Читать книгу Sex For Dummies - Pierre Lehu A., Dr. Ruth K. Westheimer - Страница 60

What you see when looking at your clitoris is only a small portion as three-fourths of it lies buried within and is not visible. The visible portion varies in size from woman to woman and in location. The differences aren’t great but may be significant, as research has shown that women with a smaller exposed clitoris may have more difficulties reaching orgasm and that the placement can also have a positive or negative effect. The bottom line is that while all women should be able to have orgasms from having their clitoris stimulated, some may need more stimulation than others.

The clitoris, like the penis, can accumulate smegma — a combination of secretions, skin cells, and bacteria — under the clitoral hood. You should be careful to clean this area thoroughly. If too much smegma accumulates, you may have to ask your gynecologist to do a thorough cleaning.

Below the clitoris is the entrance to the urethra, out of which urine flows. The urethra is totally separate from the vagina. Some men, and possibly even a few women, don’t realize that these are two different openings, which is one of the reasons they get squeamish about this region. But, as the penis is really too big to fit into the urethra, it shouldn’t be a source of concern. And, because urine also comes out of the penis, no man should feel that the vagina is any less clean than its male counterpart. But, if you still feel uncomfortable about this region, you have an easy solution.

If you want to be absolutely sure that both your genitals and your partner’s are squeaky clean, make a sexy sponge bath of both organs a normal part of your sexual routine. After all, nobody ever died from being too clean.

Urinary tract infections are fairly common in women, and one reason for this is that bacteria can be pushed inside the urethra during intercourse. Always keep this area clean, being very careful to wipe yourself front to back after going to the bathroom, not the other way around. Using douches and feminine sprays to keep your vagina clean isn’t recommended because they can upset the natural balance of bacteria found in the vagina and lead to yeast infections or bacterial vaginosis. However, urinating after intercourse to empty the bladder of any bacteria that may have been introduced may help a woman avoid urinary tract infections.