STD Testing Info

If you’re reading this, chances are that you either suspect that your child has a sensory disorder of some type, or that your child has already received a diagnosis of Sensory Integration Dysfunction Disorder and you are desperate for more information. Educating yourself about this complex disorder is the best way for you and your family to learn to cope with its bewildering and frustrating effects.

Understanding the definition. Making more sense of Sensory Integration Dysfunction Disorder (SIDD) begins with understanding the following definition: a person with SIDD has difficulty with the processing of sensory input. All of the information we need in order to function in the world comes to us through our sensory systems. Most of us learned about the five basic senses as children (sight, hearing, smell, taste, and touch), but there are also sensory systems that give us information about movement, gravity, and where or how our bodies are positioned at any given moment. If there is a problem with the delivery of any of those sensory messages to a child’s brain, he is unable to understand the message and may respond to that sensory experience in an unexpected or completely inappropriate way, either seeking ways to avoid that sensory experience at all costs, or pursuing a particular sensory experience to an obsessive degree.

If a child’s sensory systems are all functioning properly, he is able to process all of the sensory stimuli he encounters and respond in an appropriate way: for example, his mother may spray on a light perfume, and he may respond by saying it smells nice or perhaps that he doesn’t like it. For a child with a sensory disorder, there is what amounts to a neurological “short circuit” which throws the child’s perception of a given sensory stimulus completely out of proportion. For this child, what seems to his mother a pleasant and subtle hint of fragrance may be overpowering to him to the point of causing nausea, anxiety, tantrums, or even hysteria. Sensory disorders do not merely affect a child’s sense of smell, however. A child diagnosed with SIDD frequently experiences difficulties in one or more of the sensory areas, occasionally experiencing a greater sensitivity in one system than in the others.

What does SIDD look like? The symptoms of Sensory Integrative Function Disorder vary in intensity and type, depending on which particular sensory system is being affected. Children may be highly sensitive to sounds, smells, or touch; on the other hand, they may be highly under-reactive to the stimuli, seeking out more intense experiences, such as wild spinning or crashing into things, to try to satisfy their craving for that sensory input. Some children alternate between the two extremes. More often than not, it is not solely a child’s being hyper-sensitive to smells and sounds or his crashing into everything that first signals the existence of a problem, however. There are some general symptoms that parents, teachers, even caregivers observe that often lead a parent to ask for a referral:

    * Violent, inexplicable tantrums. It is difficult for children, especially younger children, to put into words what has set them off, leaving parents bewildered as to why the child is having a tantrum.

    * Being easily and quickly frustrated at trying to complete routine tasks.

    * Fine or gross motor skills difficulties, such as the child being unable to dress himself at an appropriate age, or being unable to run, hop, or skip without bumping into things.

    * Difficulties with completing puzzles or matching objects, or losing his place while reading.

    * Being easily distracted or having a very short attention span.

This is a very short listing of possible symptoms that might cause a parent or teacher to seek help; there are other possible symptoms that can be found in the resource materials listed at the end of this article.

How is SIDD diagnosed? Diagnosis of SIDD is done only by a skilled professional, most commonly a licensed occupational therapist with a background in sensory disorders. Evaluating your child will include a developmental, medical and academic (if applicable) history of your child; meetings with the parents, teachers, and other professionals who work with your child; formal observations and evaluations of your child, occasionally in multiple settings (home, school, at the therapy site); and standardized testing.

Sensory disorders can be tricky to diagnose, because many of the presenting symptoms of SIDD are also found in children with other disorders (Asperger’s Sydrome, Autism, ADD/ADHD); sometimes, the sensory disorders occur in tandem with these other disorders.

Ruling out other problems. Because SIDD does share symptoms with several other disorders, it is important for parents and pediatricians to rule out any other possible causes of the child’s symptoms, especially possible physiological causes. Your pediatrician will want to check several areas first, including, but not limited to:

    * Allergies: What you think of as your child’s “tic” of constantly picking at his nose may be a response to a seasonal allergy.

    * Sleep apnea related to tonsil/adenoid enlargement: Sleep disturbances can cause a host of problems, as we all know, but severely enlarged tonsils or adenoids can cause a child to react to different foods in a way that mimics a problem with food textures, when it’s really a problem with not being able to breathe through his nose.

    * Current medications: Some allergy medications do not list hyperactivity as a side effect, but anecdotal evidence suggests there may be a link. Ask your pediatrician about doing a trial cessation to see how your child responds: it may be that your child simply needs a different medication or dosage.

How is SIDD treated? SIDD is typically treated through occupational therapy. Depending on the severity of your child’s condition, it may be as little as one hour of formal therapy a week, with half an hour of at-home therapeutic activities done by the parent each day, or it may be a more intensive regime. Generally, the therapist will focus both on activities which will promote better sensory integration for the child, as well as on helping the child to develop appropriate behavioral responses to sensory input. Depending on a child’s specific needs, therapeutic activities may include the use of a therapy ball, swinging, use of a weighted vest, rhythmic jumping, soft brush therapy, deep tissue massage, visual tracking activities, and auditory therapy using headphones. Therapy for SIDD usually lasts anywhere from six months to two years, depending on the severity of the child’s condition.

What can I do to help my child? There are many things that you can do to help your child:

    * First, and most importantly, be his advocate. There are expert doctors, expert therapists, expert teachers, expert everything, if you want to look hard enough for them, but there are only one or two experts on your child in particular, and those are you, his parents. Be persistent, be methodical, do not give up on your quest to try to discover the answer to his problem.
    * Educate yourself. This article was just a skimming of some of the best information available, but we are learning more about this disorder every day. At the end of the article, you will find some suggested books and websites for additional information. Use them yourself, and share them with your child’s teachers, with his caregivers, and with his pediatrician both to help in obtaining a correct diagnosis, as well as to help them provide a supportive environment for your child.

    * Be firm and consistent with your child about your expectations regarding his behavior. You may now know the reason why he crashes into things, but it is up to you to establish consistent and firm guidelines within which he can still meet his sensory needs, yet still behave in an appropriate fashion. You will not do your child any favors by letting this disorder control his life or by letting him make this disorder an excuse for poor behavior; you need to help him gain control of his responses to it.

    * Be loving and supportive with your child. Imagine what it must be like to feel as though the entire world around you were constantly attacking you; these children often respond the way they do out of fear and anxiety, out of a loss of control. Let them know that you are there to support them through it all.

    * Do the at-home therapy your therapist recommends; he or she has assigned specific at-home activities to you because your child needs them. Make the time to do them.

Any time that we deal with the central nervous system, we are talking about an enormously complex, and complicated piece of machinery, and children with SIDD have what is essentially a glitch in that machinery.

Understanding that glitch, and taking the steps to help you, your child, and those around him, understand it and learn to live with it day by day, can help you and your family to make more sense out of this complex disorder, and help him to respond to the world around him in a better way.

In Part One of the series on methamphetamines, we took a look at the origins and use of street meth, commonly known as speed. In the late 80′s a new, far more potent form of this drug was becoming known for it’s extreme potency and long lasting, intense highs.

Instead of the sludgy often semi-liquid meth normally sold, this was a crystalline, rocklike substance, that produced an immediate and very euphoric rush. Again the West Coast and Hawaii were the first to feel the impact of this designer meth.

One of the most troubling problems to come out of using crystal, is increased, often uncontrollable sexual urges. Male users have been quoted in major studies, stating they have had up to 500 sexual partners, while using crystal meth. They can go for hours on end, without ejaculation, leading to multiple sexual encounters without the use of condoms. They claim the urge for sex is insatiable, and they can’t seem to exert any control over their actions while under its influence. Yet, while crashing, they end up feeling empty and spent.

In the gay community, party clubs are often hubs for groups of these users, who dance to a dull throbbing music, and endlessly seek sexual gratification. Los Angeles and San Francisco are experiencing a huge increase in antibiotic resistant STD’s and HIV, including more virulent forms, that are directly attributable to the use of crystal meth.

The gay community is not the only sector of our society impacted by this hypersexualized behavior. Mainstream rave and party clubs provide, and even encourage both the use of ice and the mindless sex that accompanies it. In addition date rape drugs like rufi’s and ecstasy are freely available, leaving many young men and women totally unaware of the dangers they face-not only from multiple rapes to HIV exposure.

In my opinion, the saddest are the children who are living in homes where this drug is available. The incidences of sexual molestation and rape are extremely high. Given the above information, it isn’t hard to understand why this would be common. If an adult-and I use that term loosely here, can’t find another outlet, what better than a helpless child?

These are the true victims of this epidemic, our children. Not only do they suffer from neglect and the violence they witness between adults, they suffer environmental effects that can impact them all their lives. When sexual abuse is present, the shame is overwhelming. These children rarely talk about home or confide in anyone. They live with the huge outbursts of rage and paranoia this drug induces, and are terrified to even hint at what’s happening at home. If they place trust in the wrong person, they know perfectly well they will end up dead.

Meth users range in age from 8 to as old as 60 in rare cases. Many women use the drug to lose weight and attain that anorexic ideal so espoused by our society. Men may begin by taking it to alleviate depression or experience an increase in power and acuity, only to find themselves hopelessly addicted.

If you even suspect a loved one or friend is using this drug, you must try and help get intervention. So many families and lives are being destroyed by this hugely popular narcotic. Learn to look for the signs of meth use, and be aware of where your children are and who they spend time with. If you notice these signs, get help.

–Agitation

–Paranoia

–Decreased appetite

–Euphoria

–Heavy perspiration, even in cold weather

–Periods of sleeplessness and hyperactivity, followed by depression and prolonged sleeping.

–Irregular breathing and accelerated pulse rates, accompanied by flushing and pinpoint pupils.

Wait until you feel it safe to calmly discuss the issue with your child or loved one. Don’t threaten or confront anyone who is actively high, you could become a statistic. Talk with your police department, and ask for help in dealing with the problem. Many police agencies have highly trained counselors who can offer suggestions and direct you towards resources to help.

Remember, there is no typical user, and not one of us can safely assume our loved ones are exempt from danger. Methamphetamine addiction is a national problem of staggering proportions. We all need to become involved, particularly where children are concerned. They need us to care enough to intervene when we see they are endangered. If we don’t, this will become another multi-generational problem that in the end will end up defeating us all.

Just because you’re pregnant doesn’t mean your sex life is going to take a nosedive and be relegated to cold storage for nine months! In fact, sex at this time can be great fun, since you don’t have to worry about birth control anymore! So throw away the rubber. You won’t need them for another nine months. However, there are certain things you need to consider.

1. If the woman is in the category of ‘high risk pregnancies’, then it is better to stick to standard sexual positions. Leave fantasy out of the bedroom for a while, or consult your physician to find out what positions are safe in your particular case.

2. In the case of a normal pregnancy, it’s perfectly safe to have sex until the woman’s water breaks. After than, any sexual intercourse or insertion into the vagina can cause infection.

3. Now’s the time, more than ever, to stay faithful to your spouse. This not the time to catch an STD, as it could seriously harm your baby.

4. In all likelihood, women may have longer lasting orgasms than when they were not pregnant. Enjoy it while it lasts! This is perfectly normal.

5. Some women may experience cramps after an orgasm. This is also normal and not a cause for concern.

6. Cunnilingus (going down on a woman), is fine, but make sure that no air is blown into the vagina.

7. Sometimes a woman may notice spotting, or she may start bleeding from her vagina. If this occurs, she should consult her gynecologist immediately. Until the gynecologist has given her the green signal, sexual activity should be stopped.

8. After delivery, wait for 4 to 6 weeks before resuming intercourse, in the case of a normal delivery. If the woman has had a c-section, the wait may be longer, depending on the time it takes for the stitches to heal. If the pain is still there, consult your gynecologist before having sex.

9. Sometimes, while nursing, the woman may get aroused. She may even have an orgasm. This is perfectly normal, so there’s no need to beat yourself up with feelings of guilt.

10. When having sex after delivery, if the woman is still nursing, milk may leak from her breasts during orgasm. This, again, is perfectly normal and no cause for concern.

11. Her vagina may not get as lubricated as it did pre-pregnancy, especially during the period she is still nursing. Make use of artificial lubricants like KY Jelly. Steer clear of Vaseline!

12. And remember, if sex is not on the cards as often as you like, focus on romance. Do things together. Sing to your baby, go for long walks, hold hands, or just cuddle up. It’s time to fall in love – all over again!

Is your body ready for pregnancy or more importantly are “you.” I agree both questions may sound silly to the woman who has already given birth, but because each pregnancy differs and the body changes with age, makes questions of this nature ones that have to be asked. Aside from getting the body into a healthy state to carry a baby, plans have to be made for the infant’s arrival. Parents need to be prepared for when baby turns toddler. They need to be prepared when toddler turns teen. Do the parent’s preparations ever stagnate, no; planning still goes on for when the children fly the nest? Mom will nurture her baby, tickle her toddler and nag her teen – and why. Every mom has a personal built in mechanism inside which triggers an emotion what impels her too protect and love in a way you could never imagine or even understand until you become a mom too.

Is your body ready for pregnancy.

The norm for preconception preparations usually starts up to 12 months before conception. Your doctor will need to ask questions to ensure you have a healthy pregnancy. If you already use contraception (birth control pill) your GP may suggest a pill-free break before trying to conceive. Disconnection from the pill will permit the reproductive system to go through several normal cycles before you conceive – which will make it easier to establish when ovulation happened. While this is suggested it is best to take necessary precautions. Use a condom or a barrier method of contraception till you are ready.

Is there such a thing as unhealthy pregnancy? This will depend on what is meant by unhealthy. Unhealthy pregnancies can really only result from how you look after yourself before and throughout the 9 month period. Smoking, taking drugs, eating bad foods and drinking alcohol can harm your well being and severely damage the unborn baby. Avoid caffeinated drinks, although 1 to 2 cups a day is acceptable. Research disclosed that caffeine in one or two cups of coffee will not have a significant effect on the developing fetus.

In pregnancy you could face serious issues. Infections i.e. chickenpox (varicella), German measles (rubella) and hepatitis B can be dangerous for an unborn baby. If your immunizations have not been completed or your immunity to certain infections is unknown, your preconception care may include one or more vaccines.

If you suffer from diabetes, asthma or have high blood pressure – you’ll want to make sure your condition is stable before conceiving. Your GP will be aware of any medication you take for any disorders you have, however if you buy over the counter herbal solutions tell your doctor.

Safe proposals at this stage are prenatal vitamins. Why take prenatal vitamins so early. The baby’s neural tube – which becomes the brain and spinal cord – grows during the first 4 weeks of pregnancy. Taking prenatal vitamins before conception helps prevent neural tube defects. Prenatal vitamins contain folic acid. Your baby needs this essential nutrient during the early weeks of development to help prevent serious conditions like spina bifida.

Although the body needs vitamins, seek medical advice to verify if it is safe for you to take them.

You need to be aware that if infected with a venereal disease (VD – STD) it can increase the risk of infertility, ectopic pregnancy (fertilized egg implants outside the uterus) and other pregnancy complications Unprotected sex is not safe and neither are the problems that can rise from having sexual intercourse without using contraception.

If there is family history of ill health then this can affect your pregnancy and risks increase. Baby can be born with a medical condition or birth defect. Do not concern yourself at this time over this issue because women all over the world are delivering healthy babies. To put your mind at rest, talk to your nurse or doctor at the clinic.

Age does not really have to give reason for concern, however depending on the age group we talk of – may see extra care rules having to be issued. After age 35, the risk of fertility problems, miscarriage and certain chromosomal disorders increase. If you have in the past suffered complications when giving birth – tell your GP. Complications may have included high blood pressure, gestational diabetes, preterm labor, premature birth or birth defects. If you want to deliver a healthy baby and give it the best start in life, then eat healthy foods and stay clear of substances that harm. Healthy lifestyle choices during pregnancy are vital. Light exercise combined with a healthy diet is the key to future goodness for you and your baby.

Obesity is not healthy and if you do not want to delay the conception process then try and lose weight. According to the ASRM, weighing too much or too little can make you less fertile and affect your ability to carry a baby to term. Avoid alcohol and illicit drugs. Good luck and give baby plenty of kisses and hugs.

The Immaculate Conception explained.

Pope Pius IX confirmed in his 1854 dogma that “the most Blessed Mary was, from the first minute of her conception, by a singular grace and privilege of Almighty God and by virtue of the merits of Jesus Christ, Savior of the human race, preserved immune from all stain of original sin.” This confirms that Christ redeemed all human beings, including Mary although at the time done differently. Medieval Franciscan theologian quoted, Duns Scotus (1266-1308) Christ’s role was to mediate for all men, and that to do so he must have been born of a pure mother. Since this mother was also mediated by him, then his mediation would be to make her immaculate which would also facilitate his birth. This does not contradict the Bible in that subsequent to Adam and Eve’s fall from Eden, all men are born with Original Sin. Christ removed Mary`s sin, as we now all have thanks to his sacrifice. In our case, this is through baptism. As Mary was his mother, hers was removed before birth, therefore labeled ‘Immaculate Conception’

In today’s society we have no blessed virgins so therefore you need to take safety precautions to stay safe. Using contraceptives can prevent sexually transmitted diseases and an unwanted pregnancy.

Although there are many stories/guesses of how and from where the disease originated? HIV virus is strongly believed to be originated from Africa around 1940. According to stored records, the first known patient of AIDS disease was from one of the states of Africa in 1959 whose blood was stored in order to find out the possible cause of his death. In tests carried out, the blood is confirmed to contain AIDS virus.

It is believed that the HIV virus inherits its properties from a virus SIV (Simian Immunodeficiency Virus), which is found in monkeys. The AIDS virus also has developed its own characteristics along with those which it inherits from SIV. The SIV virus has exactly same genetic structure as that of HIV and both the viruses are transmitted same way from one host to another. The SIV virus causes AIDS in monkeys and has exactly same effects on them but it does not show any such effect on humans, whereas HIV causes AIDS in humans but not in monkeys. There are again many interesting stories/guesses/hypothesis as how the HIV virus born from the SIV virus? And how SIV virus got mixed in the human blood?

The AIDS virus was first discovered around year 1980 in the United States. A group of young gay men and also some drug users; were getting ill often, and there was no trace of the disease that they were suffering from. Most of the diseases they were falling prey of were related to the immune system. As it was not known that how much time the disease takes to surface? And how the disease spreads? The virus of AIDS found new home for itself from one man to another in the same group and also those who came in sexual contact or used the same syringe which was used by infected person. After some months, people from the group began to die, the diseases which killed all those people, were some of the common diseases which affects human at much extent if they have a damaged immune system. The T cells, also known as CD4 cells which help human body in fighting with the diseases were found damaged and there level was lowered in the patients suffering from the mysterious disease. It was outbreak of the new disease and it was identified and named AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome) in 1981. Doctors started research in order to find out the possible causes of the disease. First, it was not known whether AIDS was caused by viral infection or something else until two doctors Luc Montagnier and Robert Gallo found the virus causing AIDS. The virus was named Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV).

Further in 1985, a blood test was formulated which helped in identifying if a person was carrying HIV. Since 1985, this blood test is used effectively for diagnosing HIV infection. Some more tests were also found to help in diagnosing the virus and the disease using the saliva and urine.

During first few years of the detection of the new disease AIDS, all the possible reasons of spread of the disease were unknown. This helped the disease spread from one infected person to another. Back in the decade of 60′s, there were very rare chances of a disease spreading across continents or countries. It was possible only when one person traveled from one country to another and carried the disease knowingly or unknowingly. The spread of AIDS is also said to be related with the same situation. It is said that when flight attendants used to fly across the seas, they had many sex partners in almost all the countries they visited. This helped AIDS spread from Africa and allowed it to enter in America.

After few years, all the possible reasons which helps AIDS virus to spread from one person to another were revealed, such as blood transfusion from an infected person to a healthy person, sexual intercourse between infected person and a healthy person, use of syringe etc. Right from the time of outbreak of the virus, it has infected over 50 million people and killed about half of the same till today (The number of people infected and killed due to AIDS might change, as there is a huge difference in official and unofficial data). But the right cure for the virus has not yet been discovered.

HIV infection in Africa has spread more through medical practices, such as injections, than it has through unsafe sex, according to research published today by the Royal Society of Medicine.

Since the 80s, it has been widely assumed that 90% of HIV cases in Africa were sexually transmitted. But new research, based on reviewing hundreds of studies, suggests that only about a third of HIV infections in Africa are transmitted by sex.

Instead, the authors claim that “healthcare exposures caused more HIV than sexual transmission”, with contaminated medical injections representing the biggest risk.

They said that their findings have “major ramifications for current and future HIV control in Africa, whose focus has been almost exclusively on sexual risk reduction and condom use”.

The study, published in today’s International Journal of STD and Aids, was conducted by a research team of HIV and public health experts. The team was led by anthropologist Dr David Gisselquist, from Pennsylvania.

The researchers say that HIV cases in Africa have not followed the pattern of most types of sexually transmitted diseases (STD). In Zimbabwe in the 90s, HIV infections rose by 12% per year, while overall STD cases dropped by 25% and condom use increased among high-risk groups.

Places with the highest level of risky sexual behaviour, such as Yaounde, in Cameroon, have low and stable rates of HIV infection.

Many studies reported young children being infected with HIV even though their mothers were not. In one, 40% of children with HIV had mothers who tested negative. These children had an average of 44 injections in their lifetime, compared with 23 for uninfected children.

Dr Gisselquist said that those with HIV may have more injections because of their condition, but that would not account for all the extra jabs.

Countries such as Zimbabwe, which have the best access to medical care, also have the highest rates of HIV transmission. Typically, STDs are associated with being poor and uneducated, but HIV in Africa is linked with urban living, good education and higher income.

Dr Gisselquist said that he had found no reliable study to back up the 1988 estimate that 90% of HIV infections were sexually transmitted. He added that the figure “did not fit the data available at the time”, and suggested epidemiology and propaganda had become entwined.

This might be due to fears over people losing trust in healthcare, disbelief that medical practices could be so unsafe, and preconceptions about African sexuality, he said.

The aim of the new research was not to scare people, but to show the importance of carrying out medical procedures correctly, such as using syringes only once.

“People can get quality healthcare in Africa: it is just the difference between doing it right and doing it wrong,” Dr Gisselquist said.

“I would like to open up the debate and get attention to the research, but also get through to people who are living there about where HIV could be coming from.”

Dr Christopher Uoma, HIV co-ordinator for ActionAid in Kenya, said he had not had chance to study the full research, but his initial reaction to the findings was one of shock.

“It could have profound implications for our programme, and for Africa in general,” he said. “It could lead to a serious change in terms of health behaviour, with people being reluctant to enter hospitals.”

He also warned that it could encourage some people to revert to previous habits of risky sexual behaviour.

We have all heard about the wonders that staying for a few hours in a sauna can provide for the tired person. While there are many ways that you can enjoy these benefits of soaking the steam into your body the best way is probably to build sauna room units. You will be able to find different companies that will provide you with various sized pre-cut sauna rooms.

Some of these companies will also help you with the assembling of the sauna room that you need. You can also find various manuals and articles that will detail the process of how to build sauna rooms in your homes. A few of these materials can be found on the internet and in other cases you can find books on building saunas at your local library and book shops.

The best way to build sauna rooms is to look for a good location for the sauna. You can find the various items that you need for the sauna from companies that supply water resistant wood.

To build sauna rooms the best type of wood that you can buy and place inside of the sauna is that of Cedar wood. This wood is water resistant by nature and it is also stain resistant. You will also be able to clean the sauna once you gave finished using it.

Additionally you will need to locate stones that have the ability to withstand the constant heating and cooling that is needed in a sauna. Therefore when you are buying these sauna stones to place in your sauna stove you should buy good quality Finnish stones. When you about to build sauna needs to have a place set in the center for the sauna stones.

The roof of the sauna should be high enough so that the heat will not press too much on you. You can make this roof level about seven to eight feet about the ground of the sauna. You will have to ensure that when you are about to build sauna shed that any metallic pieces are not showing or protruding outside into the sauna itself.

For the various inhabitants of the sauna you will need to provide long and wide benches. These benches should be attached to the walls in a manner where you won’t have any problems with the benches moving aside.

While you are able to create the perfect sauna in your home you may feel less stress when you buy a ready to assemble sauna instead of seeing if you can build sauna rooms with the various pieces that you have.

The Vatican published an ethical dictionary yesterday saying homosexuality has “no social value”, warning against concepts such as “safe sex” and “reproductive health” and insisting that condoms don’t protect against sexually transmitted diseases.

The book, one of the Vatican’s most scathing attacks yet on what it considers deteriorating social values, caused outrage in Italy’s gay community, among some Italian politicians and even at certain levels within the Vatican itself.

The 900-page Lexicon On Ambiguous and Colloquial Terms About Family Life and Ethical Questions queries the use by world leaders and public organisations of 78 key words related to sexuality, abortion and birth control.

Leaders who encourage the use of condoms for safe sex are running a commercially motivated “exercise in self-justification”, the book says, concealing the fact that tests show condoms don’t work 10% of the time.

“The Vatican, these imbeciles, are burning up years of work of professional doctors in a matter of seconds,” said Fabio Canino, a popular gay television presenter in Italy, referring to the Vatican’s message to the world’s one billion Catholics on condoms.

He added: “The irony of this vicious message against homosexuality is that there are more gays per capita inside the Vatican than in most other countries.”

Reproductive health is of concern for both men and women but it requires much attention in the case of a woman because she is more critical to many diseases and this could even lead to her death many a times. The women reproductive health is very sensitive and reacts to very minor hormonal imbalances. So being a woman, you should be well aware of the functioning of your reproductive system. You should also go for regular pap smears (check up) during your reproductive years for a good reproductive health. At the same time you should be aware of diseases caused due to unsafe sex practices and contraception methods.

Understanding your reproductive system:
The more you know about your reproductive system, the better would be your situation to make decision to prevent or increase your pregnancy. Your reproductive health is more than your menstrual cycle. Each month, your body goes through natural body and hormonal changes. Therefore, the process of fertilization of ova with the sperm takes place leading to pregnancy. When the released egg doesn’t get fertilized while passing from the fallopian tubes towards the uterus, it sheds in the form of menstrual cycle. In this way you can make a chart of your ovulation and menstrual process to decide pregnancy.

Visit your health provider for pap smears:
You should always be conscious for your reproductive health and visit your health provider for proper papanicolaou smear check ups which is done to access cervix (an opening above vagina and below uterus) health. You might think that this test is not of much important but it will let you know about cervical cancer that could be treated in its early stages.

Proper use of tampons and contraceptive methods:
If you are a regular user of contraceptive methods such as pills and tampons you should take appropriate care of. This is because uses of tampons often lead to toxic shock syndrome. Toxic shock syndrome is a type of blood poisoning that makes a person ill in a very short span of time. Women experience this disease at the time of their menstrual cycle in the form of high fever, chills, vomiting, diarrhea, dizziness, fatigue, rashes, peeling of skin, blood shot eyes, sudden down blood pressure and organ failure.

Sexual health is very important to be educated on, especially if you are sexually active yourself. Out of all the different issues that are included in the topic of sexual health, sexually transmitted diseases are definitely in the top ranking. STDs are more common than ever and are being spread at a faster rate than ever before.

When it comes to your sexual health you need to take certain precautions in order to guard yourself against these diseases, and one of the best steps you can take here is to make yourself informed and educated on the different diseases that are out there.

Chlamydia

Chlamydia is one of the most commonly contracted sexually transmitted diseases in the world and definitely one of the most important sexually transmitted diseases to discuss in the topic of sexual health.

Chlamydia is passed through sexual contact with an infected person, and an infected mother may also pass the disease onto her baby during childbirth.

Gonorrhea

Gonorrhea is another of the most popular sexually transmitted diseases, and also one that is critical to discuss when speaking about sexual health. In women gonorrhea can spread to the ovaries and fallopian tubes, and in men it can cause urethritis and penile discharge. It can also be spread from the penis to the throat during oral sex, although this is not particularly common.

Herpes

Herpes is a sexually transmitted disease that that results in painful blister-like sores that appear on the penis and vagina and it is spread by direct contact. Herpes is highly contagious if there are open sores present and it can spread even before sores form and after they heal.

Genital Warts

Another very common sexually transmitted disease, genital warts can appear on the penis, vagina, vulva, cervix, and in an around the anus and throat. There are often no symptoms at first and then a few months after contact with an infected person bumps may appear on the areas mentioned.

One of the most dangerous aspects to genital warts is that women who have developed the disease are at much higher risk of cervical cancer. In terms of treatment, warts may be treated with solution, gel, ointment, or frozen or burned off with laser or electric needle.

If you ever think you may have contracted a sexually transmitted disease you should speak to your doctor as soon as possible in order to make a proper diagnosis and then find the right method of treatment if necessary.

Original source: A Guide To Sexual Health