sex ed faqS

What are the male private parts? (Penis, testicles and anus)

The area between our legs are called private parts that are also known as ‘genitalia’ or ‘genitals’. Male private parts/genitals include penis, testicles and anus.

1. Penis is the ‘tube shaped’ organ that hangs externally from the male body. It is from the penis that males pee/urinate.
2. The testicles (sometimes called testes or in slang called ‘balls’) are oval-shaped organs that also externally hang from the body. They are located beneath the penis.
3. Anus is the hole at the end of the buttock from where the solid waste is released (potty).

How many holes does a female and a male body have?

There are 3 holes in female's private parts (genitalia)

1. Vagina (hole through which period/menstrual blood is passed out of the body. A baby comes out of this hole too)
2. Urethra (hole through which urine is passed out of the body), and
3. Anus (hole through which stool/potty is passed out of the body)

What is male reproductive system?

Male reproductive system essentially consists of penis, tesicles, semen and sperms. It is called 'reproductive' system because the organs and substances of this system are responsible for reproducing new life (babies).

1. Penis as you now know is a ‘tube shaped’ in between the area of legs, from where males pee/urinate. It is also from the penis that semen+sperm (white-ish liquid) exits. A penis grows to its full size during puberty (puberty starts around age 10 and ends around 17 - 18). The speed of growth, size and colour of penis differ in everybody and each size, speed of growth and colour is normal. When the penis is loosely hanging (flaccid), it’s smaller and soft. But when the penis is hard (erect), it’s bigger. A penis can frequently go from flaccid to erect and back to flaccid and it is okay.
2. The testicles that are located beneath the penis also produce a white-ish cream-ish liquid, which is a combination of semen & sperms.
3. Semen is the liquid that carries sperms. Sperms from a male combine with an egg from a female to produce babies. The testicles also make hormones such as testosterone that helps in growth during puberty years.

What is the female reproductive system?

The female reproductive system consists of vagina, uterus, ovaries and eggs. It is called 'reproductive' system because the organs and substances of this system are responsible for reproducing new life (babies).

1. Vagina is a body organ in females that is in between the legs. Vagina connects to the cervix, which connects to the uterus, fallopian tube and ovaries. During childbirth, the baby passes through the vagina. It is also called the birth canal. It is also the hole from which the period blood exits the body.
2. The cervix leads to the uterus which is also called a womb.
3. It is in the uterus that a pregnant female carries the fetus (which grows into a baby after 9 months). Uterus is different from the stomach, and the uterus is not connected to the stomach.
4. Ovaries are inside the body of a female, attached to the uterus. There are two ovaries, and they produce eggs (that cause periods) and hormones like estrogen and progesterone in a female body. The egg from a female combines with a sperm from the male to make babies.

What is puberty? What are the changes that take place during puberty?

Puberty is the time in a kid’s life when the kid’s body begins to grow and change, and the body grows from kid-body and slowly turns into adult-body. There are both physical and mental changes, and they start usually at around 9 years of age and slowly continue till 18 years of age. 1.. All kids experience puberty, but the speed of puberty can be different for different children. 2.. Some changes in females and males are the same, but some changes happen only in males, and some only in females. 3.. There are the changes that happen in both males and females

• Increase in height and weight
• Shape of the body changes. It increases in size and shape, with more pronounced shoulders, hips and chest
• Genitals (private parts) begin to develop and thus start to become darker
• Hair growth in the armpits and private parts (called pubic hair)
• Facial hair begins to spurt
• Pimples (totally normal, don’t worry, so many kids get pimples during puberty!)
• Experiencing intense emotions like anger, impatience, sadness
• Feeling of attraction towards the opposite gender and/or same gender
• Both males and females experience masturbation (touching of one’s own genitals/private parts)

What are the female private parts? (Clitoris, Urethra, Labia, Vagina, Anus)

The area between our legs are called private parts that are also known as ‘genitalia’ or ‘genitals’. Female private parts/genitalia include clitoris, urethra, labia, vagina, anus.

1. Clitoris is a small button-like structure which is very sensitive to touch. It is located right where a female urinates/pees from.
2. Urethra is a small hole just below the clitoris from where the female passes urine/pee.
3. Labia is a lip/flap like part between a female's legs which creates a flap around the vagina.
4. Vagina is one of the 3 holes in a female's genital region. It is located between the urethra and the anus. During childbirth, the baby passes through the vagina. It is also the hole from which the period blood exits the body.
5. Anus is a small opening at the end of buttock from where the body's solid waste is released (potty).

I am a young male and I find my underwear in the morning wet with some sort of whitish fluid in it. Sometimes I wake up with my penis hard and erect. Is it normal?

Okay, so let’s put your mind at ease first- if a boy experiences this, it is very normal! Many boys experience this. It is absolutely normal for a boy to find his underwear wet with a white liquid (called semen) in the morning and to even find that his penis is erect (hard). It is called nocturnal emission or night fall or wet dreams. It begins in puberty and can continue into adulthood as well, but in adulthood the experience of wet dreams might reduce. Sometimes, nightfalls can be accompanied with a ‘sexy dream’ during sleep, but it’s not necessary. The white-ish fluid is called semen+sperms. If such a fluid causes lots of itching and rashes one should take care of their hygiene and tell their parents or contact a doctor. Girls can also experience wet dreams, but it is not as common.

I am a girl/woman (I have a female body) and I have a white-ish cream-ish discharge in my panties. What is it? What should I do?

The white discharge in a female’s panty is known as ‘vaginal discharge’ because it comes from the vagina. This discharge is a mix of fluid and cells from the vagina that varies from white-ish and sticky to clear and watery. Having such discharge daily is not bad and it is completely normal. The discharge will be more on some days of the month when someone is ovulating, breastfeeding, or sexually aroused. You shouldn’t do anything above and beyond your regular/normal hygiene routine. We understand that it can ‘gross’ you out, but it is a normal bodily occurrence and we do not have to get ‘rid of it’. However, SOME types of white discharge need to be medically treated. If the white vaginal discharge is accompanied with a strong foul odour, itch and/or burn, then it may be a yeast infection. Please consult a gynaecologist who will recommend a cream and maybe oral medicines to treat it. Yeast infection is also fairly common among women in India. It can be caused by unhygienic sanitary habits, dirty toilets, etc. If your partner has an infection in their reproductive organ and you have not used protection during sex, then it can be caused due to sex too. One also has to remember that protection like condoms will not always save you from infections. That is why it is important to also maintain sexual hygiene before and after all sexual activities.

I have heard during puberty children have to be extra careful of their hygiene and cleanliness, but I don't know how to do it.

Yes, you have heard it right. While growing up is it important to maintain cleanliness and hygiene especially during puberty. Here are some tips for people with a predominantly female body:

1. Wear dry cotton underwear as it will soak up the sweat. Remember, synthetic underwear, talcum powder and perfumes is a big no no.
2. Make sure to wash the vaginal area twice in a day with mildly warm water. While it is important to clean it thoroughly, remember that the inside of the vagina cleans itself so no need to clean the inside of the vaginal hole.
3. When it comes to pubic hair (the hair between your legs), you can wish to keep it or not. Remember to keep some hair along the labia line as it will prevent outside germ from coming inside. Trim some hair if you wish to, otherwise clean it thoroughly whenever you take a bath, cleaning it will prevent sweat and dirt accumulation. Using a hair removal cream is again a big no no!
4. Always wash hands before and after peeing/pooping. Clean extra urine first and then anus with water after that you may wish to use tissue to soak excess water.