Books and television shows are rarely explicit when it comes to informing us about sex, and porn is never intentionally educational, so what happens when someone decides to make something really useful and combines the two? BitchBuzz's Sex & Relationship columnist sat down with a copy of Tristan Taormino's Expert Guide to Female Orgasms to see if this really is 'sex ed for a new generation'.
The DVD begins with a 35 minute 'orgasm workshop' presented by Tristan Taormino, which uses interview footage from five couples - all adult performers - who also demonstrate the techniques mentioned. After Taormino gives us plenty of information about the technical aspect, like arousal cycle and types of orgasm, you can then watch a short interview with each couple followed by their, er, techniques in full. You can see that the couples really do get on well and are not just performing for the camera so, as well as being educational, this Vivid-Ed title is also rather hot.
Hearing the female performers try to describe in their interviews how it feels when they have an orgasm is quite enlightening, as few women ever try to explain to others just how it feels for them. Is it the same for everyone? Are you missing out on something? Hearing other women talk about their experiences makes you realise just how different we all are. Taking about what she describes as her favourite film for Vivid-Ed, Taormino said:
"Female orgasms are as unique as the women who have them, yet too many women struggle in the search for erotic fulfillment alone or with a partner. We show women who have never had one how to have their first orgasm. We show all women how to have better, longer, easier, or more intense orgasms, whether alone or with a partner, and we explore a lot of variations on the theme."
Well, Taormino certainly delivers a lot with this Expert Guide. The workshop section is quite intense, so don't assume you'll be able to take in all the information in one go - there's an awful lot there! I'd recommend watching this DVD by using the scene selection, so that you can watch the instructional part on its own, and then save the sex scenes for another time when you're getting ready to put what you've learned into practice. That way, you can also skip right to your favourite couple. There are a few extras too, including a piece on safe sex and an introduction to Kegel exercises. The safe sex section may be a little full-on for many of us, but it does point out that these are simply options you can use if you and your partner haven't both been recently tested for STIs.
This title might not be for everyone due to the hardcore scenes, but it could be a great way for couples to start watching porn together if it's not something they've ever considered before. Also, if you're not keen on mainstream porn because it looks like the performers just aren't into each other and you prefer to see sex with all the giggly bits left in, then this DVD is probably for you. If you want to learn a few tips and tricks for the bedroom, who better than an award-winning sex educator and a handful of porn stars to help you out?
Lori Smith always enjoys learning fun things. You can find her over at Rarely Wears Lipstick, on Twitter, or perhaps still in front of the DVD player.