Healthy Sexy & Wise - April 2007
Volume 5, Issue 2, 2007
Editors Note
Welcome to the second edition of Healthy Sexy & Wise for 2007.
In this issue:
New contraception launch
Common sex myths
Sexual health clinics for men
2 to Tango campaign
Frequently asked sexual health questions
Library news
New FPWA publications
Book reviews
Please feel free to circulate and distribute this newsletter to anyone you know that may benefit from the information. They can go on the mailing list by emailing me their details.
If you have any suggestions, ideas or comments about the newsletter, you can email me – be sure to let me know if there are any topics you would like to see covered in the future. The next edition of Healthy Sexy & Wise will be out in August.
Rebecca Smith
Editor
New contraception launch
After years of waiting, Australian women finally have access to a contraceptive vaginal ring. Worn inside the vagina for three out of four weeks, NuvaRing is a soft plastic ring containing the same hormones as the combined contraceptive pill. It retails for $25-$28 per cycle.
FPWA Sexual Health Services welcomes the new option for women.
“Using NuvaRing is similar to being on the Pill - for three weeks women are getting the hormones and for one week their body is resting. They have a small period as they would get on the sugar pills in the pack, then a new ring goes back in,” said Dr Angela Cooney, FPWA Medical Consultant.
“The upside is that instead of having to remember to take a pill every day, women only need to remember to insert the ring twice a month.”
“An additional benefit is that the ring contains a lower dose of hormones than the Pill, so side effects such as nausea are likely to be less common, and the risk of pill failure associated with diarrhoea and vomiting is avoided.”
FPWA anticipates that NuvaRing will be very popular, after receiving regular enquiries from women wanting to know when it will be available.
“It is likely to appeal to women who are uncomfortable using more invasive methods of contraception such as implants or intrauterine devices, or who have difficulty remembering to take a pill every day,” said Dr Cooney.
“As forgetting to take the Pill is one of the major causes of its failure, long-lasting methods such as NuvaRing are set to be even more effective at preventing pregnancy.”
Participants from a trial conducted in 2003 by FPWA found the ring easy to use, with the majority having no significant side effects.
For more information on NuvaRing speak to a doctor or FPWA clinician, or download an information sheet.
Common sex myths
A new survey by the Family Planning Association in the UK shows that Briton's have a large gap in their knowledge when it comes to sex and reproduction, with results showing widespread confusion and misunderstanding about some of the basic facts.
Almost one third of those surveyed believe that a woman can stop herself from becoming pregnant if she jumps or dances around, douches or urinates immediately after sex.
Half of the respondents had no idea as to when a woman was most fertile during her cycle, and a large majority (89%) didn’t realise that a man's sperm could live inside a woman's body for up to seven days.
Nearly a quarter of survey participants incorrectly thought that pre-ejaculate didn’t contain sperm.
In Australia some common sexual health misconceptions are that a woman can't get pregnant when she has her period or when using the withdrawal method, and that being on the Pill provides protection against STIs.
As everyone learns about sex and reproduction from different sources, it is very easy for myths to circulate, making it difficult to tell fact from fiction. Not all sources provide accurate, up to date information, and FPWA encourages anyone with a sexual health query to talk to a doctor, FPWA clinician or another trusted health professional.
Sexual health clinics for men
Did you know FPWA has sexual health clinics especially for men?
The ‘Men’s Clinic’ runs from 4:00pm-7:30pm on Thursdays at the Northbridge Clinic and is staffed by both male and female clinicians.
The ‘Mainly Men’ clinic, run by the B2 clinic at Fremantle Hospital, operates on Wednesday afternoons at Quarry Health Centre for under 25s in Fremantle, and is staffed by a male clinician.
The clinics covers all aspects of men’s sexual health, including STIs, safe sex education, contraceptive advice and sexual problems.
While men are still able to make an appointment with a female clinician at other times during the week, these clinics are for those who feel more comfortable with a male clinician.
To make an appointment phone FPWA (Northbridge Clinic) on 9227 6177 or Quarry Health Centre on 9430 4544.
2 to Tango campaign
A new survey carried out as part of the national sexual health education campaign It Takes 2 to Tango reveals that 77% of young Australian women have had unprotected sex in the last six months, highlighting a general lack of awareness when it comes to sexual health and contraception.
The campaign aims to drive home the message that double protection - both the Pill and condoms – is one of the best ways to safeguard against unplanned pregnancy and STIs.
The survey of over 1,000 women found that 56% of young women use the internet to source information about contraception and sexual health, making the new, interactive It Takes 2 to Tango website an important resource for young women.
Go to www.2toTango.com.au for more information.
Frequently asked sexual health questions
What does an STI test involve?
The type of test or tests you have will depend on if you have symptoms at the time and the type of sexual activity you have been involved in. For women, an STI test usually includes samples of vaginal secretions, taken with what looks like a long cotton bud. This can be done at the same time as a Pap smear. In some situations a urine test may be needed for women.
Men who have no STI symptoms will have a urine test. Where a man has symptoms such as discharge from the penis or pain or swelling in the testicles, swabs are taken from the opening at the end of the penis.
If you have had anal or oral sex, your doctor may also recommend testing these areas. If you have an ulcer in the mouth or genital area which could be caused by an STI, samples might be taken directly from the ulcer itself. Test results usually take about a week to come back. If results show you have an infection, sexual partners also need to be tested and treated, otherwise reinfection can occur. More information on STI testing
How can I get my partner to use a condom?
When things start to hot up with a partner, particularly a new partner, it can be hard to talk about safe sex. You may find they are struggling to bring up the topic too. Even if you feel embarrassed, it saves you worrying later about whether you could have caught an STI or could be pregnant. Be clear about what you want to happen and stick to it. It’s easier to talk about safe sex early on, before you get naked. Don’t have sex with a partner who refuses to wear a condom – having unprotected sex even once puts you at risk of getting an STI. If you’re planning a big night out, make sure you have some condoms handy. More information on negotiating safe sex
For more answers to sexual health questions phone the Sexual Health Helpline on 9227 6178/1800 198 205 (country callers).
Library news
Check out FPWA's new-look bookshop catalogue
Did you know we also have virtual baby simulators and A4 colour STI photos available for hire? Phone 9227 6177 for more information.
New FPWA publications
FPWA has recently produced two new publications, NuvaRing and The Ins and Outs of Sex and the Law.
The Ins and Outs of STIs and The Combined Oral Contraceptive Pill have also been updated to contain the latest information.
Book reviews
By Richard Johnston and Andrew Kelly
Sex Lives of Australian Teenagers
Joan Sauers
OK, so it’s been a year or two since I’ve been a frolicking, grog-guzzling teen, but I can safely say nothing like this tome existed “when I was a lad” as the saying goes. And tome is the operative word here…weighing in at a spine-crunching 487 pages, Sex Lives is a ground-breaking dissection of teenage conduct which is literally jumping off bookshop shelves all around the country…ground-breaking in that the publication is split into specific trends / surveys and case history sections, and ground-breaking because of its nationality (8 out of 10 books on topics such as this seem to originate in the US).
Being well-versed in the area of human activity and and interaction (with a PhD and a dozen or so other titles under her belt), Joan Sauers decided to conduct an anonymous on-line survey in 2006 – and hence her latest creation. The end result is a refreshingly candid array of responses and anecdotes providing a real insight into what makes teens tick in terms of sexuality and motivation. Highly recommended.
100 Questions and Answers about Erectile Dysfunction
Pamela Ellsworth and Bob Stanley
What They Say: NO MAN WANTS TO READ THIS BOOK…but many men should. Did you know that erectile dysfunction is rarely “all in your head”, but sometimes a warning sign of a more serious underlying condition, such as hypertension or heart disease? If you didn’t know these facts, you’re not alone—and if you’re one of the many men suffering from this difficult condition, this book offers help. The only text to provide both the doctor and patient’s point of view, 100 Questions and Answers About Erectile Dysfunction gives you authoritative, practical answers to your questions about treatment options, post-treatment quality of life, sources of support, and more.
What I say: Written by a doctor and patient, this book will help to serve both in matters regarding erectile dysfunction (ED). In a simple question and answer format there is very little this book doesn’t touch on. Topics range from ‘How an erection works’ to ‘Treatment’ and ‘Living with ED’; always giving in-depth, well explained answers that will suit both the practitioner and client. A full index and a running glossary will help the reader to fully understand the text. While Dr Ellsworth gives detailed medical advice, Mr Stanley offers ‘been there, done that’ advice that gives a much needed human face to this subject. A read for any man (or indeed partner) going through ED and who is wishing to do something about it.
Both of these books are available to borrow from the FPWA Library.
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Page last updated Tue, 03 Apr 2007 10:14