Good Vibrations Magazine

Dr. Carol Queen, Ph. D answers sex questions, this one came in from Facebook.
I was wondering… why does it feel good when my bladder is full? Is it pressing on my g-spot? I’ll even start and stop my flow during urination because it feels so good, nearly orgasmic. Why does this feel good? My [...]

According to Mosnews.com, the President of Ukraine has signed a law banning all pornography unless it’s “medicinal.” I’m kind of curious- how does one go about getting a prescription?

Hallie Potocki, a writer with First Magazine (1.5 million readers), is doing a piece on sexual confidence for women and is looking for a ‘testimonial’ woman who would like to share her story. She will need to briefly interview a woman between 30 and 50 (attractive as her photo will be in the magazine) whose [...]

Staff Sexologist Dr. Carol Queen answers your questions…
Question: my wife takes paxil + is also survivor of sexual abuse as a teenager = she has like 0 drive or enjoyment, sex is a 1 a mo duty - what 2 do?
You’re right that your wife’s low libido/enjoyment could be due both to the meds she’s [...]

SF Pride weekend has come and gone, and everyone at the stores and main office are winding down and getting back to the daily flow of operations. We thought we’d share some pictures and experiences with you, thanks goes out to our Marketing Department and all our customers, vendors, and staff. And our float won [...]

A very common question I get when I am working is “do you have handcuffs?” I never reply with a simple no. I tend to go into a brief explanation of why we don’t and what alternative we offer. This question of handcuffs is so frequently heard it has got me to thinking about why the [...]

According to CNN.com, a Tennessee man is facing charges of aggravated sexual exploitation of a minor. But it turns out that none of the photos feature more than a child’s face. He took photos of girls’ faces and photoshopped them onto photos of nude women. The investigators don’t think that he had any contact with [...]

I was reading this great post at ScarletTeen.com and this article on RHRealityCheck.com on some of the barriers to developing hormonal birth control for men to take and it’s got me thinking.
The most obvious issue for me is that despite all of the social changes that have taken place over the last century, for the [...]

There’s a new study in progress that’s going to take a look at some of the ways that menopause affects sexuality. Check out the info below and feel free to pass it along.

CARAS-endorsed research study call for volunteers. Please feel free to forward and cross-post!
Seeking Volunteers for a Study Addressing Menopause and Sexuality
What [...]

On the eve of the release of Courtney Trouble’s first full length DVD – Roulette, we asked her wife and partner (in work and life) to do an interview with her so we could get to know her a little bit better!
What follows (Continued from Part 1 and Part 2) is part 3 of an [...]

I’m sure that you’ve heard plenty of the panicked claims about how same-sex marriage will lead to the inevitable destruction of everything that’s good and wholesome. The slippery slope model of sex is a phrase which I first heard in Gayle Rubin’s article “Thinking Sex” and anyone interested in geeking out on some excellent sexual [...]

Courtney Trouble has run NoFauxxx.com since 2003 making her one of the trailblazers of modern queer porn! NoFauxxx.com has over 125 unique models and over 200 photosets, most of which she took. She does all of the coding, designing, editing, marketing, and behind-the-scenes business stuff involved with the site and project. And on top of [...]

Whats the best path of treatment for vaginismus? Are there any good online resources for self-help? (asking on behalf of my gf)

I’m not sure about the vast range that the online world offers re: this, but there is a substantive-looking site called vaginismus.com which is certainly worth exploring. And there has been one good book written about Vaginismus, which is a condition which involves the vagina not relaxing enough to allow for comfortable penetration — sometimes the tightness is so extreme that even a finger can’t be inserted without pain. Its functional definition refers to the inability to have intercourse.

“is “stone butch” with us today? if so, has this sexuality changed, remained the same, both?”

I’d say yes to that, although many of the people who would have been identified as stone butch in the old days are now viewed as genderqueer or some variation thereof; whether or not she/ze/he’s a very butch woman or a transman, some such masculine folks are more comfortable being the “do-er” (top, active partner) sexually (as if you can’t be active as the “receptive” partner… oh, words fail us). But the notion of “stone” is two-sided: on the one hand, it means “very very”; on the other, it refers to an unwillingness (or orientation away from) being the receptive partner during sex.

@GoodVibesSF What is the best route to becoming a sex educator?

Great question! The simple answer is, major in sexology or sex ed in a recognized program. But that answer is actually way too simple, because there aren’t very many of these programs, and there’s more than one kind of sex educator. The sexologist is clearly one. Many of these programs are pretty academic and ready you mainly for academic careers — which is great, if that’s what you had in mind. If you’d rather live the swashbuckling life of a sexpert, who may have no formal training but lots of real-world experience and knowledge, start amassing (and evaluating) your real-world experience! These folks often wind up teaching classes, writing books, and often being pretty big deals.

If a guy doesn’t climax after 20 mins of foreplay and 30 mins of sex does it mean the sex is terrible?

Oh, this is an awesome question! No, it doesn’t necessarily mean the sex is terrible at all. It might be so great that he’s trying with all his will not to let it end — so many people, of all genders, are trained to think that when a guy comes, the sex is over, that many men try hard NOT to climax! And that can train a man, whether he intended to do so or not, to have a hard time coming at all. (Of course, in reality, the sex doesn’t have to be over until everyone involved has had enough fun, or until it’s time to catch the bus for work, whichever comes first.)

dear carol hi my name is mark … since your a sex therpist this is my question i have a problume getting erect when i was younger at age 18 i got super erect now that i am 42years old i am haveing trouble geting erect i diabetes type2 can you give me advice on what to do or what kind of help i need thank you mark

Hi Mark! Thanks for writing, and apologies that I’ve been traveling and didn’t get right back to you. First I have to clarify that I’m not a sex *therapist* — I’m a sexologist, and my training is a little different than that of a sex therapist. But let me get to your question.

First, it’s natural for a man to have stronger, quicker erections at 18 than later in life, but just getting to age 42 is not a guarantee that you should notice much less ability to get erect.

On the eve of the release of Courtney Trouble’s first full length DVD – Roulette, we asked her wife and partner (in work and life) to do an interview with her so we could get to know her a little bit better!
What follows – in three parts – is an intimate and personal in-depth interview [...]

Just a pointer to a really good blog for parents who struggle with having a happy sex life when kids interrupt things.
http://www.edenfantasys.com/sexis/sex/sex-suburbs4-62491/
I especially liked the honest and age-appropriate responses to kids’ questions about what mommy & daddy are doing. It’s a good read, even if you don’t have kids. Enjoy!

If you’re looking for a fun time this Saturday, the SF Dyke March is the place to be. And after being surrounded by all those fierce, powerful and sexy women, you just might want to pick up a new toy or perhaps a bottle of lube. So come down to Good Vibrations Valencia St. for [...]

There’s been lots more buzz lately about the porn HIV case. Fortunately, there are some places where a more reasonable and informed conversation is taking place. Rather than reiterate it all, here’s a few pointers.
Ernest Greene’s blog, with lots of great comments & discussion: here, here & here. That third link has pointers to some [...]

Recently I had begun reading the Ultimate Guide to Sex and Disability. I am always eager to read a book on sex, and those for special needs always interest me. This one was exceptional. I suppose I have known for a long time that those with disabilities also enjoy sex. Of course they do! It [...]

I’ve written before about how abstinence-only sex miseducation doesn’t work, as have lots of other people. Here’s another piece of evidence.
According to the report to Changing Behavior Risk for Pregnancy Among High School Students in the United States, 1991–2007, which the Guttmacher Institute released, teen pregnancy rates are clearly linked to contraceptive use. It’s [...]

I just received a link to a really important article on the topic of sexual violence against women and how it can affect sexual health behaviors. Some people find the topic of sexual assault triggering, so I ask you to take care of yourself around that before reading this.
The paper “Sexual Violence Against Women: Impact [...]

It’s that time of the year again to share our love for Good Vibrations, especially for folks here in the San Francisco Bay Area who know our physical store locations well.
So, please Vote for Good Vibrations in the San Francisco Bay Guardian’s 2009 Best of the Bay Readers Poll!
Log on to http://www.sfbg.com/bobpoll2009/ and nominate us [...]