Summary: Welcome back to Six Minute Sex Ed, the podcast that helps families talk about sex and relationships. My name’s Kim Cavill. For more info about me and how this podcast works, listen to the intro episode, or check out my website https://www.teaandintimacy.com/ Today’s episode is level one, so it's perfect for listeners of any age: Let’s talk about penises A few weeks ago, we talked all about the vulva, this week we'll focus on penises. But, we’re not just going to talk about penises, we’re going to talk about all the external parts that typically come along with a penis, too. The parts we're going to learn about include the scrotum, testicles, epididymis, and penis. Here's a link to a diagram you can use to follow along: https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/male-reproductive.html?ref=search Let’s talk about the scrotum, first. The scrotum, or scrotal sac hangs under the penis. It contains the testicles and epididymis. During puberty, which is a time when bodies transform from children into adults who can reproduce, or make babies, the testicles, or testes, begin to produce and store millions of super tiny sperm cells. Puberty starts between the ages of 9-15. Testicles are oval shaped and they also produce hormones, especially the hormone testosterone, which plays a big part in puberty. They’re also very sensitive to touch and temperature. The scrotum changes size if it feels cold or warm. When the body feels cold, the scrotum shrinks a little to try and keep warm. When it's hot, the scrotum becomes a bit bigger to cool down. This happens without having to think about it. The epididymis is a light‑colored tube, one for each testicle, where sperm is stored. It also connects to tubes inside the body that move sperm around, once the body is old enough to make sperm. The penis has two parts: the shaft and the glans. The shaft is the long part of the penis and the glans is the tip (sometimes called the head). At the end of the glans is a small slit or opening, which is where sperm or pee can come out. The inside of the penis is made of a spongy tissue that can get bigger or smaller, stiffer or softer. The penis can get bigger and stiffer when it’s touched, or sometimes when it’s not being touched. All penises are born with a foreskin, a fold of skin at the end of the penis covering the glans. Some penises get circumcised, or cut, which means a grown-up cuts the foreskin away, usually when the person is a baby. Cutting the foreskin off is not necessary, but parents still sometimes make the decision to do it, anyway, because of their religion or other concerns. All penises work and feel the same, regardless of whether the they’re cut or uncut. For more information about foreskin care, check out this webpage: https://www.rch.org.au/kidsinfo/fact_sheets/Penis_and_foreskin_care/ Penises are easy to take care of! Just gently wash with mild soap, rinse, and pat dry with a towel. If your penis is uncut, there is no need to pull the foreskin back for washing until it naturally detaches, which should happen by the age of 18. The first person to pull the foreskin back should be the person who’s penis it is: not parents or a doctor. Doctors should ask for permission before looking at or touching someone's penis or scrotum because those parts are private. Conversation starters: What did you learn today that you didn't know before? Where can you get more information about penises and how they work? Here are some good resources: http://www.cyh.com/HealthTopics/HealthTopicDetailsKids.aspx?p=335&np=289&id=2648 https://www.fatherly.com/parenting/how-to-explain-penises-preschoolers-little-kids/ http://www.isna.org/ Thanks for listening! If you like the podcast, support the podcast. Rate/review on iTunes, share it with a friend, and support me on Patreon.
