Archive for the “Men's Health-Erectile Dysfunction” Category
THE HARMONIOUS COUPLE – CASES OF HARMONIOUS RELATIONSHIPS (AL AND BETTY)
Tuesday, April 7, 2009 | 5:36 am“There’s some kind of primitive bond there that we don’t understand, but which keeps us united and contented,” Betty says.
“Whatever it is, it works,” Al adds. “Don’t fix it if it ain’t broke, as the saying goes.”
If there is one common thread in all of these happy marriages it is the willingness of both marital partners to look at and take responsibility for their own contribution to any conflicts. I have stressed throughout this book, both directly and indirectly through the kinds of games I have devised, how essential it is for both partners to be able to work through defensive postures that prevent resolution. Unfortunately, many people are convinced that their point of view is right; to give up their defensive postures means being willing to acknowledge—at least partially—that they are wrong.
*291/196/1*
—admin | no comments
(posted in Men's Health-Erectile Dysfunction)
GAMES FOR ABSTINENT COUPLES – GAME 5: MYSTERY LOVER (PART 3)
Tuesday, April 7, 2009 | 5:31 amThis poem is followed by little gifts that arrive in the mail, and more flowers—and of course more letters:
“Dear Lady, I wish I could know what you are thinking right now. I wish I could know the passion that lurks inside you, the secret passion that few have known, the passion that yearns for expression. Perhaps this is presumptuous of me, but I do think I know you—know you better than you might imagine anybody could. I know that there’s a lot of love inside you, and that that love has often been misunderstood. I think you need somebody who would truly understand you and give you all the space you need to blossom. I think I could be that person, but I don’t know if you’d trust me enough to give me the chance. I’m not asking for much at first—just friendship, the chance to prove I care. I do know that if you give me the chance, I’d love to love you as you’ve never been loved before—with profound understanding of your every sensitivity. Lately, I have had fantasies of revealing myself to you, but I’m still too shy. So I content myself watching you from afar, and with imaginings of you, picturing your thoughtful, wry smile and your eyes looking at me with your typically pointed gaze. . . . Someday!—Your Mystery Lover.”
*257/196/1*
—admin | no comments
(posted in Men's Health-Erectile Dysfunction)
GAMES FOR POLITICALLY OR MORALLY CORRECT COUPLES – GAME 1: POLITICALLY CORRECT SEX (PART 2)
Tuesday, April 7, 2009 | 5:25 am“But even if you ask me, you might be asking me in order to appease a dominant male—and hence it will still be rape.” “True.”
“Asking wouldn’t be enough. I think you’d have to beg me to have sex, and perhaps take an oath that your desire for sex has nothing to do with wanting to appease me or submit to male domiance but rather has to do with your wish to gratify your own desire.”
“That may be right.”
“So, start begging.”
“Get real!”
This conversation may be repeated numerous times until the wife somehow convinces the husband that she indeed wants to have sex and that the sex is solely to gratify her own desire for him. At that point the actual sexual encounter begins. Throughout this encounter, the husband continues to be exaggeratedly considerate of the wife’s feminist stand.
“Would you prefer to undress yourself, or would you like me to undress you?”
“I’ll undress myself, thank you.”
“Should we lie side by side, so as to be on an equal basis?” “All right.”
“Or would you prefer to get on top, as a kind of affirmative-action sex?”
“Side by side is fine.”
“Excuse me. I touched your breast.”
“It’s all right.”
*223/196/1*
—admin | no comments
(posted in Men's Health-Erectile Dysfunction)
GAMES FOR ANGRY COUPLES – GAME 3: HOW DO I HATE THEE? (PART 3)
Tuesday, April 7, 2009 | 5:19 amAfter they have completed this part of the exercise, they take turns saying the same thing to themselves. “How do I hate myself? Let me count the ways.” The wife might say, “I hate myself because I’m always so angry and bent out of shape. I hate myself because I’m so oversensitive. I hate myself for rejecting you sexually all the time.” And the husband might say, “I hate myself because I can’t get an erection. I hate myself because I feel like a failure. I hate myself for being so passive.”
The game allows each not only to verbalize the anger that they’ve been acting out, but also to get in touch with and verbalize the anger at themselves of which they are usually less aware. Having them do the exercise while in the act of love-making serves to bring out the erotic elements that attach to the anger, and the sexual atmosphere softens the anger and helps them work through it.
*189/196/1*
—admin | no comments
(posted in Men's Health-Erectile Dysfunction)
GAMES FOR IMPULSIVE COUPLES – GAME 5: ONE-NIGHT STAND (PART 2)
Tuesday, April 7, 2009 | 5:06 amThe couple is therefore instructed to go to a lodging for the weekend and “pick each other up” as if they were meeting for the first time. They are encouraged to dress like a single play-girl and playboy, whatever that label conjures up for them. The game might start in the hotel’s bar on Saturday evening. The man comes into the bar and spots the woman sitting alone. He sallies forth, smiling confidently.
“Excuse me,” he says. “Would you mind if I join you?”
“No, not at all.”
“Thanks. May I buy you another drink?” “Why not?”
“You know, I hope you don’t take this the wrong way— but you really have beautiful eyes.”
“Oh, thank you. I hope you don’t take this the wrong way, but you have terrific buns.”
“You know, you remind me of somebody. Somebody I once fell in love with.”
“Oh, really? You know, now that I think of it, you also remind me of somebody I once fell in love with.”
“Isn’t that remarkable?”
“I’ll say!”
“Cheers!”
“To your sexual health!”
*155/196/1*
—admin | no comments
(posted in Men's Health-Erectile Dysfunction)
TRICHOMONAS: HOW IS IT TRANSMITTED?
Friday, March 27, 2009 | 5:15 amTrichomonas infection is acquired through sexual contact with a partner who is infected, most often through heterosexual (vagina-penis) contact, but women who have sex with other women can transfer the infection through the use of sex toys. The throat and the anal or rectal area are not sites of infec-tion, so the infection is not transmitted through oral sex or anal intercourse. Although Trichomonas can exist for several hours in body fluids outside the body, and therefore the possibility exists that transmission may take place by nonsexual means, there are no documented cases of transmission by toilet seats or towels. Once genital secretions dry, they are not infectious to others. As noted in the previous section, a mother who is infected may transmit the infection to her child during delivery.
Having unprotected vaginal intercourse with a partner who is infected can transmit trichomoniasis, even if the infected partner does not have any symptoms. Using condoms correctly and consistently helps prevent transmission.
For women who have sex with other women, vaginal fluid exchange can lead to infection. Testing prior to sexual contact, the use of condoms on sex toys for each partner, or not sharing sex toys at all can decrease the risk of infection.
*390\213\8*
—admin | no comments
(posted in Men's Health-Erectile Dysfunction)
HISTORY OF HIV INFECTION
Friday, March 27, 2009 | 4:59 amFrom the beginning HIV infection has been politicized as have few other diseases: those infected with HIV were denied access to insurance and health care, lost jobs and housing, and became the targets of social stigma. Many people have not sought testing out of fear of these very real consequences. As we progress through the second decade of HIV infection and approach the twenty-first century, there are signs of positive change in our attitudes toward the disease and those infected with it, but there is still much work to be done. On the medical front, as we gain a clearer understanding of how this virus works and how we can better prevent and treat infection with it, hope grows that the turn of the century will bring further breakthroughs and a cure. As of this moment, there is no cure, although recent advances with medications to treat HIV infection have been very promising. Through the continued efforts of the medical community and governmental bodies to keep HIV research a top priority, and through education and the teaching of safer sex practices, there is hope of stemming the tide of this epidemic throughout the world.
*297\213\8*
—admin | no comments
(posted in Men's Health-Erectile Dysfunction)
STD GENITAL WARTS: THE PAP SMEAR
Friday, March 27, 2009 | 4:42 amThe Pap smear is recommended as a yearly screen for all women over the age of eighteen, or earlier if a woman becomes sexually active at a younger age. Even if a woman has delayed having a Pap smear for several years, she should have this very important health screen as soon as possible, because it can detect precancerous changes early, so that treatment can be initiated that will prevent or cure cancer. For women who have a history of external warts (or women who have partners with a history of external warts) and a normal Pap smear, the recommended schedule for Pap smears is no different than for any sexually active woman, because most sexually active women have the warts virus even if they have never had symptoms.
In menstruating women, the best time for a Pap smear is between one and two weeks after a menstrual period. Results are not as reliable if the test is performed during menstruation. For best results, a woman should not have intercourse and should not use intravaginal creams within two days of having the test.
A woman who has had a hysterectomy that involved the removal of the cervix for a reason other than cervical or uterine cancer does not need to get yearly Pap smears. If her ovaries were not removed, then a yearly examination to determine the size of the ovaries is still recommended.
*207\213\8*
—admin | no comments
(posted in Men's Health-Erectile Dysfunction)
THE RISKS FROM UNPROTECTED ORAL SEX MAY BE ACCEPTABLE FOR SOME PEOPLE BUT NOT FOR OTHERS.
Friday, March 27, 2009 | 4:27 amThe risks from unprotected oral sex may be acceptable for some people but not for others. Use of a condom or dental dam is recommended, to afford some protection against STD transmission via oral sex if your partner has not been screened for infections or has a chronic STD.
Oral-anal contact, known as anakhgus or rimming, is a sexual practice common among men who have sex with other men, but heterosexual couples can also find pleasure in this type of sexual contact. This practice involves placing your mouth to a partner’s anal area. Again, precautions must be taken to prevent the transmission of infection, not only with the organisms that cause STDs (such as gonorrhea, chlamydia, and HIV) that can be transmitted through genital contact, but also with hepatitis A and all the infectious intestinal organisms, such as salmonella and giardia, that can be transmitted through contaminated feces in the anal area. Once again, if you are unsure of your partner’s status for these infections, it’s a good idea to use a barrier method during oral-anal contact. The barriers used are the same as those used for oral-genital contact, and they are described later in this section.
*116\213\8*
—admin | no comments
(posted in Men's Health-Erectile Dysfunction)
SYMPTOMS IN BOTH MEN AND WOMEN: MOUTH AND THROAT SORES AND LESIONS
Friday, March 27, 2009 | 4:09 amSeveral sexually transmitted infections can cause lesions or sores in the mouth or throat.
Aphthous ulcers. At one time or another, everyone gets aphthous ulcers—those painful little ulcers that commonly occur on the inside of the lips or on the gums, last a few days to a few weeks, and then disappear on their own. Many people confuse these with herpes lesions, but they are different. Although the cause of aphthous ulcers is not known, they are not transmitted sexually.
Cancer. Oral cancer can occur anywhere in the mouth, but the most common location is under the tongue. It is much more common among smokers or people who chew tobacco. The most common symptom is a painless, nonhealing sore or ulcer in the mouth.
Gonorrhea and chlamydia. Although they cannot be transmitted by kissing, gonorrhea and chlamydia can develop in the throat in someone who performs oral sex on a partner who has an infection in the genital area. Infections such as these in the throat are more common in a woman or man performing oral sex on a man (where there is penis-to-throat contact) than in a man or woman performing oral sex on a woman. These infections usually do not cause symptoms in the throat. Occasionally, though, there can be a sore throat and redness and white or yellow patches on the back of the throat. These symptoms are similar to those of a “strep throat,” caused by a bacterial group called the group A streptococci, which is not sexually transmitted. However, the treatment is different for streptococcus and the STDs, so testing must be performed to reach a definitive diagnosis if a person with a sore throat has a history of performing unprotected oral sex.
*47\213\8*
—admin | no comments
(posted in Men's Health-Erectile Dysfunction)