Online survey evaluates drinking habits, offers confidential feedback

Militant group: Captive is healthy
Seattle Times - World Digest Militant group: Captive is healthy surfers access to the popular video-sharing site YouTube, a day after they started blocking it because of a celebrity sex
Source: seattletimes.nwsource.com

Jennifer's Journal
Winchester Sun - Eat a healthy breakfast every day. 17. Reduce the amount of sugary items that you eat. You will crave sweets less if you eat Educational programs of the Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service serve all people regardless of race, color, age, sex
Source: www.winchestersun.com

Arrest adds to the tarnish on Penn's name
Philadelphia Inquirer - Malcolm Woodfield, an English professor, ended up resigning in 1994 after being charged with harassment for having sex with If negative news is a healthy sign, then it's a noteworthy trend at other prestigious schools. In 2004, Vilas Likhite, a former
Source: www.philly.com

Medina grades public's health
Akron Beacon Journal - majority of Medina County women seek prenatal care in their first trimester of pregnancy, most men are practicing safe sex The report card compared countywide data from various sources to the goals of Healthy People 2010, a health promotion by the U.S
Source: www.ohio.com

Not enough known about testosterone treatment
News-Medical.Net - Currently, physicians may be prescribing testosterone to otherwise healthy men who report poor quality of life, limited sex drive and fatigue and may have somewhat low testosterone levels. These clinicians and their patients will be "thoroughly
Source: www.news-medical.net

Molecular condom to provide protection from AIDS

Duke rape charges dropped
(Pic)- The Duke University campus is seen in an undated file photo. Prosecutors have dropped rape charges against three former lacrosse players at Duke University, The News & Observer newspaper reported on its Web site on Friday ( Enlarge Pic ). REUTERS/Handout
Source: maconareaonline.com

SAN FRANCISCO / Teacher fired; accused school of censorship / He'd complained about confiscated student magazine
A part-time instructor at the Art Institute of California-San Francisco has been fired after he objected to the administration's confiscation of a magazine that students produced as a final project for his course in cultural studies. Robert Ovetz was...
Source: feeds.sfgate.com

She Reeks, Female Leaks & More
I was wondering what health issues my girlfriend and I need to watch out for when using a toy in her anus while having vaginal sex at the same time. Anal sex can be tricky because of the easy, accidental transfer of bacteria to the vagina, causing problems like urinary tract infections.
Source: www.askmen.com

Charges of rape at Duke dropped
But 3 lacrosse players still face sex offense and kidnapping counts The Durham County, N.C., district attorney dropped rape charges yesterday against three Duke University lacrosse players after their accuser expressed doubts about her earlier statements. But the prosecutor kept other charges intact, leaving the defendants still facing the possibility of a trial.
Source: feeds.baltimoresun.com

New Year's Mailbag Madness
We kick off 2007 with a bunch of letters, correspondence and Babes of Rock Pt. 1 backlash.
Source: music.ign.com

Appeals Court Directs Resentencing In Cannon Rape Case
The Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals has upheld the aggravated rape conviction of Kacy Cannon, but ordered that he be resentenced. Criminal Court Judge Rebecca Stern has sentenced him to 32 and a half years in prison.
Source: www.chattanoogan.com

Rape charges dropped in Duke lacrosse case
Prosecutors have dropped rape charges against three former Duke University lacrosse players but they still face accusations of kidnapping and sexual assault, the prosecutors said on Friday.
Source: news.yahoo.com

Sexual Health - Sex in later life
Your'e never too old to enjoy a satisfying sex life. You may not be able to enjoy the sexual olympics that you had in your youth, but you can still thoroughly enjoy the sensual and erotic pleasure of intimate, loving touch. Psychosexual therapist Paula Hall explains how.
Your body changes as you get older, but the wisdom of years means that you no longer have to have the sexual hang-ups or performance anxieties of youth. If you've been in a relationship for many years, you will also have years of knowledge of how to please your partner.

Fit for sex

The healthier and fitter you are, the better your sex life will be. Taking regular exercise to improve your muscle tone, your cardiac system and your flexibility will help you to stay sexually active for many years. In short, keeping fit will keep you sexually active. But the reverse is also true. Couples who continue to have an active sex life are also likely to keep fit, and age more slowly (or at least look as though they are). An active sex life produces a variety of chemicals that helps us to feel happy, enhances the immune system, increases lean body tissue and thickens skin tissue. One survey* concluded that improving your sex life can help make you look between four and seven years younger, reduce stress and lead to greater contentment.
Physical changes

Most physical changes are due to the natural aging process, the skin tends to lose some of it's sensitivity and movement may become more restricted. Both men and women will also experience hormonal changes. Men's testosterone levels gradually reduce and women will go through the menopause. Other physical changes are the result of illness or may be a side effect of medication. Common illnesses such as diabetes, heart disease and blood pressure problems directly affect sexual functioning, while other conditions such as arthritis have more of an indirect affect.
Sexual changes in women

* Lowered sexual desire - lower levels of oestrogen and testosterone can reduce sexual desire though it is more likely to be a side effect of general menopausal symptoms.
* Painful intercourse - the walls of the vagina become thinner and less lubrication is produced. It can also take longer to get aroused as you get older.
* Delayed orgasm - some women find that it takes them longer to orgasm than it used to and the sensation is not quite so strong.


Sexual changes in men

* Reduced desire - many men say that their desire for sex is less frequent and less urgent than in their twenties.
* Slower to arouse - most older men find they need direct penile stimulation in order to get aroused and get an erection.
* Less firm erections - the sensation of erection is likely to be less hard than it was, though it will still be sufficient for penetration.
* Slower ejaculation - the urgency to ejaculate tends to reduce significantly so a mature lover can last longer. Ejaculation may also feel less powerful.


Sex often gets better as couples age. In many ways, men and women are more equally matched. Most men will have lost their earlier physical urgency for satisfaction and many women feel more confident and comfortable with their sexuality. What's more, you're both likely to know far more about your own and each other's bodies.
Accepting change

What's important is that you and your partner are both aware of the physical changes that are happening, and that you're willing to accommodate those differences into your love making style. Make sure you both make plenty of time to get yourselves in the mood. You might enjoy trying some practical exercises - particularly exercises like sensual touching or erotic bath. If you begin to experience any particular sexual problems then take a look at the advice at overcoming problems.

Sex will change as you get older - but it does not have to become less enjoyable. In fact surveys* have shown that sexual satisfaction increases rather than decreases with age. As long as there's no debilitating illness, there is no reason why you can't thoroughly enjoy sex as long as you live.

*Superyoung, Dr David Weeks, Coronet Books

Orgasms

The orgasm is different for everyone and notoriously hard to define. Psychosexual therapist Paula Hall explains the physical and emotional factors involved for men and women, why quality matters more than quantity and why faking it is a waste of time.

What is an orgasm?

In 1953 a well-known therapist defined it as "an explosive discharge of neuromuscular tension". There are other definitions, but the word 'tension' comes up in most. Which suggests that when you have sex you deliberately wind yourself up just so that you can experience the pleasure of returning to normal afterwards. Bizarre!

What happens in the body?

The technical stuff that creates all this tension is pretty amazing.

• Your heart pumps faster and your breathing gets heavier to fuel those tensing muscles.
  
• Hormones such as endorphins and oxytocin are pumped round your brain and body, telling you this is fun.
  
• Blood is pumped to your genitals to create the tension that will ultimately trigger a pudendal reflex (muscular spasm of the genitals).
  
• That reflex will result in your pelvic-floor muscles contracting between five and 15 times at 0.8-second intervals. This is an orgasm as we know it.
  
• A wandering neural pathway that bypasses the spine has recently been discovered, explaining why some paraplegics say they can experience orgasms.

What an orgasm isn't

An orgasm should never be the objective of sex. You can have a great time with a partner, feeling aroused, sensual, intimate and loving, and not have an orgasm. Yes, it's fun - but unless you're trying to get pregnant it shouldn't be your primary goal.

You can't make someone have an orgasm. What you can do, besides physically stimulating your partner, is create a safe, comfortable and caring environment for them in which an orgasm might happen.

Orgasm is not limited to the genitals; some people can experience orgasm without their genitals being touched. Some people describe the sensation as a "tingle"; for others the feelings go all over the body.

Faking it

Why do some people - male and female - fake orgasms? Maybe because we tend to see orgasm as the signal to stop sex. If, for some reason, your mind or body doesn't fancy an orgasm you could be at it forever.

Most people who fake it do so to please their partner. They feel they're letting them down if they don't make it. Instead of pretending, try and create a relationship where, if you're not in the mood or you've lost the momentum, you can say so honestly.

Quality not quantity

We tend to make a huge fuss about orgasms in our society. Most articles about enhancing your sex life focus on improving orgasms or having more of them. But the intensity of an orgasm is not an indication of sexual satisfaction. If you want a good orgasm, you can do it yourself. If you want a satisfying sexual relationship, you'll need a lot more.

In psychosexual therapy, people are told about the 2-6-2 rule. Out of every ten times you have sex, the chances are that twice it'll be fantastic and mind-blowing, and the earth will move; six times it'll be nice but nothing special; and twice you'll wish you hadn't bothered.

Sex when the kids are around

Most will tell you that their sex life has changed since having children. Whether you have a newborn baby in the house, toddlers, teenagers or all three, you have to get more creative and more determined. Relationship psychotherapist Paula Hall has some tips.

Sex after childbirth

This is perhaps the toughest time of all. As wonderful as your bundle of joy may be, it's difficult to avoid the exhaustion that goes with caring for the needs of a newborn, 24 hours a day. Whether you’re mum or dad, it's a tough job. It's difficult to find the time and energy for love making and biology sometimes isn't much help. For the first few months, a woman's hormones are pre-programmed for feeding and nurturing your newborn, not making rivals. In fact, 80% of new mothers report lowered desire in the first months.

The most important thing you need to remember during this time is to keep touching. Just because you don't feel like being lovers, doesn't mean you can't be affectionate and not letting the spark go out will make it much easier to fan when you're ready. It's also essential that you share how you feel about sex. Either partner may feel guilty about wanting or not wanting sex. Talking about this will help you to support each other and help you to maintain intimacy as a couple.

Toddler hood and beyond

By the time your bundle of joy has entered toddler hood, your sexual energy will hopefully be fully restored. However, now it can be even harder to find the space and time. During this period of your life, you have to get clever. You need to develop a balance between planned sexual marathons, average encounters and passionate quickies.

If at all possible, try and ship toddlers off to granny or any other responsible adult, for a whole afternoon, evening or even night of love making. You might not get many opportunities to do this, so plan well ahead, get the date in your diary and look forward to it.

Bedtime is often the favoured time for parents of kids aged between two and nine. Hopefully they're in bed by 8.30pm at the latest and that leaves you sometime alone to enjoy some 'adult activities'. It can be tempting to spend the evening catching up on chores or vegging out in front of the TV. Or perhaps you like to have supper and enjoy some uninterrupted grown up conversation before you go to bed. However you like to spend your evening is fine, but have sex first. Most people are shattered by the time they go to bed and are only fit for sleep. If you want to enjoy sex, put this as item one on your evening agenda, and then do everything else.

You can also become expert at recognising and grabbing opportunities for a quickie. This might include naptimes, when the latest Disney film has just come out on DVD, or their favourite CBeebie programme is on. In fact, whenever you can safely pre-occupy them for 15 minutes or so, grab your chance.

Teenagers

Many couples find this one of the most difficult times to keep their sex life going. The kids now stay up too late for you to wait for their bedtime and now is the time when they DO know what you're doing. But on the bright side, they're beginning to go out much more regularly and hopefully you've entered the era of the sleepover. If at all possible, you need to get your kids out-of-school activities co-ordinated. The hour when they're at youth club - is your hour to jump into bed. And if one of them is in scouts from on Thursdays, that's the day to book the other one into swimming lessons. Sleepovers are great opportunities for a whole night of uninterrupted passion. Invite their friends round on a regular basis and then sit back and wait for the return match. Remember - be creative.

Overcoming awkwardness

Some parents can feel awkward about having sex when the kids are around. It might be easier when they know they're soundly asleep, but feel different when they're awake. Particularly if you're scared that they might walk in on you. One way to avoid this is to put a lock on the bedroom door. Some parents feel uncomfortable doing this, but if it happens early enough a child will learn to knock and accept it as the norm. If you've already got a lock on the bathroom door, you can also enjoy sex in the bath or shower.

It's important that you have puts appropriate steps in place to maintain your sexual privacy. Not only does this reinforce your uniqueness as a couple, but it also sets a good model for children. There's nothing wrong with children knowing that adults have sex as part of loving relationships. A small child may not understand what sex is, but they can know that parents enjoy 'special cuddles' or whatever term you prefer to use. As children get older they will be more aware of sex and they will learn some valuable lessons about it from you. Adopting an attitude that says sex is natural, healthy, enjoyable and private is an important message. One that hopefully they'll remember when they're adults themselves.

Sexual problems

If you've tried all the tricks in the book to keep your sex life sparkling but it just doesn't seem to be working, you might find it useful to look at some of the articles relating to specific sexual problems. If there are issues within your relationship that are affecting your intimacy, you can also get some further help at couples.

The G-spot





The G-spot has always been controversial - some women say it's essential for orgasms while others say it's non-existent. Psychosexual therapist Paula Hall looks at how to find it, what to do with it - and why it doesn't matter if you haven't got one.

If you have one (and I mean if, that's a big if), it's 2.5cm to 5cm (1in to 2in) inside the vagina on the front wall. You should be able to feel it with your finger. If you're not sexually aroused it may be no bigger than a pea; once you're aroused it increases to the size of a 2p piece.

It's actually more a of a zone than a spot. If you want to explore and find out whether you have one, feel for an area that's rough, a bit like a walnut, rather than smooth and silky like the rest of the vaginal wall.

What is it?

For many women, it's a highly sensitive, highly erotic area that provides hours of pleasure. For others it's a knobbly bit that, when touched too much, creates an overwhelming sensation of needing a wee. Some women can't feel any sensation at all while others don't seem to have one at all.

There are a number of different theories about what the G-spot or area actually is. One view is that it is an area of prostatic tissue similar to the male prostate. The absence of the Y chromosome in the developing female fetus deposits the cells in a similar location and voila - the G-spot. Complete with a similar type of sensitivity to the male prostate

Another expert agrees with the prostate theory but expands it to say that this is not the only reason for sensitivity. He points to the clitoris and the urethra as other sources of pleasure, both of which can be stimulated via the front wall of the vagina. Therefore there are a number of erogenous zones and we should stop seeking the elusive g-spot and instead rename it the ‘anterior wall erogenous complex’ - catchy!

A further expert who was first responsible for publicising the G-spot has recently discovered another use. In research she has shown that stimulation of the G-spot area can increase pain threshold by up to 47%. If the stimulation is arousing, the pain threshold increases by up to 84% and a massive 107% on orgasm. Her hypothesis is that this sensitive and erogenous area is one of natures natural painkillers for childbirth.

So there you go. Basically, we still don’t know for sure - but the important thing is to find out what you’ve got and what you like.

What to do with it

Once you've established whether you've got one or not, you need to discover whether you have one that gives you pleasure or just feels a bit annoying. Stroking is usually the most enjoyable form of stimulation.

Sexual virtuosos recommend inserting the forefinger to about the second knuckle and making a 'come here' motion towards the front vaginal wall. You'll need to experiment with pressure and length of stroke to find out what feels best for you. It's important that you're sexually aroused first, and also worth noting that many women say sensitivity varies throughout the month.

During stimulation, the first sensation might be the need to go to the loo, possibly because the G-spot is on the front wall so your bladder is being pushed. You can check this out by making sure your bladder's empty first then seeing how it feels. The first couple of times it might be a bit odd, but many women say a little perseverance is more than worth it.

Feeling it during intercourse

Depending on the size and exact location of your G-spot, you may or may not be able to feel stimulation during intercourse. You're most likely to feel something if you have your pelvis raised.

Another popular position is to be on all fours or bending over from a standing position and allowing penetration from behind. You'll need to experiment.

Female ejaculation

Some women say they ejaculate when their G-spot is stimulated. Research has shown that approximately 10 per cent of women expel between 9ml and 900 ml of fluid from the urethra during arousal and orgasm. A group of scientists examined some of this ejaculatory fluid and discovered prostatic enzymes, fuelling the theory that the G-spot is the equivalent of the male prostate.

However, another group of scientists examined the fluid and said it was very similar to urine. Latest thoughts are that the fluid is an altered form of urine that changes in chemical composition due to sexual arousal. The research continues.

A final word on the subject

Remember, we're all unique. You may have a sensitive G-spot or you may not. If you want to explore, do it light-heartedly. Don't turn it into the Holy Grail; there are many, many ways to enjoy your sexuality, and the G-spot is just one of them.

Too busy for sex?

With all the demands of modern life many couples can find it hard to schedule in time to have sex. To nurture this vital part of your relationship, says psychosexual therapist Paula Hall, you need to dispense with a few bedroom myths and make time to make love.

Sex in the early days

When you meet someone and fall in love, your whole life revolves around getting to know them better, particularly their body. After a while, however, you realise love won't pay the bills and you settle down to 'normal' life.

This is generally when sex becomes something you do at night in bed - preferably before you fall asleep. But, after a hard day's graft, sometimes there just isn't enough energy left.

Quality not quantity

At this stage, quality becomes more important than quantity. When you're having sex as often as you like, it doesn't really matter if you have the odd unsatisfactory encounter. But if you're only managing it once a week - if you're lucky - you need make the most of it. Which means making sure you're not hanging on to any unrealistic expectations.

Sex and spontaneity

It's a myth that sex is better when it's spontaneous. That holiday you've been looking forward to for the past six months - would it have been more enjoyable without any planning? Not necessarily. In fact, on the contrary, it might have been a disaster. Although a surprise sex session can be fantastic, planning builds anticipation. And anticipation builds arousal.

If you have kids or you work long hours, you'll probably need to schedule in time for sex. This means you can make sure you feel your sexiest by planning what to wear and taking a relaxing bath or shower. You can also spend days teasing each other with what you've got planned for when the time comes.

Taking turns

Another myth is that sex should be entirely mutual at all times. Apparently, you should caress one another at exactly the same moment, fuelling passion in perfect synch. But that's a bit like patting your head and rubbing your stomach. Yes, it's possible, but it means you can't concentrate properly on either activity. How can you focus your attention fully on giving pleasure at the same time as luxuriating in the sensation of being touched? It's not possible. Someone will miss out.

So take it in turns. Enjoy the look on your partner's face as you build them into a frenzy of sexual excitement. Then relax and enjoy when it's your turn. Mutual sex is great for a quick one. But if you have to plan the time together, use it to the full.

Start talking

Some people believe good sex should be instinctive. If you really love your partner, they say, and if you're really in tune with them, you'll know exactly how they like to be touched. Your bodies will writhe in mutual passion without a word being uttered.

For some reason, sex is the one arena where we expect our partners to read our minds. Rather than simply saying a word or two about what we like or don't, we go to extraordinary lengths to give encouragement by groaning and moaning at exactly the right moment. The opportunity for miscommunication with this method is huge.

Rather than gambling with your sexual satisfaction, start talking. You'll find it builds far more intimacy than a silent romantic failure. And it's not just in the midst of an ecstactic encounter that it's good to talk. Next time you realise you haven't had sex for weeks, get your diaries out and make a date. And as the date gets nearer, talk about what you're going to do to each other and how you're going to make sure it's a night (or day) to remember. For more ideas see Make a date

Tips for talking

• Whoever is doing the touching should do most of the talking
• Next time you're caressing your partner, ask for feedback. Would they like it harder or softer? Longer or shorter strokes? Up a bit or down a bit?
• For more ideas, see Bedroom talk

Reasons to make time for sex

Still not convinced it's worth pencilling in a bedroom session? Research shows that regular sex can make you feel and look healthier. When you make love, your body releases substances in the brain that reduce stress and anxiety. It also produces chemicals that create stronger feelings of affection between couples; stimulates growth hormones that reduce fatty tissue and increase lean muscle; and burns off more than 100 calories per hour.