Photo: Nadi Lindsay

Who carry babies the longest?

Elephants Share: Elephants have the longest pregnancy period of any living mammal. If you – or someone you know – has experienced a pregnancy that seemed to go on forever, spare a thought for the elephant. It's the animal with one of the longest gestation periods of all living mammals: nearly two years.

bbcearth.com - Elephant gestation period longer than any living mammal - BBC Earth

Does a pelvic exam feel good?

Pelvic exams may feel uncomfortable, but they shouldn't feel painful. If any part of your exam is painful, please share your concerns with your...

Last updated Jan 17, 2020

Why do my balls disappear when I get hard?

An overactive muscle causes a testicle to become a retractile testicle. The cremaster muscle is a thin pouch-like muscle in which a testicle rests....

Last updated Feb 20, 2022

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An Elephant Never Forgets

Elephants are highly intelligent mammals – they’re born this way, which takes time. They also have an impressive brain to show for it: it’s the largest of any land animal, with a structure similar to that of a human brain. However, it’s three times as large as ours, with three times as many neurons – 250 billion, in fact.3,4 They say, 'an elephant never forgets', and there’s actually some truth in that saying. Their temporal lobe region (the area responsible for memory) is exceptionally developed, with a greater number of folds, meaning it can store more information. It allows for retaining details that are vital for elephant survival, such as where to go to find food and water – and how to get there. The matriarch of a herd can lead family members to waterholes by calling up complex mental maps that cover hundreds of kilometres.5 Elephants rank alongside dolphins and chimpanzees in terms of levels of intelligence. They’re adept at problem-solving, from piling up blocks to reach food, to using branches and rocks as tools. Their trunks allow them to be dextrous beasts, using them to move and manipulate objects in much the same way that we would use our hands and arms.6 They’re one of very few species that understand what pointing means – for example, many dogs understand it, but chimpanzees do not. Elephants can also recognise themselves in a mirror – another rarity in the animal kingdom, as only the great apes, crows and bottlenose dolphins display the same levels of self-awareness. They demonstrate compassion, too; they help injured members of the herd and show grief when a family member dies. These gentle giants have even known to bury their dead, or cover them with leaves. And if that wasn’t impressive enough for you, they’re also capable of imitating the sounds of other elephants and even some human words.7

How do you pleasure the prostate gland?

If you're investigating prostate play for pleasure, here's how to do it: Apply lube around the anus and the finger you're using. Gently insert a...

Last updated Aug 28, 2019

How is Aquablation performed?

It's an incision-less procedure that uses an image-guided robotic arm. The arm holds a water jet to very precisely remove excess prostate tissue....

Last updated May 22, 2019

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Can a man have a uterus?

medlineplus.gov - Persistent Müllerian duct syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics

Persistent Müllerian duct syndrome is a disorder of sexual development that affects males. Males with this disorder have normal male reproductive organs , though they also have a uterus and fallopian tubes, which are female reproductive organs . The uterus and fallopian tubes are derived from a structure called the Müllerian duct during development of the fetus. The Müllerian duct usually breaks down during early development in males, but it is retained in those with persistent Müllerian duct syndrome. Affected individuals have the normal chromosomes of a male (46,XY) and normal external male genitalia. The first noted signs and symptoms in males with persistent Müllerian duct syndrome are usually undescended testes (cryptorchidism) or soft out-pouchings in the lower abdomen (inguinal hernias). The uterus and fallopian tubes are typically discovered when surgery is performed to treat these conditions. The testes and female reproductive organs can be located in unusual positions in persistent Müllerian duct syndrome. Occasionally, both testes are undescended (bilateral cryptorchidism) and the uterus is in the pelvis. More often, one testis has descended into the scrotum normally, and one has not. Sometimes, the descended testis pulls the fallopian tube and uterus into the track through which it has descended. This creates a condition called hernia uteri inguinalis, a form of inguinal hernia. In other cases, the undescended testis from the other side of the body is also pulled into the same track, forming an inguinal hernia. This condition, called transverse testicular ectopia, is common in people with persistent Müllerian duct syndrome. Other effects of persistent Müllerian duct syndrome may include the inability to father children (infertility) or blood in the semen (hematospermia). Also, the undescended testes may break down (degenerate) or develop cancer if left untreated.

Does cranberry juice have side effects?

Cranberry juice and cranberry extracts are likely safe for most adults. Drinking too much cranberry juice might cause some side effects such as...

Last updated Jul 24, 2022

How do you know if your prostate is unhealthy?

See your doctor right away if you have any of these symptoms: Frequent urge to urinate. Need to get up many times during the night to urinate....

Last updated Feb 19, 2021

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Can I check my own prostate?

“Since the prostate is an internal gland, it's extremely important that only licensed medical professionals conduct the exam. At-home self-exams...

Last updated Aug 3, 2021

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What happens if you take too much Viagra at one time?

Too much Viagra can cause severe headache, low blood pressure, and orthostasis (drop in blood pressure when standing) that can lead to fainting....

Last updated May 30, 2018