http://kinseyconfidential.org Just another WordPress weblog Thu, 18 Mar 2010 14:00:23 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 en hourly 1 2006-2007 aschweig@indiana.edu (Kinsey Confidential) aschweig@indiana.edu (Kinsey Confidential) posts 1440 Just another WordPress weblog Kinsey Confidential Kinsey Confidential aschweig@indiana.edu No no http://kinseyconfidential.org/wp-content/themes/kinsey/images/kinsey-podcast-300.jpg http://kinseyconfidential.org 144 144 http://kinseyconfidential.org/common-swing-lifestyle/ http://kinseyconfidential.org/common-swing-lifestyle/#comments Mon, 04 Jan 2010 14:00:26 +0000 Dr. Debby Herbenick (M.P.H., Ph.D.) http://kinseyconfidential.org/?p=1317 http://kinseyconfidential.org/common-swing-lifestyle/feed/ 0 3:16 How Common is Swinging There are very few good studies on the swinging lifestyle in the United States let alone population based studies that would allow ... How Common is Swinging There are very few good studies on the swinging lifestyle in the United States let alone population based studies that would allow us to guess at just how common or rare swinging is. The data that we do have suggest that swinging is relatively uncommon in the United States. However, uncommon doesnrsquo;t mean that itrsquo;s right or wrong ndash; it just means that a minority of men and women engage in it. From Clubs to Living Rooms Swinging is also practiced in different ways. Some swinging, as you may know, takes place in club settings in which people may private membership dues to belong to the club. Other times, swinging takes place in the context of private parties that may occur in peoplersquo;s homes or in privately rented space at a club, bar or hotel. There are also swingers conventions that take place in cities around the world and that may draw as many as a few hundred or a few thousand adult women and men to come to a resort or hotel, to learn about whatrsquo;s new in the swing lifestyle, and to possibly meet new friends and partners. Rules and Regulations There are also different ways that swinging takes place. Some clubs or parties do not allow single men into the scene whereas others do. On the contrary, single women are more often allowed into swing events as they are, quite frankly, more often in demand for sex play. Couples themselves have their own rules on what will or wonrsquo;t work for them. Some couples decide that they will only engage in sex that occurs together whereas others enjoy splitting up and having sex with other people in private settings at the club or party or in their own home. Joining a Group There are also swing organizations that work in different ways. Some groups are open to anyone who is willing to sign up, join in and/or pay for an entry fee or a membership. Others are highly restrictive and may require that you be invited by an existing member or that you submit photographs or write essays before you are allowed to join. Risks and Rewards So while swinging is not entirely common, it is not terribly rare either. It is practiced by enough people that there are events that consist of hundreds or thousands of attendees. And while some people find that swinging is not for them, that they are too worried about sexual infection risk or unable to comfortable handle issues related to jealousy or communication, others very much enjoy the novelty and pleasure found in a swinging lifestyle. And aside from the sex, some women and men appreciate the new friendships that come from being sexual with others. More Information To learn more about swinging and having more than one lover, check out the book Opening Up. Content,Type,,Podcast,,Relationships,,Love aschweig@indiana.edu no No http://kinseyconfidential.org/pregnancy-infection-risk-lesbian-sex/ http://kinseyconfidential.org/pregnancy-infection-risk-lesbian-sex/#comments Thu, 18 Dec 2008 14:00:07 +0000 Dr. Debby Herbenick (M.P.H., Ph.D.) http://wfiutest.rtv.indiana.edu/?p=475 http://kinseyconfidential.org/pregnancy-infection-risk-lesbian-sex/feed/ 0 3:32 Thanks for your question. In order to become pregnant from sex, a woman would have to have sex with a man, as sperm are required ... Thanks for your question. In order to become pregnant from sex, a woman would have to have sex with a man, as sperm are required for pregnancy. Women simply cannot get pregnant from sex with other women; it is not possible. When female couples wish to have a baby together, they need to use a sperm donor, as they need sperm to fertilize a woman's egg in order to begin a pregnancy. Risk Of Sexually Transmissible Infections (STIs) That said, women can pass sexually transmissible infections, or STIs, to each other through sexual practices. For example, two women can pass bacterial infections such as chlamydia and gonorrhea to each other through oral sex, sharing sex toys, or other sexual play behaviors that involve genital contact. Even yeast infections may be sexually passed among two women, as can herpes, syphilis, HIV and the human papillomavirus (or HPV). Reducing Infection Risk Women can reduce their risk of infection by taking steps toward safer sex. For example, women should not share sex toys with each other. If they both enjoy sex play that involves vibrators or dildos, they should each have their own toy. If they decide to share a toy anyway, then they should place a new, unused condom on the toy before using it and then take the condom off, throw it away, and put a new condom on the toy before the second person uses it. When it comes to oral sex, women can use a latex dental dam or a condom cut in half to serve as a barrier for cunnilingus. This can prevent the spread of infection from mouth to genitals or from genitals to mouth. Talk To Each Other Female couples, like male couples and male-female couples, are best advised to talk to each other about each other's STI testing and treatment history. Like other couples, there is much joy and pleasure to be had for female couples, however, concerns about infection risk can get in the way of being able to relax and enjoy sex. At least in regard to pregnancy risk, you can relax and rest assured that you are not able to become pregnant from sex with another woman. Sometimes concerns about pregnancy or infection reflect more general concerns that a person might have about being sexual. If you are new to sex, and you have questions about it, consider talking to a parent, trusted adult, healthcare provider or counselor about your questions, concerns, anxieties or expectations for sex. If you feel comfortable, you might try talking to your friend about her thoughts on your sexual experience together, how you both felt about it at the time and how you feel about it now, and what - if anything - it means for your friendship. Talking about sex can feel difficult at first, but it often gets easier with practice and can help to make one's sexual life and romantic relationships more enjoyable, relaxing and pleasurable. Content,Type,,Podcast,,Pregnancy aschweig@indiana.edu no No http://kinseyconfidential.org/gave-partner-genital-herpes/ http://kinseyconfidential.org/gave-partner-genital-herpes/#comments Thu, 12 Jun 2008 13:00:39 +0000 Dr. Debby Herbenick (M.P.H., Ph.D.) http://www.kinseyconfidential.org/2008/06/12/qa-i-gave-my-partner-herpes/ http://kinseyconfidential.org/gave-partner-genital-herpes/feed/ 0 3:07 Thanks for your question. Many women and men find it challenging or embarrassing to talk about sexually transmissible infections ndash; also called STIs ndash; even ... Thanks for your question. Many women and men find it challenging or embarrassing to talk about sexually transmissible infections ndash; also called STIs ndash; even if they themselves have never had an STI. It can be a more difficult conversation to have, but a necessary one, if one happens to have a STI. STIs Stigmatized Unfortunately, STIs have been stigmatized in ways in many cultures ndash; including here in the United States ndash; that have made some people worry about approaching a potential partner with STI information. In this instance, you chose not to provide your partner with important information about your health, and now he has herpes. We consider Kinsey Confidential to be an information service, rather than an advice service, so we canrsquo;t and wonrsquo;t tell you what to do. Open and Honest Communication However, we would absolutely encourage you to develop open and honest communication with your partner, and to support him in ways that encourage his health. Even though you may be afraid to be honest with your partner, telling him that you have herpes too may help him to feel less alone, even though he may initially be angry with you or feel resentful. It is possible that your relationship will be enormously strained. You two may even break up or decide to stop seeing each other. Then again, being able to make yourself vulnerable to and honest with each other may end up strengthening your relationship over time. There is no way to predict his reaction or what course your relationship may take, however part of being responsible about sexual health involves being open and honest with your partners. Herpes Treatment Scientists have made enormous progress related to herpes in recent years. Treatment is now available that can greatly reduce the risk of outbreaks as well as transmission. You and your partner may both want to check in with a healthcare provider for more information. That said, as far as we have come with treatment, itrsquo;s up to women and men to learn to live with herpes, and to manage it in responsible ways with their sexual partners. Learn More You can learn more about herpes in our sexual health, disease, and STIs resource pages, from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or from the American Social Health Association. Content,Type,,Health,,Disease,,Podcast aschweig@indiana.edu no No http://kinseyconfidential.org/common-sexually-transmissible-infections-symptoms/ http://kinseyconfidential.org/common-sexually-transmissible-infections-symptoms/#comments Mon, 26 May 2008 13:00:01 +0000 Dr. Debby Herbenick (M.P.H., Ph.D.) http://www.kinseyconfidential.org/2008/05/26/qa-common-sexually-transmissible-infections/ http://kinseyconfidential.org/common-sexually-transmissible-infections-symptoms/feed/ 0 3:15 Many sexually active adolescents and adults have, or have had, a sexually transmissible infection (STI). Two of the most common STIs are chlamydia and the ... Many sexually active adolescents and adults have, or have had, a sexually transmissible infection (STI). Two of the most common STIs are chlamydia and the human papillomavirus, which we often just call HPV. Most Common STIs Chlamydia is very common among 15-24 year olds. In fact, it is the most common bacterial STI in the United States. It can be spread through vaginal, oral or anal sex. Then therersquo;s the human papillomavirus ndash; or HPV ndash; which about 60-80% of adults are thought to have been exposed to. HPV is the virus that can cause cervical changes or genital warts, though most women and menrsquo;s bodies seem not to experience serious HPV-related problems. There is a new HPV vaccine for women, Gardasil, which appears to be successful in protecting women against the effects of certain strains of HPV. The vaccine is associated with a reduced rate of certain cervical problems and diagnoses of genital warts. HPV can also be spread through vaginal, oral or anal sex, and it may put women and men at greater risk for genital cancers, anal cancers and mouth cancers. But just because you have HPV does not mean that you will get cancer. Most people get HPV, but these cancers are still relatively rare. Symptoms To Watch For In terms of symptoms you should watch out for, pretty much any genital itching, burning, discomfort, discharge, sores, bumps or lesions should be discussed with your healthcare provider ndash; even if you feel embarrassed! It is really important to take care of your own sexual health and that of your partner. Many people donrsquo;t notice genital symptoms or else they pass off their symptoms as something else. For example, sometimes women think that their genital itching is caused by a yeast infection or men or women may think they have razor burn when really they may have herpes. The bottom line is donrsquo;t assume that your symptoms are meaningless. If you notice changes in the way that your genitals feel or look, check it out with your healthcare provider. Some STI's Have No Symptoms Itrsquo;s also important to know that some STIs, such as Chlamydia, rarely have symptoms. But that doesnrsquo;t mean that STIs arenrsquo;t serious ndash; if left untreated, chlamydia and gonorrhea can lead to pelvic inflammatory disease (among women) and fertility problems for both sexes. If you are sexually active, make sure you get tested regularly; check in with your healthcare provider to learn about the STI tests that are right for you. Content,Type,,Health,,Disease,,Podcast aschweig@indiana.edu no No http://kinseyconfidential.org/analingus-safe-anal-sex/ http://kinseyconfidential.org/analingus-safe-anal-sex/#comments Mon, 28 Apr 2008 14:00:29 +0000 Dr. Debby Herbenick (M.P.H., Ph.D.) http://www.kinseyconfidential.org/blog/2008/04/28/qa-analingus-and-safe-anal-sex/ http://kinseyconfidential.org/analingus-safe-anal-sex/feed/ 0 3:23 In recent years, anal sex has become a topic about which more and more women and men ask questions. Not all of them are having ... In recent years, anal sex has become a topic about which more and more women and men ask questions. Not all of them are having anal sex or engaging in anal play, but some are ndash; and itrsquo;s important to seek out reliable information about sexual activities yoursquo;re not certain you have all the facts about. Good for you for coming to us to learn more! Analingus (Oral Anal Sex) The term ldquo;rim jobrdquo; ndash; for those not familiar with it ndash; refers to stimulating a partnerrsquo;s anus with onersquo;s mouth, such as the tongue. It is also called ldquo;analingusrdquo;. It is true that sexually transmissible infections ndash; or STIs ndash; are not the only health risk of analingus. Your partnerrsquo;s fecal matter may contain a variety of bacteria and viruses that your body may not handle well. Men and women who engage in analingus would be wise to check in with their healthcare provider and to let them know of their interest in analingus. They may actually suggest certain vaccinations that can reduce your risk of acquiring a virus. Reducing Infection Risk You can also reduce your risk of problems associated with analingus by using a dental dam or a condom cut in half, lengthwise, as a barrier between your mouth and your girlfriendrsquo;s anal opening. Some couples add a small dab of lubricant on the side facing the partnerrsquo;s anal opening, which can make the experience feel more slippery and pleasurable. Safe Anal Sex As for anal sex, it can certainly hurt even if it is being done properly. Sometimes people find that it is difficult to relax, or that they may not feel like they can ask their partner to stop if it begins to feel painful or uncomfortable. And sometimes people simply think they are doing it properly but are not really taking all of the measures they might to ensure comfort and safety. For example, some couples donrsquo;t think to add lubricant when they have anal sex, and lubricant can greatly reduce the friction of anal sex and increase the pleasure and comfort for both partners. Like vaginal sex, anal sex that is very forceful or vigorous can leave one or both partners feeling sore, and can cause tears or cuts for the receptive partner. Communication is key for both anal and vaginal sex, as are comfort and relaxation and checking in with each other to make sure that sex feels good. Recommended Reading To learn more, consider reading Anal Pleasure #38; Health: A Guide for Men and Women by Jack Morin. Content,Type,,Health,,Disease,,Podcast aschweig@indiana.edu no No http://kinseyconfidential.org/condoms-erections-physical-appearance/ http://kinseyconfidential.org/condoms-erections-physical-appearance/#comments Wed, 21 Feb 2007 22:36:27 +0000 Kinsey Confidential http://www.kinseyconfidential.org/blog/2008/01/18/qa-condoms-erections-and-my-partners-physical-appearance/ http://kinseyconfidential.org/condoms-erections-physical-appearance/feed/ 0 http://kinseyconfidential.org/qa-what-is-the-best-way-to-clean-genitals-are-body-fluids-harmful/ http://kinseyconfidential.org/qa-what-is-the-best-way-to-clean-genitals-are-body-fluids-harmful/#comments Wed, 24 Jan 2007 19:04:09 +0000 Kinsey Confidential http://www.kinseyconfidential.org/blog/2007/01/24/qa-what-is-the-best-way-to-clean-genitals-are-body-fluids-harmful/ http://kinseyconfidential.org/qa-what-is-the-best-way-to-clean-genitals-are-body-fluids-harmful/feed/ 0 http://kinseyconfidential.org/smoking-and-hpv/ http://kinseyconfidential.org/smoking-and-hpv/#comments Wed, 01 Nov 2006 19:19:52 +0000 Kinsey Confidential http://www.kinseyconfidential.org/blog/2006/11/01/qa-the-connection-between-smoking-and-hpv/ http://kinseyconfidential.org/smoking-and-hpv/feed/ 0 http://kinseyconfidential.org/chlamydia-bikini-wax-risk-transmission/ http://kinseyconfidential.org/chlamydia-bikini-wax-risk-transmission/#comments Wed, 04 Oct 2006 19:49:26 +0000 Kinsey Confidential http://www.kinseyconfidential.org/blog/2006/10/04/qa-can-you-get-chlamydia-from-a-bikini-wax/ Subscribe to the Podcast ]]> http://kinseyconfidential.org/chlamydia-bikini-wax-risk-transmission/feed/ 0 3:16 Chlamydia is a bacterial infection and it is only transmitted sexually, so it is not possible to have gotten an infection from a bikini wax ... Chlamydia is a bacterial infection and it is only transmitted sexually, so it is not possible to have gotten an infection from a bikini wax (or a toilet seat, towel, or other rumored means). It is transmitted between sexual partners through vaginal, oral or anal sex and can be cured with certain antibiotics. Risk With Proper Condom Use: Very Low You mentioned that you had protected sex with three different partners between your two exams. Presumably, by "protected sex" you mean that you and your partner used a condom during sexual intercourse. Assuming that you used a condom correctly and every time that you had intercourse, your risk of getting chlamydia would be very low unless the condom broke or slipped off. Unfortunately, condoms are often used incorrectly -- and that doesn't just mean mistakes with opening packages or turning the condom inside out. More specifically, many people wait a while before putting a condom on a guy's penis and, in the mean time, engage in all sorts of genital rubbing and "slip-ins" which can transmit infections such as chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, herpes, HPV or even HIV, particularly as sexual fluids such as pre-ejaculate and vaginal fluids may mix. This is NOT "protected" sex. Also, because chlamydia can be transmitted during oral sex, if you received oral sex from any of these three partners, they could have transmitted the infection to you in that way. Partners Telling The Truth? That said, a confusing part seems to be that your partners all stated that they do not have chlamydia. They may be telling the truth, or lying, and you may never know. Here are some possible scenarios: If you received oral sex from another partner (but did not have intercourse with the partner), it may be that partner who gave you chlamydia. It is also possible that one of your three partners used to have chlamydia, but no longer does, possibly because he or she has since been treated for something else (such as a cold) that was treated with the same specific type of antibiotic with which Chlamydia would be treated. Further, it is possible that one of your partners is lying. While lying is always a sad state of affairs (particularly by someone you made yourself physically and emotionally vulnerable to within the context of a sexual relationship), it occurs all too often in the context of sexually transmitted infections (STI). For example, one study found that only about half of some individuals who were infected with the human papillomavirus (HPV, which can cause genital warts or cervical problems) felt it was important to tell their sexual partners about having HPV. In another study, about one fourth of HIV positive individuals did not tell their sexual partner they had HIV. In general, people are more likely -- but not guaranteed - to be honest with their partners if they are in a committed relationship, if they feel that being honest is the right thing to do, if they care about their partner, or if they feel that their partner needs to get treated. Unfortunately, even caring or committed partners sometimes lie in order to protect (in their eyes) the relationship and/or their own pride or self-image. Good for you for being honest and contacting your previous partners. Partner Notification For those who feel they cannot tell past or current partners directly, one can ask a healthcare provider for help with "partner notification", whereby they will call or email your past or present partner to let them know (confidentially) that they have been named as a partner of someone who has tested positive for an infection.This is a confidential process and your identity will not be disclosed. Some STIs end up being mild nuisances that are easily cured; others are life-changing, cause bothersome symptoms or fertility problems, or are life-threatening. This is why it is always important to communicate with partners about infection and testing issues, even when you cannot necessarily Content,Type,,Health,,Disease,,Podcast aschweig@indiana.edu no No http://kinseyconfidential.org/epididymitis-symptoms-treatment/ http://kinseyconfidential.org/epididymitis-symptoms-treatment/#comments Wed, 20 Sep 2006 19:01:00 +0000 Kinsey Confidential http://www.kinseyconfidential.org/blog/2006/09/20/qa-my-boyfriend-has-epididymitis/ http://kinseyconfidential.org/epididymitis-symptoms-treatment/feed/ 0 http://kinseyconfidential.org/abnormal-pap-smear/ http://kinseyconfidential.org/abnormal-pap-smear/#comments Wed, 30 Aug 2006 20:40:29 +0000 Kinsey Confidential http://www.kinseyconfidential.org/blog/2006/08/30/qa-what-does-an-abnormal-pap-smear-mean/ http://kinseyconfidential.org/abnormal-pap-smear/feed/ 0 http://kinseyconfidential.org/hpv-transmission-risk-oral-sex/ http://kinseyconfidential.org/hpv-transmission-risk-oral-sex/#comments Wed, 09 Feb 2005 21:42:04 +0000 Kinsey Confidential http://www.kinseyconfidential.org/2005/02/09/qa-hpv-and-oral-sex/ http://kinseyconfidential.org/hpv-transmission-risk-oral-sex/feed/ 0