Answer:

There is no one size fits all answer to this question, because “boring” definitely depends on who you ask. For some, it could mean that sexual activity is frequent, but always the same. For others, it might mean sexual activity [...]]]>

This post, Q and A: Spicing up a “Boring” Relationship, originally appeared on Shanna Katz M.Ed, ACS -- Board Certified Sexologist and Sexuality Educator on November 28, 2011.

Answer: As much as you may want to hear that swallowing in the course of a blow job will act like Crest Whitening Strips, I hate to break it to you; this is one of the many myths associated with sex, and semen specifically. And while we’re at [...]]]> Question: Does semen whiten your teeth?

Answer: As much as you may want to hear that swallowing in the course of a blow job will act like Crest Whitening Strips, I hate to break it to you; this is one of the many myths associated with sex, and semen specifically. And while we’re at it; nor does semen provide your daily nutritional needs in the protein department.

Feel free to choose whether to swallow or not; that is always and will always be up to you. Just remember the following:

a) Semen can contain STIs, so get you and your partner tested on a full STI panel before you make this decsion.

b) Swallowing does not make oral sex better or worse than letting them ejaculate elsewhere (chest, face, back, towel, shower, bed, themselves, etc). Do it if you like it, but know it doesn’t change the sensation.

c) Semen is not a good source of any vitamins, minerals, or nutrition. It will not make your hair shinier, whiten your teeth, make your skin smoother, etc. Those are all false statements, but ones that are bandied about quite often.

Hope this helps,

-Shanna

Have a question you want answered (anonymously)? Contact me and I’ll post the answer!

This post, Q and A: Does Semen Whiten Your Teeth?, originally appeared on Shanna Katz M.Ed, ACS -- Board Certified Sexologist and Sexuality Educator on November 13, 2011.

or their sister site, PassionateU.com?

They are amazing education sites for folks around the world to get accessible and affordable education around sexuality. Kink Academy is more focused on kinky fun, while Passionate U talks about sexuality from a more mainstream light, but both are incredible. They [...]]]> Have you heard of Kink Academy

or their sister site, PassionateU.com?

They are amazing education sites for folks around the world to get accessible and affordable education around sexuality. Kink Academy is more focused on kinky fun, while Passionate U talks about sexuality from a more mainstream light, but both are incredible. They feature clips from educators around the world, teaching their sexuality classes to you, regardless of whether you’re near by a hopping dungeon or rocking sex positive space. Wanna learn how to throw a single tail? Done. Wanna get some blow job basic? Done. Interested in gender 101 or the intersection of sex and disability? That is there too! Over a hundred educators (myself included) are excited to help you explore the spectrum that is sexuality.

Why am I pumping this up? Well, first of all, they are an awesome set of sites, and I’m happy to promote them. And second of all, I’m giving a FREE month of membership away to one of these two sites (winner’s choice) at the end of this contest.

How do you enter?

Must be 18 plus. Comment before by September 20th, 2011 (with a valid email please, so I can get ahold of the winner) with why YOU think it is important to have accessible sex education. It can be a sentence, a paragraph, a poem, a picture, but tell us why sex education is important to you, your community, etc.  Winner will get ONE MONTH FREE on their choice of either PassionateU or Kink Academy.

Time to try and win!

-Shanna

This post, Kink Academy and Passionate U Contest!, originally appeared on Shanna Katz M.Ed, ACS -- Board Certified Sexologist and Sexuality Educator on September 6, 2011.

However, Vivianne (provided for me by Fascinations) has never been alone. She has her little sis, Val (short for Valerie) purchased for me by a dedicate reader/fan of mine:

And now, the two have been joined by a third, soon to be revealed purple [...]]]> Everyone (or almost everyone) knows my vulva puppet Vivianne:

However, Vivianne (provided for me by Fascinations) has never been alone.  She has her little sis, Val (short for Valerie) purchased for me by a dedicate reader/fan of mine:

And now, the two have been joined by a third, soon to be revealed purple and lavender vulva puppet. However, my new vulva puppet is sadly without a name! How horribly sad is that? So, I ask you, my fearless followers, to help me name my newest vulva puppet.  My favorite five names will make it into a run off contest (with links to your blog or twitter pages if you’d like), and the ultimate winner will get a little mini prize pack from me (I’m not telling what’s it in, but if you know me, you know it’ll be fun).

It’s easy to enter – just comment on this post with your suggestion (s) for the name for this new member of my vulva family by August 26th. Please make sure I have a way to contact you in case you make it into the final round. Please be creative, but not offensive (any vulva-negative suggestions will be deleted), as I love my vulva puppets and take them everywhere with me!

Alright; let the creative juices flow! (pun totally intended)

-Shanna

This post, Vulva Puppet Naming Contest, originally appeared on Shanna Katz M.Ed, ACS -- Board Certified Sexologist and Sexuality Educator on August 16, 2011.

Colorado Youth Matter (an awesome non-profit advocating for evidence based sex education inclusion in schools) is creating (through a partnership with Advocates for Youth) a Youth Advocacy Council. Now, they’re looking for people ages 15-22, so whether you fall in that range, or know a passionate person who does, and [...]]]> Hey folks of Colorado -

Colorado Youth Matter (an awesome non-profit advocating for evidence based sex education inclusion in schools) is creating (through a partnership with Advocates for Youth) a Youth Advocacy Council. Now, they’re looking for people ages 15-22, so whether you fall in that range, or know a passionate person who does, and if you or they have a passion for inclusive sex education, now is the time to apply! You’ll get a stipend, plus a trip to a national AFY meeting, the opportunity to work on creating change, and much more. The info is below. Ready, set,…..check it out!

Shanna

Colorado Youth Matter in partnership with Advocates for Youth is searching for passionate youth and young adult activists from across Colorado to be part of a brand new Youth Advocacy Council!

The Colorado Youth Advocacy Council will be composed of 10 dynamic young people (ages 15-22) from around the state who will work together to advocate for comprehensive and inclusive sex education programs and policies in Colorado. Council members will take a grassroots approach to mobilizing communities around comprehensive sex education, social and reproductive justice, and other related policy issues by engaging communities to create opportunities that empower youth and their families to make healthy and informed decisions regarding their reproductive and sexual health.

Please pass this information and application on to all youth and young adults who you believe would be great activists to promote sexual and reproductive health. Feel free to pass this information along to others as well, as they may know someone who would be best for the job!

Click here to download an application or contact Joey at jtorres@coloradoyouthmatter.org with any questions. The deadline to apply is August 1, but applications are being accepted on a rolling basis.

Thank you,

Joey Torres
Youth Advocacy Coordinator
Colorado Youth Matter

This post, Colorado Youth Matter Searches to Fill Youth Advocacy Council, originally appeared on Shanna Katz M.Ed, ACS -- Board Certified Sexologist and Sexuality Educator on July 22, 2011.

The oft-repeated mantra amongst sex educators is that sexuality is a spectrum. People can identify as gay, [...]]]> This week, my fabulous intern Katie Davis talks about the identity of asexuality, which is often left out of conversations regarding sexuality. She brings up some great points, as well as resources for those interested in learning more!

The oft-repeated mantra amongst sex educators is that sexuality is a spectrum.
People can identify as gay, straight, and everything in between, including bisexual, queer,
and questioning.” In the classes I’ve taught, this has been my mantra, my way of
explaining the rich diversity of human experience.

But recently, after stumbling across Asexuality.org, the homepage of the Asexual
Visibility and Education Network (AVEN), I came to realize that this framework is not
nearly as inclusive as it needs to be. AVEN, which was founded in 2001, focuses on
fostering a sense of community amongst asexual people and creating acceptance and
discussion of asexuality in the public sphere. In addition to acting as the central hub for
asexuality-related research, news coverage, and personal accounts, AVEN also offers
discussion forums, a newsletter, and an online store stocked with t-shirts
reading “Asexy” and “Asexuality: It’s not just for amoebas anymore!”

Although, as with anything else, AVEN members possess a variety of different
opinions and experiences, the feeling of being socially silenced appears to be widely
shared across the asexual community. The site’s FAQ section, for example, addresses
some of the difficulties of “living in a society where everyone is assumed to be sexual
and where the media, especially soaps and advertising, portray everyone as sexual and
constantly tempted by sex.” In his personal blog, Love From the Asexual Underground,
AVEN founder David Jay writes eloquently about the daily challenges of translating
sexual language into something true to his identity and experiences. For Jay and other
asexual-identified people, my sexuality spectrum is hardly a liberating identificatory
framework, as it leaves off an entire negative region.

It’s an important criticism, one that’s forced me to radically reconsider how I
should understand and teach sexuality. For sex educators/activists who are forced to
confront the myriad ways in which sexuality is stifled and policed, it may be tempting
to portray things like desire, attraction, and libido as universal experiences. In a country
that still frequently treats sex education as a non-necessity, many of us find ourselves
almost shouting about the importance of sexuality in all aspects of society. I certainly
know that in my own teaching efforts, I’ve attempted to combat societal shaming by
characterizing sexuality as a normal, even key component of the human condition. And,
of course, for many people it is. However, as long as there are people who identify
as asexual–– and, according to AVEN, the numbers of people taking on said title are
steadily growing–– we have to be vigilante about assuming sexuality in our students.

How can we teach about sexuality in a way that is also inclusive of asexuality?
How can we better educate ourselves about asexuality and the diversity of asexual
experiences? And how can we assist the asexual community in its continued struggle for
visibility and acceptance? These are not easy questions, but they’re absolutely topics that
sex educators and all other folks dedicated to sexual (or asexual, for that matter) equality
need to begin to address.

For more information about asexuality, go to AVEN’s website or check out David
Jay’s Love From the Asexual Underground.

This post, Including Asexuality, originally appeared on Shanna Katz M.Ed, ACS -- Board Certified Sexologist and Sexuality Educator on July 15, 2011.

You’re always telling people about lubricant and its importance in sex. I think I know the different between silicone lube and water based lube, but what if I want a tasty lube for oral sex (both blow jobs and eating out), that is also safe for vaginal intercourse? I know some flavored lubes contain [...]]]> Shanna-

You’re always telling people about lubricant and its importance in sex. I think I know the different between silicone lube and water based lube, but what if I want a tasty lube for oral sex (both blow jobs and eating out), that is also safe for vaginal intercourse? I know some flavored lubes contain sugar. What do I do?

Tentative and Taste Challenged

Hey T n’ T!

Great question. A good deal of cheap flavored lubes contain sugar — it’s my advice to stay far far away from those. Now, there are a lot of pretty decent flavored lubes that are sugar free, but contain glycerin. I always suggest people try to avoid glycerin, as it is derived from glucose, which is a type of sugar — many people have sensitivities to it, and it can cause irritation or yeast infections in some people who use it. However, if you have no issues with glycerin, System Jo makes a whole bunch of flavors (think Watermelon, Strawberry, Raspberry Sorbet, Lemon and Tropical) ; I like to mix and match them to make new tastes. If you’re looking for a tasty glycerin free lube, Sliquid makes a variety of yummy flavors (like Blue Raspberry, Green Apple, Pink Lemonade, and Cherry Vanilla) and Wet Naturals has a glycerin free, natural Strawberry lube that is actually pretty good.

Otherwise, you can always use one lube for blow jobs, and wipe it off or hop in the shower and switch to another.

Best of luck!

-Shanna

This post, Q and A: Lube for Oral and Intercourse, originally appeared on Shanna Katz M.Ed, ACS -- Board Certified Sexologist and Sexuality Educator on June 13, 2011.