The Hardness Factor

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Q. Glen can a man's health be determined by his erections?

A.You have a built-in barometer of your overall health: It's called your penis

When the penis is hard, life is good.

When hardness diminishes, so does a man's health and his innate sense of who he is. No matter how talented a man may feel he is in bed, he defines his sex by his erection, by its strength and hardness. This is what I call the Hardness Factor.

The harder the erection, the healthier the man.

In just the past decade, researchers have made the all-important link between sexual activity and good health. When a man's blood vessels are healthy and "elastic," his heart and brain are functioning well-and his erections are rock hard. When his neural connections are firing and nitric oxide is being released in great abundance throughout his body, his cognition is high-and his erections are rock hard. When testosterone levels are normal and weight is controlled, he has the ability to train most effectively-have a healthy, trim body-and his erections are rock hard. Once a man starts to connect the dots, once he fully understands that good health and a hard erection are linked, he will begin to take better care of himself.

From my own ongoing exercise and hardness studies, I have found that much of the decline in hardness often attributed to aging is actually the result of sedentary living and poor nutrition. Once you understand its basic concepts, you realize how sexuality is a window into general health and how by staying fit you can enjoy feeling virile as long as you live.

According to a new study of 2,400 men conducted by researchers at the University of Bristol, in England, men who reported three or more orgasms per week were half as likely to have a heart attack or stroke as those who had sex less often.

On the surface, it looks as though the principal message of this study is that having sex reduces heart attack and stroke and lets you live longer. In fact, just the opposite is true: Being healthy allows you to have sex as much as you want. Having sex three times a week serves as an important marker that you are healthy and in good physical shape-you're certainly more sexually fit than a man who can't have sex three times a week. Beyond that, the strength of a man's erection-his hardness-is the true barometer of his overall health.

There is a powerful and unmistakable link between failing erections and common medical ailments, including obesity, high cholesterol levels, hypertension, depression, sleep disorders, diabetes, and heart disease. When atherosclerosis develops, it starts to clog up the tiny vessels in the penis. The impact is often seen there first, long before it ever shows up in the coronary arteries of the heart, or in any of the other 100,000 miles of blood vessels that run throughout the body.

The canary in the coal mine warned of unseen danger, and for men, the health of their penis, and more specifically the hardness of their erections, is a great early-warning indicator of underlying cardiovascular problems that may be developing.

How to Achieve Your Best Health and Sexual Fitness at Any Age, that utilizes the same general principles. Follow it and you will be in the best sexual shape of your life, enjoy better sex that lasts longer, and live healthier.

Step 1: Sexual Nutrition

Your sexual performance is greatly impacted by what you consume and how much you consume. Here's what you need to do:

Cut back on portion size
Try to eat 10 percent less at each meal or about 500 calories less a day. By Day 4, you may notice a drop of 1 or 2 pounds on your scale. That is important because the amount of fat in your gut affects the amount of testosterone available to you-the more fat, the less testosterone.

Avoid fatty foods
Stop shocking your blood vessels. Fatty, high-calorie foods are not kind to erections. The fats injure your blood vessels to the point where they are stunned, preventing them from being totally responsive when sexual signals are being transmitted from brain to penis. Penile nerves lose their sensitivity when cholesterol builds up. Top saturated-fat culprits to avoid include egg yolks, butter, cream, fatty red meats, and coconut oil.

Eat nine servings of fruits and vegetables a day
They help lower your cholesterol level, an improvement that combats cardiovascular disease and increases blood flow to the penis. Leafy green vegetables are excellent sources of folic acid, calcium, magnesium, and zinc. Citrus fruits offer plenty of vitamin C. Go heavy on the blueberries. They're the fruit with the highest amounts of free-radical-crushing antioxidants.

Drink black or green tea
Both are high in antioxidants. As a morning beverage or with a meal, a cup of tea has too many disease-fighting benefits to be ignored, among them protecting against cancer and maintaining heart function and strong bones.

Spice up your foods
Chile peppers, ginger, and other spicy foods can enhance sexual performance by increasing circulation.

Eat a hardness-friendly dinner
Look at dinner as a training meal-you are getting ready to perform later. The right choices will help to set the mood and give you enough calories without overloading your gut, so more blood flows to where you really need it. Some important guidelines:
• Avoid before-dinner cocktails.
• Don't order anything braised, scalloped, sauteed, creamy, or fried.
• Choose entrees that are steamed, boiled, baked, poached, grilled, or roasted.
• Pass on all foods high in MSG or salt.
• Split your entree with your partner.
• Have salad dressing served on the side. Better yet, opt for oil and vinegar.
• Trim the fat from red meat, and have any poultry dish served without skin.
• Choose fruit or sherbet for dessert.

Step 2: Sexual Supplements

Which of nature's legendary hardness enhancers really work? My study results, and those of others, have proven that there are several interesting supplements that significantly enhance hardness and increase sexual interest.

Pycnogenol/L-arginine mixture
Pycnogenol, extracted from the bark of a French pine tree, is a precursor to aspirin. It enhances blood flow to the heart and to the penis. It also helps restore elasticity and smoothness to the skin by reinforcing collagen fibers and strengthening the tiny capillaries, which help nourish the cells. L-arginine is an amino acid that is used by the body to build protein. When L-arginine supplements are taken in tandem with a daily routine of physical activity, a synergistic effect is produced that markedly increases your production of nitric oxide. This means greater blood flow to all areas of the body, and specifically to your penis. Take 80 milligrams of Pycnogenol and 3 grams of L-arginine daily (take them on an empty stomach, since protein will inhibit absorption into the bloodstream).

Omega-3s
Take 3 grams of fish-oil tablets daily for vascular support and protection. Research has shown that the marine oil reduces sudden death from heart attack, probably by preventing fatal rhythm disturbances. I like the fact that omega-3s, available in capsule form, are excellent for reducing triglycerides-another form of fat circulating in your blood-and help protect the tiny blood vessels of the penis.

OPCs
Oligomeric proanthocyanidins (OPCs) enhance the activity of vitamins C and E. For improved blood flow and extra protection against insults to blood vessels, add 25 milligrams of red-wine extract and 100 milligrams of grape-seed extract daily to your 4-day regimen. Both contain OPCs.

Vitamin C
This potent antioxidant seems to protect against heart disease. I believe this will translate into protection for the endothelium (lining of the veins), as well. I suggest 500 milligrams of vitamin C daily.

Horny goat weed
Yes, that's really its name. I call it the great libido-booster. I recently completed a 45-day double-blind placebo-controlled study of a Chinese herbal mixture comprised primarily of horny goat weed (Epimedium grandiflorum), along with three other well-known herbal sex boosters (Lepidium meyenii, Mucuna pruriens, and Polypodium vulgare). How horny goat weed creates sexual fire is unclear, but researchers think the boost may be related to its stimulating properties, which may work on the hypothalamus or pituitary gland. Take two capsules twice daily and an additional four capsules 2 hours before a sexual encounter.

Step 3: Sexual Fitness

The surest way to enhance hardness, whet sexual appetite, boost self-esteem, and increase sexual activity is through regular physical activity. Exercise improves fitness, and sexual functioning is an important part of that condition. It also positively affects brain-wave activity, which makes you feel energized. Working out regularly builds stamina, preventing or delaying fatigue during sex. And finally, exercise boosts levels of the male hormone testosterone, leading to heightened libido.

Raise your heart rate To get your heart pumping, make a conscious effort to add 5,000 steps to your daily hoofing, roughly 2 miles. Get a step counter if it helps. (If you already run or bike, these extra steps will supplement that exercise.) A walking program can rev up hormones, flush stress, whittle away fat, and rejuvenate the body, filling you with renewed vigor, confidence, and the glow of good health. I want you to work up to 10,000 steps daily. Why 10,000? Research has determined this is the number of steps that will bolster overall fitness and health and knock off weight. And when the weight goes down, erections go up and stay up.

Build strength Muscle fatigue during sex is a bummer, so add pushups, ab curls, and squats to your work out routine. These exercises strengthen the shoulders, chest, abdominals, buttocks, and legs, all of which are called upon during sexual activity. You already know how to do them, but you might not be familiar with the Cobra. This yoga move is one of the best stretching-strengthening combination exercises around, because it relaxes the muscles of the lower back as it gently stretches the muscles of the abdomen, hips, and neck. Lie facedown on a mat with your face almost touching the mat. Bend your arms and place your palms on the mat beside your shoulders. Keep your legs together and the tops of your feet resting on the mat. Push up, straightening your elbows as you lift your head off the mat, but keep your pelvis pushed into the mat so your spine arches backward. Look at the ceiling. Hold for 1 second; then descend to the mat. Repeat nine times.

Stretch every day
To promote optimal flexibility-the ability to use muscles and joints through their full range of motion-I want you to perform the following stretches every day. Regular stretching will help relieve stress, a major contributing factor to hardness problems. When performed in a slow and focused way, stretching can be an excellent relaxation therapy as well as a tension easer.

The side lunge keeps the muscles used during sex-the adductor, core, and lower-back muscles and the quadriceps, buttocks, and hamstrings-limber and flexible. Stand with your feet slightly apart. Contract your abdominal muscles. Keeping your right leg straight, take a large step sideways with your left foot, toes pointing forward. Bend your left knee. As you lunge, bend your torso toward your left thigh. Reach down and touch your left foot with both hands. Return to the starting position by pushing off your left foot to straighten your leg. Repeat the exercise with your opposite leg. Do 10 with each leg.

The crossover stretch loosens the muscles of the lower back. Lie on your back. Bend your left knee at 90 degrees and extend your arms out to the sides. Keeping your head and shoulders flat on the floor, pull your bent left knee toward the floor and twist your lower body toward your outstretched left arm. Hold for 45 seconds. Switch sides. Repeat.

When you complete this work out program, you will certainly feel different. You will achieve measurable changes in flexibility, strength, and hardness. Hardness is a lifestyle, not 96 hours' worth of quick changes. The idea is to feel good about yourself emotionally and physically always. It's a lifestyle decision.

Adapted from The Hardness Factor: How to Achieve Your Best Health and Sexual Fitness at Any Age, by Steven Lamm, M.D., with Gerald Secor Couzens, (c) 2005 HarperCollins

Any personal health questions or problems mental or physical. Please consult your physician !

Wishing You Great Health,

Glen Edward Mitchell

Any questions? Ask Glen!

9 Truths About Sex ( 4 Women )

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Q.Glen, I am a women, Can you tell me some truths about sex,communication with my partner and just doing it?

A. Sex is the most popular subject on the planet and also the most secret. Everybody is doing it, but very few are talking about it which is why falsehoods are perpetuated and very few are actually having the kind of sex they want and deserve.

While even the most, er, liberated men and women do not experience incredible connections or mind-blowing orgasms every time, it’s safe to say that we all could be enjoying both a lot more than we do. So light the candles and turn up the Luther because I have uncovered some truths about this delicious and controversial topic but be warned: They will not only set you free but will lead to a fuller and more fulfilling life between-the-sheets (or on the kitchen table).

Truth: You cannot know anyone until you know you.
In spite of what mom told you, you won’t go blind. Masturbating is not only fun, relaxing and utterly naughty; it also works as an aid in discovering what works and what doesn’t.

Truth: Sex is like great chocolate -- the more you indulge, the more you want it.
While the day-to-day demands of work, kids, family and friends can leave superwoman exhausted, that is no excuse for not giving yourself a chance to unwind in the most sensual way with someone you care about. Here’s a little challenge: Give it a go three times this week, even if you think you aren’t in the mood. You’ll notice all kinds of sparkly little changes in your complexion, sex appeal and it is sure to ignite your couple-hood!

Truth: There's no shame in letting him know what you want and how you want it.
Walking out of the office bathroom with your skirt in your hose is embarrassing, asking for your man to give you exactly what you want between-the-sheets is sexy, smart and totally seductive. Don’t be ashamed of what feels good for you and do your best not to judge your partner when he lets you in on his secrets.

Truth: There are no emotions in positions.
In spite of what you might have heard, doggie-style does not mean your man does not love you or respect you. Many men enjoy this controversial position because it not only feels good but satisfies their visual desires by giving them a full view of your gorgeous self. Allow yourself the freedom to enjoy the physical act without placing too much emphasis on what position goes with what emotional feeling. It doesn’t work that way.

Truth: You don't have to look, dress or act like a porn star to be good in bed.
He might enjoy watching Ms. Jameson act like a monkey in heat on-screen, but the truth is that most men want to enjoy the woman they are with when she is in her most authentic form. Though it might be fun to spice up the conversation with some saucy-talk or don some stilettos every once in a while, you should never do anything you are not comfortable doing in bed. Awkwardness, discomfort and embarrassment are as sexy as wet socks.

Truth: Perfect thighs do not guarantee perfect sex.
So you have cellulite and some spots are softer than others, join the club! The idea that a few lumps and bumps hinder sex appeal or ability is shameful. Goddesses come in all shapes and sizes and he’s so thrilled you are there with him aliens could land on your rear and he wouldn’t notice.

Truth: Get out of bed and into the shower…the dining room…the living room.
Just the idea of being somewhere you shouldn’t be will create a forbidden vibe. Besides, anyone who has ever tried sex on the bathroom counter knows that a mirror can do everything a camcorder can do sans the embarrassment!

Truth: Foreplay doesn't just happen right before the actual act.
Sex is sex but build-up is sexy. A salacious text, a lingering stare or a glass of wine delivered with a subtle flash of your décolleté give him a small peek into what is coming later.

Truth: Condoms can be sexy
These little lifesavers come in a variety of styles, flavors, textures and even vibrate! Find the ones that tickle your fancy and always carry one with you. Safe-sex is the best sex.

Any personal health questions or problems mental or physical or before starting any diet or exercise program. Please consult your physician !

Wishing You Great Health!

Any questions? Ask Glen!

Sex And Diabetes

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Q. Glen, Does my Diabetes and excessive weight have any effect over my sex life?

A. Yes, But there are things you can do !

Most people who struggle with their weight are probably well aware of the correlation between obesity and diabetes. It’s a slippery slope, the more overweight and out-of-shape one becomes, the better their chances for Type 2 Diabetes. The complications caused by diabetes like heart disease, retinopathy (leading to vision loss), kidney disease and nerve damage are openly discussed with doctors and in support groups.

What’s left unsaid -- is what most people are thinking about but rarely talking about -- with their doctors: sex. Yes, diabetes can have a dramatic effect on a person’s sex life and relationships. Beyond the extra pounds making locating the naughty bits a bit difficult, there are a slew of physical and mental problems that can arise.

Obesity can make it difficult locating the libido, but with diabetes also comes a higher risk of infections, nerve damage which decreases pleasure and sensation, limited mobility, erectile dysfunction, feeling unattractive due to excess weight, being tired from high glucose levels, and vaginal dryness, according to the American Diabetes Association.

Being overweight causes anxiety and prevents you from enjoying your sexuality and sex life. Sex may not be enjoyable merely from the physical difficulty of having sex when you’re obese, or it could be related to nerve damage. However, everyone should to take note that much of the pleasure from sex comes from between your ears -- not just between your legs.

Often times, people don’t know they have diabetes. Type 2 comes on slowly, so it can be hard to catch, gradually creeping into the bedroom and making a person too tired, feeling too unattractive and just not interested due to the problems they face between the sheets, not even realizing what’s caused this drop in desire.

“There are many complications of diabetes that may occur as a result of high blood glucose levels, high blood pressure and/or elevated blood fats. Neuropathy is known to cause sexual dysfunction in up to 75 percent of men and up to 35 percent of women with diabetes.

Damage to the nerves in the sexual regions of the body can reduce or interfere with the ability to feel sexual sensations leading to difficulty with arousal and orgasm. Poor blood flow, especially in men, can mean an inability to achieve and sustain an erection.

Erectile dysfunction affects not only the man, but his partner as well. Because Type 2 occurs later in life, it could disrupt a previously normal sex life and could be attributed to weight gain and poor self image, instead of the real culprit.

The best way to keep the lovin’ alive is to avert yourself from this uninformed road to ruin, “Get tested for diabetes,” is the best piece of preventative advice I can give. If you don’t know what the problem is, you can’t fix it.

Now that the problem’s been diagnosed, Mitchell explains, “Type 2s can often control their blood glucose by losing weight, exercising and when necessary, taking medications. But without making the lifestyle changes required to stay at a healthy weight, some Type 2s need insulin to control their blood sugars.”

“It’s all about prevention,” says Mitchell. “Controlling blood glucose levels by losing weight, eating properly and exercising.”

According to the American Diabetes Association, often times, women with diabetes viewed themselves as less attractive, less satisfied and less interested in sex. But don’t fret, if it’s too late for prevention, there are ways to get back in the saddle.

Try finding comfortable positions for sex, increasing strength through exercise, lube for dryness, focusing on what makes you attractive (you know your best qualities), and, for erectile dysfunction, there are pills, pumps and even surgery (all these should be discussed with a doctor) says the ADA.

Eat right, control glucose levels, exercise and discuss the effects of diabetes with your partner—so they know what’s going on, too. Don’t let diabetes sidetrack your sex life.

Glen Edward Mitchell has Type 2 Diabetes! And uses diet, weight control, and exercise to control his diabetes...

Any personal health questions or problems mental or physical or before starting any diet or exercise program.Please consult your physician !

Wishing You Great Health!

Any questions? Ask Glen

Women Who Don't Want Sex!

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Q. Glen I am a women and sometimes I don't want sex! ( A lot of times!) Do you have any answers?

A.Yes, But not from me! I read a article from two Doctor's Jennifer Berman, MD, and her sister, Laura Berman, PhD. Here is what they wrote!

"Sexuality is such a central part of who we are, emotionally and spiritually, and when that's shut off, it shuts off part of our spirit as well." — Dr. Laura Berman

Jennifer Berman, MD, and her sister, Laura Berman, PhD, are leading experts in the field of female sexual medicine. They opened one of the first centers devoted to this field at UCLA and have written a book, For Women Only: A Revolutionary Guide to Overcoming Sexual Dysfunction and Reclaiming Your Sex Life. They believe that with the right combination of medical and psychological treatment, women's sex lives can change dramatically.

Identifying Sexual Dysfunction
For many years, according to Jennifer, sexual dysfunction has been a silent epidemic, leaving many women feeling alone in their misery. How do you know if you're suffering from sexual dysfunction? Jennifer and Laura offer these signs:

• Your sex life is causing you personal distress.
• Your sex life is affecting your quality of life, your well-being or your relationship.
• You're not responding to sex the way you used to.

Types of Female Sexual Dysfunction
A panel of medical experts, including Jennifer Berman, identified the following types of female sexual dysfunction:

• No desire: Lack of desire that causes personal distress, lack of fantasies or sexual thoughts, or lack of interest in sexual activities. This may be a result of taking certain medications, emotional factors or menopause.
  
• Sexual arousal disorder: Inability to maintain adequate arousal. Possible causes include psychological factors like depression, or medical reasons, such as diminished blood flow.
  
• Lack of orgasm: Difficulty or inability to reach orgasm after stimulation and arousal. This also includes delay in reaching orgasm or diminished quality of orgasm. Emotional trauma or sexual abuse can cause this dysfunction, as well as medical factors, including medication or damage to pelvic nerves during surgery.
  
• Sexual pain: Recurrent or consistent genital pain associated with sexual intercourse. Causes include medical problems like infections or surgical procedures. Psychological issues, relationship problems or emotional conflicts can also be part of the cause. Most often, a combination of physiological and psychological factors leads to this form of dysfunction.

Both doctors note that sexual dysfunction is usually a combination of physical problems as well as psychological problems.

Other Sexual Function Issues

Testosterone: Women need both estrogen and testosterone for a healthy sex life. While estrogen is primarily responsible for lubrication and blood flow, testosterone is the hormone for desire, as well as emotional well-being and energy levels.

Low testosterone levels lead to loss of libido, but also to feeling tired, depressed or unable to sleep. Women's testosterone levels tend to drop after giving birth, most often after the second child.

Anti-depressants: Jennifer explains that often women become depressed about their lack of sexual response, so they're put on anti-depressants, which can make things worse. Fortunately, there are new anti-depressants that help with depression without decreasing sex drive. In some cases, they even improve sex drive.

Medical Procedures: Pelvic surgery or trauma, and particularly hysterectomy, can cause loss of libido and arousal problems. While much is known about the nerves in the male pelvic region, the female's is more of a mystery. This makes it difficult for surgeons to avoid those important nerves.

In the past, when women were recovering from pelvic surgery, the only questions asked were, is it possible to have sex, and does it hurt? Issues of lubrication, orgasms and pelvic contractions were often not a consideration. Jennifer says that as more women enter surgical specialties, closer attention is being paid to these issues.

Treatment:
Testosterone cream has helped women with low libido or sensation problems, but it is not necessarily the answer. It is not FDA approved for use by women and needs to be prescribed and used with a doctor's supervision. There are also side effects to be aware of, including weight gain, oily skin, hair growth, an enlarged clitoris or liver damage.

The Eros CTD (clitoral therapy device) enhances blood flow to the genital area, primarily the clitoris, through suction. The user controls the intensity and frequency of the suction. It is an FDA approved medical device that must be prescribed by a doctor.

If you are considering any kind of treatment, remember to always consult with your doctor to come up with the best plan for you.

Resources
To learn more about female sexual dysfunction and how it relates to you,
read the Bermans' book For Women Only
Call the Female Sexual Medicine Center at UCLA at 310-825-0025 or 800-UCLA-MD1 (800-825-2631).

Any personal health questions or problems mental or physical or before starting any diet or exercise program. Please consult your physician !

Wishing You Great Health!

Any questions? Ask Glen

6 Secret Ways to Turn Her On ( Men )

Ask Glen!

Q. How do I not Turn her off?

A. Here is an article from my friend Sarah Miller

She's got her eye on you -- and these small gestures will awaken desires she never knew she had

By: Sarah Miller

Rest assured, every woman wants to be seduced.

We just don't like guys who go for the seduction jugular: the champagne, the Barry White, the walk on the beach. A man who has tried one of these, or, God forbid, all of them at once, is a man who knows well the face of humiliation and failure.

No, the key to putting a woman in the mood for sex is not to advertise how much you want her, but, rather, to quietly make clear why she should want you. When it comes to sex, in other words, you don't need a billboard--you need sneaky subliminal messages.

They used to use tricks like these to sell more Coke at the movies. Now you can use them to get more women.

1. Ditch the cell.

(Wait. You'd better not be wearing one, because if you are, you're a walking seduction-free zone. This includes beepers.) First of all, women are very serious about our schedules, and if we've set aside time to spend with you, we're not keen on sharing it with your free minutes. Second, when chatting on the phone, you can't help but reveal some of the ins and outs of your work or private life, and that kind of openness is girly, creepy, and not sexy.

But here's the biggest problem: Any guy who can't go 2 hours without checking in with his friends, his job, his family, comes across as desperately insecure. Go ahead and actually turn it off in front of her. She will recognize you as the man who is comfortable and at peace with what's in front of him, and thank her stars you're not the guy who's always wondering what and who is next.

Watch out: Putting your phone on vibrate and repeatedly checking to see who's calling without answering not only is not seductive, but also shows you're kind of an arrogant jerk.

2. Fix something.

Men fixing broken things--light switches, toasters, clogged toilets--is a tradition that dates back to, well, a time when men did things besides nod, point, and hand other men their debit cards. We know that you probably can't gap your points or replace the alternator in your Hyundai. But with a little practice, and some very basic, moron-friendly manuals, you can do plenty of other tasks that would establish you as a Competent Male. If you're going to do this, though, try to do it in her presence. And it's okay, even advisable, to swear if you can't find the right tools, as long as you don't complain.

Danger zone: Don't get dirt on your face unless you're doing something fairly complicated. There's a fine line between looking manly and looking like a doofus with dirt on his face.

3. Read a book.

Allow me to interrupt that thrilling game of Ghost Recon to pose the following question: Do you have any idea of the mass quantity of ass you could get just by reading one book? Women read a lot, and, like pretty much everything else we do, we like to talk about it. Only we can rarely talk about it with guys, because, well, many of you (although not necessarily you personally) are Neanderthals growing slowly illiterate in front of an Xbox. But imagine yourself talking to a pretty woman, and she mentions that she's reading a book, and you've actually read it, too! So if this pretty woman thought you were cute, now she thinks you're smart, too.

Also: Reading in public is a great way to give women an excuse to talk to you.

4. Replace the bottles on the office watercooler.

Modern life, what with its dearth of catapults, marauding wolves, and barn raisings, doesn't provide men with many opportunities to show off their brute strength. It's a very lucky accident that in the midst of all this ease-making progress, we've managed to poison our drinking-water supply.

And since somebody has to replace those unwieldy 5-gallon plastic containers on the office cooler, it might as well be you. It's such a quick, easy way to make the chicks in the office sit up and take notice of your athletic prowess. You know those bottles aren't that heavy, but who cares, because women think they are, Hercules.

Alternative: If you don't have a watercooler in your office, be the first to offer your man power when a stalled or stuck-in-the-snow car needs a push. You want to make your point and then get back to work. There's a reason they call it "the strong, silent type."

5. Write e-mails that are more than five syllables long.

If you're dating a woman, really like her, and yet insist on writing her e-mails that read "ok cu later," you are such an idiot that I don't even know why I'm trying to help you. Men are all about keeping things short and to the point. And when it comes to business correspondence or letting your friends know where you're watching the Dolphins game, that's fine. But short and to the point, in chick world, translates into BORING and UNIMAGINATIVE and--the worst sin of all--UNINTERESTED.

You don't have to get all Cyrano de Bergerac on her ass. But an interesting sentence or two, please, is so easy and so, so point scoring. Examples? She writes, "How was your night?" DO NOT write back, "It was okay." Even if all you did was drink two beers and watch CSI, have something to say. Like, "Do you think real female forensic investigators all wear those low-cut pants?" Just some evidence, please, that you are a living, breathing, thinking human being who doesn't spend all his time away from her staring at a wall. Because that's the image "It was okay" evokes.

Oh, and: "It was okay, how was yours?" is not an improvement over "It was okay." Cop-out is written all over it.

6. Disagree with her.

I have a friend, Nancy, who is extremely beautiful. She is the sort of woman for whom men will do just about anything. She sort of knows this, so she has a tendency to test the limits of their patience and generosity. One day, she was going on and on to her boyfriend about something he had done wrong. He apologized. He apologized twice. And she still went on and on. Finally, he looked right at her, at her perfect arms crossed self-righteously across her perfect breasts as her perfect mouth issued forth criticism after criticism, and said, "Would you please shut the fu-- up?"

She made passionate love to him thereafter and, basically, hasn't stopped since. We're not saying you should shoot down all our complaints by dropping f-bombs, but appeasement isn't always your best move, especially when we've gotten out of hand.

Moral: We're pathetic this way, but you're at your most attractive when you're just totally over us.

Any personal health questions or problems mental or physical or before starting any diet or exercise program.Please consult your physician !

Wishing You Great Health!

Glen Edward Mitchell

Any questions? Ask Glen

Do Not Let Health Issues Dull Sex

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Q. Can my health affect me sex life?

A. Yes

Although a recent study suggests 64 percent of Americans are satisfied with their sex lives, perceived or real health issues can dampen sexual fulfillment. However, recognition of the potential health factors followed by medical consultation often leads to clinical or mental adjustments that improve sexual satisfaction.

Many health issues can get in the way of having a good sex life, from prescription medication side effects to depression to sexually transmitted diseases.

In many cases, physicians can work with their patients to improve the situation, whether by changing the dosage of a medication, helping to treat depression or other medical conditions, or by providing sound medical advice for people who have STDs.

“For people who are not satisfied with their sex life, they really should talk to their primary care physician,” says Pamela G. Rockwell, D.O., assistant professor of family medicine at the University of Michigan Medical School.

“He or she may be able to diagnose something that was previously undiagnosed, change medications, or offer some lifestyle recommendations. In many cases, the patients can improve their sexual satisfaction.”

Nine health issues that can affect sexual satisfaction include:

1. Prescription medications. Many common drugs can have side effects that impact sexual health, including medications that treat blood pressure, heart conditions and depression.

Diuretics (“water pills”) that treat heart and blood pressure conditions can cause erectile dysfunction among men. ACE inhibitors and other calcium channel blockers, which are used to treat some heart-related problems, also have been found to cause erectile problems.

For patients whose depression is being treated with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI) medications – such as Prozac, Paxil, Celexa and other drugs – or other antidepressants, side effects can include a loss of interest in sex and ejaculation problems.

With all of these types of medication and any others that may cause sexual side effects, Rockwell says, patients can talk with their doctors about possibly lowering the dosage, adding a second drug to combat some of the side effects or changing to a different medication.

2. Cardiac health. First, Rockwell would like to dispense with a common misconception. “I think the most common fallacy is that having sex is going to cause a heart attack,” she says. “The good news is it really isn’t the case.”

The majority of people with cardiovascular disease don’t need to alter their sex lives, she says. Some people may need to be careful about all physical activity immediately after a heart attack, or after the implantation of a pacemaker or cardioverter defibrillator, but even then, sex generally is safe as soon as the patient’s physician gives the go-ahead to resume physical activity.

3. Depression. Untreated depression, Rockwell says, can lead to many sexual difficulties. “People can experience lack of pleasure, lack of desire and lack of ability to perform,” she says.

Adding to the challenge is that some people with untreated depression have heard that antidepressants can negatively affect their sex lives. In reality, Rockwell says, most people on antidepressants don’t experience these problems. For those who do, doctors often can prescribe different dosages or different drugs to minimize the side effects.

4. Alcohol. As anyone who has ever seen a beer commercial knows, alcohol and sex are linked in the minds of many people. Indeed, Rockwell says, many people believe that alcohol will “get you in the mood.”

While a few drinks initially lower one’s inhibitions, drinking can lead to risky sexual behavior – not just for people with serious alcohol problems, but also among people who only occasionally have too much to drink. Additionally, Rockwell says, it doesn’t really help with one’s enjoyment of sex. “Overall, it decreases sexual pleasure because alcohol lowers your sensations,” she says.

5. Sexually transmitted diseases. For people with STDs such as HIV, the human papillomavirus (HPV), or hepatitis, sex isn’t out of the picture. In fact, Rockwell says, “people with STDs can certainly have healthy, satisfying sex lives.”

Protection is a must, she says, and condoms must be used 100 percent of the time. An important caveat is that with HPV, which can cause cervical cancer, condoms do not necessarily protect one’s partner against contracting the virus.

6. Stress. Got stress? If so, then you may have more trouble experiencing an enjoyable sex life.

“Stress often has effects on our sex lives. When we are consumed with time management, working, raising children and providing for our families, we often don’t leave a lot of time for ourselves,” Rockwell notes. “What happens is the libido goes down, and the ability to accept and give pleasure decreases. People who suffer from unsatisfying sex lives may not even realize that it could be caused by stress.”

7. Pregnancy. “Physically, there is no barrier to sex during pregnancy,” Rockwell says. Intercourse will not harm the fetus or the woman, unless she has a medical problem and has been advised by her physician not to have intercourse. Levels of desire can vary. The use of lubricants and changes in positions as the pregnancy progresses may be necessary.

8. Menopause. Some physical limitations may affect a woman’s enjoyment of sex after menopause, but that doesn’t mean a woman’s sex life is over. “Many women can experience a very healthy sexual life after menopause,” Rockwell says. “There is no reason that menopause should mean an end to your sex life.” Topical estrogen cream and lubricants may help after the drop in hormone levels that occurs during menopause.

9. Poor body image and self esteem. A woman’s self esteem can significantly affect her sexual satisfaction, and low self esteem based on a poor image of her body can detrimentally impact her enjoyment of sex. “Some studies show that as little as five pounds of weight loss can greatly improve a woman’s sexual satisfaction,” Rockwell notes.

Any personal health questions or problems mental or physical or before starting any diet or exercise program.Please consult your physician !

Wishing You Great Health!

Glen Edward Mitchell

Any questions? Ask Glen

sex statistics

Ask Glen!

Q. Are there any basic sexual statistics for men?

A. Yes ( basic )


Works For Him

71% of guys love it when you run your fingers through their hair

95% of guys dig your hands on their thighs (duh...)

77% of men like making eye contact with attractive strangers

70% of guys get a rush from harmless flirtation

Not His Thing

67% of guys don't get off on a runner's high

69% of men would rather ogle your muscles than their own

61% of guys think that hot baths are overrated

73% of guys are blasé about getting a whopping paycheck. But let's talk about that new L


Any personal health questions or problems mental or physical or before starting any diet or exercise program.Please consult your physician !

Wishing You Great Health!

Glen Edward Mitchell

Any questions? Ask Glen

Pelvic Examination

Ask Glen!

Q.What is a pelvic exam?



A. A pelvic examination is a complete physical exam of a woman's pelvic organs by a health professional. A pelvic exam helps a health professional evaluate the size and position of the vagina, cervix, uterus, fallopian tubes, and ovaries. It is an important part of preventive health care for all adult women. A pelvic exam is done to help detect certain cancers in their early stages, infections, sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), or other reproductive system problems.

Why It Is Done

A pelvic exam may be done:

• As part of a woman's regular physical checkup. A Pap smear may be done during the pelvic exam. For more information, see the medical test Pap Test.
• To detect vaginal infections, such as yeast infections or bacterial vaginosis.
• To help detect sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), such as chlamydia, herpes, gonorrhea, trichomoniasis, or human papillomavirus (HPV).
• To help determine the cause of abnormal uterine bleeding.
• To evaluate pelvic organ abnormalities, such as uterine fibroids, ovarian cysts, or uterine prolapse.
• To evaluate abdominal or pelvic pain.
• Before prescribing a method of birth control (contraception). Some methods of birth control, such as a diaphragm or intrauterine device, require a pelvic exam to make sure the device fits properly.
• Collect evidence in cases of suspected sexual assault.

How To Prepare

Before a pelvic exam:

• Try to schedule the exam when you are not having your period, since blood can interfere with the results of a Pap smear. However, if you have a new vaginal discharge or new or increasing pelvic pain, a pelvic exam may be done while you are having your period.
• Do not use douches, tampons, vaginal medications, or vaginal sprays or powders for at least 24 hours before having a pelvic exam.
• If you have an abnormal discharge, do not have sex for 24 hours before having a pelvic exam. Semen in your vagina may interfere with your exam.

At the beginning of your visit, tell your health professional:

• If you are or might be pregnant.
• If you have any reproductive or urinary tract symptoms such as itching, redness, sores, swelling, or an unusual odor or increased vaginal discharge. If you have been performing regular vaginal self-exams, discuss any changes you have noticed with your health professional. For more information, see the medical test Vaginal Self-Examination (VSE).
• If you are using a method of birth control.
• If this is your first pelvic exam.
• The first day of your last menstrual period and how long your period lasted.
• If you have had surgery or other procedures, such as radiation therapy, to the vagina, cervix, or uterus.

If you have had problems with pelvic exams in the past or are a survivor of rape or sexual abuse, talk to your health professional about your concerns or fears before the exam.

No other special preparations are needed before having a pelvic exam. For your own comfort, you may want to empty your bladder before the exam.

Talk to your health professional about any concerns you have regarding the need for the test, its risks, how it will be done, or what the results may indicate. To help you understand the importance of this test, fill out the medical test information form(What is a PDF document?).

How It Is Done

During a pelvic exam, you will:

• Take off your clothes below the waist. You will have a paper or cloth covering around your waist.
• Lie on your back on an exam table with your feet raised and supported by stirrups. This allows the health professional to examine your vulva, urethra, vagina, and other reproductive organs. You may want to wear socks to keep your feet warm while they are in the stirrups.
• Have a drape across your body for privacy during the test. The health professional may use a lamp during the test, and you may ask for a mirror if you want to watch while the test is being done.

A female nurse or assistant may stay in the room with you during the exam. You may also request the presence of your partner or a friend.

External exam

During the external exam, the health professional will:

• Check your vulva and the opening of your vagina for signs of redness, irritation, discharge, cysts, genital warts, and other abnormal conditions.
• Check inside your vagina with his or her finger for any cysts or pus coming from the Bartholin glands.
• Gently insert the speculum into your vagina. The speculum spreads apart the vaginal walls, allowing the inside of the vagina and the cervix to be examined. The speculum may be plastic or metal and may be warmed with water or lubricated with a vaginal lubricant (such as K-Y Jelly).
• Check the walls of your vagina and your cervix for damage, growths, inflammation, unusual discharge, or discoloration.

If you are due for a Pap smear, your health professional will use a small brush or a wooden spatula to gently collect a sample of cervical cells. You may have some staining or bleeding after the sample is taken. A sample of the cervical mucus may also be obtained and tested for sexually transmitted infections such as gonorrhea or chlamydia.

Bimanual exam

This exam is usually done as part of a pelvic exam. Your health professional will insert one or two gloved fingers of one hand into your vagina while placing the other hand on your lower abdomen. By pressing down on the abdomen and moving the fingers around inside your vagina, your health professional can locate and determine the size, shape, and consistency of the uterus, ovaries, and fallopian tubes. Any unusual growths, tenderness, or pain can also be identified.

Rectovaginal exam

For this exam, your health professional will insert one finger into your rectum and one into your vagina. This helps your health professional evaluate your ovaries, fallopian tubes, and uterus ligaments. This exam is not always done as part of a pelvic exam.

The entire pelvic exam takes about 10 minutes. After the exam is finished, you will be given a washcloth or tissue to wipe your vaginal area to remove any discharge resulting from the exam, and you will then dress. Some test results may be available immediately, but results from the Pap smear may take from several days to a couple of weeks.

How It Feels

A pelvic exam is more comfortable if you and the health professional are relaxed during the procedure. Breathing deeply and having a light conversation with your health professional may help you relax. Try not to hold your breath or tense your muscles.

You may feel some pressure or mild discomfort when the speculum is inserted into your vagina. Try to relax your legs and hips as much as you can. You may experience pain or irritation, especially if you have a vaginal infection. If a metal speculum is used, the metal may feel cold and hard. The speculum may be warmed with water or lubricated with a vaginal lubricant, such as K-Y Jelly, before being inserted into the vagina.

During the bimanual part of the exam, you may feel an uncomfortable sensation of pressure or a slight twinge of pain as the health professional feels your ovaries; breathing deeply may help you relax. You may feel a brief pinch when the Pap smear is taken. Tell your health professional if any part of the exam is painful.

During the rectovaginal exam, you may feel as though you are about to have a bowel movement as the health professional withdraws a finger from your rectum. This is a normal sensation that lasts only a few seconds. You may have a small amount of vaginal discharge or bleeding after the exam.

Risks

There are no risks associated with a pelvic exam.

Results

A pelvic examination is a complete physical exam of a woman's pelvic organs by a health professional. A pelvic exam helps a health professional evaluate the size and position of the vagina, cervix, uterus, fallopian tubes, and ovaries.

Pelvic exam

Normal:	The uterus, fallopian tubes, and ovaries are normal in size and location. The uterus can be moved slightly without causing pain.
	The vulva, vagina, and cervix appear normal with no signs of infection, inflammation, or other abnormalities.
	Glands around the opening of your vagina (Bartholin's glands) or urethra (Skene's glands) are not swollen or inflamed.
	No masses (nodules) of abnormal tissue are felt in the area between the uterus and rectum (cul-de-sac) or in the strong bands of tissue (ligaments) that attach to the uterus to hold it in place. No fibroids are felt during the bimanual pelvic or rectal exams.
	No pelvic pain or tenderness is present.
	No hardening of tissue (induration) is felt.
Abnormal:	Sores, signs of infection, inflammation, or abnormalities of the vulva, vagina, or cervix are present. Signs of a sexually transmitted disease (such as genital herpes, genital warts, or syphilis) may be present. Additional testing will be required to determine the cause.
	The glands around the vagina (Bartholin's glands) or urethra (Skene's glands) are swollen or inflamed.
	The uterus cannot be moved (even slightly) during the exam.
	Pain or tenderness is felt when the uterus is moved slightly or when the area between the uterus and rectum (cul-de-sac) is touched. The uterus is pushed away from the midline of the abdomen.
	The ovaries are painful when touched, enlarged, or not movable (fixed).
	An ovarian mass is present or a mass that was detected during a previous gynecologic exam is still present or has grown larger.
	Small masses (nodules) of abnormal tissue are felt near the uterus or in the cul-de-sac. Uterine fibroids are felt during the bimanual pelvic or rectal exam.
	Hardening of tissue (induration) is felt.
	An area of ulceration or a tear is found.
	A mass can be felt near one or both ovaries.

Many conditions can change the results of your pelvic exam. Your health professional will discuss any significant abnormal results with you in relation to your symptoms and medical history.

What Affects the Test

Reasons you may not be able to have the test or why the results may not be helpful include:

• Menstrual blood on the slide.
• A vaginal infection.
• The use of douches or vaginal creams or preparations within 24 hours of the exam.

What To Think About

• You should begin having regular Pap tests within 3 years after becoming sexually active. For more information, see the medical test Pap Test.
• After you have had three or more consecutive, normal annual pelvic and Pap tests, these tests may be performed less frequently, depending on your risk factors for cervical problems and the advice of your health professional.
• If a sexually transmitted disease (STD) is suspected, other specialized testing may be needed to confirm a diagnosis. For more information, see the medical tests Vaginal Wet Mount, Tests for Bacterial Vaginosis (BV), Herpes Tests, Syphilis Tests, Chlamydia Tests, and Gonorrhea Test.
• Pelvic ultrasound is another test used to evaluate a woman's pelvic organs. For more information, see the medical test Pelvic Ultrasound.
• Vaginal self-exam (VSE) may help you better understand your body, know what is normal for you, and find early signs of infections or other abnormal conditions that might require medical attention. However, VSE should supplement but not replace a regular pelvic exam and Pap test done by a health professional. For more information, see the medical test Vaginal Self-Examination (VSE).

Other Works Consulted (I needed help with this one!)

• Chernecky CC, Berger BJ, eds. (2004). Laboratory Tests and Diagnostic Procedures, 4th ed. Philadelphia: Saunders.

• Fischbach FT, Dunning MB III, eds. (2004). Manual of Laboratory and Diagnostic Tests, 7th ed. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams and Wilkins.

• Handbook of Diagnostic Tests (2003). 3rd ed. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams and Wilkins.

• Pagana KD, Pagana TJ (2002). Mosby’s Manual of Diagnostic and Laboratory Tests, 2nd ed. St. Louis: Mosby.

Author Sydney Youngerman-Cole, RN, BSN, RNC
Editor Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA
Associate Editor Tracy Landauer
Primary Medical Reviewer Joy Melnikow, MD, MPH - Family Medicine
Specialist Medical Reviewer Deborah A. Penava, BA, MD, FRCSC, MPH - Obstetrics and Gynecology

Any personal health questions or problems mental or physical. Please consult your physician !

Wishing You Great Health,

Glen Edward Mitchell

Got a question? Ask Glen!

HPV Virus

Ask Glen!

Q. What is HPV?



A. Human Papillomavirus, more commonly known as HPV, is a viral infection spread through skin to skin sexual contact. HPV is a group of over 100 different viruses, with at least 30 strains known to cause different types of cancer. There is currently no cure for HPV.

How Can You Get HPV?

HPV is transmitted by skin to skin contact through vaginal, anal and oral sex with a partner who already has HPV. If infected, signs and symptoms may take weeks, months and even years to appear. Symptoms may never appear.


Symptoms of HPV

Symptoms of HPV normally appear in the form a cauliflower like growths called genital warts. These warts may also be flat.
They can be found on the inside and the outside of the vagina. These growths may take weeks or even years to show after having sex with an infected partner. Again, they may appear show at all.

How Do I Know If I Have HPV?

An HPV test can be done to determine if a person has HPV. Testing samples of cervical cells is an effective way to identify high-risk types of HPVs that may be present. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved an HPV test that can identify 13 of the high-risk types of HPVs associated with the development of cervical cancer. There is currently no test to determine if a man has HPV.

Preventing HPV

Abstaining from any type of sexual realtions is ideal in preventing HPV, but not very realisitc these days for adults. Wearing a condom provides limited protection. The male condom provides limited protection. Keep in mind that since HPV may not show any visible symptoms, your partner may still be infected.

HPC Causes Cervical Cancer

HPV is a Risk Factor For Cervical Cancer

Having many sexual partners is a risk factor for HPV infection. Although most HPV infections go away on their own without causing any type of abnormality, infection with high-risk HPV types increases the chance that mild abnormalities will progress to more severe abnormalities to cervical cancer.

Still, of the women who do develop abnormal cell changes with high-risk types of HPVs, only a small percentage would develop cervical cancer if the abnormal cells were not removed. Studies suggest that whether a woman develops cervical cancer depends on a variety of factors acting together with high-risk HPVs. The factors that may increase the risk of cervical cancer in women with HPV infection include smoking and having many children.

Any personal health questions or problems mental or physical. Please consult your physician !

Wishing You Great Health,

Glen Edward Mitchell

Got a question? Ask Glen!

the ultimate guide to your...vagina (gasp)

Ask Glen!

Q. Is there a guide to my Vagina?

A. Sex ed didn't cover the half of it. From little-known anatomy to tips on safe handling, here's what you need to know about the sweet spot between your legs


That's right, I am shining a spotlight on the almighty vajayjay. And it's about time. Given the ridiculous amount of maintenance it requires — gynecologist visits, bikini waxes, Monistat, and more — you'd think we'd know everything about this attention-getting organ's intricate design and how to keep it running smoother than a top-of-the-line Lexus. Yet even women who feel perfectly comfortable in their skin don't give much thought to the nooks and crannies of their nether regions. "Many women never connect with their sexual anatomy because of our society's 'keep away' attitude toward the vagina and vulva," says Elizabeth Stewart, M.D., author of The V Book.

The following guide to a healthy honeypot explains a few things you might still wonder about, like why discharge varies during your cycle and the secret to finding the nerve-packed hot spots that make intercourse feel as good as a clitoral rubdown. And we bet you know someone who could benefit from this info as much — if not more — than you, so be sure to leave this story out where he can see it.



The VIP Lounge
Most people call the whole kit and caboodle between a woman's legs the "vagina." But the compendium of visible outer parts is technically the "vulva." Meant to keep dirt and bacteria out while providing a welcoming environment for worthy partygoers, the vulva is like a VIP lounge where the clitoris is the DJ. "The labia majora [outer lips] are a protective layer of fat covered by skin and hair," says Lillian Schapiro, M.D., an Atlanta ob-gyn. Their job is to keep sex comfy even if your partner's pelvis is bonier than Iggy Pop's. Located inside the labia majora (though sometimes extending beyond them), the labia minora, or inner lips, act like a pair of swinging doors guarding the entrance to the vagina and the urethra, the tube that leads from the bladder. "The labia minora are much thinner than the labia majora and even more sensitive," Dr. Schapiro says. Plus, they contain erectile tissue, made up of clusters of tiny blood vessels, which means they become slightly stiffer (though not as stiff as the clitoris) during arousal. The anatomist who named the parts of the vulva must have found it loungelike too, because the area between and including the inner folds of the labia minora is called the "vestibule."Your Sprinkler System
Hiding just below the skin of the labia and clitoral hood (called the prepuce) are hundreds of small glands that secrete oil and sweat to protect these delicate areas from friction and overheating. That means it's normal if the crotch of your yoga pants is soaked by the end of a workout. The inside of the vagina also stays moist to maintain healthy tissue, but as you've no doubt noticed, it gets wetter when you're turned on. That's because the lining of the vagina fills with blood during arousal, causing the salt water in blood plasma to push through the vaginal wall. The Bartholin's glands — on either side of the vaginal opening — also pump out a few beads of slippery mucus. In missionary position, most of this fluid collects in the back of the vagina and fails to lubricate the opening, making sex uncomfortable. Unfortunately, in some women, lubrication occurs for only a few moments, then stops. In both cases, a water-based personal lubricant is key to ensuring a smooth entry.

Pleats and Ruffles
Like an haute-couture handbag, the vulva and vagina feature a variety of textures. Most of the vulva is smooth, but some women's labia minora have a ruffled appearance. "Labia come in all shapes and sizes," Dr. Stewart says. "The tips of the nipples and labia are similar because they both contain small, bumpy-looking glands." Examine your labia minora closely (using a hand mirror) and you may see the glands, which sometimes look like tiny pimples. Separate the labia minora and you may notice that the entrance to the vagina also has a ruffled border or just a few irregular bits of skin. Those are the remnants of the hymen, a thin membrane that once partially covered the entrance but has been torn or pushed aside by sexual intercourse. As for the texture inside the vagina, it's full of bumpy ridges called rugae. Similar to pleats on a skirt, the rugae stretch and retract to accommodate objects ranging in size from super-slender tampons to roly-poly 8-pound babies.

Finding the Wishbone
In a body full of hardworking organs, the clitoris is like a trust-fund baby who does nothing but party. It's the only part of the human body whose sole purpose is pleasure. The one thing the clitoris has that a trust-fund baby lacks? Depth. "The clitoris is larger than it seems," says Laura Berman, Ph.D., clinical assistant professor of ob-gyn and psychiatry at Northwestern University's medical school and author of The Passion Prescription. Beneath the visible pink button, called the glans, lies a wishbone-shaped structure comprising a shaft, which extends about an inch up toward the pubic bone, and two 3*inch arms called crura that reach down and back toward the pelvic bone in an inverted V shape. Though the shaft and crura send pleasure signals to the brain during sex, the glans is more sensitive. That's why it has a hood — without it, a pair of tight jeans would send your nervous system into overdrive.

Two bulbs of erectile tissue run alongside the crura. Many experts, including Berman and Helen O'Connell, M.D., a urologist at Royal Melbourne Hospital in Australia and the first person to map the clitoris using magnetic resonance imaging, believe that this tissue is part of the clitoris too. In studies, Dr. O'Connell found that the clitoris is also connected to erectile tissue surrounding the urethra and extending up to the front wall of the vagina — where the enigmatic G-spot has been known to pop up.
Over the Hedge
Before you shave or wax it into a perfect triangle, landing strip, or lucky shamrock, the hair that covers the pubic mound and outer labia grows in a pattern called the escutcheon (based on the Latin term for an ornamental shield).

When allowed to grow wild, some escutcheons will wander up toward the navel and down toward the upper thighs, while others wouldn't breech the borders of a Brazilian bikini. The shape of hair shafts differs depending on ethnicity: In Asian women they're typically round, in women of African descent they're elliptical, and in Caucasians and Latinas they range between the two. "Elliptical shafts are more likely to become ingrown after shaving or waxing as the hair curls in, pierces the skin, and creates a bump," says Susan Taylor, M.D., a Philadelphia dermatologist and author of Brown Skin. "A depilatory breaks the hair at the surface, which can make ingrowns less likely, but only if the chemicals don't irritate your skin." Whenever you try a new depilatory, always spot-test the product on your inner thigh before using it on your bikini area. Another way to create an aesthetically pleasing patch is with laser hair removal, but only by a trained professional who uses a laser like the Nd:YAG, which Dr. Taylor says won't create dark spots by damaging surrounding skin.

X Marks the Spot
While the vagina is nowhere near as responsive to touch as the vulva, it does contain hundreds of nerve endings. If a woman were lying on her back with a clock placed upright inside the lower part of her vagina (don't ask how it got there), the most sensitive area would be at 12 o'clock, right behind the urethra. In a 1982 study of more than 400 women, Rutgers University sex researcher Beverly Whipple, Ph.D., and two colleagues found that when this area was stimulated after a woman was already sexually aroused, a dime-size bump of tissue appeared and could sometimes trigger an orgasm. She named the area the G-spot after Ernst Grafenberg, the German doctor who first documented it in 1950. Further examination of this spongy tissue found it identical to that of the male prostate gland, a well-established pleasure zone. Some doctors believe the G-spot should be renamed the female prostate. Supporting that belief is a study showing the similarity between the fluid expelled by a very small percentage of women through their urethra during a G-spot orgasm (aka female ejaculation) and that produced by the male prostate. What if you've never found your G-spot, much less ejaculated? Whipple says don't sweat it: "There are many sensitive areas inside the vagina that, when stimulated by a finger, vibrator, or penis, can contribute to sexual pleasure."

Honorable Discharge
That strip of cotton in the crotch of every panty is there for a reason — even if you're not on your period or the tiniest bit sweaty, it will collect moisture. The vulva and vagina produce an average of 1 to 2 grams of vaginal discharge (or about 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon) every 8 hours. But even normal discharge doesn't make a pretty picture. "It may be clear, white, or yellow, and fluid, waxy, stringy, or clumpy," Dr. Stewart says. Some of it is a buildup of the oil that the glands in your vulva produce. Some is cervical mucus. Still more comes from normal vaginal secretions. Throw a sample under a microscope and you'll also find bacteria, skin cells, and yeast spores. Quantity and consistency change over the menstrual cycle. "During ovulation, secretions are thinner and more plentiful," Dr. Stewart says. "After ovulation, discharge becomes thicker. As you near menstruation, there's less." How do you keep this fluid factory fresh? Don't mess with it. "The vagina cleans itself. Over-the-counter products can make matters worse, since the protective bacterial balance will be further disrupted," Berman says. "If discharge smells bad or is accompanied by discomfort, see your doctor." Wash with water and a perfume-free, pH-balanced soap like Dove, Berman says. Always wear cotton undies and go commando at night or whenever possible. That's right: Unless you're wearing something that could chafe or otherwise irritate you down under, docs are big fans of a panty-free lifestyle.

Tilt-a-Whirl
As seen on the diagram in every Tampax box, the vagina tilts back 30 degrees from the opening, which is why you're supposed to aim toward your lower back when pushing the plunger. A side effect of this 30degree angle is that in missionary position, the penis has little to no contact with the super-sensitive front wall of the vagina. As far as orgasm goes, this is not good. Placing a pillow under your hips, wrapping your legs around your partner's lower back, and rocking back and forth to create clitoral friction can help you get maximum bliss out of missionary, but other positions typically yield better results. "The best positions for G-spot stimulation include woman-on-top and rear entry," Berman says. Woman-on-top lets you experiment with different angles to find the most feel-good sensations. "Leaning back targets the anterior wall," Berman says. Zero in on your G-spot in rear entry by lying flat on your stomach and tucking a pillow under your hips. Or try reverse cowgirl, where you face his feet — and with that view, he'll be one very happy cowboy.

The Big Squeeze
You've heard of sex-enhancing Kegel exercises: Squeeze the muscle you'd use to stop urine midflow (except don't actually do it while you're peeing, since that can cause bladder infections), hold it for as long as you can, release, and repeat. But perhaps you haven't seen Berman's vaginal barbells. Neither had we. For beginners, there's the Isis, which looks like a slim, clear plastic bow tie with smooth, rounded edges. And for women with power vaginas (Asia Argento? Shakira? Condi Rice?), there's the Juno, a plastic rod containing four spherical, 0.3- to 1.5-ounce weights in a row from smallest to largest (you'll find both for sale at My Pleasure). Start by inserting the bigger end in your vagina, tightening your pelvic floor muscles around it, and holding it in place with your hand. You'll know your muscles are getting stronger when you can hold the smaller end in your vagina with no hand support. "Just like other muscles, strengthening pelvic floor muscles is more effective when you add resistance," Berman says. "Over time, using the Isis or Juno leads to improved vaginal tone and enhanced arousal and orgasm ability." But even without resistance, Kegels make a real difference; according to Dr. Stewart, if you squeeze out 10 to 20 daily, you'll sense stronger orgasms in about 3 months.

Friendly Invaders
Inside your vagina reside trillions of bacteria, some friendly, some not so friendly. "Lactobacillus is a beneficial bacteria that keeps nastier bacteria in check," says Christopher A. Czaja, M.D., an infectious disease fellow at the University of Washington at Seattle. "Classic urinary tract infections often occur when the number of Lactobacillus drops and E. coli bacteria [often present in the vagina] start to flourish and ascend the urethra." Yech. To prevent E. coli from migrating into the vagina from the other side of the 'hood, always wipe from front to back after going to the bathroom. Besides bullying bacterial bad boys like E. coli, Lactobacillus also crowds out yeast spores, another normal inhabitant of the vagina, which can otherwise grow to the level of an itchy infection. Keep your Lactobacillus count up by eating a daily cup of yogurt that contains the bacteria and avoiding unnecessary antibiotics, which kill off the good guys along with the bad.

Strings Attached
As tender as the vagina may seem, it's actually a pretty tough cookie. When it sustains small scrapes from, say, enthusiastic booty, the vaginal lining can heal surprisingly fast. Another way it gets beat up is by improper use of super-absorbency tampons. This is different than scary toxic shock syndrome, a rare, dangerous condition (odds of getting it are about 1 in 100,000) that results from an overgrowth of Staphylococcus aureus bacteria. The staph bug can be exacerbated by wearing the same tampon for longer than 8 hours — but is not actually caused by tampons themselves. (The best way to avoid TSS, besides changing your tampon regularly, is making sure that only clean hands and objects come in contact with your cooch.)

What tampons can give you are vaginal ulcers that don't cause any discomfort but do make you more vulnerable to sexually transmitted infections. "Using a high-absorbency tampon during light flow days or when spotting can draw too much fluid out of the vagina, damaging cells and causing them to erode," Dr. Stewart says. The good news is that the vaginal lining is quick to produce new cells, allowing ulcers to heal completely in as little as 48 hours. To prevent vaginal stress, avoid super-absorbency tampons on all but your heaviest days and don't use them at all between periods.

Vagus, Baby
Many lucky-as-hell women report experiencing three different kinds of orgasms (four if you include the faux-gasm): one that radiates from the clitoris and feels a little bit superficial, a more satisfying one that happens deeper inside the vagina, and an even bigger bang that's a divine blend of the two. Makes sense, considering that our brains receive pleasure signals through as many as four sensory fields. According to The Science of Orgasm, a new book coauthored by Whipple, Barry Komisaruk, Ph.D., and Carlos Beyer-Flores, Ph.D., clitoral stimulation sends tingles up the pudendal nerve; sensations inside the vagina travel up the pelvic nerve; and pleasurable contact with the cervix activates the pelvic, hypogastric, and vagus nerves.

That last link — between the cervix and the vagus nerve, which controls activities as seemingly unrelated as swallowing and sweating — is a new one that Whipple's team discovered during a clinical study of women with spinal cord injuries. "We don't yet know if it's a supplemental tract that the genitals normally use to send messages to the spinal cord or if it's activated only if the spinal cord is cut off by injury," Dr. Stewart says. But one thing the involvement of the vagus nerve makes clear is that female orgasm is just as mysterious on the inside as it can seem from out here.

Any personal health questions or problems mental or physical. Please consult your physician !

Wishing You Great Health,

Glen Edward Mitchell

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The Vagina

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Q. What is a vagina?

Pronunciation (vă-jī′nă, -nē)

A. Definition: Vagina: The muscular canal extending from the cervix to the outside of the body. It is usually six to seven inches in length, and its walls are lined with mucous membrane. It includes two vaultlike structures, the anterior (front) vaginal fornix and the posterior (rear) vaginal fornix. The cervix protrudes slightly into the vagina, and it is through a tiny hole in the cervix (the os) that sperm make their way toward the internal reproductive organs. The vagina also includes numerous tiny glands that make vaginal secretions.
The word "vagina" is a Latin word meaning "a sheath or scabbard," a scabbard into which one might slide and sheath a sword. The "sword" in the case of the anatomic vagina was the penis. Love and war, it would seem, have been connected in the minds of people for millennial.

Any personal health questions or problems mental or physical. Please consult your physician !

Wishing You Great Health,

Glen Edward Mitchell

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Stiffy or iffy?

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Q Glen can I still proform as good in bed as I get older?

A.As men age, they need to consider the heart/erection connection.


All health issues have effects on your penis,says Steven Lamm, M.D., an assistant professor at the New York University school of medicine and the author of The Hardness Factor: How to Achieve Your Best Health and Sexual Fitness at Any Age. "A 50-year-old man who is healthy is probably performing as well sexually as an out-of-shape 30-year-old who smokes and drinks."

Dr. Lamm recommends these lifestyle changes to keep your member in good standing after the teenage years.

*Achieve ideal body weight and eliminate the fat around your gut. Abdominal fat blocks the testosterone that should be available to you, which in turn affects sexual functioning. A fat gut is a bad marker for overall health--including your sexual health, says Dr. Lamm.

* Do a cardio workout daily. When you exercise, bloodflow increases--blood rushes through the endothelial cells (the lining of the blood vessels) and stimulates them to make more nitric oxide, a key chemical involved in producing erections. "The healthier a man is, the more nitric oxide he produces, and the harder his erection is," says Dr. Lamm.

* Give up butts. "Absolutely do not smoke--that just clenches down on your blood vessels and prevents them from being reactive," he says. Smoking restricts penile bloodflow and weakens erections, making smokers twice as likely to experience erectile dysfunction.

* Avoid big meals and alcohol before sexual encounters. For optimal sexual performance, give yourself 2 hours between dinner and sex. Would you eat a big meal before playing a full-court basketball game? "If all your blood is going to your gut, it's not going to go to your pelvic area," Dr. Lamm says.

* take supplemental insurance. Pop two omega-3 fatty-acid supplements daily totaling at least 300 milligrams (mg) of DHA and 400 mg of EPA as a kind of insurance policy on your heart and penis health. And consider taking the antioxidants pycnogenol (80 mg) and L-arginine (3 grams) daily. They'll shield your endothelium from harm and facilitate the use of nitric

Any personal health questions or problems mental or physical. Please consult your physician !

Wishing You Great Health,

Glen Edward Mitchell

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How to Operate Your Man Machinery

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Q Glen how do you use your penis?

A.Your penis was designed to do these three things..

Before attempting to operate your privates, it’s recommended that you thoroughly familiarize yourself with the location and function of all parts and controls. Basically, your penis is designed to do three things:

1. Direct the flow of urine:

The penis contains a narrow hose called the urethra that is attached to the bladder. As the urine level approaches the bladder’s maximum-capacity line, you get the urge to pull over. When released, urine is flushed through the urethra, out the tip of the penis and, according to most women, usually onto the floor next to the toilet. Acting as a regulator for this process is the pubococcygeal (PC) muscle. This is what you flex to stop urine flow or rid yourself of those last few drops.

2. Become rigid enough

to allow penetration of the vagina during sexual intercourse: Your penis is equipped with twin hydraulic chambers. During sexual stimulation, these fill with blood until the penis grows firm and erect. After stimulation ends or there’s ejaculation, blood leaves these chambers and the penis softens again. There is usually a recovery or "refractory" period ranging from minutes to a full day (depending on the equipment’s age) before another erection can occur.

About half of the penis is hidden inside the body, even when erect. It is fastened to the pelvis undercarriage for support.

3. Deposit semen within the vagina during ejaculation:

Sperm is manufactured inside the testicles, those two ball joints below the drive shaft. From here, it passes into a soft, fibrous organ behind each testicle called the epididymis, where it acquires the long tail necessary for swimming. Sperm then enters the vas deferens for storage. This thin hose loops around and splices into the urethra just below the bladder. When it’s time to shift into sexual high gear, sperm is mixed with liquid from the prostate gland and adjoining seminal vesicles. The resulting transmission fluid, called semen, gathers in a holding tank, which gradually swells to pinch the bladder shut and prevent urine from trickling in. Finally, the semen is expelled from the urethra by a series of powerful muscular contractions.

Any personal health questions or problems mental or physical. Please consult your physician !

Wishing You Great Health,

Glen Edward Mitchell

Got a question? Ask Glen!