Lice

Lice

Lice are small parasites that live on humans or animals. They bite through the skin to suck blood. There are three types of lice -- head, body, and pubic lice.

Head lice are the most common types. They feed on the scalp and lay their eggs, called nits, at the base of a strand of hair. The nits look like small white ovals and are easiest to see behind the ears and at the back of the neck. Body lice live in the seams of clothing and not on the skin at all. Pubic lice live in the hair around the sex organs and lay their eggs on shafts of hair. Pubic lice can also live in beards and eyebrows, eyelashes, in the armpits and on chest hair.

The main symptom of lice is severe itching. The skin may also become red and inflamed. When the louse bites, it injects a toxin into the skin that causes itching and irritation.

Head and body lice are spread by contact with an infected person or by sharing combs, towels, sheets, blankets, or clothing. Pubic lice are usually spread by sexual contact. The nits usually hatch in 8-10 days, producing more lice. Head lice can live on items such as clothing, bedding and towels up to 2 days.

Lice will not go away without proper treatment. Shampoos or lotions to treat lice can be bought over-the-counter at your pharmacy or prescribed by a healthcare provider. Follow the instructions carefully. Do not use them on infants. Do not overuse these products. If you need advice on specific products or how to use them, ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist.

Head and pubic lice can be easily treated with medicated shampoos or lotions. Because the nits can be hard to remove, it is usually necessary to use a comb with very fine teeth to comb them out of the hair. Often it takes more than one application of the medicated shampoo or lotion to completely get rid of the lice. Treatments should be spaced a week apart to ensure killing all the nits. If lice infest the eyelashes, a petroleum jelly for the eyes can be applied to the eyelashes 2 times a day for 10 days to kill the lice. A prescription is needed for this since regular petroleum jelly can cause eye irritation. After using the anti-lice medication, the dead nits will remain. Use a fine-tooth comb to remove the dead nits.

Generally, drugs are not needed to treat body lice since the lice live in clothing and not on the body. Body lice are most common among people living in close quarters with other people and homeless people. They are treated by having the person take a shower and put on a clean change of clothes. Then all their clothing, bed linens, and towels need to be washed in the hottest water possible and dried in a hot dryer.

Removing nits can be made easier by soaking the hair with a solution of equal parts of water and white vinegar. A towel dampened with this solution can be left on the hair for 30 to 60 minutes. This makes it easier to remove the nits with a fine-toothed comb. Dipping a fine-toothed comb in vinegar may also be useful in removing nits from the hair.

There are many home remedies that have been tried such as mayonnaise, olive oil, or petroleum jelly. None of these have been proven to work.

You may also need to treat clothing, bedding, towels, stuffed animals and fabric furniture.

• to remove lice from clothing or linens, wash them in hot water and dry in a hot dryer
• to remove lice from items that are not washable (coats, hats, etc.) have them dry-cleaned
• to remove lice from items that are neither washable nor dry cleanable (stuffed animals, other clothing, etc.) store them in a tightly sealed plastic bag for 2 weeks
• to clean combs and brushes, soak for 1 hour in rubbing alcohol or wash with soap and hot water
• to remove lice from rugs, carpets and fabric furniture vacuum thoroughly to get rid of the lice living in the fibers

Anyone living with an infested person can get lice. However, treatment is only necessary when lice or nits are found on an individual. If someone in your household has lice, check household contacts every 2 to 3 days for signs of lice or nits. Pets do not need to be treated.

 

Viral hepatitis

 

Viral hepatitis

Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver that may destroy some parts of the liver. Viruses are the most common causes of hepatitis. Hepatitis can also be caused by alcohol, drugs, chemicals, bacteria, fungi, and parasites. The most common types of viral hepatitis are hepatitis A, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C.

Hepatitis A is caused by a virus and spreads by contact with fecal matter or bowel movements. This can happen by eating food that an infected person with hepatitis handled, or by drinking water or milk or eating food that has been contaminated with sewage. It can also be spread by contact with household members or sharing toys at day-care centers. Hepatitis A does not lead to chronic inflammation of the liver.

Hepatitis B is also caused by a virus and is the most widespread. It is carried in infected body fluids such as blood, semen, or saliva and is usually spread through infected needles or sexual contact. It can also be passed from mother to child at birth.

Hepatitis C is usually spread by contact with infected blood. It may be spread through infected needles, sharing cocaine straws, or sexual contact.

Hepatitis D is transmitted by blood and only affects people who have Hepatitis B. It is the rarest, but most dangerous since the person has two forms of the disease at once.

Type E is similar to type A and is passed along by contaminated food or water. It is not common in the United States and does not lead to chronic hepatitis.

Some types of viral hepatitis can be spread by people who do not have any symptoms and do not know that they carry the virus. These people are called asymptomatic carriers.

Although different types of hepatitis are spread in different ways, the best way to avoid getting hepatitis is through cleanliness. Always wash your hands with soap and water after using the bathroom or changing a diaper. Always wash all fruits and vegetables, especially if they come from a foreign country. Be aware of the cleanliness of restaurants, the kitchen workers, and the food inspection reports from the local health department. It is also important to be careful around sharp items such as razors or needles that have been exposed to body fluids.

Symptoms of hepatitis may not occur for 2 to 6 weeks after being infected with the virus. Sometimes the infected person may not notice any symptoms. When symptoms first occur, they may be flu- like such as loss of appetite, fever, general aches or fatigue.

Other possible early symptoms are itching hives, painful joints and loss of taste for cigarettes if you are a smoker. After several days, you may also have these symptoms:

• nausea and vomiting
• foul breath and bitter taste in the mouth * darkened urine * yellowish skin and eyes (jaundice)
• pain just below the ribs on your right side, especially if you press on that part of your abdomen and
• bowel movements that are whitish or light yellow and may be looser than normal.

Hepatitis is diagnosed with blood tests and a physical examination. The treatment of hepatitis depends upon the cause. Bacterial hepatitis is treated with antibiotics. The treatment for viral hepatitis depends on the type of hepatitis and how ill the person is. A healthcare provider will recommend rest, eating small high calorie protein meals, and avoiding certain medications. It usually takes 1 to 3 months to recover from an acute case of hepatitis. Relapses can occur after some types of hepatitis. The illness can start again after drinking alcohol and not getting enough rest.

Chronic hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver that lasts longer than 6 months. It can last for several years and may develop if you have hepatitis B or C. Hepatitis can lead to cirrhosis of the liver, which causes permanent damage to the liver. In severe cases, liver function may be lost.

Vaccines are available to prevent hepatitis A and hepatitis B. Hepatitis A vaccination is recommended for people traveling to areas where there is much hepatitis. Hepatitis B vaccination is recommended for healthcare workers, prison employees, homeless shelter volunteers and employees, children and others who are at high risk for exposure.

If you have been exposed to viral hepatitis, an immune booster may lower your chance of developing serious disease. See your provider as soon as possible if you have been exposed, since treatment tends to be more successful when it is started early.

If someone in your household has hepatitis, you should wear gloves when in contact with their bowel movements, wash clothing and bed linens that are visibly soiled with a detergent that kills germs, clean contaminated toilets and surfaces with a disinfectant and talk to your provider for more specific information

 

Antibiotic Resistance

 

Antibiotic Resistance

The percentage of a common type of infection that is resistant to treatment by ordinary antibiotics is rising in Iowa, according to a statewide survey from University of Iowa researchers and other state health professionals.

Data from surveillance of the state's most serious infections, conducted by the Iowa Task Force for Antibiotic Resistance, shows that 27 percent of all invasive pneumococcal infections were resistant to penicillin in 2000, compared to 24 percent in 1999.

"This is a concern," said Daniel J. Diekema, MD, UI assistant professor of pathology and internal medicine and a member of the task force, "because penicillin-resistant pneumococcus is frequently resistant to many other antibiotic classes, making it much more difficult to treat these common and serious infections."

Pneumococcus is a leading cause of illness in young children and the elderly. It causes ear infections, sinusitis, pneumonia and one of the most fatal forms of meningitis.

One of the primary causes of antibiotic resistance is the inappropriate use of antibiotics to treat viral infections such as colds, coughs and the flu. Antibiotics are ineffective against these disorders and should not be used.

It is also important for patients receiving appropriate antibiotics to finish all the medicine prescribed. This reduces the chances of microbes escaping the antibiotic and becoming resistant to subsequent treatment.

Following are steps to help reduce antibiotic resistance:

• Do not request or demand antibiotics for viral illnesses such as colds, cough, or flu.
• Remember that a viral infection may take up to two weeks to run its course. Antibiotics will not help.
• If an antibiotic is necessary for a bacterial infection, ask your doctor for one that's targeted to the specific infection.
• When taking antibiotics, follow all directions exactly and finish the entire prescription, even if you start to feel better.
• Do not save, share or buy antibiotics for later use.
• Ask your doctor about vaccinations you or your children might need.

Following are facts about pneumococcus:

• Pneumococcus is a bacteria which causes ear infection, sinusitis, pneumonia, and meningitis.
• Vaccines are available for children and adults to help prevent pneumococcal infections, hospitalization and death.
• Vaccination is recommended for children and adults aged 65 or older and for anyone at high risk for pneumococcal infection, such as those without a spleen. Ask your doctor for more information.
• Last year in Iowa, pneumococcus caused serious infections in more than 385 people. Pneumococcus causes approximately 40 percent of bacterial ear infections

 

Vagina

Vagina

The vagina is the female internal sex organ that begins on the outside at the vaginal opening and extends about three to five inches inside, ending at the cervix, or neck of the uterus (womb).

Three Layers of Tissue
The vagina consists of three layers of tissue. The mucosa is the layer on the surface that can be touched. It consists of mucous membranes and is a surface similar to the lining of the mouth.

Unlike the smooth surface of the mouth lining, the vagina contains folds or wrinkles. The next layer of tissue is a layer of muscle, concentrated mostly around the outer third of the vagina. The third, innermost layer consists of fibrous tissue that connects to other anatomical structures.

In the sexually unstimulated state, the vagina is shaped like a flattened tube, the sides of which are collapsed on each other. It is not a continually open space, or "hole" as often thought by both women and men. It is a potential space.

Because of its muscular tissue, the vagina has the ability to expand and contract, like a balloon, allowing a baby to pass through during childbirth, or adjusting to fit snugly around a tampon, a finger or any size penis.

The internal walls of the vagina itself do not have a great supply of nerve endings, thus are not very sensitive to touch. The outer one-third of the vagina, especially near the opening, contains nearly 90 percent of the vaginal nerve endings and therefore is much more sensitive to touch than the inner two-thirds of the vaginal barrel.

Vaginal Fluid
During sexual excitement, droplets of fluid appears along the vaginal walls and eventually covers the sides of the vagina completely. The vaginal tissue does not contain any secretory glands itself, but is loaded with blood vessels, which when engorged with blood as a result of sexual arousal, press against the tissue, forcing natural tissue fluids through the walls of the vagina.

The fluid is not only a sign of sexual arousal, but serves as a lubricant for intercourse if that is what is to follow. Without this natural lubricant, or an artificial one, a woman would most likely find penetration painful.

Sometimes the process of vaginal expansion and lubrication does not occur exactly as described or exactly when a woman would like. The causes of too little vaginal lubrication can be physical, emotional, or some combination of the two.

Physically, for example, it may be the result of a hormonal deficiency, or an infection or cyst in the vagina. Sometimes a woman who is using a birth control pill that is high in progesterone can experience lessened vaginal lubrication.

Relationship Problems
In other cases, emotional problems in a relationship with a partner may be the reason behind too little vaginal lubrication.

In these situations, feelings may block natural physical responses. This kind of experience is not unusual. Partners may be able to deal with the situation on their own, or it may be helpful to discuss the problem with a qualified therapist.

Vaginal lubrication typically decreases as women age, but this is a natural physical change that does not normally mean there is any physical or psychological problem.

After menopause, the body produces less estrogen, which, unless compensated for with estrogen replacement therapy, causes the vaginal walls to thin out significantly. The vagina also tends to become slightly shorter and narrower, and it takes longer to produce even a reduced amount of lubrication.

The vagina also loses its ability to expand as easily during sexual excitation. A woman not using estrogen replacement may use artificial lubricants, and engaging in longer periods of foreplay may help post-menopausal women avoid pain with intercourse.

Sometimes after childbirth a woman's vagina may lose some of its muscle tone, loosen a bit, and feel larger. For some women this means that they may not feel the pleasure they once did from their partner's penis making contact with the vaginal walls. The partner may also notice that he is not held as tightly by the vagina.

Post-Childbirth Exercises
There are specific exercises that women can do after childbirth to strengthen and tighten the muscles around the vagina and improve the tone and feeling.

These exercises, called Kegel exercises after the physician who developed them, require the woman to contract the muscles used to stop the flow of urine. The contraction is held for 3-5 seconds, repeated ten times in a series, and the series is usually repeated several times a day. These voluntary contractions can also be done during intercourse, and some women and men find it sexually enhancing.

Menstruation

Menstruation

 

Menstruation refers to the periodic vaginal discharge of blood and bodily cells that are shed from the lining of a woman's uterus. Menstruation begins at puberty and marks the onset of a woman's capacity to bear children, although other health factors may limit this capacity.

Menstruation usually begins between 10 and 16 years of age, depending on a variety of factors, including the young woman's general health, nutritional status, and body weight relative to height.

Menstruation continues approximately once a month until a woman is about 45 to 50 years of age, again depending on health and other influences. The end of a woman's ability to menstruate is called menopause and it marks the completion of a woman's childbearing years.

Length of the Menstrual Cycle
The average length of the menstrual cycle is 28 days, but ranges from 21 to 40 days. The length of the cycle may also vary for a woman during different phases of life, and even from one month to the next depending on a variety of factors, including the woman's physical, emotional, and nutritional health.

Menstruation is part of the regular process that prepares a woman's body each month for pregnancy. This cycle involves several phases that are controlled by the interactions of hormones secreted by the hypothalamus, anterior pituitary gland, and ovaries.

At the beginning of the cycle, the cell lining of the uterus begins to develop and thicken. This lining will serve as the anchor for the developing fetus if the woman is impregnated. Hormones signal an ovum or egg in the ovary to begin developing. Soon, an ovum is released from the woman's ovary and begins to move through the Fallopian tube toward the uterus.

If the ovum is not fertilized by a sperm during the course of vaginal intercourse (or through artificial insemination), however, the lining of the uterus separates from the uterine wall and begins to decompose. The blood system washes the lining away and it and the blood are discharged through the woman's vagina.

The period of discharge or bleeding, known as the menstrual period (or just "period"), lasts from three to seven days. If a woman becomes pregnant, her monthly menstruation ceases for the duration of the pregnancy. Consequently, missing a menstrual period is a likely although not a definitive sign that a woman is pregnant. Pregnancy can be confirmed with a simple blood test.

First Menstruation — A Potentially Upsetting Time for Girls
Unless a girl has been prepared for the onset of menstruation, this can be an upsetting time. Girls who are ignorant of their body and normal reproductive processes may assume that menstruation is evidence of a disease or even a punishment for misbehavior. Girls who are not taught to think of menstruation as a normal body function may experience considerable shame and a feeling of being unclean during their first menstruation. Even when menstruation is finally recognized as a normal process, feelings of uncleanliness may linger well into adulthood.

In recent years, however, better education about anatomy and physiology has led to acceptance of menstruation. In fact, many women have come to view menstruation with pride as a distinctly female process. Some families even have a private celebration to honor the maturation of the young woman.

Symptoms of Menstruation Discomfort
Nonetheless, many women experience physical discomfort several days before their menstrual period. About half of all women suffer from dysmenorrhea, which is a painful menstruation. This is especially common during the early adult years. Symptoms of menstrual discomfort may include tenderness of the breasts, sore nipples, retaining fluid (bloating), and irritability.

Some women experience quite intense discomfort, including cramps caused by contractions of the smooth muscles of the uterus, headaches, Mittelschmertz or pain in the midsection, nervousness, fatigue, stuffy nose, and crying spells.

Premenstrual Syndrome
In its most severe form, often involving depression and anger, this condition is known as premenstrual syndrome or PMS, and may require medical attention.

In several court cases in Great Britain and France, attorneys have used the occurrence of PMS to successfully argue for diminished capacity during the commission of violent crimes. While in the past, PMS was dismissed as a psychosomatic condition, and continues to be the subject of derisive humor, today it is recognized as having organic causes. Several medications have been developed to treat the symptoms of PMS.

Menstruation Failure — Amenorrhea
Some women experience a condition known as amenorrhea, or failure to menstruate over a protracted period of time. This condition can be caused by various factors including stress, rapid weight loss, regular strenuous exercise, or illness. Conversely, some women experience excessive menstrual flow, a condition known as menorrhagia. Not only may the flow of blood be particularly heavy, but it may extend for a longer than normal period.

Attitudes toward menstruation vary widely from society to society and even within a particular society. Many societies view women as contaminated or polluted during menstruation and seclude them from the community based on the fear that everything they touch will be polluted. In such settings, there may be diverse derogatory euphemisms to refer to menstruation.

In U.S. society, examples of the latter include "the curse" and being "on the rag." Menstruation is one of the justifications that has been offered for denying women access to clerical roles in some religions. Cleansing rituals at the end of menstruation are prescribed in a number of societies. However, other societies treat menstruation as a natural or normal bodily function and do not punish or restrict women during their menstrual period.

 

Menopause

Menopause

 

Menopause is a natural physical transition that every woman experiences as she ages. It is often loosely defined as the final cessation of menstruation in a woman's life. This implies an abrupt and complete transition, although the actual process is typically quite gradual.

While most women undergo this change between the ages of 48 and 52, some women stop menstruating as young as their late thirties or early forties, and others continue to menstruate into their mid-fifties.

The process leading up to menopause begins with a slow-down in the function of the ovaries, generally about five years before the last menstrual period, and additional physical and emotional changes continue for several years after the last period.

What Happens during Menopause
During this time, there is a change in the hormonal balance, with a decrease in the amount of estrogen produced by the ovaries. Finally, there is such a low level of estrogen production that periods become irregular, eventually stopping altogether.

As the menstrual cycles cease, the level of progesterone also decreases. Together, these hormones influence and regulate a number of physical and emotional functions, and with changing levels of both, many women experience more than just the cessation of menstruation.

Menopause sets in motion a number of physiological changes that may impact a woman's sexual functioning. The decreased levels of estrogen and progesterone during and after menopause cause the lining of the vaginal walls to thin and become more rigid. In addition, the production of vaginal lubrication drops off, contributing to discomfort during intercourse.

Estrogen-replacement Therapy for Menopause
Helping to counter these changes for many women is estrogen-replacement therpay. But its risks may outweigh the benefits for women with cardiovascular disease, breast cancer, or uterine cancer in their histories. Estrogen suppositories or creams, which contain much lower doses of estrogen and are used over much shorter periods of time, are another option for maintaining the viability of the vagina.

For women who cannot, or prefer not to use estrogen treatments, water-based vaginal lubricants effectively alleviate vaginal dryness at the time of intercourse.

Menopause need not signal the end of a woman's sexual interest or activity, as was assumed to be true in the past. It is not the loss of estrogen, but the beliefs and attitudes about sex and menopause, or aging, that seem to be important to sexual desire and activity.

In recent years it has become clear that not only does interest in and capacity for sex continue well beyond menopause, but that many women report an increased enjoyment of sex because worries about unwanted pregnancy are no longer a concern.

Some women experience this as a smooth transition with little physical discomfort, while others experience many uncomfortable accompanying symptoms such as hot flashes, night sweats, mood swings, irregular heavy bleeding, osteoporosis, and vaginal dryness (which may lead to painful sexual intercourse).

Symptoms of Menopause
As many as 80 percent of women going through menopause experience some negative physical reactions. Women experience worse symptoms if they are undergoing severe emotional stress or have certain dietary habits that include excessive caffeine, sugar, or alcohol consumption.

Hot flashes are one of the most uncomfortable problems that menopausal women complain about. While most women experience hot flashes lasting two or three minutes, others last longer, even up to an hour. Roughly 80 percent of women going through menopause experience hot flashes, and for about 40 percent of those women the symptom is so distressing that they seek medical attention.

Some women have noticed that drinking coffee or alcohol can at times bring on hot flashes. Some women find relief from certain symptoms with the help of hormonal replacement therapy, in which various regimens of estrogen, progesterone and androgens are taken.

Other Helpful Remedies for Menopause
In addition to the hormonal treatments, other remedies that have been found helpful for the depression, irritability and anxiety experienced by some women include the use of tryptophan (an amino acid that has a calming effect, also naturally occurs in hot milk, beef, tuna, chicken, eggs and spinach), mild herbal teas (such as camomile and valerian root, taken at bedtime), regular exercise and relaxation.

As with any health issue, menopause is yet another life experience that is eased with good self-care, exercise and a healthy diet. Whole grains, legumes, vegetables, fruits, seeds and nuts, smaller portions of meat and unsaturated oils are all preferable to a diet laden in salt, sugar, caffeine, alcohol, dairy products (other good sources of calcium include green leafy vegetables, beans, peas, soybeans, fish, carob, and chicken stock made with bones), and fats.

Premature menopause can result from a variety of causes. One of these is the surgical removal of both ovaries as part of a hysterectomy to treat ovarian cancer or other cancers of the reproductive system, severe endometriosis, life-threatening infections, or to protect women from perceived risk of future cancer.

Early Menopause for a Small Few
About 5 percent of all women inherit a tendency toward early menopause from their mothers and are born with thousands fewer eggs than most women. Others inherit an autoimmune disorder in which their own immune system destroys healthy ovarian cells for as yet unknown reasons. These women tend to experience an earlier onset of menopause and range of symptoms than seen in the majority of other women.

The unpleasant side effects of going through menopause may be amplified by the meanings that menopause has for a woman. Some may see menopause as a sign of getting old; others may grieve the loss of their childbearing years. This phase of life may occur at the same time as other significant life changes: children may be entering college, parents may be getting older and may require more care, and women may begin to experience significant losses of relatives or spouses through death. The experience of menopause may be eased by viewing it in the context of other stresses that might be occurring in a woman's life.

Often allowing one to grieve the losses that are being experienced will paradoxically offer some relief to the adjustment to this normal phase of life. Finding someone supportive to talk to, such as someone older who has successfully made this transition, may be helpful. A holistic approach that addresses the physical, medical and emotional challenges that accompany menopause will ease the transition into what can continue to be a very enjoyable and rewarding time of life.

Male Menopause: A Recent Concept
Male menopause is a relatively recent concept referring to a kind of emotional or psychological crisis that occurs for some men during their 40s, 50s or early 60s. Because men do not menstruate, menopause is a somewhat inappropriate term for this male phenomenon. It is also referred to as mid-life crisis.

Male menopause or mid-life crisis typically manifests itself as symptoms of depression for no obvious reason, intense reflection on the direction one's life has taken as well as on what the future holds, and perhaps some personality and behavioral changes that may put a strain on relationships.

Just as estrogen production diminishes in women during menopause, so does testosterone production in males during this stage of life. The physical consequences are much less dramatic for men than for women, but some men do experience changes. These include taking longer to achieve an erection, less strongly felt ejaculation, and a longer refractory period (after ejaculation, the time it takes for a man to be able to ejaculate again).

Symptoms of Male Menopause
Most men also experience gradually declining levels of strength and endurance. On the other hand, ejaculatory control is likely to be increased, and the man remains fully able to cause a pregnancy. Furthermore, regular physical conditioning can combat much of the decline in strength and endurance.

For some men, the physical changes of mid-life signal a threat to their masculinity and virility, setting in motion psychological distress and behavioral changes. There are those men who experience mid-life as so threatening that they seek to prove their youthfulness, strength and virility by seeking out multiple sexual encounters, perhaps with younger partners, or by participating in strenuous physical activities.

Not all men experience male menopause, and of the men that do, only about 25 percent are profoundly affected. The duration of a mid-life crisis is highly variable. It may be concentrated into a few months, or it may last up to several years.

Generally, having a supportive and understanding family and being able to discuss the ongoing concerns of mid-life will help men negotiate this sometimes troubling time without major residual problems.

 

Breasts

Breasts

 

Breasts are part of the anatomy of both females and males. On the inside, a woman's breast is made up of about 15-25 milk-producing sacs called milk glands, which are connected to milk ducts that converge inside the nipple.

The remainder of the internal breast is composed of fatty tissue and fibrous connective tissues that bind the breast together and give it shape.

On the outside of the breast there are nipples. Nipples, like all other anatomical structures, vary in appearance from woman to woman. They may stick out prominently, they may have a flattened appearance, they may be set a bit deeper in the breast, or they can be inverted.

Each nipple is supplied with many nerve endings, which make it particularly sensitive to touch. There are thin muscle fibers in nipples that enable them to become erect. The darker pigmented area around each nipple is called the areola (plural: areolae).

The size and color of the areolae vary from woman to woman. This area can be seen as an extension of the skin of the nipple onto the breast. It contains many nerve fibers and muscle fibers that help the nipple to stiffen and become erect.

Bumps in the Aerola Normal
It is quite normal to have small bumps in the areola. These bumps are oil-producing glands that secrete a lubricant to make breast feeding easier. During pregnancy, the areolae darken and remain at least somewhat darker after pregnancy.

Women's breasts have three levels of significance: they can feed a baby; they can give erotic pleasure; and they play a large part in shaping a woman's self-image.

In response to sexual stimulation, a woman's breasts may undergo changes. Her nipples typically become erect during sexual excitement. As excitement proceeds, the areolae begin to swell, continuing to the point where the earlier nipple erection may look less pronounced. The veins in the breast often become more visible as a result of the increased blood flowing into them, and, in women who have not breast-fed, there may also be a small increase in breast size.

Breasts are a part of sexual anatomy that is unrelated to reproduction, but, in American society, have a great deal of erotic allure and sexual symbolism. It is not at all unusual to see a large-breasted woman used in advertisements to sell everything from beer to cars to cologne (notably, these are primarily male markets).

As a result of the almost universal association of a woman's breasts with femininity, sexuality, and attractiveness, women and men have developed burdensome misconceptions about the meaning of breast size. We are bombarded on an almost daily basis with the not so subtle suggestion that a woman with large breasts has a definite sexual advantage; thus, conversely, a woman with small breasts must be less sexually interested and skilled.

Breast Size Unrelated to Sexual Desire
The fact is that there is absolutely no evidence to suggest that breast size is related to a woman's level of sexual desire, or to her sexual response. Actually, many women experience very little sexual pleasure from having their breasts fondled or caressed, and this is true for women with large and small breasts. Often it is the woman's male partner who derives more pleasure out of fondling her breasts, and she may participate mainly because she knows her lover enjoys it. Furthermore, the women who do become sexually aroused when their breasts are touched do so regardless of their breast size.

Because of the enormous importance that American culture attaches to breasts, their size and shape, many women worry that their breasts are too small, too large, or just the wrong shape. Not only may this negatively affect their self-image and self-acceptance, it leads some women to try ineffective and even dangerous methods of breast augmentation or reduction.

Men's breasts can give erotic pleasure (in some males), but they have little influence on self-image, and they do not produce milk. Men's breasts do not increase in size under stimulation but some men will have noticeable nipple erection.

 

Virginity

Virginity

Virginity is the state of never having had sexual intercourse. It is viewed positively or negatively depending on one's gender, one's age, one's culture and one's own personal beliefs and attitudes.
In some cultures virginity has no special significance, and young people, of both sexes, engage in coitus very early and there is no special status associated with not doing so.
In others, virginity is required of both sexes, and in many it is required of women only. Violation may result in severe punishment.

For example, proving a bride's virginity became a public matter wherein the bed sheets used by the couple on their wedding night were hung out the window for the wedding guests to view. A bloodstained sheet was a sign that the groom penetrated the bride's intact hymen, causing it to bleed. Though not medically true, the theory was that the hymen would be unbroken if she were still a virgin.

Retaining Virginity: An Important Goal
In some North American cultures, retaining virginity until marriage has been an important goal. Many parents and some sex educators disapprove of loss of virginity until marriage and are especially adamant about teens remaining virgins. A chief motivator of this standard is concern about the welfare of young people, particularly young women, who are at risk for pregnancy.
A number of religious groups also are in favor of virginity until marriage, but their sanctions against premarital coitus are based more on the churches' ideology.

Peer Pressure
Not all adolescents and young adults are comfortable with the idea of virginity, however. Peer pressure often dictates that being a virgin is an undesirable indication of immaturity or prudishness. Losing one's virginity is seen as a rite of passage into the adult world of sexuality.
Like most sexual behaviors, remaining a virgin or not is a personal choice. Nowadays there may be more ambiguity about the goal or milestone for which virginity is being maintained. Until recently, marriage was the clear-cut boundary separating sanctioned intercourse from sinful intercourse.

Modern Standards for Virginity
In modern relationships where the goal may not always be marriage, new standards are set based on depth of caring, commitment, or some other agreed upon concepts. An interesting framework for describing some of the different sexual philosophies among unmarried virgins and nonvirgins was developed by D'Augelli and D'Augelli in 1971.
According to these authors, inexperienced virgins are individuals who have had little dating experience until college and have usually not thought much about sex; adamant virgins are people who firmly believe that intercourse before marriage is wrong; potential nonvirgins are individuals who have not yet found the right situation or partner for coital sex and often seem to have a high fear of pregnancy; engaged nonvirgins are those whose coital experience has usually been with one partner (typically someone they love or care deeply about) and only in the context of a committed relationship; liberated nonvirgins are people who have more permissive attitudes toward premarital intercourse and value the physical pleasures of it without demanding love as a justification; and confused nonvirgins are those who participate in intercourse without an understanding of its motivation, its meaning in their lives, or its effect on themselves or others.

Double Standard for Virginity
The issue of virginity is often subjected to a double standard based on gender. In our society, boys are typically encouraged to, and congratulated for, engaging in intercourse. Losing their virginity tends to elevate their status in their peer group and sometimes even in the eyes of their fathers or other older males.
Girls, on the other hand, are cautioned not to lose their virginity and their reputations often suffer if they do engage in sexual intercourse. One wonders then to whom the boys are supposed to be losing their virginity.

ORGASM

Female orgasm not the same as male orgasm

For most men, sex ends with an orgasm. This is very important for most men. And after the orgasm, most men are satisfied and not willing to participate in active sex any more for some time. All this is different for women.

• All women do not always have an orgasm. Some women have an orgasm most of the time, some only sometimes, some never. In one typical report:
  • 15 % of the women had orgasm every time they had sexual intercorse,
  • 48 % most of the time,
  • 19 % sometimes,
  • 11 % occasionaly,
  • 7 % never.
• For many women, sex can be satisfying even without an orgasm. They value the closeness, intimacy, cuddling, more than the orgasm. In a report asking women why they enjoyed sex, their most common answer was emotional intimacy, and the most pleasurable event during sex for women was penetration, not orgasm.
• A woman can continue to enjoy active sex after an orgasm. Some women can have more than one orgasm in succession.

These differences mean that men often have the wrong expectations from a woman. Sometimes, it is the man, not the woman, who wants her to have an orgasm. Men also have incorrect expectations because of porn movies. In porn movies, the women cry and moan, so men believe that a woman is more satisfied if she cries and moans. In reality, a woman gets more silent and withdrawn when getting closer to, or having, an orgasm. It is not uncommon that women fake orgasm, cry and moan because that is what the man expects them to do. Of course, sex will be more satisfying if men understand women better.

The complexity of sexual relations is shown by the fact that orgasm is not only enjoyed by the person having orgasm. The orgasm of the man is important to the woman, and reversely the orgasm of the woman is felt as important for many men, maybe too important.

Below is some discussion about how to help a woman get an orgasm. Important to note is that obtaining an orgasm may not be what is most important for her. Maybe other things are more important. Do not feel forced to obtain orgasm for the woman, unless this is her own wish.

Below are some items on how to help a woman get an orgasm. Always note, however, that getting a woman to enjoy sex is not the same thing as getting her to have an orgasm, since women can enjoy other things with sex more than the orgasm. Thus, if a man wants his woman to be happy, it may be more important to provide closeness and love rather than orgasm. Most women are not satisfied if the man enters them too early, but that is not because of lack of orgasm but because of lack of love and intimacy.

Psychological setting for making love

Firstly, and this is very important, most women need the right psychological setting to get an orgasm.

Does she know how to get an orgasm at all?

The first question you always ask is whether she is able to get an orgasm at all, for example by masturbation. If the answer to this question is no, she must first learn how to get an orgasm. If the answer is yes, you can investigate how to get an orgasm when making love.

Timing of male and female orgasm

Women enjoy sex also after an orgasm, while most men do not want to continue making love after their orgasm. Because of this, it is better if the woman gets her orgasm before the man.

Clitoris and g-point

Women get an orgasm by proper stimulation of the clitoris, a small lap of skin just over the vagina. The clitoris can be stimulated by hand, using lubricating gel, by the woman herself or her partner. It can also be stimulated by mouth. If the clitoris is stimulated by her partner, this is usually done before the vaginal intercourse. Note that during normal vaginal sexual intercourse, the nerve endings in the man's penis are stimulated, but not the nerve endings in the womans clitoris. Only 30 % of all women get an orgasm through vaginal sexual intercourse according to Shere Hite!

There is also a place inside the vagina, which can be stimulated to give an orgasm. This point is named the g-point. It is, however, difficult to find this point and stimulate it in the right way. Women who succeed in getting orgasm this way usually use the intercourse position with the woman on top of the man. The reason for this is that this position gives the woman the largest options to control the movements so as to stimulate the g-point.

Some women have a problem in that stimulating the g-point causes a strong need to urinate.

Sometimes, couples start with foreplay and manual or oral stimulation, then switch to intercourse with the woman on top until the woman gets her orgasm, then switch to the man on top until the man gets an orgasm. But this is something each couple will have to try out what they prefer.

Techniques of stimulating clitoris to orgasm

After foreplay by kissing and fondling (may have to continue for up to 20 minutes) the partner or the person herself stimulates the clitoris (the are below the labia or genital lips, and above the vagina opening) by rapidly flicking a finger or the tongue back and forward or up and down. Do not press hard. If you are using a finger, be sure to use lots of lubricating gel (can be bought at a drug store). If you are using the tongue, lubricating gel is usually not necessary, since lubrication comes from the mouth. Ask her to concentracte on sexy thoughts at the same time.

Who is responsible for the female orgasm, him or her?

The first step in learning to get an orgasm is that the woman learns to get an orgasm by masturbation. She can then teach her male partner how to do, and knows when it feels right and wrong. Listen to her, ask her what feels good and not good, try out the best technique together with her. So certainly she is responsible for telling her partner how to make her satisfied.

It is quite common that women masturbate themselves during intercourse, in order to get an orgasm.

Some feminists reject the idea that men "give" women an orgasm. They claim that equality requires that each is responsible for their own orgasm. Other people see love making as a mutual activity of giving and taking.

Fantasies

Some women need to concentrate on erotic fantasies to get an orgasm. The fantasies which work for some women can be weird and contain actions they would never do in real life. Thinking "maybe I cannot get an orgasm" may destroy the ability to get an orgasm.

Is orgasm necessary or not for a woman

And remember, always first clarify what the woman wants. Many women enjoy sex even without an orgasm, and do not think that orgasm is necessary to be satisfied. Other women, however, are not satisfied unless they get an orgasm.

Sex should be an occasion of mutual joy and pleasure, not an occasion of incorrect expectations, forced striving for an orgasm at all cost. Sex is usually more satisfactory for both if they do not think so much about attaining orgasm, but instead think of love and mutual pleasure.
 

Sexual intercourse positions for women

The clitoris is similar in sensitivity to the male penis. Most types of heterosexual (man-woman) activity allow for direct stimulation of the penis, and without this very few men would achieve orgasm. Similarly, most women need stimulation of the clitoris during sexual activity to reach orgasm.

If a woman has experienced an initial orgasm, and sexual activity continues, less intense or less direct clitoral stimulation may be enough to achieve additional orgasms – in much less time. The truth is that a woman's vagina isn't the most sensitive sexual area – so activity that centers on penetration, without direct clitoral stimulation, is insufficient to bring most women to orgasm.

The missionary position (man on top) does not provide enough stimulation for most women. The alignment of the man's body is toward the vagina, several centimeters below the clitoris. Most women need to tilt their pelvis or arch their backs to extract some clitoral stimulation in this position. The male partner can help by raising himself higher against the woman, allowing for more contact above the vagina, in the clitoral area. This variation of the missionary position is called CAT–Coital Alignment Technique.

The female dominant (woman-on-top) position may allow the woman more control of stimulation and depth of penetration – this may be preferable to the missionary position. Other positions for sexual intercourse may be varied or additional oral (by mouth) or manual (by hand) stimulation of the clitoris may be used.

Of course, pleasing sexual activity doesn't begin or end with intercourse. There is a range of sensual experiences that may lead to climax. Use your imagination.

Effects of Sexual Excitements

Sexual Excitement on Man

In a man, if spooning?Create is persisted in, it leads to sexual excitement. This causes a surplus of energy to be secreted. The body can retain and use only a normal quantity of this energy; while spooning a man may form many times the normal. This surplus will be dissipated through involuntary losses, the secret vice or prostitution. If spooning is continued for a few months or years he will suffer from varicosed veins and varicocele, later he may become temporarily or permanently impotent or sterile.

 Sexual Excitement on Woman

Personal familiarities with men lead to ovarian troubles in girls which sometimes require an operation. Frequent excitement leads to leucorrhoea, or whites, corresponding to sexual weakness in the male. The eyes that once glowed with lustre will become pale and sunken. The cheeks once plump, ruddy and rosy with health will become thin and faded. Nervous prostration, invalidism, consumption or one or more of many other troubles may follow

Example of Mental Sexual Excitement

In one of the northern universities, a young man called on the writer for an interview. He knew that he was in a critical condition. He wanted information and help. He was found to be impotent and possibly temporarily sterile. He had been quite free from the secret sin and visiting the immoral woman. It was explained to him that his trouble was in his mind,, that he had indulged frequently, for several years, in some custom that had resulted in high states of sexual excitement. He was then asked to explain what he considered to be the cause. His reply was, "Professor, I guess I know, but I never dreamed that it could become this serious. For nearly three years, two to three times a week, three or four hours at a time, I have been visiting a lady friend. We have engaged mudi in kissing, embracing, reclining and sitting in each other's laps. We have not been personally immoral, though I have been ungentlemanly enough to request sexual favors a number of times. This she has sternly refused. I guess this is the cause of all my trouble." He was assured that his conclusions were correct, that there was no habit more injurious to the sexual system, physical health, mental strength and moral character than that of which he was guilty.

Date Rape.htm

Date Rape Drugs

Date Rape..

When people think of rape, they might think of a stranger jumping out of a shadowy place and sexually attacking someone. But it's not only strangers who rape. In fact, about half of all people who are raped know the person who attacked them.

Most friendships, acquaintances, and dates never lead to violence, of course. But, sadly, sometimes it happens. When forced sex occurs between two people who already know each other, it is known as date rape or acquaintance rape.

Even if the two people know each other well, and even if they were intimate or had sex before, no one has the right to force a sexual act on another person against his or her will.

Girls and women are most often raped - one in three women will be sexually assaulted in her life. Guys can also be raped, though: 7% to 10% of rape victims are male.

Even though rape involves forced sex, rape is not about sex or passion. Rape has nothing to do with love. Rape is an act of aggression and violence.

You may hear some people say that those who have been raped were somehow "asking for it" because of the clothes they wore or the way they acted. That's wrong: The person who is raped is not to blame. Rape is always the fault of the rapist. And that's also the case when two people are dating - or even in an intimate relationship. One person never owes the other person sex. If sex is forced against someone's will, that's rape.

Healthy relationships involve respect - including respect for the feelings of others. Someone who really cares about you will respect your wishes and not force or pressure you to have sex.

What are date rape drugs?

These are drugs that are sometimes used to assist a sexual assault. Sexual assault is any type of sexual activity that a person does not agree to. It can include inappropriate touching, vaginal penetration, sexual intercourse, rape, and attempted rape. Because of the effects of these drugs, victims may be physically helpless, unable to refuse sex, and can't remember what happened. The drugs often have no color, smell, or taste and are easily added to flavored drinks without the victim's knowledge. There are at least three date rape drugs:

• GHB (gamma hydroxybutyric acid)
• Rohypnol (flunitrazepam)
• Ketamine (ketamine hydrochloride)

Although we use the term "date rape," most experts prefer the term "drug-facilitated sexual assault." These drugs have been used to help people commit other crimes, like robbery and physical assault, and have been used on both men and women. drugs look like?

• GHB has a few forms: a liquid with no odor or color, white powder, and pill.
• Rohypnol is a pill and dissolves in liquids. New pills turn blue when added to liquids. However, the old pills, with no color, are still available.
• Ketamine is a white powder.

ffects do these drugs have on the body?

The drugs can affect you quickly. The length of time that the effects last varies. It depends on how much of the drug is taken and if the drug is mixed with other substances, like alcohol. Alcohol can worsen the drug's effects and can cause more health problems. Also, one drug — GHB — can be made by people in their homes, so you don't know what's in it.

GHB

GHB can cause these problems:

• relaxation
• drowsiness
• dizziness
• nausea
• problems seeing
• unconsciousness (black out)
• seizures
• can't remember what happened while drugged
• problems breathing
• tremors
• sweating
• vomiting
• slow heart rate
• dream-like feeling
• coma
• death

Rohypnol

Rohypnol can cause these problems:

• can't remember what happened while drugged
• lower blood pressure
• sleepiness
• muscle relaxation or loss of muscle control
• drunk feeling
• nausea
• problems talking
• difficulty with motor movements
• loss of consciousness
• confusion
• problems seeing
• dizziness
• confusion
• stomach problems

Ketamine

Ketamine can cause these problems:

• hallucinations
• lost sense of time and identity
• distorted perceptions of sight and sound
• feeling out of control
• impaired motor function
• problems breathing
• convulsions
• vomiting
• out of body experiences
• memory problems
• dream-like feeling
• numbness
• loss of coordination
• aggressive or violent behavior
• slurred speech Are these drugs legal ?

Some of these drugs are legal, but that doesn't mean they're not going to hurt you. Even if they're legal, you should not use them unless your health care provider prescribes them.

• Rohypnol is NOT legal It is legal in Europe and Mexico and prescribed for sleep problems and as an anesthetic (medicine given during surgery so you don't feel pain).
• Ketamine is legal in the U.S. for use as an anesthetic for humans and animals. It is mostly used on animals. Veterinary clinics are robbed for their Ketamine supply.
• GHB was recently made legal in the U.S to treat problems from narcolepsy (a sleep problem).

While GHB, rohypnol, and ketamine are considered "date rape drugs," there are other drugs that affect judgment and behavior, and can put a person at risk for unwanted or risky sexual activity. Alcohol is one of those drugs. When a person is drinking alcohol:

• It's harder to think clearly and evaluate a potentially dangerous situation.
• It's harder to resist sexual or physical assault.
• Drinking too much alcohol can also cause black-outs and memory loss.

But remember: even if a victim of sexual assault drank alcohol, she is NOT at fault for being assaulted.

HOW CAN I PROTECT MYSELF FROM BEING A VICTIM?

• Don't accept drinks from other people.
• Open containers yourself.
• Keep your drink with you at all times, even when you go to the bathroom.
• Don't share drinks.
• Don't drink from punch bowls or other large, common, open containers. They may already have drugs in them.
• Don't drink anything that tastes or smells strange. Sometimes, GHB tastes salty.
• Have a non-drinking friend with you to make sure nothing happens.
• If you think that you have been drugged and raped:
• Go to the police station or hospital right away.
• Get a urine (pee) test as soon as possible. The drugs leave your system quickly. Rohypnol stays in the body for several hours, and can be detected in the urine up to 72 hours after taking it. GHB leaves the body in 12 hours.
• Don't urinate before getting help.
• Don't douche, bathe, or change clothes before getting help. These things may give evidence of the rape.
• You also can call a crisis center or a hotline to talk with a counselor. . Feelings of shame, guilt, fear and shock are normal. It is important to get counseling from a trusted professional.
• Plan your journey or night out, arranging your journey to-and-from home.
• Make sure someone knows where you are going and what time you will be home.
• When going to a pub, club or party avoid going alone. Friends can watch-out for each other.
• Appoint a nominated drink watcher (your non-drinking driver?). Alcohol does affect your actions and reactions, as well as your ability to be alert. Take care.
• Stay aware of what is going on around you & away from situations you do not feel comfortable with.
• Never accept a drink from anyone you do not completely trust.
• Do not share or exchange drinks.
• Don't leave your drink unattended, even when going to the toilet.
• Drugs can be put in soft drinks, tea, coffee, hot chocolate etc., as well as alcohol. There are a number of drugs that could be used to incapacitate you; the majority will not be easily detectable in a drink.
• Drinking from a bottle and keeping your thumb over the top is a good idea. Just remember that if you leave it unattended you may not be able to see if anything has been put in it.
• If you return to your drink and it has been moved, looks different, appears to have been topped-up, or tastes strange; don't take a chance.
• Consider very carefully whether you should leave the pub, club or party with someone you have just met.
• If you begin to feel really drunk after only a drink or two, seek help from a trusted friend, or a member of the club or pub management. It is important to get to a place of safety as soon as possible.
• Consider very carefully whether you should leave the pub, club or party with someone you have just met. You must be sure you have absolute trust in the person you are asking for help, no matter how long you have known them.
• This can happen to men as well as women.

There are a number of practical steps you can take to reduce the risk of drug assisted sexual assault: You cannot expect to remember a long list of prevention advice, every time you go out. Just be aware.

If something does not seem quite right, guard against the possibility of it happening to you or one of your friends.

Getting Help

Unfortunately, even if someone takes every precaution, date rape can still happen. If you're raped, here are some things that you can do:

• If you're injured, go straight to the emergency room - most medical centers and hospital emergency departments have doctors and counselors who have been trained to take care of someone who has been raped.
  
• Call or find a friend, family member, or someone you feel safe with and tell them what happened.
  
• If you want to report the rape, call the police right away. Preserve all the physical evidence. Don't change clothes or wash.
  
• Write down as much as you can remember about the event.
  
• If you aren't sure what to do, call a rape crisis center. If you don't know the number, your local phone book will have hotline numbers.

Don't be afraid to ask questions and get information. You'll have lots of questions as you go through the process - such as whether to report the rape, who to tell, and the kinds of reactions you may get from others.

Rape isn't just physically damaging - it can be emotionally traumatic as well. It may be hard to think or talk about something as personal as being raped by someone you know. But talking with a trained rape crisis counselor or other mental health professional can give you the right emotional attention, care, and support to begin the healing process. Working things through can help prevent lingering problems later on.

Please forward this to everyone you know, especially girls. Be careful when you're out and don't leave your drink unattended. Please make the effort to forward this on to all you know. Please inform all your female friends and relatives.

Forward this to every one you knows......