# Why do we have the same organs for sex and excrement? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 24, 2003, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-have-the-same-organs-for-sex-and-excrement/150571 "2003-01-24T00:12:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![levdrakon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@levdrakon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/levdrakon)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2003, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-have-the-same-organs-for-sex-and-excrement/150571/41 "2003-01-25T03:05:08Z")
Yeah, well. I don’t get a woody every time I have to pee. But, when I have a woody in the morning & I do have to pee, it’s really a stiffy. And it don’t go away until I do pee. YMMV. Since the OP question was about sex & not reproduction, no one’s brought up anal sex yet? To hear those that are into it talk about it, it can be pretty darn pleasurable. I always wondered why God/evolution put pleasure sensors “there.” ---
**Author:** ![The\_Flying\_Dutchman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/9fc348/32.png) [@The\_Flying\_Dutchman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Flying_Dutchman)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2003, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-have-the-same-organs-for-sex-and-excrement/150571/42 "2003-01-25T04:01:49Z")
This peeing through morning wood phenomenon can be a real pain in the ass , if one tries to perform with the downward direction required to maintain cleanliness in the bathroom. I don’t know about the rest of you guys, but I don’t even let my wife see me pee in that condition as I’m quite sure the bent over double position centred over the toilet must be the most ridiculous pose ever presented by a human being. ---
**Author:** ![jujuju](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/7993a0/32.png) [@jujuju](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jujuju)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2003, 5:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-have-the-same-organs-for-sex-and-excrement/150571/43 "2003-01-25T05:24:53Z")
now i am gonna have to follow my SO to the bathroom in the morning 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Bearflag70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Bearflag70](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bearflag70)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2003, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-have-the-same-organs-for-sex-and-excrement/150571/44 "2003-01-25T22:23:29Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by grienspace \* > \*\*This peeing through morning wood phenomenon can be a real pain in the ass , if one tries to perform with the downward direction required to maintain cleanliness in the bathroom. I don’t know about the rest of you guys, but I don’t even let my wife see me pee in that condition as I’m quite sure the bent over double position centred over the toilet must be the most ridiculous pose ever presented by a human being. \*\* Ya know, relieving yourself with morning wood is much easier if you just SIT on the tiolet and lean forward… ---
**Author:** ![The\_Flying\_Dutchman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/9fc348/32.png) [@The\_Flying\_Dutchman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Flying_Dutchman)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2003, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-have-the-same-organs-for-sex-and-excrement/150571/45 "2003-01-26T00:37:48Z")
Sure, if you’re short and sporting slouching wood at less than horizontal inclination. Any downward manual pressure to direct the anticipated stream into the bowl seems to have the effect of a kink in the hose. I have tried your method by carefully inserting Herman through the opening of the seat first before settling in your position with the result either shooting the 1/2 inch space between the seat and the bowl rim making a mess of the bathroom floor or suffering the back splash of the extremely short range ricochet. ---
**Author:** ![Johanna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johanna/32/8318_2.png) [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2003, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-have-the-same-organs-for-sex-and-excrement/150571/46 "2003-01-27T02:42:08Z")
_But Love has pitched his mansion in The place of excrement;_ —William Butler Yeats, “Crazy Jane Talks with the Bishop” ---
**Author:** ![Wearia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/13edae/32.png) [@Wearia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wearia)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2003, 5:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-have-the-same-organs-for-sex-and-excrement/150571/47 "2003-01-27T05:30:53Z")
[hijack] So is the penis primarily for urination or reproduction? [/hijack] Thats a thinker… ---
**Author:** ![Urban\_Ranger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/e9c0ed/32.png) [@Urban\_Ranger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Urban_Ranger)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2003, 6:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-have-the-same-organs-for-sex-and-excrement/150571/48 "2003-01-27T06:29:55Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by caracal \* > Stupid question, I know. I imagine it has been asked here a few times before but I couldn’t find it. But why do we (and other animals) use the same organs for sex and waste? How are they related? Nitpick - excrement is waste, crap, shit. At least in biology it is that way. ---
**Author:** ![levdrakon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@levdrakon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/levdrakon)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2003, 7:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-have-the-same-organs-for-sex-and-excrement/150571/49 "2003-01-27T07:25:06Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Bearflag70 \* > \*\*Ya know, relieving yourself with morning wood is much easier if you just SIT on the tiolet and lean forward… \*\* Dude, my intention is not to make fun of you. I’m pretty sure you have one of those low flow, water conserving whatever-it’s-called toilets. I’m no John Holmes, but I sit & stick Mr. Happy with a woody between my legs, he’s taking a swim. I’d rather he didn’t, so I’ll do the silly looking “bend awkwardly over the toilet” technique. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Bearflag70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Bearflag70](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bearflag70)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2003, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-have-the-same-organs-for-sex-and-excrement/150571/50 "2003-01-27T17:16:26Z")
Having tried various techniques, I have managed to perfect “the sitter” by sitting WAAAAYYY back on the seat, leaning forward, and tilting Mr. Happy only a couple of degrees downward to avoid “kinkage”. Sitting that far back on the seat would make a terrible mess if I was to #2 in that position. It works for me. I just thought I would offer my tip. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Cisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2003, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-have-the-same-organs-for-sex-and-excrement/150571/51 "2003-01-27T18:01:53Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Urban Ranger \* > \*\*Nitpick - excrement is waste, crap, shit. At least in biology it is that way. \*\* What exactly are you trying to say here? That urine isn’t waste, or that it isn’t excrement? It’s both. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2003, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-have-the-same-organs-for-sex-and-excrement/150571/52 "2003-01-27T19:18:21Z")
And as a matter of fact, feces mostly _isn’t_ excrement. It’s only excrement if it’s produced by the body as a by-product of some reaction, whereas feces is mostly undigested food. But if you want a really interesting fact, the body’s primary excretory organs aren’t the kidneys, either. You excrete more waste, by mass, through the lungs than in any other manner. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-have-the-same-organs-for-sex-and-excrement/150571.md?page=2)