Healthy Sexy & Wise - October 2006
Volume 4, Issue 4, 2006
Editors Note
Welcome to the last edition of Healthy Sexy & Wise for 2006.
If you would like future issues of Healthy Sexy & Wise emailed to you, Contact Us.
In this issue:
FPWA events
Contraception update
Bookshop news
Cervical cancer vaccine hits Australia
Sexual health forum
New sexual health training for nurses
New FPWA information sheets
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.
The next edition of Healthy Sexy & Wise will be out in January.
Rebecca Smith
Editor
FPWA events
Pride Fairday
FPWA recently held a stall at Pride Fairday, distributing condoms, dams and safe sex information to over 200 people (don't forget dams are available for sale at FPWA in Northbridge). Keep an eye out for FPWA's float in the Pride Parade later this month!
Surviving Adolescence – an event for parents
Quarry Health Centre for under 25s in Fremantle recently piloted an evening for parents titled ‘Surviving Adolescence’. Parents were given an insight into how to raise issues such as sex, alcohol and other drugs with their teenager in a positive manner, and looked at ways of improving communication in general. The event proved to be very successful and future activities are being planned. Phone Quarry on 9430 4544 to register your interest.
Contraception update
NuvaRing, the long-awaited contraceptive vaginal ring, is likely to be available in Australia by February next year following approval from the Therapeutic Goods Administration in July. The ring, which needs to be changed monthly, is expected to cost around $25 and be popular among women who have difficulty remembering to take the pill, experience side-effects when using it or are uncomfortable using more invasive methods such as implants.
NuvaRing became available in the United States in 2002 and is today available in 26 countries and used by over one million women.
For more information visit www.nuvaring.com
Bookshop news
New in the FPWA Bookshop:
Contraception: an Australian clinical practice handbook (2006) - $44
This new handbook, co-authored by medical experts from Australian family planning organisations, provides information on all methods of contraception. It aims to promote good clinical practice in the delivery of sexual and reproductive health services by providing current, evidence-based consensus recommendations on best practice in clinical contraceptive delivery in an Australian setting.
Sexual Health: An Australian Perspective (2005) - $65
In this excellent publication, academics, researchers and practitioners from a range of disciplines provide a comprehensive, stimulating and authoritive perspective on the area of sexual health
Did you know the FPWA Bookshop sells condoms, lubricant and even sex toys? More information
Cervical cancer vaccine hits Australia
The new cervical cancer vaccine, Gardasil, is now available in Australia on prescription. The vaccine protects against four types of the human papilloma virus linked to cervical cancer, and has been approved for use in females aged 9-26. The vaccine is designed to be given to girls before they become sexually active, and is administered as a course of three injections over six months. Gardasil currently costs $460, though an application for Government funding has been submitted by its manufacturer, CSL Limited.
Women who are, or have been, sexually active in the past, still need to have regular Pap smears to protect against cervical cancer, even if they have had the vaccine. It is estimated that around 90% of the population has been exposed to strains of the virus but many have no symptoms.
For more information go to http://www.i-can.net.au/
Sexual health forum
The WA Sexual Health and Blood-Borne Virus Forum, presented by FPWA, is taking place on November 14-16. More information
New sexual health training for nurses
FPWA has recently revised and expanded its courses for nurses who wish to develop their sexual health knowledge and skills. A range of modules can now be packaged to suit a variety of needs. More information
New FPWA information sheets
Click on the links to view FPWA’s new information sheets:
Planning for Pregnancy
Male and Female Condoms
Book reviews
By Andrew Kelly and Richard Johnston
The princess bitchface syndrome : surviving adolescent girls Michael Carr-Gregg
What they say: “In this hard-hitting book, Michael Carr-Gregg focuses on the special trials of raising adolescent girls today: what to do when your previously quiet, loving daughter becomes a restless, rebellious stranger who behaves like a responsible adult one day and a vampish brat the next. Part of the problem is that girls are becoming sexualised earlier, and their physical development is shooting ahead of their cognitive capacities. By the time they turn 13 they look like they're ready for anything - but they're not. Yet, argues Carr-Gegg, many parents are surrendering their authority and allowing their daughters to be fast-tracked into pseudo-adulthood. We appear to be losing it when it comes to parenting our girls and it's time to grab back the reins. This book is a must-read for every parent with an adolescent daughter.”
What I say: When reviewing this book I was reminded of the BBC television show called “Its me or the dog”. While comparing the two may seem a tad harsh, I have my reasons. In the show, more often than not the dogs ‘bad behaviour’ can be ‘fixed’ by changing the behaviour and reactions of the owner. In much the same way, this book shows parents how to cope and influence their daughter’s behaviour by changing their own perceptions and conduct. General consensus on this colourfully titled publication is that it belongs on the ‘must read’ shelf for all parents. Full of helpful parenting tips and real-life examples, it is well worth a look, and if the tips in this book don’t work you can always just throw it at your daughter in frustration (only available in paperback, sorry).
The Unofficial Guide to Getting Pregnant
Joan Liebmann-Smith
Can’t say I’ve been pregnant too many times of late, but if I intended to be, this would be one book I’d want to get my hands on! Informative, well-structured and, most importantly, contemporary, this publication covers a fantastic array of topics….which is just as well it contains a logically compiled index and a most useful glossary of those terms and acronyms which might otherwise trip up the uninitiated (me!).
“The Unofficial Guide” objectively covers state-of-the-art infertility treatments and procedures including fertility drugs, corrective surgery, IVF and third-party processes such as sperm and egg donation and surrogacy. But wait, there’s more….it also canvasses issues like weight, diet, reproductive health and things to avoid to engender pregnancy (what, no booze….no wonder the birth rate’s declining!!). The only down side is that agency contact details and the legal definitions referred to in the appendices are nearly all US of A.
But if you are able to get past this minor deficiency (as far as Oz readers are concerned anyway!), you will soon appreciate why this production has sold well in excess of 4 million copies.
These books are available for loan from the FPWA Library.
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Page last updated Wed, 04 Oct 2006 09:44