by Sue Johanson

May 29, 2005 Different Brain Structure in Gay Males New research from Sweden has found that sexual response in the brains of heterosexual males is triggered by female pheromones. Interestingly, the researchers also found that this portion of the brain is NOT triggered in males who are homosexual. In those men, the response was triggered by the scent of another male. This adds to the mounting evidence that sexuality is biological, and not a matter of choice.

May 15, 2005 Alarming Results from British Teen Survey A recent survey of 2000 British teenagers by Bliss Magazine found that 22% of 14-year-old girls had had sex. Of those, 65% had had unprotected sex. Even more alarming was the admission that, on average, each girl had had three different partners. Alcohol played a major role - 60% of the 14-year-olds said they had sex while drunk, and half of those said they regretted it. Nearly a third admitted that they didn't even like their sexual partner. A majority of teens - 70% - said that they need more information about sexual intercourse and sexual health. 57% said that their parents had never spoken to them about sex. The message - parents need to do their job. Talk with your kids about safer sex and responsible behaviour.

May 8, 2005 New Study Associates Smoking, Pregnancy and Birth Defects A University of Alberta study has linked smoking during early pregnancy to an increased risk of open neural tube defects (NTDs). Previous studies had identified smoking as a risk factor for folate deficiency – despite equivalent folic acid intake, smokers have lower levels of serum folate in their blood. The findings of the U of A study indicate that, compared with non-smokers, women who smoked during pregnancy had a higher risk of NTDs. Women who smoked less than half a pack a day had a lower risk than heavy smokers. The NTD risk associated with smoking appears to be dose-dependent. Women who smoke may require higher doses of folic acid to help prevent NTDs.

May 1, 2005 Sex and Headaches Sexual headaches, also known as “post coital headaches” or “coital migraines”, may last up to 24 hours. They can be severe or mild. Some people experience these headaches just prior to orgasm; others right after. Stopping intercourse as soon as the headache begins can prevent it from progressing, but of course, this doesn't do much for the sex life. Butalbital has been effective in preventing sexual headaches. It's a muscle relaxant and pain reliever that helps ease tension headaches related to contracted muscles in the head, neck and shoulders. Butalbital's combination of caffeine, acetaminophen and barbiturates work together to ease tension headaches by relaxing related muscles. It is not clear how it achieves this.

April 24, 2005 Talking Sexy! When it comes to sexual appeal, It's not just what you say it, it's your tone of voice that counts. According to researchers at Vassar College, men and women with more attractive voices report having more sex partners – and were younger at first intercourse – than those whose voices were thought to be less attractive. They say that's because our voice is shaped and modified by certain hormones, such as testosterone. And these hormones influence sexual drive.

April 17, 2005 Teen Pregnancy Almost 1 million teenage females become pregnant every year in the United States. This figure is down from recent years, but it is still the highest among developed countries. It's reported that 78% of these pregnancies are unintended. Teen pregnancy has serious consequences. Teen mothers are less likely to graduate from high school and more likely to rely on welfare. Children born to teens often have a low birth weight, experience health and developmental problems and are often poor, abused, and/or neglected. School programs that communicate medically accurate sexual information are an effective way to counter teen pregnancy. The most successful programs are those that target younger adolescents who are not yet sexually experienced. Sexuality education programs that encourage young people to postpone sex until they are older, and also promote safer sex practices for those who choose to become sexually active, have been effective at delaying first intercourse and increasing the use of contraception among those who choose to engage in sex. Abstinence-only programs have been found to be ineffective because they fail to prevent early intercourse and often provide information that is medically inaccurate and potentially misleading. Parents are encouraged to find out exactly what their children are being taught in their sexuality education classes and to correct any misleading or false information.

April 10, 2005 New Treatment for Uterine Fibroids The usual treatment for uterine fibroids has been surgical removal of the fibroid or a complete hysterectomy. Now, there's a new procedure called Uterine Artery Embolization. It's used to block blood vessels from the inside. Tiny catheters are inserted into an artery in the arm or groin. Once there, the catheter is positioned into the uterine artery and tiny, spongy pellets are injected. These pellets are carried by the blood to the uterus and all fibroids that are present. They eventually produce blockage. Deprived of their blood supply, the abnormal cells in the fibroids die and are slowly removed by the body. At the same time, the body restores circulation to the normal tissue. The procedure is done under “conscious sedation” and takes 45 minutes. It is effective in 90% of patients. Studies show that, on average, the tumors shrink by 75% and the uterus by 50% after six months. The majority of women who have this procedure also experience significant or total relief from heavy bleeding, pain and other symptoms.

April 3, 2005 Testosterone Gels Hypogonadism is caused by the reduced or absent secretion of hormones from the sex glands. In men, these are the testes. The condition is characterized by symptoms such as impotence, decreased interest in sex, lowered mood, fatigue and decreases in bone density. Treatment involves testosterone replacement therapy. This used to consist of shots, implants or pills. The introduction of transdermal patches and, more recently, gels, has made both delivery and monitoring easier. Testosterone gels have been found to restore libido, mood and energy levels. Studies to date show they best mimic the body's own testosterone supply and absorb into the body with the least complications, when compared to other methods of treatment. Application is simple. With AndroGel, for instance, the male applies the gel by hand to his shoulders and upper arms and/or the abdomen. The treatment site must be covered with clothing and showering, bathing or swimming is to be avoided for 5 to 6 hours after application. Side effects may include acne, breast enlargement, emotioal instability, high blood pressure, prostate disorder. There are as yet no studies into the long-term effects of these gels.

March 20, 2005 Cheat and Tell! Confession may be good for the soul. When it comes to cheating, a study shows it's also good for your marriage. A survey conducted by Peggy Vaughan, author of "The Monogamy Myth", showed that 86% of couples who talked about one partner's affair were still married. In comparison, just 59% of couples who barely discussed it, stayed together. Discussion and lots of reassurance could help prevent the other partner from having a revenge affair. Women commonly have revenge affairs to try and shore up their faltering self esteem and to feel desired.

March 13, 2005 Sex and Kidney Infections In a study published in Annals of Internal Medicine, sexual behaviour, hereditary factors, diabetes and incontinence have been identified as risk factors for pyelonephritis, or kidney infections. The strongest risk factor was frequent sexual intercourse. Frequency of 3 times a week or more during the prior 12 months increased the risk by over 5 times. Other behavioral risk factors were spermicide use and a new sex partner in the past year. Researchers recommend minimizing spermicide exposure if a history of urinary tract infections exists.

March 6, 2005 New Resistant Strain of Syphilis Discovered A mutant strain of syphilis is affecting approximately 10% of syphilis patients, researchers at the University of Washington in Seattle found. It is proving resistant to the antibiotic azithromycin, which is offered as an alternative to painful penicillin shots. Azithromycin has been offered as a syphilis treatment since the late 1990s, because doctors found it was highly effective and easy to use – just 4 pills were usually enough to effect a cure. Doctors are recommended to switch to penicillin or other antibiotics if azithromycin does not work. Penicillin has long been the recommended treatment. But it consists of two injections in the buttocks – and these are painful, because a large amount of the solution has to be forced into the muscle. Cases of syphilis declined in the US through the 1990s, but climbed by 19% from 2000 to 2003, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

February 27, 2005 Sperm in Precum? Maybe There is some dispute over whether pre-cum contains sperm. Pre-ejaculate is a fluid that acts as a lubricant and is a normal component of ejaculate. This fluid is made in the Cowper's Gland, which is not a source of sperm. However, if a man has sperm in his urethra from a previous ejaculation, that sperm can be carried by the pre-cum. Usually, sperm leftover in the urethra are expelled by urination. But if the man has not urinated, or has not urinated forcefully enough, the leftover sperm can be transferred to the precum. It may be a smaller amount than the usual 70 million sperm in normal ejaculate – but it just takes one to cause pregnancy. Medical people also point out that precum can contain infection, along with sperm, transmitting STD's, including HIV. Bottom line – use a condom, every time.

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