Archive-name: alt-sex/faq/part3
Last-modified: 3 Sep 1992

c3-16. What can one do about premature ejaculation?

    From "Human Sexuality" a brief edition by James Leslie McCary.  D. Van
    Nostrand Company, Copyright 1973, ISBN 0-442-25236-6

                     The Treatment of Premature Ejaculation


    Given the cooperation of his lover, a man can train himself (except 
    when the cause is purely physical) to withhold orgasm until both want it 
    to happen.  The main enemy is the fear and anxiety engendered in the man 
    by previous failures.  Once he gains confidence in his "staying power" 
    and accepts the fact that all men face the problem at one time or 
    another, the battle is half won.  To assist him toward confidence in his 
    abilities, several routes can be taken.
    
    Some counsellors recommend that a local anesthetic (for example, 
    Nupercainal) be applied to the penile glans--care being taken not to 
    smear any of the ointment on the woman's vulva--a few minutes before the 
    beginning of intercourse.  The assumption is that the deadening effect 
    will decrease the sensitivity of the penis and delay ejaculation.  
    Others prescribe the wearing of one or more condoms to reduce the 
    stimulation generated by the friction of intercourse and the warmth and 
    moisture within the vagina.  Since muscular tension is a notorious 
    catalyst in ejaculation, premature ejaculation my be prevented by the 
    man's lying beneath the woman and thus taking a more passive role in 
    coitus.  (Sexual intercourse in the cramped confines of an automobile is 
    unsatisfactory for many reasons, one o itttnrt  catiatmt a ai.  Some men also    ....find that taking a drink just before coitus helps, since 
    alcohol is a deterrent in all physiological functioning.  Other men 
    claim similar success through concentrating on singularly unsexy 
    thoughts, such as their income tax payments.  (It is suggested, however, 
    that these men take care not to let their partners know of their 
    diversionary thoughts, lest they be dumped from the bed before 
    ejaculation, premature or otherwise!)  Having an orgasm and, after a 
    short rest, attaining another erection often permit a man to experience 
    a more prolonged act of coitus the second time.  Some men masturbate 
    shortly before they expect to have sexual intercourse; because their sex 
    drive will thereby be decreased, they can then prolong intercourse 
    later. 

    The technique of delaying the man's orgasm can be learned, and 
    probably the best method is one requiring the cooperation of both the 
    man and his sex partner.   The best chance of success lies in both 
    partners' consulting a psychotherapist who will, first of all, assure 
    the couple that premature or early ejaculation is a reversible 
    phenomenon.  The couple will then be instructed in the somewhat 
    complicated technique of bringing about the reversal of premature 
    ejaculation.
    
    The technique requires that the woman manually stimulate her partners' 

    genitals until the point that he feels the very earliest signs of 
    "ejaculatory inevitability."  (This is the stage of a man's orgasmic 
    experience at which he feels ejaculation of seminal fluid coming, and 
    can no longer control it.)  At that moment he signal the woman with such 
    a pre-agreed word as "now", and she immediately ceases her massage of 
    the penis.  She then quickly squeezes its glans, or head, by placing her 
    thumb on the frenulum (on the lower surface of the glans) and two 
    fingers on the top of the glans, applying rather strong pressure for 3 
    or 4 seconds.  The pressure will be uncomfortable enough to cause the 
    man to lose the urge to ejaculate.  Such "training sessions" should 
    continue for 15 to 20 minutes, with alternating periods of sexual 
    stimulation and squeezing.
    
    In later sessions, the man inserts his penis in the woman's vagina as 
    she sits astride him until he senses impending orgasm, at which point he 
    withdraws and she once more squeezes the penis to stop ejaculation.  Use 
    of these techniques is continued un further sexual encounters until, 
    progressively, the man is capable of prolonged sexual intercourse, in 
    any position, without ejaculating sooner than he wishes.
    
    Two notes of caution should be sounded to those using this technique.  
    First, the technique will be unavailing if the man himself applies the 
    pressure to his penis; and, second, the couple must not treat this new-

    found sexual skill as a game and overdo it.  If the technique is 
    overused, the man may eventually find that he has become insensitive to 
    the stimulation and unable to respond to it.  He may then develop new 
    fears, this time about his potency, and risk developing secondary 
    impotence.  The guidance of a therapist is strongly recommended in the 
    treatment of premature ejaculation to prevent such secondary problems.
    
    Masters and Johnson report a 97.8% success rate in the treatment of 
    premature ejaculation. 

    In any discussion of premature ejaculation, a word of caution must be 
    injected.  It is important to understand that at any one time or another 
    almost every man has experienced ejaculation more swiftly than he or his 
    partner would have liked.   The essential thing is that the man not 
    became anxious over possible future failures.  Otherwise what is a 
    normal, situational occurrence may become a chronic problem. 

---------------------------------------

c3-17. Is it possible for men to be multi-orgasmic?

    From: sawyer@hubble..westford.ccur.com (George Sawyer)
    Keywords: NEMO, Taoist Yoga, Sexual techniques

    Message-ID: <62486@masscomp.westford.ccur.com>
    Date: 4 Nov 91 16:49:14 GMT

    The following is a modified repost of my answer to "Postie's query"

    I study and teach Taoist esoteric yoga, and among the practices are
    sexual techniques which are VERY EFFECTIVE. There are solo techniques,
    and partner techniques. They require ongoing practice and, for men,
    realistically speaking, the partner techniques require a practising 
    partner. 

    A basic concept is that you can have an orgasm without ejaculating.
    Since ejaculation takes you through the refractory period & etc. cycle
    as well as emptying your fluid level, it tends to limit activity.
    Remove this constraint and you can go on as long as you want.
    (Have as many orgasms as you want).  When you get close to the point
    of ejaculatory inevitability, you perform the techniques, which pull
    the sexual energy out of your testes / prostate up to your brain &
    compress the prostate causing partial loss of erection & subsiding
    of prostate. When the energy moves upward, you have an non-ejaculatory
    orgasm.
 
    The only way I can describe the orgasm experience is to compare it to

    to some types of psychedelic drug experiences - except that you are in
    control and can stop immediately if you want. The more you practice, the
    longer and stronger the effects are.  An orgasm of 5 to 10 minutes
    is "quite easy" and you can become able to have one of more than an hour
    with "determined practice". About an hour twenty minutes is my personal
    best (from solo practice at that) and I made it stop because I was
    getting too high.

    You tend to rest for a few or several minutes after each orgasm, being
    with your partner, and then optionally doing it again. Use lots of
    lubricant.

    There are different levels of orgasm, the initial one being a
    "senses" orgasm, in which you experience amplified pleasure from all
    your senses simultaneously. Since this includes touch, it is a
    bodywide experience. An "unexpected" benefit for men
    is that you will always have more energy after sex than before,
    thus dramatically reducing the "roll off and snore" syndrome. 
    Also, after sex you will feel much closer to your partner and
    much more connected than prior. Many people have intense experiences
    of total connection and submersion into each other.

    It is also a First Class system for being celibate. Completely eliminates

    wet dreams, and gives you a fair amount of choice about whether to allow
    yourself to become aroused or not. Over the long term you develop some
    degree of control over your sexual desire in general. Feels great
    (even the non-aroused solo practice), and doesn't require "struggle
    and effort". The non-aroused solo practices are being done by individuals
    in many Christian monasteries & nunneries in Europe. 

    Downsides. NOT TO BE IGNORED
    For men, it only really works if your partner practices too. Otherwise
    they get BORED watching you have extended orgasms while they wait.

    Initially, it is QUITE DIFFICULT not to ejaculate, and you will need
    cooperation from your partner at the WORST possible times - "I need to
    stop NOW!".

    It does not work well with promiscuity.

    It takes time to learn - I'll say an average of 6 months to beginning
    of competence and control, and requires 15min to 30min per day of
    various meditative practices.

    Realistically, most people don't stick to it long enough to be able to do 
    it. Success rate among persistent people is very high, and the practices

    are not difficult.

    Some women find it really weird if you don't ejaculate, and you can really
    fuck up your relationship/marriage if you don't take care of your
    significant other first and foremost. That is far more important than
    mastery of sex techniques. 

    These techniques are not part of a religion, no Deities to believe in,
    no statues, none of that.

    The techniques are described quite clearly in:

    "Taoist Secrets of Love: Cultivating Male sexual energy" (men's)

    "Healing Love thru the Tao: Cultivating Female sexual energy" (women's)

    Both are written by Mantak and Manewan Chia, and widely available at
    New Age bookstores. 

    The pre-requisite is: "Awakening Healing Energy Thru the Tao"

    Most people find these reference books a bit much, and take one day 
    courses.  There are about 70 instructors in the USA, you can find the 

    nearest one by calling the Healing Tao center @ (516) 367-2701. Classes 
    are about $85, and there is a pre-requisite course "The Microcosmic Orbit" 
    which is also about $85.

    DO NOT IGNORE THE SAFETY POINTS IN THE BOOKS

    Happy practice!

---------------------------------------

c3-18. What are some good positions to try out?

    The Teachings of Kama Sutra:
    (See Appendix 3.  The list is long enough to warrant it's own section.)

    From the net (* indicates beginning of a new post):

   * Both are variations of the missionary position and can be done with either 
   person on top:

   1) Instead of the usual man's legs inside the woman's legs, have the man
   place one leg _outside_ the woman's legs.  The allows a "sideways" 
   penetration which makes my SO happy.


   2) Place _both_ man's legs outside the woman's legs.  This causes inward
   pressure on the vagina and clitoris and tightens the vagina.  We both 
   like this very much :)  Note:  If the woman is on top you must be careful
   not to crush the man's testicles :(

   * Have her lay on her side, bottom leg straight and top leg bent at
   the knee, which is in the air. You approach her, sitting up, straddling
   her bottom leg and enter her this way.  This allows for *deep* entry which 
   your SO may or may not like.

   * Penile thrusting from the right angle can pull the labia enough to
   give amazing clitoral stimulation. I usually find this happens most
   with rear-entry positions.


   * The first is with the woman on top, her legs straight and directly over 
   the man's, pushing her weight backwards and forwards with her arms 
   (above the man's shoulders);

   The other is basically the same thing with the man on top, sliding 
   forward and backward.


   We also occasionally use a position with her legs inside mine, but on top.
   We both have to be pretty energetic for this, though. It seems to produce
   intense sensation, increased tightness and friction, etc., but we've never
   been able to make it lead to an orgasm for my partner.


   * Have the guy lie on his back legs spread wide. Have her mount with her
     back towards you. Now, with your thigh between her legs bend your knee
     slightly, this way she can bounce her clit on your thigh with each
     stroke. With your leg you can control how much she gets... straighten
     out your leg and she has to go down further to get the same
     stimulation. Guess it works well for me 'cause of my 18" thighs.  ;)


   * A recent x-SO of mine had a favorite position, and I was wondering if 
   other women enjoy this also. I would enter her from behind (just like 
   doggy style), then while I was fully inserted she would lie down with me 
   on top of her. We would both place our hands underneath her (just above 
   were I was inserted. Then she would wiggle almost methodically. I assume 
   this put great pressure on the clitoris. However after a short time she 
   would orgasm and even sometimes multiple. 

   * My ex-SO much preferred doggy style. She indicated that that

   was the right level of penetration. What is the position
   called that has man on top, woman with legs up so far that
   her knees are practically at her ears? My ex-SO did not like that,
   she said penetration was too deep. Same thing with her on top,
   but sitting up, making her body at right angles to mine. Also, 
   she says that doggy style caused some stimulation of the
   clitoral and pudendal region that wasn't there in other
   positions, presumably because of the movement of tissues
   around the outside of the vagina during intercourse.

   Upside-down position:

   * That question on the purity test refers to (I believe) the people being 
   opposite - ie one standing upright and one standing on their hands or 
   head.  This is a fun one, but you have to be careful that you don't stand
   up too quickly afterwards if you have been upside down or you could 
   possibly pass out.

   OR

   * Have her sitting on the edge of the bed, facing away from the edge,
   on your lap.  Lean over forwards, holding on to a handy dresser.  She does a
   handstand, and you hold yourself up with one hand and hold both of you

   together with the other.  Good for some giggles.

   * We prefer it with the man on his back, with lots of pillows under
   his rear end, propping him up.. I then mount directly on top, one leg
   between his and the other between his leg and arm, i.e. I am
   at a 90 angle with him, sort of squatting, at least initially :-)

   If I then lean forward and move up and down and around, the combination 
   of deep penetration and frontal rubbing of my clitoris on his leg makes 
   for a very interesting combination.

   * standing up...my girlfriend's hanging on to my shoulders,
     and her legs definitely don't touch the ground.

   * My SO likes really deep penetration. She likes "doggie-style"
   but she prefers variations of "in the buck" (legs over the man's
   shoulders to provide deeper penetration.) Actually, as long as you get 
   your arms under her knees it provides the same effect -- some women, 
   my SO included, find it extremely uncomfortable to have their knees 
   pressed all the way up to their chest during intercourse and just putting 
   your arms under her knees or legs will lift her rear up and arch her back,
   giving you a better angle to penetrate at. Also, since your arms are under 
   her legs, you are supporting some of her weight, so she doesn't have to 

   hold her own rear up for you. 

   When we get into this position, I've found that she prefers a sort of 
   rocking motion as opposed to a straight in-and-out thrusting (try 
   bending your own legs so that your knees come up about even with her 
   hips, then you'll be almost cradling her in your lap and if you rock 
   back and forth you will stay inside and alternate between plunging 
   deep and not-so-deep--this has been the easiest way for me to bring 
   her to orgasm).
   
   Another thing she likes is to get on top and face away from me. I'm
   living in a college apartment and I've got the bottom bunk and the bed
   above has bars under it. I can grab one of these bars and pull myself up
   into her, and if I go fast and hard enough, we can get the bed bouncing
   pretty good and she actually bounces up off of my penis and plunges back
   down onto it. She really enjoys this but it's tough for me to do it for
   very long.

---------------------------------------

c3-19. What is the M-spot?

    From: (unknown)

    I don't know if the spot I'm talking about is really the "M-spot," or
    not.  There's actually a *pair* of these "spots."  You stimulate them
    from outside the body, unlike the G-spot, which you get at from inside
    the vagina.  These "M-spots" are on both men and women!

    They're not easy to find, and you've got to already be somewhat
    sexually aroused, I think, or it won't feel like anything.  I think
    you probably also have to be ticklish, but maybe not.

    Stand up.  Take your shirt and pants off.  Put your hands on your
    hips.  Now, feel how your hands are resting on a big "shelf" of bone?
    That's your pelvic bone.  Grip that bone, and get a feel for the shape
    of it in that area.  Now, concentrate on where the tips of your
    fingers are.  Feel around that area.  Relax your stomach muscles
    completely.  (Try sitting down if it helps you relax that area.)  If
    you have big hands, or a small waist, your fingertips are probably
    already on "the spots."  Otherwise, move your hands forward, around
    towards the front of you a little bit, until you find the edge of that
    bone, on both sides.  Now reach around that ridge of bone, pressing in
    on the sides of your tummy.  Dig in with your fingertips.  That's it!
    They're *right* on the edge of that bone, off the insides of it, not
    ofeoi unrsh be somewhere just below and
    to the sides of your belly-button.


    I can't describe it any better than that.  It's probably easier to
    find if your partner does the searching, instead.  If you look for the
    spots yourself, you could be pressing right in them and not know it,
    because it's like trying to tickle yourself -- it just doesn't work.

    Get naked with your partner, do some normal foreplay for a while, and
    get to where you're really ready for sex.  Then have your partner
    stand behind you, and have him/her put their hands on your hips, as if
    you were, then proceed as given above.  If they push and poke around
    in that area long enough, they're bound to find the spots.  They might
    end up just tickling you to death, though.  :-)   (If it tickles,
    they're not pressing hard enough.)

    When they do find your M-spots, you will KNOW IT.  You will feel a
    fire light up inside you.  Within moments, you will want to turn
    around and kiss your partner so hard they suffocate.  It is VERY
    intense.  It's kind of uncomfortable, at first, and you can't take it
    for very long.

    If you're SO is "moving too slow" during foreplay, go for these spots.
    Things will speed up REAL fast.


    Good luck ...

    Sorc 


    Re: M-spot

    I've experienced something like this, although she (my girlfriend at
    the time, not a prostitute :-) touched a spot to either side of the
    navel, not directly below it.  1 - 2 inches down is about right, but
    then 2 - 3 inches over.  It's right on the inside of the pelvic bone.
    If you're wearing jeans, and you casually hang your thumbs over those
    first two belt loops, the tips of your thumbs are right there.
    
    This wasn't just a "male" thing -- it worked on her, too.  It's just
    ticklish if you do it too lightly, but press a little more firmly, and
    it's *very* intense.  It's not really orgasm-inducing, but it turns
    light arousal into high arousal *really* fast.  Get ready for your
    partner to *tackle* you if you do this right.  Use several fingers and
    kind of "push in" on it, like you're kneading dough with your fingers.

    So, I don't know if this is the "M-spot," but it's definitely some
    kind of spot.  :-) And it was great for warming up, but I don't know

    what it'd be like having it stimulated during actual intercourse.  If
    she was on top, so the guy was relatively stationary, and she did that
    "kneading" while "riding" ... hm ... I'll put that on my list of
    things to try.  :-)

---------------------------------------

c3-20. What are Kegel exercises?/How can one increase the force of ejaculation?

   From: sesharp@happy.colorado.edu
   Message-ID: <1991Oct5.231811.1@happy.colorado.edu>
   Date: 6 Oct 91 05:18:11 GMT

   Kegel exercises (pronounced "Kay-gill", in case you ever actually have a 
   conversation about them) were invented to give women better bladder 
   control.  They have a number of useful advantages in sex.  In women, they
   can help tighten the vagina, particularly after childbirth.  The muscles 
   can also be used deliberately during intercourse to stimulate her partner.
   They have a variety of uses for men.  As I already mentioned, they
   strengthen the muscles used in seminal retention, making that technique 
   more effective.  They can make ejaculation more powerful.  This may 
   increase male enjoyment somewhat and female enjoyment if she is sensitive 
   to it.  Deliberate twitches during intercourse are also useful for males.

   Knowing how to force relaxation of the muscles can help maintain control
   and prevent premature ejaculation, as well as relieving the muscle cramps 
   that can occur from too many ejaculations in succession.

   For females:

   My recollection of the exercise regimen taken from the older ESO book is
   as follows.  First you have to identify the PC muscles and get them under 
   conscious control.  Starting and stopping urination is one method.  
   Inserting a finger into the vagina to feel the contractions or watching the 
   movement of the erect penis is another.  Once it is under control, there 
   are three kinds of exercises.  The first is to clench the muscle and hold 
   it for two seconds before releasing it.  The second is to bear down as 
   though constipated, using the abdominal muscles to force the PC muscles to 
   relax.  I find that alternating reps of these two works well.  The third
   exercise is a fast twitch of the muscle, with repetitions as close together 
   as possible, similar to orgasmic contractions.  An initial set of exercises
   consists of 10 repetitions of each exercise.  Five sets should be performed 
   in a day.  As strength improves, the number of repetitions in a set is 
   increased.  Around 30 repetitions in a set is suggested as a good number 
   for retaining good muscle tone.  The exerce orv ae fmao e


   For males:

   Kegel exercises might indeed help with [increasing the force of 
   ejaculation].  Here is how they are performed by males.  First you have to 
   learn to consciously control the muscles.  One way of doing this is to use 
   them to stop and start urination repeatedly.  When you have an erection, 
   contracting them causes it to move, making them easy to identify.  Once 
   you have the muscles identified, there are three types of exercises to 
   do:

   1) try contracting the muscles and holding them that way for a slow 
      count of ten.  You may not be able to last that long at first, but 
      that is why you are exercising.

   2) force them to relax by bearing down as though you were constipated and 
      trying to force a bowel movement.  

   3) twitch (contract and release) the muscles as fast as you can ten times 
      in a row.  I find that it works well to alternate each of the first type 
      with one of the second type.  I don't recall how many of these are 
      recommended.  Something like ten of each to start, eventually working 
      up to a hundred.  


   In addition to the possibility of increasing the force of ejaculation, 
   these may increase the number of contractions and the total enjoyment.
   The same muscles can also be used to reduce the amount of semen in an 
   ejaculation by contracting them as hard as possible during it.  This 
   leaves a less than satisfied feeling, usually accompanied by an urgent 
   desire for another orgasm 10 to 20 minutes later.  This can be useful if 
   your partner wants more sex than you do.  Supposedly, increasing the 
   strength of the muscles can increase this effect to allow quite a few 
   orgasms in a row.
   
---------------------------------------

c3-21. What are blue balls?

   From: markley@grad1.cis.upenn.edu (Jim Markley)

   Blue Balls is a real condition! The "correct" term for blue balls is 
   epididymitis, which is an inflammation of the epididymis. So what is
   an epididymis, you ask?

   Well from the library dictionary -- an elongated mass at the back of
   the testis composed chiefly of the greatly convoluted efferent tubes

   of that organ.

   In simple terms blue balls most commonly occurs when the epididymis
   get blocked up when the sperm leave the testis but not the penis.
   The "efferent tubes" are the conduit for the sperm from the testis to
   the urethra. When they get blocked you get pain. Why blue balls and
   not "swollen balls," well maybe the connotation is that you balls have
   the "blues", or maybe its because with all that swelling some of the
   blood flow is restricted enough to cause some blueing of the area
   because of pooling blood.

----------------------------------------------------------------------

c3-22. Is spanish fly dangerous?

From: japlady@casbah.acns.nwu.edu (Rebecca Radnor)
Subject: Re: Aphrodisiacs??? does really work???

There is this great show on CNBC called steals and deals that recently did
a week on sex related stuff.  They said that most of the spanish fly stuff
that is sold is basically sugar water.  The real machoy is illegal, and an
over dose can be lethal.  (I think they said it will give you a permanent
hard-on that can develop gangrene and need to be surgically amputated, but

I'm not sure.)  There are some places that are selling it, but on the show
they said that the risks are far to high compared to the benefits.  

From: gwh0621@Msu.oscs.montana.edu (The Bedroom Commando)
Subject: Spanish Fly

Spanish Fly has been used for almost a century that I am aware of along
the Mexican-American Border by the Cattle Industry for breeding purposes.
It has not, nor was it EVER intended for use by males....it was administered 
to cows orally...for the purpose of procreation (albeit heightened somewhat)
of a new line of calves.

Spanish fly is a powder of ground up wings of the CANTHARIS VESICATORIA
beetle of the Southwest desert.  As a child, I have had these light brown
1/2 inch long beetles alight upon my skin, and the noticeable resultant
'burn' was the same that one would receive if a drop of sulphuric acid had
been placed there!

One can find these beetles attracted to the lights around service stations
and truck stops in the Southwest and many tourists leave, taking with them,
the telltale burn mark of the Cantharide beetle every summer.

Its use in the industry has been long discontinued in the US, but can still

be found among the peon ranchers of Northern Mexico.

One other thing, it is highly poisonous if taken internally.  Much of this
information can also be found in the "Taber's Cyclopedic Medical
Dictionary"......Don't be misled that I'm on Net in Montana....I was born
and raised on a ranch in the Sonoran-Desert Mountains of Southeast Arizona.

--------------------------------------------------------------

c3-23. Is it possible to get pregnant from anal sex?

From: elf@halcyon.com (Elf Sternberg) 
Subject: simple question 

It is not *technically* possible to get pregnant from anal sex; there is no
way for semen to get from the rectal tract to the vaginal tract.
 
However, anal sex is still not a very good method of birth control. Semen
leaking from the anus after intercourse may drip across the perineum (the
short stretch of skin separating vulva and anus) and cause what is known
as a 'splash' conception.  The failure rate for this is surprisingly high!
8% of couples of who use anal sex as a method of birth control have babies
each year.


---------------------------------------------------------

c3-24. Should I buy a vibrator?
       What kind of vibrators are there?
       Do vibrators 'desensitize' women?
       Can I be replaced by a vibrator?

From: elf@halcyon.com (Elf Sternberg) 

Vibrators come in three distinct 'types'.  Many women find satisfaction
in this most common (and more often thought of), the classic penis-shaped,
battery powered shaft of plastic.  These suffer, however, from a lack of
real power and inconvenient battery death.

The second type of vibrator, the 'wand' vibrator, overcomes these problems
with wall current.  These large, club-shaped vibrators provide LOTS of
stimulation, and wall current provides all the power you could ask for,
but the designers apparently intended for people not to view these things
as sex toys, but as "personal massagers," and the ungainliness of these
things reflects that.

The third type of vibrator, the 'handle' type, looks vaguely like a small

hairdryer with a small, perpendicular shaft out of the thicker end to
accommodate a variety of soft plastic or latex heads.  The best of all
possible worlds, these vibrators never die, fit in one hand, and can
provide a variety of sensations.

Shower Massagers make a wonderful variation on the classic vibrator, and
if you enjoy the warmth and wetness of the tub, you probably want to
consider investing in a shower massager.  Like the wand and handle
vibrators, shower massagers have a host of uses beyond masturbation, too!

BUYING A VIBRATOR:  Don't make buying a vibrator a traumatizing experience.
If you MUST have one of those penis-shaped things, most lingerie shops
carry them.  But most department stores sell the 'wand' or 'handle'
vibrators under the guise of "personal massagers," and buying one from
reputable department stores means a warranty, you can return it if
unsatisfied, and it won't have "Doc Johnson's Love Machine" emblazoned
across it in pink letters in case mother comes to visit.

CAVEAT: Before using any mechanical vibrator, apply lubrication! Your
lover probably does not rank friction burns in the same category as love
bites.  Use a water-based lubricant, such as K-Y (always recommended),
Aegis, or Wet.


CAVEAT: Do not purchase a vibrator specifically designed to deliver heat
to the body as a sexual device.  If they work on muscles, great, but don't
use them on your cunts and cocks.  I know of at least one case where a
woman burned herself with one of these things because her climaxes were
so strong she didn't notice how much the heater had burned her.

RECOMMENDATION: I prefer the 'handle' type myself, with the Con-Air and
the Oster "personal massagers" as my all-time favorites.  Oster makes a
'heating' type of vibrator, as well, so be careful when you buy.

ADVICE: Nobody knows how to masturbate YOU better than you do, and the
same rule applies to everybody else.  Don't use a vibrator on someone
else until you've watched them use it on themselves, preferably several
times.  Men, especially, should watch how their girlfriends/ wives use the
vibrator alone before taking the reins.

No mechanical piece of plastic can replace the love and affection of a
human being; try to see the vibrator as just another toy, and not as
competition.  Some women do experience a temporary 'desensitization'
after the effects of a powerful vibrator, but put the toy away for a
week and sensitivity returns to normal.  Vibrators do not cause long-
term desensitization.


Should you buy a vibrator?  That's a decision only you can make; I
personally have bought two for my wife, and a shower massage, and
they've made our sex life a whole lot better, not worse.  As always,
your mileage may vary.

========================================================================

Category 4. SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASES

A quick table of current treatment effectiveness:
  Gonorrhea:    curable
  Syphilis:     curable in early stages
  Herpes:       incurable, but effective treatment available.
  HPV:          incurable, but treatment available.
  Chlamydia:    curable
  Lice:         curable
  AIDS:         incurable, but some treatment available.
  Hepatitis B:  incurable, but possible vaccine available.

c4-1.  How is the AIDS virus transmitted? and what does a HIV test show?

  (From: Travis Lee Winfrey <travis@ZONKER.gs.com>)


  "AIDS is caused by the Human Immuno-deficiency Virus (HIV).  In a
  person infected with HIV, the virus can be present in the body's
  semen, blood, and breast milk.  It can also be present, in much
  smaller quantities, in vaginal secretion, saliva, and tears.

  The AIDS virus can be transmitted via any of these fluids, but only
  the first two -- semen and blood -- are likely to be involved.  Anal
  sex is the most commonly _perceived_ method of transfer, but vaginal
  sex has been repeatedly shown to transmit HIV.  Men are less likely
  than women to be infected through vaginal sex, but they have, in
  fact, been infected this way.  Cunnilingus and fellatio have also
  been established as capable of transmitting the virus.  Sexual
  activities, not sexual orientation, transmit the virus.

  HIV cannot be passed on through casual contact, hugging,
  hand-shaking, touching the sweat of an infected person, or mosquito
  bites.  HIV can pass through non-latex or "natural" condoms, such as
  Fourex Lambskin condoms.  HIV transmission has nothing whatever to
  do with the presence of feces in anal sex.

  The HIV test shows the presence of antibodies to HIV.  It does not
  show the presence of the virus: the body first has to develop
  antibodies, which normally takes about six weeks.  Hence, a positive

  result means that someone has antibodies and could possibly develop
  AIDS in the future.  A negative result means that someone does not
  have antibodies _at the moment_.  If there is a reason to think that
  exposure was more recent than six weeks, then a test taken
  immediately can only serve as a baseline to compare against a test
  taken later.  Within six months of HIV infection, 99% of the
  population will test positive.  No one should be tested for HIV
  without first obtaining counselling and ensuring _beforehand_ support
  from his or her family or friends.

  The following numbers may be of use.

  AIDS Hotline                 (800) 342-2437
  AIDS Information Clearing House   (800) 458-5231 9-7 EST

  CDC AIDS Ethnicity, Age recording      (404) 330-3020
  CDC AIDS Transmission mode recording   (404) 330-3021
  CDC AIDS Top 10, Projections recording (404) 330-3022

---------------------------------------

c4-2. What is HPV (human papilloma virus)? Treatment?


   *** The writer raises several good questions, which are still ***
   *** unanswered.  Any help will be greatly appreciated.        ***

   From: loredich@miavx3.mid.muohio.edu (Loredich)
   Subject: HPV and genital warts: a dossier
   Message-ID: <427.294a72cb@miavx3.mid.muohio.edu>
   Date: 15 Dec 91 02:08:27 GMT

   HPV (human papilloma virus) is, like any virus, resistant to 
   antibiotic therapy.  Once a human is infected with the virus, there 
   is no known treatment.
 
   HPV can cause warts to appear on the genitals, on the head of the penis 
   in men, and both internally and externally in women.  These warts have 
   been inconclusively linked to cervical cancer in women.
 
   There is no reliable examination or culture that will reveal the 
   presence of the virus unless warts have already developed, as far as I 
   understand it.  Is there anyone with differing information?  Is it possible 
   to diagnose HPV without the actual appearance of warts?
 
   The diagnostic procedure for women is called a colposcopy, which involves 
   an examination of the cervix with a microscope-like device.  The procedure 

   for men involves an application of a solution to the penis which turns the 
   warts white, making them easily visible.  A similar examination for women 
   involves the application of white vinegar, which makes the woman smell like 
   a salad for several days afterward.
 
   The virus is transmissible through sexual contact.  However, there seems
   to be some disagreement over the likelihood of transmission when no 
   warts are present.  The gurus at Planned Parenthood swear that the virus 
   is transmissible at any time, with or without warts.  But several letters 
   I received declared that transmission is highly unlikely unless warts are 
   present: apparently, the virus is not close enough to the surface of the 
   skin to cause damage if no warts are visible.  The jury is still out on 
   this one.  Anyone know for sure?
 
   Once the warts appear, they are removed either by freezing, burning, or 
   laser surgery (which sounds like the least unpleasant option).  Now, the 
   virus itself does not go away, I was told, but the warts do once they are 
   removed.  Do they reappear?  The consensus seems to be that they 
   generally do not.  One woman who wrote to me declared that she had seen 
   no warts in seven years.  Has anyone had recurring warts?
 
   No real word on whether oral sex is a bad idea.  When the warts are 
   present, I can't imagine that it would be too terribly pleasant, but 

   wartlessly, is there a high risk of transmission?  Again, Planned 
   Parenthood shrieked in dismay and issued a stern "NO!" when I asked, but 
   I am not quite sure how reliable their information has been.  Does anyone 
   know about this?  Plenty of readers have suggested that oral sex be 
   performed with a condom, but I am also concerned with being the receptive 
   partner in this.  Can oral sex be safely performed WITHOUT a condom or 
   dental dam?
 
   Response from (anonymous)

   The serotypes of this virus that commonly cause venereal warts are
   associated with cervical cancer.  Other serotypes of the virus have
   been linked to other malignancies.  As to transmission of HPV in the
   absence of visible warts, even if no microscopic warts are  present,
   the mechanical trauma of sex is known to cause at least microscopic
   damage to the skin/mucosa of the genitals that may provide a means of
   transmission of this virus.  The presence of visible warts only
   increases the likelihood of such a transmission occurring in the
   absence of adequate barriers to transmission.  HPV can be detected in a
   PAP smear as cellular atypia, but I believe that a PAP smear has a low
   sensitivity for detecting HPV.
 
---------------------------------------


c4-3. The major sexually transmitted disease (STDs) and their symptoms
    (Gonorrhea, Syphilis, Genital Herpes, AIDS, Pubic Lice (Crabs),
    Nonspecific Urethritis (NSU), Hepatitis B are covered.)

    From: mf2x+@andrew.cmu.edu (Michael Raymond Feely)
    Date: 13 Oct 91 01:35:57 GMT

   All information is courtesy of "On Sex and Human Loving", Masters and
   Johnson Copyright 1985. All typos are mine, but sadly, this newsreader
   doesn't have a spell checker on it. Further info on the development
   times and the percentage of asymptomatic cases of AIDS would be
   appreciated...


   Gonorrhea
   ---------

    Transmission:  Intercourse, fellatio, anal sex, cunnilingus, kissing
                   (infrequently) Women run a roughly 50% chance of 
                   contracting the disease after one session of inter-
                   course, men 20-25%.


   MALE Symptoms:  Yellowish discharge from the penis. Painful, frequent 
                   urination. Symptoms develop from two to thirty days 
                   after infection. Roughly 10% of men have no symptoms. 
                   Later stages of the infection may move into the prostate,
                   seminal vesicles, and epididymis, causing severe pain and 
                   fever. Untreated, gonorrhea can lead to sterility in a 
                   small minority of cases.

      UPDATE:      Traditionally, gonorrhea in the male was thought to be a
                   symptomatic disease as described above. More recently it 
                   has been recognized that a significant number of males have 
                   asymptomatic gonorrhea.  As asymptomatic infections can 
                   lead to the same complications as symptomatic infections 
                   and can be transmitted in the same way, it is important for 
                   men to realize that an exposure needs to be investigated 
                   whether or not there are symptoms.  Also, a complication of 
                   gonorrhea not mentioned above is septic arthritis (infected 
                   joint). While the infection itself is easy to treat, this 
                   can severely damage the involved joint (often the knee) 
           anaeanbly
 LStsd loei onorrhea show no symptoms, or 
                   symptoms so mild they are commonly ignored. Early symptoms

                   include increased vaginal discharge, irritation of the ex-
                   ternal genitals, pain or burning on urination and abnormal 
                   menstrual bleeding.  Women who are untreated may develop 
                   severe complications. The infection will usually spread to 
                   the uterus, Fallopian tubes, and ovaries, causing Pelvic 
                   Inflammatory Disease (PID).  PID, though not only caused 
                   by gonorrhea, is the most common cause of female infer-
                   tility. Early symptoms of PID are lower abdominal pain, 
                   fever, nausea, vomiting, and pain during intercourse.

    
   Syphilis
   --------

    Transmission:  Nominally sexual contact, but can be transmitted by blood 
                   transfusion or from an infected pregnant woman to her fetus.

        Symptoms: 

    PRIMARY STAGE  A chancre sore develops at the site of infection from two 
                   to four weeks after infection has occurred.  The chancre is 
                   painless 75% of the time. The chancre starts as a dull red 
                   spot, turns into a pimple, which ulcerates, forming a round 

                   or oval sore with a red rim.  The sore heals in 4-6 weeks - 
                   however, the infection is still present. The chancre is 
                   usually found on the genitals or anus, but can appear on 
                   any part of the skin.

     SECOND STAGE  One week to six months after the chancre heals. Pale red 
                   or pinkish rash appears (often on palms or soles) fever, 
                   sore throat, headaches, joint pains, poor appetite, weight 
                   loss, hair loss. Moist sores may appear around the genitals 
                   or anus and are highly infectious. Symptoms usually last 
                   three to six months, but can come and go.

     LATENT STAGE  No apparent symptoms, and the carrier is no longer 
                   contagious. However, the organism is insinuating itself 
                   into the host's tissues. 50 to 70 percent of carriers pass 
                   the rest of their lives without the disease leaving this 
                   stage. The reminder pass into Third Stage syphilis

      THIRD STAGE  Serious heart problems, eye problems, brain and spinal cord 
                   damage, with a high probability of paralysis, insanity,
                   blindness or death.

     From: (anonymous)


     While all of the symptoms mentioned are possible (as well as others),
     it usually manifests with a limited number of these symptoms at any one
     time (often just one).  In the past, syphilis was known as the great
     imitator because it could resemble almost any known illness (It was
     said that "To know syphilis was to know medicine.")  Modern diagnostic
     techniques now make this a much simpler disease to diagnose, especially
     in the early stages.  The statement in the FAQ that later stages of
     syphilis are not curable is IMHO wrong.  There is some controversy on
     this point in treating advanced neurosyphilis, but I believe this
     represents difficulties in evaluating the effectiveness of treatment in
     the short term in these patients.  I believe patients who are not
     successfully treated represent treatment failures not incurable
     disease.  Having said this, let me point out that damage by the disease
     prior to treatment is not reversible, although it is often treatable.


   Genital Herpes
   --------------

    Transmission:  Generally by sexual contact. Direct contact with infected 
                   genitals can cause transmission via intercourse, rubbing
                   genitals together, oral genital contact, anal sex, or oral 

                   anal contact.  In addition, normally protected areas of 
                   skin can become infected if there is a cut, rash, sore. 
                   Herpes viruses can be spread in some instances by kissing,
                   if one participant has the infection sited in or near the 
                   mouth.

        Symptoms:  Herpes is marked by clusters of small, painful blisters
                   on the genitals. After a few days, the blisters burst, 
                   leaving small ulcers. In men, the blisters usually appear 
                   on the penis, but can appear in the urethra or rectum. 
                   In women, they usually appear on the labia, but can appear 
                   on the cervix and anal area. First outbreaks are accompanied
                   by fever, headache, and muscle soreness for two or more
                   consecutive days in 39% of men and 68% of women. Other
                   relatively common symptoms include painful urination 
                   discharge from the urethra or vagina, and tender, swollen 
                   lymph nodes in the groin. These symptoms tend to disappear 
                   within two weeks. Aseptic meningitis occurs in 8 percent of 
                   cases, eye infections in 1% of cases, and infection of the 
                   cervix in 88% of infected women. Skin lesions last on 
                   average 16.5 days in men, 19.7 in women. Secondary symptoms 
                   are most prominent in the first four days and then gradually 
                   diminish.


      Recurrence:  None in 10% of cases. Frequency for the remaining
                   population is from once a month to once every few years.
                   The majority of sufferers do not have repeat attacks after 
                   a few years. Most repeat attacks are less severe than the 
                   initial attack.


   AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome)
   -----------------------------------------

    Transmission:  Sexual contact, sharing IV needles, blood transfusion
                   (Note that blood is now routinely screened for HIV) Note 
                   also that the HIV virus is significantly less likely to be 
                   transmitted than the gonorrhea or syphilis bacteria.

        Symptoms:  No single pattern exists. Most common symptoms are
                   progressive, inexplicable weight loss, persistent fever,
                   swollen lymph nodes, and reddish purple coin sized spots 
                   on the skin (These spots are Kaposi's sarcoma, a form of 
                   cancer) When symptoms appear, they may remain unchanged for 
                   months, of may be followed by any one of a number of op-
                   portunistic infections. Typically these include pneumocystis

                   carinii, an unusual form of pneumonia, fungal infections, 
                   tuberculosis, and various herpes forms. Treatment may fend 
                   off these infections, however the typical course is for one 
                   overwhelming infection to follow another until the victim 
                   succumbs due to the immune system's failure to return to a 
                   normal state, and hence, the opportunistic infection's
                   relative freedom to wreak havoc on the victim's systems.
                   It is possible for AIDS to be asymptomatic for prolonged 
                   periods of time while still being contagious.

         On the significance of symptoms of HIV separate from infections:

            While most AIDS patients do eventually die of/with various 
         opportunistic infections, the significance of the chronic wasting 
         can not be ignored.
            In the early days of AIDS, there were patients that by current 
         definitions clearly had AIDS, but were never classified as such 
         since they died of the "dwindles" before acquiring an opportunistic 
         infection that would have made that diagnosis.  
            Also, there has been much discussion of the minimal time until 
         HIV seroconversion.  It should be noted that patients with advanced 
         HIV disease can become "HIV negative" as they lose the ability to 
         make antibodies to HIV (this does not represent an improvement in

         the condition).  
            A final comment on HIV: the opportunistic infections encountered 
         in HIV infection are generally acquired common environmental
         pathogens or acquired from the host themselves.  This is why HIV wards
         do not serve to infect all occupants with all diseases present.


   Pubic Lice (Crabs)
   ------------------

    Transmission:  Nominally through sexual contact, however they may be
                   picked up through use of sheets, towels or clothing used 
                   by an infected person.

        Symptoms:  Intense itching, usually felt mostly at night. Some
                   victims have no symptoms, others may develop an allergic 
                   rash.


   Nonspecific Urethritis (NSU)
   ----------------------------

    (Most commonly - Chlamydia trachomatous and T. mycoplasma)


    Transmission:  Some cases are allergic or chemical reactions, and are 
                   not transmitted per se. Others are through sexual contact.

        Symptoms:  Similar to gonorrhea but usually milder. Urethral
                   discharge is generally thin and clear. Some cases are 
                   asymptomatic.

      Also: This can also precipitate a condition called Reiter's syndrome in
            susceptible persons. This is most commonly characterized by


   The Facts on Hepatitis B
   ------------------------

     What is Hepatitis B?

     Hepatitis B, a potentially deadly, sexually transmitted disease, is not
     selective about who it infects:  anyone can get hepatitis B.  Yet,
     even though it affects the lives of hundreds of thousands in the
     United States, most people know very little about this serious
     disease.


     The hepatitis B virus has been spreading rapidly in the United States,
     with 14 Americans dying each day from hepatitis B-related illnesses.
     Chances are you know at least one person with hepatitis B because one
     in 20 Americans has been infected with the virus.

     Why is Hepatitis B Called a Sexually Transmitted Disease?

     Hepatitis B is not commonly thought of as a sexually transmitted
     disease.  The fact is that it is commonly spread through sex, just
     like AIDS, syphilis, herpes and gonorrhea.  The number of Americans 
     who have contracted hepatitis B through sex has almost doubled in the
     last decade.

     Who Can get Hepatitis B?

     Because it is extremely contagious--100 times more contagious than
     AIDS--anyone can get hepatitis B.  But you are in even greater danger
     if:

     o    you have had more than one sexual partner in the last six months
     o    you have had unprotected sex (without a condom)
     o    you or your partner have ever been diagnosed with a sexually
          transmitted disease (such as herpes, gonorrhea, syphilis,

          chlamydia, genital warts or AIDS)
     o    you or your partner have had sexual contact with someone who has
          had hepatitis B, or someone who is in one of the categories
          listed above

     What Are the Symptoms?

     About half of those who get hepatitis B will suffer from an 
     inflammation of the liver, called acute hepatitis.  Many people with
     hepatitis B mistake the symptoms for other illnesses, such as the flu,
     while others are more seriously affected and may miss school or work
     for months.  Some of the symptoms caused by hepatitis B are:

     o    mild, flu-like illness
     o    skin rashes and arthritis
     o    nausea
     o    vomiting
     o    loss of appetite
     o    malaise
     o    abdominal pain
     o    jaundice (yellowing of the eyes and skin)

     What Happens if I Get Hepatitis B?


     Those who become chronically infected with hepatitis B have
     substantially higher risk of developing liver cancer than the general
     population.  But even if you don't get liver cancer, the effects of
     hepatitis B infection can be so severe that you may not be able to go
     to school or work for several months.

     Then there are those who don't even know they have hepatitis B.  We
     call them the "silent carriers".  This group of symptomless carriers
     can pass the disease on to countless others unknowingly (and may
     eventually get very ill themselves).

     NOTE: THERE IS NO KNOWN CURE FOR HEPATITIS B although there is a
     possible vaccine.  Ask a physician for more information.

     After May 1, you can call 1-800-HEP-B-873 for referral to a physician
     near you who can answer questions.

Because the transmission of different STDs are not independent, persons who
acquire _any_ STD are at considerably  greater risk (epidemiologically) of 
acquiring other STDs.  Persons diagnosed with one STD should be examined for 
other STDs at that time (Multiple infections are possible!!!).  Persons who 
have ever had a STD (except lice, "crabs") should be aware of whatever was 

done that led them to acquire that STD.

========================================================================