Dear Em & Lo,

My current guy and I get along great, but we may not be sexually compatible. He has a really thick penis (think large cucumber), and I seem to be too small! We have not had successful intercourse because it hurts me way too much. Have you ever heard of this problem before?  Are there exercises I can do to stretch myself so he fits?  I've already had two children, so this is a real mystery!

--Between a Rock and a Hard Place

Dear BaRaaHP,

Sure, we've heard this before! Sometimes everything else fits perfectly--your personalities, your taste in movies, your complimentary immune systems that would ensure fit offspring. Everything except your naughty bits. All is not lost, however. There are some things you can try to help improve the situation.

First and foremost, use lube--and lots of it. You two should never go without when it comes to intercourse: keep a pump dispenser of water-based or silicone lubricant by the bed and apply generously and often; it can really help ease friction. Next, really work on strengthening your pelvic floor muscles. Many natural birth advocates encourage preggos to do their Kegels religiously, since having toned PC muscles not only means you can contract them at will, but you can also relax them when it's time to make way for a baby to come out--and we don't see why this wouldn't work in the opposite direction in your case. You could even try getting a series of increasingly large dildos or vibrators to help you work your way up to his cuke. Finally, we'd recommend trying different intercourse styles--contrary to popular belief, it doesn't always have to be deep pelvic thrusting, a.k.a. jackhammering. Try shallow penetration: the majority of your vagina's nerve endings are in the outer third, anyway. Plus, that way he'll have a greater chance of stimulating your G-spot (if you're into that). And remember, there are plenty of ways to have sex besides intercourse: try frottage, manual sex (i.e. handwork), mutual masturbation, oral...though, in your case, that may be a whole 'nother column dedicated to lock jaw.

To quote Tim Gunn, make it work!
Em & Lo