Your wellness teacher might have spent forever talking about the symptoms of sexually transmitted infections, but glossed over the stuff you actually wanted to larn almost — similar, how penises work, what erections feel like, and if a guy's penis can ever — eeeeeeek! — break.

Ellen Kate Friedrichs, a health and sexuality educator in Brooklyn, NY, breaks down what you always wanted to know but were too embarrassed to ask.

one. What are blue balls?

When a guy gets turned on just doesn't come, he tin sometimes feel an ache in his testicles that's referred to every bit blue assurance. His genitals don't really turn brilliant blueish, but there can be a slightly blueish tinge.

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You lot should never feel pressured into hooking upwards with a guy or going farther than you're comfy with just because he complains of blue assurance. He tin easily bargain with the problem on his ain, and the discomfort isn't and then terrible — on a scale of i to 10, it feels like a three or a four.

While he might complain about information technology, Friedrichs says, "This is not dangerous and he sure doesn't need to have sex with a partner to deal with it. Either he can do something non-sexual until information technology goes abroad, or he can masturbate."

And don't ever permit a guy tell you lot bluish assurance are your fault. Bodily functions are no i's error. They only happen!

2. What does an erection feel like?

If you don't have the equipment, information technology's only natural to be curious. "A lot of guys describe erections as feeling full and sensitive in a really pleasurable way if they happen at the correct time," Friedrichs says. "But an erection can beginning to feel pretty uncomfortable if it turns up at an unexpected time. Say, like in the middle of math class!" #Awkward.

iii. Why are some guys circumcised? What's the difference between a circumcised and uncircumcised penis?

"Being circumcised just means the foreskin covering the caput of the penis is removed," Friedrichs explains. "The number of infant boys who are circumcised in the U.South. ranges from about 40 to sixty percent depending on the decade."

Some parents cull to circumcise their sons for religious reasons (it's traditional for Jewish and Muslim families) or cultural reasons (it'due south a widespread do in the U.Southward.).

Imagine the difference between a neck covered by a turtleneck versus a bare neck, and you have a pretty skilful picture of what the difference is between the two. When it comes to hooking upwards, guys who have their foreskin intact are slicker and more naturally lubricated than guys who are circumcised. And while some people fear circumcision reduces sensitivity, one recent — but small — written report constitute that'southward not true.

"The but affair is, if a guy isn't cut, he should just make sure to pull dorsum his foreskin when he takes a bath or shower and wash around the head of the penis," Friedrichs says.

four. Why does a guy need an erection in order to have vaginal sex?

"Penetration is by and large easier if a guy has a full erection," Friedrichs says. "Having an erection is super important for using a condom properly, and so that it doesn't fall off."

v. Do condoms really reduce guys' sensation during sex activity?

Some guys (garbage guys, we might add) will attempt to go away with not using condoms because they claim sex doesn't feel as skilful when they article of clothing them. "But enough guys have nifty sex using condoms that I would debate that fifty-fifty if they affect awareness a bit, a lot of guys don't feel similar condoms become in the way of great sex," Friedrichs says.

Most importantly, condoms are the only mode to protect yourself from sexually transmitted infections, plus they're 82 percent effective at preventing pregnancy when used properly.

If a guy prioritizes sensation during sex over health and safety for both of you, that's a huge ruby flag. Stay away from that guy!

6. Tin a penis ever pause?

Weirdly enough, boners don't comprise any actual bones. Then, no, you lot can't break a penis.

"But don't e'er bend an erection," Friedrichs warns. "That tin cause real damage to the tissue of the penis."

The resulting injury can include painful bruising and swelling, which sounds like 1 of the worst things that could happen to a guy. Yikes.

seven. If you're hooking up with a guy and he doesn't get difficult, does that mean he doesn't like you lot?

When guys are super turned on, they often get hard, just that doesn't necessarily hateful he's not into you if he doesn't. "It'south also just as likely that he is nervous or tired or distracted," Friedrichs says.

Remember, guys can feel self-conscious or nervous about their bodies, also, peculiarly when they're hooking up. If he'southward non difficult, that's not a surefire sign he'due south not into you. After all, he's making out with yous — that counts for something! And if you're feeling insecure or preoccupied with something else, y'all might not exist feeling it, even if you really like the person, and guys are no different.

8. What are wet dreams and why practice guys take them? Do girls have the equivalent?

If a guy ejaculates in his sleep, it's called a wet dream. They're sometimes a issue of a sexy dream, but not ever, and more mutual during puberty.

"Girls tin can too orgasm in their sleep," Friedrichs says. "But we don't hear about this as much simply because unlike the testify of a wet dream left by semen, if a daughter had an orgasm in her slumber, information technology commonly isn't as obvious in the morning."

9. What size is the boilerplate guy?

There's a range of sizes, especially for teens who are still developing. Plus, as Friedrichs adds, "The size of a guy when he is soft isn't an indication of how big he will be when he'south hard."

Past the time men reach adulthood, the average size is approximately 3.6 inches long when soft and 5.2 inches long when difficult, according to one study of 15,000 men.

ten. Why are guys so obsessed with penis size?

Yous've heard their jokes. What's the big deal? Friedrichs points to porn. "You rarely see a guy with a small-scale or fifty-fifty average-sized penis in porn, then huge penises seem normal and almost expected," she says. "Plus, there'due south a myth that a big penis is needed to satisfy a partner. It isn't."

For the majority of girls, vaginal penetration might feel good, simply doesn't help them accept orgasms. Clitoral stimulation does (and that has cipher to do with penis size!).

Unfortunately, guys go self-conscious, too — just like you might worry about the size of your breasts, they worry about the size of their penises.

11. Why practice guys sometimes not-then-subtly scratch their assurance in public?

Guys sometimes need to itch or readjust because balls sometimes have a tendency to motion uncomfortably in wear or stick to the side of their leg, especially when exercising, walking, or sweating.

While this motility might make a guy feel slightly more comfortable, it tends to make people around him feel kind of uncomfortable. Friedrichs' message to guys: "I'd recommend trying a little discretion if you're itchy or need to readjust!"

It'due south like dealing with a wedgie — it'southward more polite to wait till yous're in private.