sickness’ or being ‘unwell’ in several cases the general let-down and the readjustments of the entire organism do involve nervous tensions and in many cases a variety of aches and pains for which due allowance is to be made in the social and personal circle of the individual. It should be clearly understood that a girl or woman during the periods should not be considered an ‘untouchable’. As a matter of fact, the underlying reason of this belief was sympathetic - that in a period of menstruation, a girl or a lady might feel weak so she should be given full rest - which has been mistakenly converted into a hygienic one. But nowadays no educated girl or woman adhere to these obscurantic norms and treat the period days like any other day in their life. May be, because of better facilities to contain this blood into the sanitary napkins, the modern woman does not make a show of it. It is not physically but emotionally a woman might feel disturbed during this period, for which she should be shown due consideration.

Breasts

Though breasts do not strictly come under the categories of the organs we are discussing, they are being induced because of their special significance in manifestation of the sexual arousal of a woman. Specially their breasts’ nipples signify as one of the most erogenous zones on woman’s body. Squeezing, sucking, touching, caressing of the breasts, particularly the nipples, give rise to strong and most favourable sexual desires. Sexologists say that in the initial stages of married life a woman derives more pleasure from any such stimulation of her breast than the actual coitus. Nipples, like clitoris, have erectile tissues and very sensitive nerve endings. The tissues become firm and erect during erotic stimulation. It is for this reason that breasts or mammary glands are two very important sexual organs, whose development is dependent on the secretion of certain hormones of the female sex. Though the breasts have their primary function in feeding a new-born child, their importance as an erotic and sensitive zone permeating with desire to mate has great significance in sexual relationship. Although their sizes vary from puberty to maturity and they grow large during pregnancy, the sexual undertones of this organ have influenced the loving onlookers most. An ideally formed breast has always been the most beautiful female symbol or characteristic.

SEX HORMONES

Male Sex Hormones

Male sex hormones, or androgens, are responsible for the development of male sexual characteristics. The principal androgen is testosterone, which in men is produced by the testes from puberty onwards. Women produce testosterone in small amounts in the adrenal glands, but its exact function in the female body is not known.

Testosterone has two major effects: an androgenic effect and an anabolic effect. An androgenic effect is to stimulate the appearance of the secondary sexual characteristics at puberty, such as the growth of body hair, deepening of the voice, and an increase in genital size. Its anabolic effects are to increase muscle bulk and accelerate growth rate.

There are a number of synthetically-produced derivatives of testosterone that produce varying degres of the androgenic and anabolic effect mentioned above. Derivatives that have a mainly anabolic effect are known as anabolic steroids.

Testosterone and its derivatives have been used under medical supervision in both men and women to treat a number of conditions.

Why They Are Used

Male sex hormones are mainly given to men to promote the development of male sexual characteristics when hormone production is deficient. This may be the result of an abnormality of the testes or of inadequate production of the pituitary hormones that stimulate the testes to release testosterone.

A course of treatment with male sex hormones is sometimes prescribed for adolescent boys in whom the onset of puberty is delayed by pituitary problems. The treatment may also help to stimulate development of secondary male sexual characteristics and to increase sex drive in adult men who are producing inadequate testosterone levels. However, this type of hormone treatment has been found to reduce the production of sperm. (For information on the drug treatment of male infertility).

Androgens may also be prescribed for women to treat certain types of cancer of the breast and uterus. Testosterone can be given by injection, capsules, patches, or pellets that are surgically inserted.

How They Work

Taken in low doses as part of replacement therapy when natural production is low, male sex hormones act in the same way as the natural hormones. In adolescents suffering from delayed puberty, hormone treatment produces both androgenic and anabolic effect, initiating the development of secondary sexual characteristics over a few months; full sexual development usually takes place over three to four years. When sex hormones are given to adult men, the effects on physical appearance and libido may begin to be felt within a few weeks.

Risks and Special Precautions

The main risks with these drugs occur when they are given to boys with delayed puberty and to women with breast cancer. Given to initiate the onset of puberty, they may stunt growth by prematurely sealing