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Male Anatomy

3 Min Read
Male Anatomy

Penis

Editor’s note: The conversation around gender is rapidly evolving, in an effort to be more affirming to all gender identities. The below post discusses anatomy such as penises, both of which have historically been referred to as “male” anatomy, but anatomy does not define a person’s gender. 

    Male Anatomy

    Interesting Facts:

    • The penis is a sex organ that has 4,000 nerve endings. The most sensitive region of the penis, with the most nerve endings, is the head.
    • As explained by the famous sex educator Emily Nagoski, the penis has four jobs: sensation, penetration, ejaculation, and urination. 
    • On average, people with penises get three to five erections per night. The one often referred to as “morning glory” is the last of the series.
    • Unlike other mammals, who have bones in their penises to help maintain erections, humans do not. Instead, human bodies use blood to evoke an erection. (Despite its lack of a bone, fracturing a penis is a possibility and treatment typically requires surgery.)
    • An erect penis has six times as much blood as a flaccid penis.
    • The male orgasm is shorter than the female orgasm. It lasts about five to 10 seconds, while female orgasms last approximately 12 to 25 seconds.
    • Size isn’t as important as you may think. 

      The Pelvic Floor

    People typically focus on how important the pelvic floor is to people with vulvas because of the vital role this area plays in events like childbirth or menopause. However, developing this region can be very important for people with penises as well. Regular benefits include helping to improve control over bowel movements and urination. Other sexual benefits include:
    • Mitigation of erectile dysfunction, which is the inability to stay hard for long enough to engage in a sexual activity. A stronger pelvic floor puts more pressure on penile veins and allows for an increase in blood flow (2).
    • An increase in both the number and the strength of orgasms. 
    • The delay of ejaculation, which can prolong a person’s sexual experience.

    Circumcised vs Uncircumcised 

    A circumcised penis is one that has had the foreskin removed. Doctors initially believed circumcision would cause a reduction in infections or STDs, influencing people to partake in the practice (1). 
    The likelihood that a person will be circumcised depends on factors like upbringing, environment, the geography of one’s birth, or religious influences such as being born into a Jewish family.  As time has gone on, research has demonstrated that contrary to original beliefs, there is little to no difference between the health of a circumcised versus uncircumcised person (3). Therefore, the practice has been in decline over the years (4). A 2015 study found that only one in three men are circumcised today, and experts believe these rates will continue to go down.


    The Prostate

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    The male prostate, found inside the anus, is one of the most under-discussed sexual regions. It is important because targeting it produces a different type of stimulation from typical penile stimulation. 

    There are many different ways to activate the prostate through penile stimulation or foreplay. Some sex toys, including the Aneros, can help people target the area. You can also try applying pressure to the perineum, a space between the scrotum and anus, or through pegging, the use of a strap-on dildo. Whatever route you take, relaxation and patience are key. Before beginning, many sex experts recommend using lube and butt plugs to prep the area — though while lube is crucial, butt plugs are optional. For a better understanding of how to manually target this region, click here.

     

    Screen Shot 2020-11-26 at 4.32.58 PM.png

    Stigma

    There is often a large stigma surrounding butt play for men, and particularly heterosexual men. If you are feeling this shame or discomfort when considering the experience, just remember that pleasure is pleasure and what you choose to explore with your body alone or consensually with a partner is up to you!

     

    References

    1. Lauriello, Samantha. “10 Weird Things You've Always Wanted to Know About Penises.” Health.com, 2018, www.health.com/sexual-health/penis-facts

    2. Gonzalez, Joshua. “When Getting Hard Is Hard: How Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy Can Help.” Joshuagonzalezmd, 2018, joshuagonzalezmd.com/2018/05/14/getting-hard-hard-pelvic-floor-physical-therapy-can-help/.

    3. Laumann EO, Masi CM, Zuckerman EW. Circumcision in the United States: Prevalence, Prophylactic Effects, and Sexual Practice. JAMA. 1997;277(13):1052–1057. doi:10.1001/jama.1997.03540370042034

    4. Vadnal, Julie. “Why Fewer Guys Are Getting Circumcised.” Cosmopolitan, Cosmopolitan, 21 Aug. 2018, www.cosmopolitan.com/sex-love/a22094429/why-fewer-guys-are-getting-circumcised/.

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