Understanding Your Body

Orgasm

Webster's Dictionary defines orgasm as "a frenzy; a great excitement; esp., the climax of sexual excitement, as in intercourse, usually accompanied in the male by ejaculation" - That's the old definition, get ready to make yourself a new definition of "orgasm" that transcends and expands the traditional notion of a male orgasm. The advent of the hands-free prostate massager as manufactured by the Aneros Company has spawned a community of men who are literally re-defining the terms associated with the male orgasmic experience. New terms such as "mini-O", "dry-O", "rewiring" and of course the "Super-O". Please read the CLINICAL ANATOMY journal article Prostate-induced orgasms: A concise review illustrated with a highly relevant case study for an overview of the complexities of prostate based orgasms.

Ejaculation

The prostate's role in orgasm is more a function of the network of nerves that supply it than the gland itself. The neural bundle that is responsible for arousal and orgasm passes directly across and is adhered to the surface of the prostate. So in this sense it is not the gland itself that produces orgasm, it is the nerves. When the Aneros is in use it stimulates these nerves that reside on the surface of the gland. Generally it is the stimulation of the pudendal and cavernous nerves in the penis (that ultimately trace back over the surface of the prostate) that leads to that which we recognize as a traditional (wet) orgasm. There are a series of events that comprise an ejaculation, the contraction within the prostate is but one of them. As you may know there are other glands involved as well, principally the Seminal Vesicles and Cowpers glands. Rhythmic contractions of these glands as well as the muscles surrounding the urethra produce ejaculation. In sum, it occurs as a result of a series of coordinated muscular and neurological events. Events that end with the refractory period. Subtle stimulation of the prostate alone (again, the nerves on the exterior of the prostate) produce an orgasm without the collection of glandular and urethra contractions. There are some glandular secretions possible, namely from the Cowpers glands, before and after a non-ejaculatory orgasm. But this activity is not of the scale seen in an ejaculation.

P-waves

Pleasure waves are a feeling of sexual excitement and pleasure that normally originates in the lower abdominal and/or pelvic regions. P-waves may be localized or spread out all over the body. Some have suggested that the sensation feels like butterflies in the stomach (but lower in the abdomen) or as the feeling of sexual electricity associated with ones first touch from the first encounter with a lover. As the body becomes more sensitized with arousal amplification, pleasure waves become more common and can be produced by the Aneros or by other arousal amplification techniques. P-waves may be very subtle or intense.

Rewiring

The rewiring process has no definite time period for one to become "rewired", like much of the Aneros journey it varies greatly from man to man. Even once a man has achieved a certain level of proficiency and success the rewiring process continues to progress with Aneros usage. Rewired is the term for the distinctive changes that one's body undergoes through the use of the Aneros, characterized by the following:

• Becoming permanently responsive to non-penile forms of stimulation, as associated with the prostate, perineum, nipples, anus and rectum
• A vivid sense of tingling well-being in the pelvic region, most noticeable when not in sexual situations
• An overall increase in sexual sensitivity
• An overall improvement in sexual performance, including ejaculatory control and sometimes erectile function
• An increased skill at arousal amplification techniques such as the Aneros, KSMO, e-stim, and secondary erogenous zone stimulation, among others, so that spontaneous pleasure and non-ejaculatory orgasm become increasingly easy to achieve.
• An increased perception of orgasmic sensations at times of non-Aneros use, known as Day-After Effects. These effects may include butt buzz, chair orgasms, mini-O's and even dry-O's.

In the early stages of the rewiring process there are a number of new sensations and effects which new users can expect to occur. You may or may not experience them all but you need not be alarmed when they do happen. Among these are :

• Extra sensitivity of your penis, individual hair shafts, your inner thighs, and nipples.
• Fluctuations of the penile state from flaccid to erect to flaccid again.
• Prickly but pleasurable sensations upon the penis bulb, shaft, and glans.
• Experiencing pleasurable sensations from the penis without direct stimulation.
• Pleasurable but strong pain-like sensations appearing on the narrow strip on the side and back of the penis up to the glans and on a narrow strip down the inner thighs.
• The perception of prickly sensations on the surface of the prostate.
• Pleasurable sensations deep within the prostate and near the perineum acupressure point.
• Sensation of warmth within the anal canal.
• The feeling of wormlike movements just up above the anal canal.
• Possible improvements relating to impotence and erectile dysfunction due to direct stimulation of the prostate's neural plexus.

Also see the "Milestones" for further effects and events as a result of the rewiring process.

Perineum

The Perineum is the area between the anus and scrotal sac between the thighs. Located in this area is an acupressure spot referred to as the "sweet spot". It is a dime-sized spot situated about 1 1/2 to 2 inches from the opening of the anus. Beneath this spot, inside the body, lies a nerve center that is largely responsible for the transmission of signals (of pleasure) throughout the genital region. Aneros stimulates these nerves, while simultaneously stimulating nerves inside the anus and the prostate gland.

Sweet spot

The "sweet spot" is not an intensely pleasurable area in and of itself. Stimulating this spot by itself doesn’t make for a spontaneous orgasm either. It is however an area that can be essential for generating a non-ejaculatory orgasm or Super-O. The "sweet spot" is the neural plexus, an area of convergence of a series of collateralizing sensory nerves, nerves that serve the penis, anus and prostate. Be aware that the precise location of the "sweet spot" is given to a certain amount of variation from one person to the next. So finding your "spot" can truly optimize your chances for a successful Super-O session. Some engorgement in your penis is a good starting point for the search. A full erection is not at all necessary, but some engorgement will yield a more sensitive perineum. Thereafter, the "spot" may be located by finding the rounded ridge on the underside of your penis with your finger and then following this ridge down just to where your scrotum ends. Now start yielding a pointed, but modest pressure as you slowly work your way down towards your anus. Work downward on the center of your perineum, incrementally, just a fraction of an inch at a time, using the tip of the finger, and while holding a position rocking back and forth on the first knuckle (so that the tip of the finger digs, rubs, vibrates deeply.) Alternately you can start an inch from your anus and work your way up. Do keep in mind that you want to focus your search in the general perineal area, (so if you find yourself on top of your scrotum or anus you've gone too far). If you start to experience a tingling or numbing sensation that runs in the center of your penis down to your anus, and prostate simultaneously, STOP, you’re on the spot.

If you are still having a problem locating your "sweet spot" try squatting or kneeling (with your knees on the floor next to your bed and your torso laying down on the bed). Both of these positions tend to engorge the perineal area making the "sweet spot" easier to find.

What next? Believe it or not, mark the spot with a felt tipped pen and whip out a large mirror so you can actually see where the spot is located. Thereafter, you must insert the Aneros to find out where the abutment tab touches, relative to the area that you marked.

So you’ve inserted your Aneros and the abutment tab is engaging your perineum at a position that is higher than your pen mark. This problem can be remedied in one of several ways:

1. Purchase a New (redesigned) MGX which has a shorter tighter abutment tab (virtually all of the MGX units that are sold on the Aneros site are now of the redesigned type)
2. Consider modifying your MGX Classic (see Aneros modifications-> P-tab arm...)
3. Try the SGX version of the Aneros which also features the shorter, tighter tab design. (Be advised however, that the body of the SGX is smaller and may offer less prostate engagement for some users.)

Maintaining the horizontal location is more of an ongoing endeavor since the perineal area, particularly when it's engorged can be irregular in shape, especially when engorged, (rounded, ridge-like) so the P-tab will always have a tendency to slide to one side or the other. If you use a finger or two as guides you shouldn't have any problem. Again, make a V with your first and index fingers and straddle the abutment tab on either side...voila! Think of it as a continuous fine-tuning. Remember, it's important not to let your fingers exert any pressure on the tab while guiding it; it is critical that the P-tab be powered and responsive to your anal contractions as much as possible. It is this freedom of movement that enables the sensory feedback loop that is essential to generating the Super-O. For those who still can’t hack the minimal effort of sustaining the horizontal stability of the abutment tab in the fashion I've described, there are several types of "anchors" that have been devised by users that can be of some assistance. Be advised that such devices do have some drawbacks.

Prostate

The Prostate gland is located near the bottom of the bladder and near the anterior wall of the rectum approximately 2-3 inches inside the anus, it contains some muscles that act in concert with other pelvic floor muscles during orgasm to expel semen. It is partially responsible for the manufacturing of approximately 25% of seminal fluid. A normal prostate gland is able to be felt by only the tip of the finger in the rectum. The gland is heart shaped with a weight of approximately 20 to 25 g. with five lobes: anterior, posterior, lateral (two), and medial. The medial and two lateral lobes are most prominent. The gland should feel smooth, firm and symmetric in size, about the size of a walnut when palpated.

Other ejaculatory organs

• The seminal vesicles are glands that sit atop the prostate on the posterior of the bladder and are responsible for manufacturing the balance of the seminal fluid. These glands are also squeezed during orgasm to expel their contents as part of a man's ejaculate.
• The Cowper's gland is a small organ responsible for production and emission of pre-cum during sexual arousal. Due to the length of time typical Aneros sessions encompass, this gland can remain stimulated and continue to emit its fluids in excess of normal penile sexual stimulation.

Rectum

The rectum is approximately an 8" (20cm) long cylinder that connects the colon to the anus. It is the rectum's job to receive stool from the colon, to let the person know that there is stool to be evacuated, and to hold the stool until evacuation happens. When anything (gas or stool) comes into the rectum, nerves send a message to the brain. The brain then decides if the rectal contents can be released or not. If they can, the sphincters relax and the rectum contracts, expelling its contents. If the contents cannot be disposed, the sphincter contracts and the rectum accommodates so that the sensation temporarily goes away.

Anus

The anus is the last part of the digestive tract. It is a 2" (5cm) long canal consisting of the pelvic floor muscles and the two anal sphincters (internal and external). The lining of the upper anus is specialized to detect rectal contents. It lets you know whether the contents are liquid, gas, or solid. The anus is surrounded by sphincter muscles that are important in allowing control of stool. The pelvic floor muscle creates an angle between the rectum and the anus that stops stool from coming out when it is not supposed to. The internal sphincter is always tight, except when stool enters the rectum. It keeps us continent when we are asleep or otherwise unaware of the presence of stool. When we get an urge to go to the bathroom, we rely on our external sphincter to hold the stool until reaching a toilet, where it then relaxes to release the contents.

Nerves

There is a very complex concentrated network of nerves in the perineum and pelvic areas serving the genital and anal areas. This network of nerves provide a fertile field for stimulation. The primary nerve of the genital area is the pudendal nerve, one branch of that nerve is the perineal nerve which is stimulated during Aneros use by the perineum abutment tab. There is also a significant web of nerves on the anterolateral surface of the prostate, called the "veil of Aphrodite" whose function is not entirely well understood but are known to affect erectile functioning. By implication these nerves are also being stimulated by the Aneros massage action.

Pelvic Floor muscles

The Pelvic Floor muscles are a set of muscles that span the area beneath the pelvis, supporting the pelvic organs, primarily composed of the following groups:

• anal sphincters The ring of muscles surrounding the anus. There are two rings, the outer and the inner. The outer is under voluntary control. The inner is not (it is controlled by the autonomic nervous system but can be trained to relax therapeutically with biofeedback). To identify this muscle, squeeze your anus as though you are holding back gas. This is the muscle that primarily drives the motion of the Aneros. There is another involuntary sphincter (Hirsch's sphincter) at the junction of the colon and rectum, but this is beyond the reach of your Aneros.
• cremaster The muscle covering the testes that controls the raising and lowering of the scrotum. It works involuntarily in response to temperature (contracting when cold to bring the testicles closer to the body or relaxing when warm). In the process of male sexual arousal as a man approaches orgasm the cremaster muscles begin to contract pulling the testes up tight to the body prior to the onset of an orgasm and ejaculation. This is quite normal. There are some who believe that if one restrains this tightening action the onset of ejaculation is retarded. This is one of the motivations for use of Testicle cuffs in BDSM play.
• pubococcygeus or more commonly called the PC muscle, one of a number of muscles in the pelvic floor. It is a hammock-like muscle, found in both sexes, that stretches from the pubic bone to the coccyx (tail bone) forming the floor of the pelvic cavity and supporting the pelvic organs. The PC muscle is largely involved in sexual response and contracting during orgasm. It is believed that strengthening leads to longer, more powerful orgasms. To identify this muscle, stop the flow during urination. This is the muscle exercised during Kegel's. This muscle also fine tunes your Aneros' movement at the prostate. For a more detailed description for performing Kegel exercises, please visit kegelexercisesformen.com.
• rectal A group of the pelvic floor muscles that control the rectum. One of several muscle contractions that can control the movement of the Aneros. Rectal contractions result in a shortening of the rectum and are commonly thought of as being opposite (outward movement) to that of anal sphincter muscle (squeezing inward). Rectal contractions facilitate the opening of the anus during defecation. Some users have reported interesting sensations occurring as a result of the simultaneous use of anal and rectal contractions. Rectal contraction may be effected voluntarily and may occur involuntarily during ejaculatory and non-ejaculatory orgasms. Some users have discussed losing the Aneros during an orgasm when it is involuntarily thrust out of the rectum and anus on account of this kind of contraction. To identify this muscle, contract as if you bearing down to perform a bowel movement.
• See the YouTube videos Pelvic Floor Diaphragm - Part 1, Pelvic Floor Diaphragm - Part 2 & Pelvic Floor muscles for a more detailed review of the pelvic floor muscles.

Nipples and other Hot Spots

It is important that you know about and become intimately familiar with your erogenous zones and the various methods of stimulating them. While men have basically the same number and types of erogenous areas as women do, certain areas seem to respond better in conjunction with Aneros play than others.

• The most intensely pleasurable area is obviously the penis, but in the context of pursuing the Super-O this is an area to be avoided. Men are so firmly wired to experience the penile based orgasmic experience that this masturbatory methodology can be a severe distraction to learning to respond to prostate based sensations.
• The next sensitive area on a man is his anus. The Aneros very effectively stimulates this area during usage. Anal play can also be effective in heightening arousal before inserting your massager.
• The perineum is an area of concentrated nerves that respond well to light to medium massage stimulation. This is the area that is stimulated and reinforces the sensations and massage action of the Aneros during usage.
• The scrotum and scrotal sac should be handled very gently to avoid causing pain. The scrotum is quite sensitive to touch, kisses and tongue play by a partner or self caresses are quite effective in amplifying arousal.
• You nipples, areola and breast areas can be highly erotic areas for stimulation. It is interesting to note that many men who believed themselves not particularly sensitive to this form of stimulation have found that with practice they can become extremely aroused, even to the point of orgasm by nipple stimulation alone.
• Other particularly sensitive areas a man can easily self stimulate are his inner thighs, the nape of his neck and his ear lobes.
• Obviously ones lips are also a highly erotic area but proper stimulation of these requires the participation of a partner.
• Almost any area of the body can be developed into an erogenous zone over time with training, so feel free to use your hands everywhere, except your penis, when building arousal for the Super-O experience.

Prostate Milking

Prostate milking is most commonly associated with BDSM activities and the erotic use of sexual denial. The release felt by a man as a result of prostate milking is described as long, drawn out, but not reaching a resolution phase as with normal ejaculation. It leaves a man on 'edge' for not having had full satisfaction, or a yearning for more, as opposed to the "drop" in responsiveness due to satiation after a full ejaculation/orgasm. The traditional technique of prostate massage involves the prostate gland, the seminal vesicles, and the ampulla, which is the reservoir which actually holds the male sperm just prior to ejaculation. The prostate gland when engorged can be felt by pressing a finger into the middle of the perineum (in back of the scrotum). It is a rounded lump about the size of a walnut. It can also be accessed via the rectum, where it can again be felt as a rounded lump toward the front of the body and just about an index finger's length inside the rectum. A better way to find it from the rectum is to insert the middle finger, and slide it from just inside the rectum (on the front side) up and in until you feel it move over a lump. That will be the prostate. Just in back of (up from) the prostate is a smaller and roughly triangular wedge shaped nodule that is the bottom portion of the somewhat larger seminal vesicles, which is where most of the fluid of the ejaculate is produced and accumulated. Underneath the seminal vesicles are the ampulla.

During sexual arousal, ejaculatory fluid accumulate in these glands backing up behind valves in the ejaculatory ducts. When fluid pressure reaches a certain level, the valves open and the urethral bulb fills, triggering the ejaculatory reflex and muscular contractions of orgasm, which empties the glands.

The seminal vesicles, ampulla and prostate can also be emptied by massage of these glands through the rectum. Rhythmically massaging the organs in an in-and-out motion with an anal device or use either the middle finger or the middle finger and index finger together (well lubricated), to apply a firm slow massage over the nodules of the glands inside the rectum. The massage will force the seminal fluid and sperm past the valves in the ejaculatory ducts, and empty the prostate (which discharges directly into the urethra). If arousal is low or penile stimulation is stopped for a brief time before the prostate massage begins, draining of the ejaculate into the urethra will not trigger orgasm. Once ejaculate appears at the head of the penis, it will help to empty the urethra by running a finger firmly up the underside of the penis from the root to the head, pushing the ejaculate in front of it.

A man can learn to perform a self milking without orgasm by using his PC muscles to manipulate the Aneros massager, it should be noted part of the mechanism for orgasm for a male involves the accumulation of fluids within the prostate and associated ducts; accordingly once thoroughly milked, a male may be incapable of achieving an ejaculatory orgasm regardless of the degree of stimulation, for some time after.

Basic Anatomy

The internet has many video presentations with information regarding male pelvic/anal anatomy, here are a few YouTube videos with simplified information regarding the male reproductive anatomy - Male Reproductive System, Pelvic Floor Part 1, Pelvic Floor Part 2, Testis and Epididymis, Vas Deferens and Accessory Glands & The Penis.