Even bad press is good press, but still - why are vulva puppets "unpalatable"? I believe that learning about sexual health is important and that vulvas and penises (even in puppet form) are definitely "palatable." People learn in different ways and sometimes using fun props are a good way to teach people about their health.

Read the full article by Joanne Weintraub of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, and the mention about my puppet-bearing appearance, on this web site.

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Several months ago I was interviewed for an article about friends with benefits for Indiana University’s IDS (the student newspaper). You can read the full article - and a few of my own and others’ thoughts on the topic - on their web site here.

Generally speaking, I think that women and men can learn about relationships and sexuality from a wide range of relationship types - e.g., friends, family, committed romantic partners and yes, even friends with benefits. That said, I think it’s important to keep in mind what you want in life. If you are aiming for a committed monogamous relationship with someone who is totally in love with you, then a friends with benefits situation might not be the easiest, most pleasurable or skill-building pathway to that. Then again, if you want is to explore sexuality or your romantic feelings with someone you like, feel comfortable with, but aren’t about to get into something serious with, then a friends with benefits situation may be what you’re looking for.

Like anything else, I think it pays to be mindful of what you’re looking for.

If you have a question about sex, relationships, dating, love, lust, orgasm, techniques, pain during sex, sexual health issues, birth control or sexually transmissible infections, email DrDebby@mysexprofessor.com

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For the day I took my vulva puppet on the Tyra Banks Show. Thanks to Joel McHale for the shout-out. Watch the episode of the Soup here.

Here are some still images from the Soup - first, me with the puppet.

Then, the Wondrous Vulva Puppet side-by-side with Bert and Ernie (you’ll have to watch the Soup to get the joke).

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You can find the clip from The Today Show of me talking about texting and dating on the NBC web site.

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Tomorrow morning, Tuesday November 27, tune in to The Today Show during the 9am EST hour to hear me talk about dating in a digital world. Thanks to Jen Gentile and Eva Penar for the opportunity.

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Here’s the video clip from The Today Show episode where I (very briefly) talked about adventure dating. Featured is Chicago-based Meet Market Adventures. See the full clip here. There I am (above) talking about adventure dating and (below) is a woman who did skydiving as part of her adventure date. To learn more about adventure dating and Meet Market Adventures, click here. Also check out Time Out Chicago, through which this opportunity to go on The Today Show came about in the first place.

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Tomorrow (Monday) I will be on The Today Show talking about adventure dating. Thanks go to Eva Penar (Time Out Chicago), Rachel Burstein (NBC) and Bridget Nurre (NBC) for the opportunity.

On Monday night, I will be speaking with Diana Cage on Sirius Satellite OutQ about all things vulva and what we women need to know about our bodies.

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Wow. Words…cannnot…express…my feelings after reading this quote from Lenzism.com (read the full article here):

"…Holy Urethra Franklin Batman! Yes, Ty-Ty has officially lost it. The pinnacle moment of the episode is when Dr. Debby… pulled out her trusty "Vulva Puppet" explaining the female fajita. Now Imagine if one were to hook up with Ms. Piggy due to an inebriated state one evening at the bar and you’ll get the idea. I can’t even continue, just enjoy this clip." - Lenzism.com, Tyra’s Vagina Monologue: What’s Up Down There

The YouTube clip of me and my vulva puppet from The Tyra Banks Show that is referenced here has now been viewed more than 700,000 times which astounds and excites me, as I love to think that so many women and men are learning about the vulva - especially if they are laughing while doing so.

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Thank goodness for Catherine Price - she gets it. In an article at Salon.com, Ms. Price describes the YouTube clip from The Tyra Banks Show (which - amazingly - has now not only gone viral on YouTube, aol video, and countless blogs, but has also been shown on VH1’s Best Week Ever and E!’s Talk Soup) and goes on to talk about how:

- unusual it is for the vulva to be featured on television
- the Wondrous Vulva Puppets - though new to mainstream TV audiences - are not new to many of us who found them through Houseochicks or Good Vibes
- Tyra Banks’ message of education and comfort regarding our own genitals is an important message that many women need to hear

I also like how even though Ms. Price is shocked that so few women know where they pee from (or rather that they don’t pee from their clitoris or their vagina), she never criticizes women - as some people have done on other blogs - for being "dumb" or "ignorant" about their bodies. Not all women have the knowledge, education, comfort or experience that other women do when it comes to their bodies - let alone the resources to have ever found or bought the Wondrous Vulva Puppets. Ms. Price’s article is definitely worth a read - please check it out here.

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Looks like my time on The Tyra Banks Show, accompanied by The Wondrous Vulva Puppet, has been making headlines. Very sincere vulvalicious thanks go to the following web sites for educating women and men all around the world by posting the clips from the shows as well as related articles. Most of the coverage - and the posted comments - suggest that people get it. I just wish a few writers wouldn’t say that women are "dumb" if they think they pee out of their vagina or clitoris, or if they have never looked at their own genitals. Our culture - full of advertisements for femine "hygiene" products - makes many women feel like their vaginas are dirty or shameful. Then add on the fact that middle school boys make "vaginas smell like fish" jokes and no one ever teaches us about sex or our bodies in school (we need comprehensive sexual health education, folks!) - so what do you expect?

I think it was brave and kind for Tyra to tackle this topic and I applaud any woman for the steps she takes to learn more about her body - especially in a culture that doesn’t necessarily encourage it.

Here are a few of the web sites that have posted clips and articles related to Tyra’s "What’s Up Down There" episode. If you know of others, please email us with links to DrDebby@MySexProfessor.com

The Huffington Post: Tyra Opens Up Vagina Dialogue (includes some newer video footage - not just the puppet - but also what women call their vaginas)
Great headline: Vulva Puppet Hits The Big Time
Digg had the video in their Most Popular from the past 24 hours
Jossip: The First Rule About Vulva Puppets Is You Don’t Talk about Vulva Puppets
Jossip (yes, again!!): Department of All Thumbs
Lucy the Blog: A Dozen Lessons from Tyra’s Vagina (SUCH a funny article)
From Stereohyped: Vagina Puppets Are So Much Prettier Than The Real Thing (disagree with the sentiment but appreciate the discussion)
From 2snaps: Tyra Banks Talks HPV and Pap Smears Using a Vagina Puppet (well, technically it was a vulva puppet)
Phlamer: The vagina puppet on Tyra Show
The Blemish: Tyra Banks Is All About the Vagina
Jezebel: Jezebel Crashes The Tyra’s Show Vaginas Episode
Feministing: FYI: Vagina=Birth Canal

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