Searah Deysach stood at the front of the room next to a table covered in dildos, vibrators, bottles of lube and packs of condoms, and said “if you don’t like the word ‘fuck,’ now’s the time for you to leave.”

The students scattered throughout Annenberg G15 laughed, and Deysach, owner of Chicago sex toy store, Early to Bed, started right into her main topic: masturbation.

Deysach’s presentation about masturbation was the first of three sex-related presentations sponsored by SHAPE, Northwestern’s Sexual Health and Assault Peer Education group. The goal of “HomeCOMING” was to “inspire conversation and communication,” according to SHAPE Events Co-chairs, Weinberg seniors Kate Weisshaar and Maria Lei.

Deysach covered the major benefits of masturbation: it’s “healthy, natural and normal,” doesn’t hurt unless done wrong, poses no risk of STDs, relieves stress, helps sleep and makes people feel better. She then discussed common masturbation mistakes: inserting the wrong things — for example, a toothbrush, Atari joystick or pencil, or using the wrong substances as lubricants, like hand lotion, motor oil, mayonnaise or Vaseline. She also explained the differences between a variety of sex toys, like dildos, vibrators, butt plugs and masturbation sleeves.

Communication senior Nancy Fru found Deysach’s presentation “funny, accurate, and gave great suggestions,” like clearing up common misconceptions, such as the “vibrator addiction” myth.

Deysach’s presentation was followed by Rebecca Steinmetz, a Sex Educator for Early to Bed. In “Rock Her World”, a frank and informative discussion of women’s sexuality, she covered anything and everything a guy would need to know to make his girl happy. In “Men Below the Belt”, she explained how to please a man in the area between his hips and knees. Steinmetz provided helpful hints on how to improve the region’s smell and taste (what you eat, drink or smoke is key) and gave step-by-step instructions on how to put on a condom with no hands.

Her biggest point for guys and girls: don’t stop. “If she was doing well with what you were doing, don’t change it,” she said.

Steinmetz also stressed the necessity of verbal communication. While the social taboo of talking about sex makes it difficult or embarrassing to talk about, because everyone has different likes and dislikes, it’s important to discuss sex. Both presenters gave students ways to talk to their partners about awkward sexual topics, like hair “down there” and turn-ons and turn-offs.

Weisshar and Lei were impressed that “boys came to learn how to please a woman.” Now, the guys and girls who attended will “know what they want, be willing to experiment and try new things and have fun with sex,” they said.