Penis
Hear this word Penis
Also known as: choke, chode, dick, Johnson, peter, shaft, member, prick, anaconda.
Be careful before using these words in front of others. Some of these words might upset other people.
Image description: Penis
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What Is It?
The penis is a body part where semen, sperm, and urine (pee) leave the body. When a person feels sexually excited, the penis might become erect, or stand up straight. After someone with a penis goes through puberty, they are able to ejaculate.
Image description: penis with foreskin
Image description: circumcised penis
Image description: erect penis
An Example
When Kevin really likes someone, Kevin’s penis stands up. When this happens in public, Kevin wants to touch their penis, but Kevin knows they should not do that in public. Instead, Kevin takes deep breaths. He can also ignore the erection, or he can cover his penis until it stops standing up.
What to Know
Every glossary word connects to different parts of the Sexuality Wheel. Explore the information below to learn more.
- Wash the penis gently everyday with soap and warm water. If a person with a penis has their foreskin, they should gently roll down their foreskin and wash the sensitive skin under the foreskin.
- Penises come in different shapes and sizes, and that is natural!
- Some penises have had the foreskin (a thin layer of skin that covers the end of the penis) removed in a medical procedure called circumcision.
- If a person with a penis notices any changes to their penis, including pain, discomfort, or discharge, they should tell a healthcare provider or an adult they trust to get health care support.
- When a penis is touched, it can feel very good for some people.
- Sometimes when a person has an erect penis, they are not sure what to do next. If the person is in a public place, they should not touch their penis. They can take deep breaths to calm down and they can cover their penis until it stops standing up. If a person is in a private place like their bedroom, the person might masturbate (touch themselves where it feels good), have sex with a partner who also agrees to have sex (called consent), or they may just wait calmly until the penis is not standing up anymore.
- To prevent pregnancy or to avoid passing sexually transmitted infections between partners, people with penises can wear an external condom before any sexual activity.
- No one should touch a person’s penis without the person’s permission (consent). Talk to someone you trust if someone is pressuring or forcing you to touch their penis or to touch your own penis.
Think about
Hover or tap the cards below to reveal suggestions or ideas!
What should a person do if their penis stands up (or becomes erect) in public?
- They should not touch their penis in public.
- They can try to cover by holding something in front of their body or by changing the way they are standing or sitting.
- Take deep breaths until their penis stops being erect.
What questions do you have?
To learn more, explore websites, books, and other resources in the Resource Hub or explore other parts of Your Sexual Health Toolkit.
Write down or record an audio note with any questions you have to ask someone you trust.