Sexual FAQs

Q. What is human sperm made up of?

A. I’ll assume you are asking about sperm plus the seminal fluid (a.k.a. semen) which contains the sperm. Each sperm or spermatozoon, (spermatozoa = more than one of them) is actually made up of three parts, the head, the midpiece and the tail. One cell is called a spermatozoa.

The head contains chromosomes or genetic material (DNA) and on the outside of the head enzymes needed for the penetration and fertilization of an egg. The midpiece contains “stuff” that provides energy for the locomotion of the tail. The tail helps the sperm swim. Semen contains small amounts of more than thirty elements, including fructose, ascorbic acid, cholesterol, creatine, citric acid, lactic acid, nitrogen, vitamin B12, and various salts and enzymes.

Let’s go back to the inside of the head of the sperm. All normal cells have 46 chromosomes but sperm have half that number or, 23. If and when the sperm joins ups with the female’s, egg (ovum) which also has 23 chromosomes, together they add up to 46 chromosomes. The middle section controls the sperms activities.

The sperm or (spermatozoa — which are the little swimming critters) make up only about 5% of what a man ejaculates each time he ejaculates. This represents about 100 to 400 million of them! Therefore, they are very, very, very tiny, in fact a single sperm is the smallest cell in the body. The rest of what a man ejaculates in his “ejaculate”, which is about a teaspoonful (5 ml), is made up of water, sugar, protein, vitamin C, zinc, and prostaglandins.

Semen or seminal fluid is the mixture of sperm and the secretions of the seminal vesicles, prostate gland, and the bulbourethral glands. For more on the sperm cell, see the sperm cell page….

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Q. I think my penis is too large for sexual intercourse, what can I do? I am not kidding.

I have a very large penis; girth and length. Vaginal sex is not very satisfying because I can’t fully penetrate my girlfriend without causing her a lot of pain. She saw her gynecologist to make sure she didn’t have any infections. The GYN told her that physically there was nothing wrong. Any suggestions? Please help!

A. This problem is one that the two of you need to figure out together. Communication and creativity are the two main ingredients in working toward a solution that satisfies both of you in many areas of your relationship and now this is one of them.

The idea that bigger is better when it comes to sex with a well-endowed man is just not true and as your girlfriend knows can be even painful. For some people the “gag reflex” makes it difficult to have oral sex, for others, penetration causes severe pain or seems almost impossible.

You mention pain when you try to penetrate your girlfriend ‘completely’. Keep in mind that most vaginas are only 4 inches long. The discomfort may be due to the head of your penis hitting her cervix. Or it may be because she is “new at this”. Regardless of penis size, sensual touching is essential before penetration as it allows enough time for arousal as well as natural vaginal lubrication. (That is why it is called foreplay). For some women, the use of a water-based lubricant can make a huge difference. Lubricants can be used with a condom (as long as they are water-based) and yes it is a bit messy, but will be more comfortable for both people. How do you use it? Smear it all over the condom after it is put on. There are also liquids lubes that are water-based so it won’t deteriorate latex condoms (see condom use if necessary), a different position during sex might help too.

Some people feel more comfortable with partial insertion during vaginal sex. It is up to you to be as creative as you like with the rest of the person’s body and sex organs.

Talk to one another, if it is uncomfortable say so, etc. This doesn’t mean carrying out a full conversation while having sex — which can be distracting, annoying and even make the problem worse. Use simple instructions like “slow down”, “ouch” or “gently”, etc., enough to get the point across and make sex more enjoyable for both of you. Visit:

Visit Condomania Online or “They Fit” Condoms – In 55 Sizes!

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Q. Intercourse is very painful, what can I do?

I’m a twenty year old woman who had sex for the first time this summer with my boyfriend of 4 years. Our first time hurt terribly, but I kind of expected that. When it was still painful after we had sex for a couple of times I got worried. I have been talking to my friends who can not relate to my experience. They tell me that it will eventually stop hurting. I feel like I am missing out on an important part of sex. I was wondering if there is such a thing as a physical condition that makes penetration permanently painful and if there is what can be done about it? I don’t think we are making some kind of mistake because we are in love and patient with each other. I hope you can give me some information.

A. There are any number of reasons why you might be experiencing painful intercourse. The most common reasons are poor communication skills, lack of trust or commitment, nervousness and lack of information. There are also several physical reasons you might experience pain during intercourse:

Local infection: Some vaginal infections can be present in a non acute, visually unnoticeable form. The friction of a penis can cause the infection to flare up.

Insufficient lubrication: (read the answer above this one) If your natural secretions of lubrication are not enough, or your timing is off, the friction of a penis in your vagina could be quite painful. In this case, using an extra lubricant, such as Glide or Wet — use only water-based lubricants with condoms please! Saliva and whipped cream do work, but give no protection as far as STDs and birth control.

Tightness in the vaginal entrance: The first few times you have intercourse, an unstretched hymen can cause pain. If you are tense and and worried about potential pain, the vaginal entrance is not likely to loosen up enough, making getting the penis inside painful. Also, if you try to get him inside of you before you are fully aroused, you might still be too tight, even though you are lubricated enough. Slow down and take your time.

Pain deep inside the pelvis: This can be caused by infections of the cervix or uterus (see PID), endometriosis, or cysts or tumors on the ovaries. All of these may be treated medically, but you NEED to see a health care provider about these!

Painful penetration, is called vaginismus. This is a strong, involuntary tightening of your vaginal muscles — a spasm of the outer third of your vagina which makes entrance by the penis very painful.

Whatever the cause, you needn’t put up with the pain! Get a good gynecological exam at a women’s health center, or by your own gynecologist and find out what’s going on. In the meantime, keep on doing what you’re already doing — find other ways to give each other pleasure. Feel good and relax about sex. You don’t have to keep up with any standards or with your friends.

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Q. What is a penis pump and does it work?

A. A penis enlargement pump was originally designed to help men whose erections were not hard enough. It was supposed to help them have sexual intercourse. This once was a satisfactory solution for some men if the pump was used correctly. However, these pumps have been known to cause lots of problems including, loss of sensation to the penis, loss of skin from the penis, and even gangrene, so I can’t possibly recommend one because of this.

If you are having trouble with maintaining erections see a urologist. If your penis size is a problem for you, that is another issue entirely. The pump is only a temporary solution to small penis size. After the pumping, the penis will return to its regular size. They may advertise to help alter the size of the penis, but to date no one can “back” these claims. I am sure someone will correct me on this if they know otherwise. Please be good to your body and avoid them.