Good Catholics use condoms – lobby

NAIROBI, Kenya, May 8 – Sponsors of a new condom advert that has the Kenyan Catholic Church up in arms have refused to pull it down.

The American based Catholics for Choice (CFC), maintained that the message in the advert was necessary as it would ensure that individuals were protected from contracting the deadly HIV/AIDS virus.

Source: Here

Elderly Ugandans ashamed of buying condoms

This was revealed during a two-day workshop held in Kampala whose theme was preventing HIV/AIDS among the older persons and mitigating its impact in multi-generational households.

According to John Charles Orach, chairperson of National Network for Older Persons in Uganda, the pandemic among old people is on the rise in the country and this is because the ABC strategy is failing them.

Source: Here

California Group Mails Condoms to 12-Year-Olds

(CNSNews.com) – “Looking for free condoms?” the California Family Health Council (CFHC) asks.  “You have come to the right place!”

The CFHC, a non-profit organization, has set up a website advertising its “Condom Access Project,” where teens as young as 12 years old can receive free condoms in the mail.

Source: Here

Sex and Science – Why We Need Sex

We all go through that phase in life where we ask ourselves if we’re ready to have sex. Some people prefer to wait until they get married to have sex while other becomes sexually active even if they don’t have commented relationships, as long as they use some sort of protection like premium condoms. Bottom line is, sex is something that we will have to face. Many people are afraid of sex, mainly because they don’t understand it. They become uncomfortable when the topic is brought up and they tend to just steer away from it.

If you want to stop being scared of sex, the best thing to do is to open up to it. To make it easier to cope with the topic, most people place sex as a subject for science and nature.

Sex is survival

First, you need to understand that sex is natural. It’s one of our basic needs and our brain is wired to want sex because of our survival instincts. Sex is used to help us create offspring and continue our lineage. If you don’t have sex, how can you have kids? Our basic instincts will always drive us to find a partner, have sex and make children.

Psychological needs

Not only is it a physical need, it’s also psychological. As humans, we are naturally social and can’t live alone. We need to find a partner and sex will be a big part of that relationship. It helps us bond without partner and create an emotional lock with them. It can also help improve our self-esteem, minimize depression and keep us generally happy and in a good mood.

Hormonal thing

Our biological chemistry also depends on sex. It can help balance out our hormones which can affect both our physical and psychological well-being. Hormones excreted during sex can stay in our system of hours, sometimes even days, and keep the natural flow of things.

Health reasons

We all have read heath articles about the benefits of sex, for example boosting up our immune system, minimizing the chances of certain types of cancers, and even improving heath health. Most of these are actually true, giving you more reasons to enjoy sex.

Safety is a primary concern when it comes to sex, so use premium condoms and other contraceptives. Be responsible for yourself and your partner’s health and prevent infections and unplanned pregnancies.

Natural Cures for Common STDS

Although there are countless prescription and even over the counter drugs that you can use to cure sexually transmitted illnesses and infections, some people prefer to use natural medication. People have been using plants as medicine for thousands of years, in fact without these plants, modern pharmaceuticals would not exist. Below are a few common STDs and natural remedies for them.

HPV

Human papillomavirus or HPV is one of the most usual sexually transmitted infections. Because of this, our immune system usually has no problem protecting us and countering it. being diagnosed with this infection shouldn’t be a cause of panic, so don’t agree to harsh testing like treatments injected to the cervix or even biopsy, 70% of untreated cases actually clear out the infection within a few months. You can use the extract from St. John’s or St. Joan’s wort which contains Hypericum perforatum, a few times a day to clear out the infection.

Chlamydia

Another common infection, this is caused by a bacterium that stays in the cervix. Untreated, this can permanently damage the sex organs, cause infertility and pelvic pain. Most doctors would use antibiotics to cure this infection. Natural remedies would be extracts from yarrow, usnea, pau d’arco and Echinacea, taken 3 to 6 times per day together with an antibiotic. This helps remove deeper infections without any relapse, scarring and will not affect fertility.

Genital Herpes

About 1 in every 5 college students are diagnosed with genital herpes. The bad thing about this infection is that it can stay doormat and it’s resilient to drugs, meaning once you get infected, it says there forever. Infections like these are one of the main reasons why people should have safe sex, since infections could affect them for the rest of their lives. Thankfully, there are natural remedies that help tone down the symptoms. Lemon and hyssop balms can help soothe any active sores. You can use oil form St. John’s or St. Joan’s wort to cure spots that develop on the skin. Black currants can also keep the virus dormant and minimize the chances of outbreaks.

 People need to be aware and well knowledgeable about the consequences of being sexually active. The best treatment for STD is still prevention and safe sex. Multi-vitamins can also help keep out immune system from becoming weak and stop infections from spreading out. Many natural multi-vitamins are available in health shops and even drugstores. 

I Wear Pinky-Sized Condoms

Forget Magnums ... Eli Roth's strapping up with extra small rubbers these days ... thanks to a nasty bite from an OCTOPUS in Hawaii.

Eli tells TMZ, he recently overcame his fear of the ocean while on vacation in the Aloha State -- following a terrifying sea urchin attack in 2010 -- and decided to test the waters with a sea scooter expedition.

Source: Here

Stop Arresting New Yorkers for Carrying Condoms

Believe it or not, carrying a condom in New York could lead to your arrest. Why? Because it is legal for law enforcement to cite condom possession as evidence that a person engaged in prostitution. Targeting condoms, however, is ineffective at deterring prostitution and threatens public health. The practice also contributes to police discrimination against New York's LGBT community. Thankfully, the city's five District Attorneys can end the policy without having to wait for Albany lawmakers to fix the problem. So it's time to act.

Law enforcement is inadvertently discouraging sex workers from using protection without actually deterring them from engaging in prostitution. Multiple studies have found that sex workers are opting not to carry condoms for fear of being arrested. In addition to the thousands of formal prostitution prosecutions in New York City every year, the NYPD routinely seizes condoms from suspected sex workers without actually making arrests. These efforts at deterrence are not working: in one recent study, 20 percent of local sex workers who reported having their condoms seized said they had unprotected sex mere hours after their run-ins with the police. Every one of those cases represents a potential new infection of a sexually transmitted disease.

Source: Here

Millions of Chinese condoms exported to Ghana found faulty

Millions of condoms exported from China to Ghana have been found to be faulty and substandard, forcing the Chinese manufacturer to send a team to the African country to investigate.

Seven batches of Be Safe condoms from the Henan Xibei Latex Co Ltd in Henan Province exported to
Ghana were found to be substandard, official media here quoted a Ghana news agency report.

Source: Here

South Sudan State Runs Out of Free Condoms

BOR, SOUTH SUDAN — Health centers in South Sudan's Jonglei state have run out of free condoms, authorities said Friday, warning that the condom shortage could lead to a sharp rise in HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases in the region.

Peter Malith, the state’s HIV coordinator, said the condoms ran out because the United Nations' program that was distributing them through a grant from the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Malaria and Tuberculosis ran out of money.

Source: Here

New Yorkers ask cops to stop confiscating condoms

Clara Sierra was leaving a club after a nice night out when cops accused her of being a prostitute.

Sierra, 40, said she was trying to find her way back to New Jersey after leaving a Manhattan club when cops approached.

They assumed she was a prostitute, she said, and were sure their assumptions were confirmed when they found two condoms inside her bra.

Source: Here

S.F. law enforcement to stop using condoms to arrest, prosecute sex workers

Police and prosecutors in San Francisco will no longer use condoms as evidence when arresting and charging sex workers, according to an agreement announced Tuesday between The City’s law enforcement agencies and the Human Rights Commission.

The agreement followed a six-month trial period in which condoms were not used as evidence in cases. The moratorium "did not prove to have any substantial negative impacts on public safety and the quality of life of the residents of San Francisco," according to the commission.

Source: Here

3 Everyday Aphrodisiacs

We humans have a way of associating things to food. Some types of food are healthy of us while others are bad if you eat too much. We even link certain types of food with sex and performance. Although there really is not medical prof that these foods do enhance our sex drive, or even help encourage safe sex, many people believe in their effects. Most aphrodisiacs can actually be found at your local grocery store or supper market, even in your own pantry. Here are a few examples.

Chocolates

This commonly places first in the aphrodisiac list. Chocolates have always been known to stimulate our minds and bodies. It’s even become a yearly tradition to give your partner or special someone a box of chocolates during Valentine’s Day to show affection and love. Eating chocolates have proven to release endorphins, or the happy hormone, which gives us that good feeling. Although eating too much chocolate is bad, having some in moderation, especially dark chocolate which has not gone through too much processing, is actually good for your health.

Oyster

Oysters also make it to the top of the list of aphrodisiacs. Most people would serve oysters raw or half-cooked to make it more “potent”, but many dislike the taste so they actually cook it all the way. Fresh oysters are available in most seasons, however canned or processed oysters are easier to find and prepare.  Oysters are loaded with protein, calcium, magnesium, and iron. So whether or not they do have an impact on your sexual performance, they’re good for your diet.

Strawberries

Although they do have their peak seasons where you can get a whole basket of them for really cheap, strawberries are available all year round. What’s so great about these fruits is that you can cook and prepare them in a million ways, or you can just eat them fresh and raw. It can keep your heart healthy, increase your HDL or good cholesterol level, lower blood pressure, and help guard against most types of cancer.

These three foods that you can definitely just check out at your local grocery can help spice things up in the bedroom. Search for recipes and meals that will make you use all three ingredients and prepare a simple and elegant meal for you and your loved one. Keep in mind to always be safe and have safe sex to avoid any problems after your special night.

Teen sex shame bears a heavy price

Dao was waiting outside a minimart as her boyfriend was choosing a pack of condoms.

However, he quickly returned the pack to the shelf after a middle-aged man gave him a look of disgust.

That night Dao and her boyfriend went without. Dao fell pregnant but was not ready to have a child.

Her mother forced her to leave school after she realised her daughter was pregnant. Dao entered the workforce with limited school leaving qualifications. Now 23, she works as a cashier at a small supermarket to feed herself and her young son.

Source: Here

Ding Dong Unite Dancehall Acts In New Campaign For Safe Sex

Dancehall artiste Ding Dong known for hits such as ‘Holiday’ and ‘Gyalis’ has returned to the spotlight armed with a positive message for the youths.

The entertainer recently joined forces with award winning producer Markus Myrie of Markus Records on a new single titled ‘Protect Your Life’, that sees a re-invented Ding Dong advocating for Peace, Parental Counselling, Abstinence and Safe Sex; messages that are seldom highlighted in an industry known to glorify violence promiscuity and abrasive behaviour.

Source: Here

Why Are Teenagers Snorting Their Condoms?

Teenagers are snorting condoms up their noses and pulling them out of their mouths, on camera and on the Internet, according to a Huffington Post report that raises more questions than it answers.

A YouTube search for "condom challenge" yields more than 200,000 results, most of them NSFW due to gross noises. Is this the “gateway sexual activity”? Or is this what happens when there’s no sex ed? Is it an elaborate ruse to buy and possess condoms? And is this better or worse than the condom's intended purpose?

Source: Here

CA Considers Stocking Prisons with Condoms

In 2007, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger of California vetoed a measure that would have stocked the state’s prisons with condoms for inmate use. Now, the measure is back. A bill making its way through the Assembly would distribute condoms throughout the state prisons.

Condom distribution in prisons has already been put into practice in jails in major cities like New York, San Francisco, Philadelphia, Los Angeles, and Washington, D.C. The goal: to cut down on HIV infections, as well as pregnancy from conjugal visits.

Source: Here

Common STDs and their Signs and Symptoms

Although some people don’t take it to seriously, STDs or sexually transmitted disease are real problems. Some sexually active people are not fully aware of the consequences of STDs and don’t practice safe sex. Once infected, it could take some time for the symptoms to manifest and when they do, it could be too late.

However, some symptoms do show up during the early stage of the infection. These can tell you what type of STD it is and what you can expect. Below are three common STDs and their symptoms.

Chlamydia symptoms

This is an infection caused by bacteria that stays in the genital tract. It’s probably one of the most difficult STD to diagnose since its symptoms and signs are hard to spot during its early stages, especially amongst women. The signs usually start to manifest weeks after the actual infection and most people don’t really mind them since they are often mild and manageable.

Symptoms include:

Pain in the lower abdomen
Pain during sex
Painful urination
Discharge of fluid in sexual organ
Testicular pain

Gonorrhea symptoms

Like Chlamydia, it is also an infection in the genital tract. It’s first symptoms would commonly show during 2 to 10 days after the infection. However, there have been cases where the symptoms manifested months after the actual infection.

Symptoms include:

Thick, bloody or cloudy discharge from vagina or penis
Burning sensation or pain when urinating
Abnormal bleeding
Swollen and painful testicles
Anal itching
Painful bowel movement

Trichomoniasis symptoms

Trichomoniasis is caused by Trichomonas vaginalis, a parasite that stays in a person’s reproductive and urinary tack. This parasite only infects people who are already infected with an STD. although it does affect both men and women, men show no symptoms of infection.
Symptoms include:
Yellowish, greenish, white or clear vaginal discharge
Vaginal irritation or itching
Strong odor
Painful urination

Protection

The best way to stop an infection is to protect yourself. You should know how to practice safe sex and regularly have check-ups. You should also be aware of your partner’s health, it’s possible that they could be infected and are not aware of it. The simplest way to protect yourself is by using a condom, you can get these at any pharmacy or drugstore and they’re inexpensive. Condoms can help minimize the risk of an infection and can protect you from most type of sexually transmitted illnesses, even the life threatening ones.

Boston College Wants to Ban Free Condoms

Catholic colleges face a quandary when it comes to sexual health: should officials be realistic about the high (read: normal) levels of sex-having going on amongst their adult students or follow the Vatican's example and ignorantly preach safe sex via abstinence and prayer? Boston College has chosen the latter path.

Boston College Students for Sexual Health is an unofficial campus group that works with campus offices like residential life and health services to plan forums and programming around sexual health. The group often holds free condom giveaways near campus, and it keeps a list of about 15 dorm room "safe sites" where students can get free male and female condoms, lube, and other safe sex info. Helpful!

Source: Here

Origami Condoms: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know

A small company called Origami Condoms is hoping to reinvent the traditional condom to provide users with a stress-free, pleasurable experience. The California-based company has already gotten praise for its out-of-the-box concept and will soon bring its product to the world. Here's what you should know.

Source: here

The New Rape Whistle: Electric Bras and Condoms With Teeth

I am sure the female engineering students in Chennai who designed this piece of lingerie did it with the best of intentions, following the national uproar that was generated by the rape and murder of a young woman on a bus in Delhi last December, and several other well-publicized rapes that have occurred in the country since then. (Not to mention around the world — just this week in Brazil, an American tourist was gang raped for six hours on a mini bus in Rio de Janeiro.)

The fact that the engineers felt it necessary to design such a bra shows that Indian women have little faith in the sweeping rape law the Indian government passed last month to protect women against sexual violence. India has never had trouble enacting laws, just enforcing them. And as every Indian knows, any law can be bypassed by greasing the right person’s palm. Why should the rape law be any different?

Source: Here