There is a new female condom out on the market that was approved by the FDA a year ago and Chicago is leading the pack in terms of promoting the new method for STD prevention and contraception.
The Chicago Female Condom Campaign is a combined effort of area AIDS and reproductive health groups to educate women about taking their sexual health into their own hands. They are calling the campaign Put A Ring On It because the condom features two rings, one that anchors the condom inside the vagina and another that rests outside. See the training video below for more details on how it works.
While the ladies have generally shattered through the glass ceiling that once thwarted our ability to succeed in certain job arenas and be financially independent, we're still banging our heads against that proverbial pane of glass when it comes to getting off.
"The orgasm gap is an inequity that's as serious as the pay gap, and
it's producing a rampant culture of sexual asymmetry," says Paula
England, a professor of sociology at Stanford University.
Several academic studies have been conducted showing that in cases of casual hook-ups women are 30-50% as likely to have an orgasm as men; in the context of a relationship the likelihood increases to 80%. This is because women pretty readily give guys head regardless of the prospect of reciprocation.
Also, ladies, when it comes to intercourse, it takes two to tango. Often women are too passive during sex instead of participating and asserting themselves.
NEWS FLASH: Dudes like it when you get into it, so do what you need to do, chances are it will turn him on and get you off.
For the past week I have been luxuriating at my couple friend's loft in Logan Square while they are gallivanting about the country. Their place is totally dope, they have a dog, a Wii, and a TV in the bedroom.
Typically I like to fall asleep while listening to some ambient music, but when the option is available, watching TV while I wind down for the night usually is awesome. I find it to be one of the most mindless activities a body can do.
However, having a boob tube in your room may leave you getting less of the tit than you would if you left it in the living room, up to 50% less, in fact. Experts say that the bedroom should be for two things, sleeping and sex. Stimulating objects such as computers, paperwork, fitness equipment, and TVs should be left out of the boudoir because they remind you of tasks left incomplete, things you need to do during the day, etc.
Can't bear to part with your in room TV? An Italian study showed that the type of programming you watch has an effect on libido as well. For instance, action movies are a sexy time killer, whereas reality TV is likely to get you laid. (I know, all the abs and bump-its on Jersey Shore turns me on too.)
Earlier this week I wrote a post about a study that showed men who have sex at least twice a week cut their risk of heart attack in half.
I guess you could say I'm milking it right now, but one commenter, Marsh, felt my post was a little lopsided, only discussing the benefits of sex for men and I agree with her. I googled a little harder and found some great info on the benefits of gettin' in on for the ladies.
According to Telegraph.co.uk, one of the many benefits to gettin' it on is that it can reduce the risk of heart attack for males.
In a study on male aging, conducted by the New England Research Institute in Massachusetts, 1,000 men between the ages of 40 and 70 were monitored over 16 years. One of the researchers findings showed that the risk of heart attack was decreased in men who engaged in sexual activity at least twice a week by as much as half. The results were published in the American Journal of Cardiology.
If there weren't enough reasons have sex before, here is yet another. And if you think about these findings, they totally make sense. Doing it gets your heart rate up and counts for a little bit of aerobic activity during the week.
Also, if you read the article, you'll see that other studies have found that more sex in the winter can boost your immune system! Hells yes Chicago-get it on to fight cold season and stay warm this winter.
The study was conducted by polling 180 male students at the University of Kansas, 25% claimed to have faked orgasm, usually because they were drunk, bored, tired, or had already done it too many times in one day. The 101 women polled faked it to spare their partner's feelings, whereas the men faked it to end the encounter.
These findings are interesting mostly because it's typically considered pretty difficult for a guy to fake an orgasm as there is an obvious product, but where there is a will there is a way, and the way is condoms.
The United States government has finally put an end to
abstinence-only sex education funding in schools. An omnibus spending
bill passed last week redirected these funds to be spent on medically
sound programs designed to prevent teenage pregnancy.
Previously, some states refused federal sex
education funding because of the abstinence only program. The states
that favored a broader approach to sex-ed have recently shown reduced
abortion rates.
The $114 million initiative will be used by the
newly formed Office of Adolescent Health to support "medically accurate
and age appropriate programs."
To quote the New York Times, "Ideology, censorship
and bad science have no place in public health policy. It is a relief
to see some sense returning to Capitol Hill." I'm glad to see that a
shift is being made from our ineffectual, and puritanical views on teen
sex to acknowledging that raging hormones are hard to contain. Though
intelligent, we are animals after all.
Some of the ladies of ChicagoNow have been talking about the word "Douche Bag" and whether or not it is okay to use in print, because of it's negative, particularly female, connotations.
This was interesting to me both as a self-proclaimed language nerd (ya dig?), and as a frequent user of the term, "douche" and all of it's variations. Where were the red flags of misogyny attached to this ultimate insult? Had my Loyola womens' studies minor failed me?
Early to Bed is offering an awesome holiday promotion this year. Basically, all you have to do is donate $10 to one of the shop's chosen charities or organizations and receive a $10 gift certificate to the store!
Located at 5232 N. Sheridan Rd., you can shop in-store or at their website.
That's right Chi-town, today, December 1st, is World Aids Day.
Currently there are 33.4 million people world wide who are HIV positive! That is no small number! Today, take a minute to re-educate yourself on HIV statistics and learn what you can do to increase awareness and help fight HIV and AIDS.
I love this song from Bon Iver, the boys of Wisconsin's Northwoods. Their debut album, For Emma, Forever Ago, released in February 2008 gained the band some serious indie cred.
This song, reminiscent of winter, begins with a lilting, bluesy guitar, and builds to Justin Vernon crooning about the animal fears of humanity. It is a mid-winter, Sunday-morning love song, and as the days have gotten grayer, it's melancholy languor is just what the doctor ordered.
My favorite version is the one from the July 2008 Daytrotter Session, check it out here.
In November 1957 The Atlanticpublished an op-ed called "Sex and the College Girl." A graduate of Smith College, class of 1954, Nora Johnson considered what education did for the sex act and the female sex in a United States at the brink of massive social change.
Interestingly enough, the editorial parallels problems many of my friends still gripe about today, 52 years later. Problems like, "When is too soon to go all the way?" and "How can we relate to men on both intellectual and sexual levels?" Most importantly, Johnson deals with the educated woman's desire to have it all, regardless of anatomy.
"After a successful launch of Wet Together lubricant for couples earlier this
year, we are thrilled to unveil the newest item to our couple's intimacy line,"
says Trigg Laboratories founder Michael Trygstad. "By the simple act of
touching, Wet together Ultimate Pleasure Gel for Couples creates a greater
sense of intimacy and passion for couples. They may be used with any of
our personal lubricants for bonus pleasure. Caution: Couples may
experience progressively improved responsiveness with regular
use!"
Typically, Thanksgiving is all about food comas, football, and Catch Phrase with the fam, why not add a little romance in there as well? Fight the effects of tryptophan this year by adding some more stimulating ingredients to your sides. Greens and spices such as asparagus, figs, nutmeg, ginger, and honey are all aphrodisiacs that will have you swapping that post-feast nap for a higher calorie burn activity...
Have you ever been through sex therapy? Do you have an interesting story to share about your experience? A freelancer from Woman's Day magazine wants to hear about it by tomorrow...
Yesterday the Huffington Post put up a great blog post on the merits of sex over love and how women create their identity according to what they expect to get out of sex.
Penned by Lisa Guest, the article is written from a feminist vantage. About to turn 50, Guest chronicles her hunt for the illusive female orgasm from her twenties to the present. Explaining that, though she is still single, it is not only passion, but the complete package she is looking for in her love-making. Check the article out here.
Ole Dick Durbin hollered at me today. He told me that a public health care option is happening whether we like it or not, and asked me to give my two sense. I thought, hey, every day is a good day for civic duty and answered a few questions here.
You may be scratching your head and asking what does health care reform have to do with sex? Well I'll tell you, when your privates are rubbing up against someone else's privates your health is definitely at stake. If you've done some baby-making, more than just your health is at stake. Take a minute to think and Chi-town, have your say.
