Earlier this year, I had the pleasure of attending a fantastic presentation by Louise Bourchier on strap-ons, which was hosted by Pleasure Forum Australia. I had no idea there was so much to know about the subject. Louise gave such an informative and entertaining presentation, I couldn’t wait to interview her about her expertise. Kate: Tell me, how did you come to know so much about strap-ons? Louise: Well, I guess I got interested in strap-ons a few years ago when I was expanding my sexual horizons. Continue Reading →
Kate McCombs
Kate McCombs is a sex educator, blogger, and speaker, specializing in sex-positive and pleasure-inclusive approaches to sexual health promotion. She's originally from California, but moved to Australia to get her Masters in Public Health at the University of Melbourne, which she completed in 2011. In addition to facilitating workshops, Kate works as a teaching/research assistant and guest lecturer for the School of Population Health at the University of Melbourne. She's also the founder of sexgeekdom.com, a website designed to bridge the gap between online and real-life community for sex educators, researchers, and others who might identify as sex geeks.
Recent posts
Genitals in the Wild: Phallic “Face Roller”
I discovered this suggestive gem while perusing the toiletries aisle at Daiso last weekend. Not only does this facial massager totally look like a penis with balls, but it specifies in the top right hand corner that it’s the “hard type.” Needless to say, I was mighty amused and felt compelled to share this with MSP’s readers. Follow us on Twitter @mysexprofessor, or follow the author of this post @katecom. Continue Reading →
Labia Modification in Mozambique and Australia
In the last month, I’ve heard a couple of anecdotes about changing labial length that I found intriguing. In the workshops I teach on sexual anatomy and physiology, I always like to mention that the length of labia minora varies and that longer labial length has no correlation with sexual experience (a myth I’ve been asked about previously). One of my favorite quotes about natural labia length comes from sex educator Becca Brewer, who said in one of her workshops that “labia minora are like sisters, not twins,” meaning that it’s completely normal for them to not be identical. After a recent workshop I taught, a colleague of mine shared with me that in Mozambique (her home country), women are taught before they get married to lengthen their labia minora. She described how women will gently stretch their labia minora in the hopes of making it longer and better able to “wrap around the penis” and increase both partners’ sensation. Continue Reading →
Where in the World is the Wondrous Vulva Puppet? Sydney Opera House Edition
This photo was taken while my vulva puppet and I were returning to Sydney Harbour on the (ironically-named, in this case) Manly Ferry. I think the side-by-side comparison is appropriate given that the Opera House and vulvas are both compared to opening clam shells. I enjoy art imitating life on a grand scale, especially when it’s vulvar. Follow us on Twitter @mysexprofessor or follow the author of this post, @katecom. Travel with your own vulva puppet? Continue Reading →
This Week at MSP: Sex Around the Globe
This week, the MSP blogging team will be exploring an array of international sexuality issues for our “Sex Around the Globe” theme. From nudity in Estonian saunas to labia modification in Mozambique, we’ll be covering diverse topics that we hope will pique your interest. We’ll also see a new installment in the “Where in the World is the Wondrous Vulva Puppet?” series and welcoming a guest blogger. I hope you’re all looking forward to this week’s theme as much as I am! Continue Reading →
Five Silver Linings of Fifty Shades of Grey
There has been plenty written about Fifty Shades of Grey’s meteoric rise to the top of the bestseller list. Articles have documented how the book has enlivened marriages, criticised it for its depiction of the BDSM scene, and debated whether or not the book’s popularity reflects a glut of closeted submissives. My personal favorite was the TMZ post about how the book is influencing dramatic increases in SmartBalls sales. Admittedly, there are plenty of problematic things about this book, from the Twilight-esque I-stalk-you-because-I-love-you theme to the bordering-on-mediocre prose, but there are several facets of the phenomenon that my sex educator brain considers to be positive. 1. Continue Reading →
Zombie Dildos and Vampire Vulvae
Fleshlight, one of the more well-known makers of male masturbation sleeves, has developed a line of fantasy-themed sex toys. Whether you’re into zombies (see image below), Frankenstein monsters, or vampires, Fleshlight’s ‘Freaks’ line has something for you. Each fantasy theme has a coordinating dildo and vulva-styled masturbation sleeve. Some of the highlights include bat wing-shaped labia for the vampire-themed sleeve, bright blue Avatar-esque alien genitals, and baseball-like stitching for the Frankenstein edition. Being the Trekkie that I am, I was particularly amused by the ‘Cyborg’ duo, as it reminded me of the scene in Star Trek: First Contact where the Borg Queen tries to seduce fellow-artificial-life-form Data. Continue Reading →
Genitals in the Wild: Avocado Vulva
Sometimes I wonder if nature is trying to make me giggle. This lovely genital gem came in a bag with several other avocados from the market, but none of the others shared its labial allure. There’s even a little circular depression where a clitoris would be, were this avocado an actual vulva. I almost can’t bring myself to make guacamole out of it! Follow us on Twitter @mysexprofessor or follow Kate, the author of this post @katecom. Continue Reading →
Three Things I’ve Learned Living With An Introvert
Being in a personality-discordant partnership can have its fair share of challenges. I’m a die-hard extrovert who lives with and loves a staunch introvert, and this personality discordance often feels like a greater divide than our differing genders. He is baffled that I can spend all day with lots of people and come home feeling energized, rather than exhausted. Even after I’ve been around individuals I find tiring, I tend to look for connection with other (non-tiring) people to feel more buoyant. This difference is not due to a respective lack of competence. Continue Reading →
Kangaroos and their Three Vaginas
The incredible diversity of Australian wildlife is one of the most fascinating things I find about living Down Under. Instead of pigeons making noise in the trees outside my urban apartment, there are tri-colored parrots and cockatoos. On a walk yesterday evening, I saw three of these possums in a tree downtown. Oh yeah, and you can see bats flying around above the parks at night. So. Continue Reading →