THERE are some questions your man will sit there and ponder over, questions he may be too embarra**ed to ask even his doctor the answers to. And often, rather than find out the actual truth, he will either Google, or ask his equally stumped friends - and therein can lie a host of problems that will have him less informed than he was before he asked.

All Woman has stepped in to help, and this week, Dr Orlando Thomas, general practitioner, answers some of the most embarra**ing - and weirdest - sexual questions your guy may have.

AW: What is a normal penis size?
Dr Thomas: The average penis size is 5 inches - 6 inches. That is what has been scientifically documented. But the size varies across race. Eg, Chinese men [have been reported to be] on the lower end with black men on the higher end.

AW: Can I masturbate too much?
Dr Thomas: I wouldn't put a time limit or a number on it, but too much would be to the point where it starts causing harm to one's self, such as redness and pain to the genitalia. Also, it is too much masturbation if you find that you are now distracted from your daily routine and are consumed instead with the act.

AW: Can I reuse a condom if I don't have another?
Dr Thomas: Definitely not! Condoms are known to decrease in strength with each use, so it cannot be reused. Also once you take it off, semen from the inside, or even an infection, may get on the outside and compromise the whole purpose of the condom use.

AW: Why do I lose my erection sometimes in the middle of sex?
Dr: For young males it is usually a psychological problem, for example anxiety or stress, or maybe he is just not enjoying the moment. Some causes may be as a result of erectile dysfunction caused by diabetes, high *lo** pressure etc. But the most common reason is stress and anxiety.

AW: How can I tell if my girl is faking it?
Dr: It is really difficult to tell. You have to depend on your experience with the person. Example, when the woman is excited, she gets wet and some will discharge more than some when they have an orgasm. If she 'has' an orgasm and is still dry, then no, chances are she faked it. Also the vagina becomes rigid or throbs (jumps) a bit during orgasm, so you can tell from this. The vagina tends to get a little swollen and tender after an orgasm so she may need a break before another session, so these are ways in which you can tell.

AW: If I don't have sex for a long period of time, will it really cause penis pain and backaches?
Dr: That is definitely not true. What you may find is that sex acts as a good painkiller. The body releases certain hormones during sex that actually relieves pain such as headaches and back pains but it does not cause pain if you go without.

AW: Why does it hurt sometimes when I urinate?
Dr: You are not supposed to have pain when you urinate, so if you do, it could be as a result of urinary tract infection (UTI), sexually transmitted infection (STI) like gonorrhoea, bladder stone or some trauma to the penis during sex. But the most common causes are UTI and STI.

AW: What is the average time before I should ejaculate?
Dr: The average time for men to ejaculate is from three to 10 minutes. While some persons may believe it should last hours, that really isn't so. The problem here however, is that the female may not be satisfied. That is why it is suggested that you have foreplay before penetration or the man can pull out when he feels the urge to discharge to prolong the moment. There are also tablets and creams that can be recommended by a doctor.