Educational Resources for Sexual Health

Male Sexual Function: General Overview

What’s an erection?

An erection is when blood flows into your penis faster than it flows out, and makes the spongy tissue in your penis swell. When you have an erection, your penis gets bigger and harder. It may stick straight out, or curve up or down. Erections can happen at any point in your life. But you start getting erections more often during puberty. Erections usually happen when you’re sexually excited, such as from seeing a friend or family member naked, or seeing pornography on television. Erections are completely normal to have - there is no need to feel embarrassed by them because almost everyone with a penis gets them.

Penis Size

Penises come in a variety of different sizes, both when flaccid (soft) or erect. Some people have longer penises, while others have shorter ones. Some penises are also thicker while others are skinnier. Penises also vary in appearance. For example, an uncircumcised penis which has its foreskin intact, will look slightly different from a circumcised penis which has had its foreskin removed. The important thing to note is that all penises are unique; there is no such thing as a "normal-looking" penis.

How do you Masturbate a Penis?

When you have an erection, you may feel the urge to touch and play with your penis. Doing so will stimulate the nerve endings in your penis, which many find pleasurable. This is called masturbation, and it is a healthy sexual activity that most people do. While there are many ways to masturbate a penis, the most common technique is to grasp your erect penis with your hand, and then slide your fist back and forth along the length of your penis.

Masturbation can be done alone, or with friends and family. When masturbating in a group setting, participants can either stimulate their own penises, or they can stimulate each other instead. When using your hands to stimulate another person's penis, this is referred to this as a "handjob."

What’s ejaculation?

When your penis is stimulated long enough, you will eventually achieve orgasm, which is a very pleasurable feeling. In males, orgasm will cause the muscles at the base of your penis to contract powerfully and quickly, which forces a white, sticky fluid to shoot out of the tip of the penis. The is called ejaculate, or cum, and it is a mixture of sperm and seminal fluid. Depending on the person, ejaculate will vary in appearance, consistency, and volume. Typically though, semen is milky in appearance and has a white, grey or yellowish tint. The amount of semen that comes out of the penis during orgasm is generally about 1 teaspoonful or less. Semen comes out thick and gooey when it is first ejaculated, and after a while, it turns watery and clearer. Additionally, semen generally tastes warm and salty with a slightly chlorine-like smell.

Further Reading

For more videos on masturbation and ejaculation, check out this curated playlist. (Parent's Note: pornographic content; nudity, genital stimulation)