Tag: sexual health

The Role of Sexual Health Education in Enhancing Long-Term Relationship Satisfaction

Research shows that comprehensive sex education programs have a positive impact on several outcomes, including reduced rates of sexual activity, risk behaviors, sexually transmitted infections (STIs), and adolescent pregnancy.

Comprehensive Sex Education and Relationship Satisfaction

These programs are also associated with delaying the onset of sexual activity. Specifically, comprehensive sexuality education programs were evaluated across 34 studies between 2011 and 2020, demonstrating an overall effect size of 1.31 (p < 0.001), with the effect on cognition noted as especially robust (effect size = 5.76, p < 0.001). This data underscores the capacity of CSE to influence not only immediate behavioral outcomes but also to equip individuals with the cognitive tools necessary for healthy sexual decision-making.

The relevance of sexual satisfaction extends beyond the immediate context of sexual relationships, as it is increasingly recognized as an integral aspect of personal well-being and quality of life. This satisfaction is intricately linked to both physical and mental health, showcasing the indispensable role of sexual health knowledge and practices in fostering overall health. In relation to marital satisfaction, specific studies point to an increase in marital satisfaction following participation in sex education programs. One such study highlighted a notable rise in marital satisfaction for participants after receiving sex education, indicating a direct correlation between sex education and enhanced relationship dynamics.

The Influence of Perceptions and Practices on Sexual Health

Adolescents’ perceptions of sexual education play a critical role in shaping their attitudes toward sex, their sexual knowledge, and their engagement in healthy sexual behaviors. Adolescents who view sexual education as necessary tend to exhibit more informed and positive attitudes, superior knowledge, and healthier behaviors in contrast to their counterparts who do not see the education as essential. This aligns with the finding that only 9% of sexually active high school students report using both condoms for STI prevention and a more effective form of contraception to prevent pregnancy, despite 55% of U.S. high school students reporting having sexual intercourse by age 18. The decrease in self-reported condom use amongst adolescents signals a gap in sexual health practices that comprehensive sex education seeks to address.

High school sex education in the United States presents a varied picture, with 72% of public and private high schools including pregnancy prevention in their required instruction as of 2014. Furthermore, 76% teach abstinence as the most effective method to avoid pregnancy, HIV, and STDs; 61% cover contraceptive efficacy; and only 35% instruct students on correct condom use. These figures illuminate the various approaches to sexual health education across educational institutions and the potential disparities in student preparedness for engaging in safe sexual behaviors.

Addressing Modern Relationship Dynamics in Sex Education

It’s important to note that many new unconventional relationship types have been accepted in the dating world, such as sugar dating and polyamory. These need to be taken into account when discussing sexual health since the definition of what a relationship can be has expanded. The expanding variety of relationship types underscores the necessity for sex education to adapt and address these varied relationship contexts. The significance of these trends lies in their expansion of traditional relationship definitions, necessitating an inclusive approach to sex education that addresses a wide array of sexual practices and relationship models.

Acknowledging such diversity in sexual education curricula can enhance its relevance and efficacy for a broad spectrum of students. For instance, individuals engaging in sugar dating, which refers to relationships where typically an older and wealthier individual provides material benefits to a younger partner in return for companionship or sexual favors, require sex education that addresses the unique dynamics and potential challenges presented by such arrangements. Providing education that encompasses these multifarious experiences, as demonstrated by higher communication comfort, self-efficacy, and relationship satisfaction scores among individuals who perceived their sex education as more inclusive, is paramount in fostering healthy relational and sexual outcomes.

Cultural Sensitivity in Sexual Health Education

As sexual health education seeks to address a broader array of relationship types and sexual practices, the importance of cultural sensitivity becomes paramount. It’s essential that sex education programs are designed to be culturally inclusive, acknowledging and respecting the diverse backgrounds and beliefs of students. By incorporating culturally relevant examples and case studies, educators can make lessons more relatable and impactful, thereby increasing the effectiveness of the messages conveyed. This approach not only helps bridge cultural gaps but also enhances students’ understanding and acceptance of different perspectives related to sexual health and relationships.

The Role of Parents and Caregivers

Parents and caregivers play a critical role in reinforcing the concepts taught in sexual health education classes. Engaging parents in the educational process through workshops and informational sessions can empower them to discuss sexual health more openly with their children. This parental involvement is crucial as it helps solidify the knowledge gained in school and supports adolescents in making informed decisions. Furthermore, when parents are involved and informed, they are better equipped to navigate their own biases and provide a more supportive environment for discussing sensitive issues. Such engagement not only strengthens the student’s learning experience but also fosters a supportive network that promotes healthy sexual behaviors and relationship choices.

Continued Evolution of Sex Education

By continuing to evolve and adapt to the changing landscape of relationships and societal norms, sex education can remain a critical tool in promoting health and well-being, ensuring that all individuals, regardless of their relationship choices, are well-informed and prepared to make healthy decisions. The integration of cultural sensitivity and parental involvement in sex education programs will further its impact, making it more comprehensive and accessible to a diverse student population. These enhancements are essential for fostering an environment where young individuals feel empowered and supported in their journey towards understanding and managing their sexual health effectively.

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April 21, 2024
What Is The Standard Sexual Frequency For Each Age?

It is a mistake to think that age does not interfere with sexual intimacy between four walls. This is because studies have shown that age plays an important role in factors such as frequency and quality of sex life.

But… what is the average number of sexual relations for each age? Do young people have much more sex than adults, as one might imagine?

No doubt this varies by age, depending on various factors, such as health, libido and lifestyle.

According to an American study by the Kinsey Institute for Research on Sex, Gender and Reproduction, the tendency is to decrease over the years and even vary from once a week to once a month.

Sexual frequency by age

In summary, the study says that young people between the ages of 18 and 29 have approximately 112 sexual relations a year, corresponding to three encounters a week. Then adults between the ages of 30 and 39 have an average of 1.6 sexual relations per week. And those known as mature, have 69 relationships a year, or 1.3 relationships a week, which is a little more than half compared to the youngest.

But, what are the factors that influence each stage?

Undoubtedly, the research result is related to the passing of the years, the stress of daily life, the obligations and family routine, including also the loss of physical and mental fitness, which are certainly aggravating for the decrease of sexual frequency.

The scientific journal The Journal of Sex Research, also published that the physical changes that happen as the years go by, added to feeling older, can influence overall ability.

In short, these studies point out that as we age, our chances of developing chronic health conditions increase and end up negatively affecting the frequency and quality of sexual activity.

Marriage and sex

Naturally, as you can imagine, marriage has its share of blame when it comes to sexual frequency. This is because 34% of married people have sex between two and three times a week, 45% have it a few times a month and 13% only a few times a year. This often leads to infidelities with acquaintances or professionals, such as escorts from Skokka.

In other words, marriage is an essential reason for sexual frequency, because in addition to 34% admitting to having sex between two and three times a week, the research concludes that married or engaged people who have sex on a regular basis are arguably happier, not having frequent need for the practice. Sex is more enjoyable when relationships per week reach an average of four or more times, compared to those who have sex only once in the same period.

As far as this “enjoyment” is concerned, the researchers state that it is the more mature and committed women who enjoy relationships more, because with age they get to know themselves, and also the couple, since even though they don’t have sex as regularly as in their younger days, the quality undoubtedly outweighs the quantity.

No doubt, with time, women focus less on the sexual frequency and more on the emotional and intimate points of sex, also emphasizing the knowledge of their own bodies.

It is clear then that relationships without commitment do not compare in quality with those of a steady, married relationship.

Does sexual interest wither with age?

We immediately reassure everyone by answering no. According to another study conducted on the sexuality of men and women between the ages of 40 and 80, it was found that interest in sex does not decrease as age advances.

On the contrary: for 80 percent of men and 60 percent of women, sex is an important part of their lives and essential to their well-being and happiness.

For the experts involved in the research conducted by the University of Chicago, the numbers are higher than imagined. Perhaps because we always consider that only young people have a sexual appetite, but the research proves that no, age does not influence sexual appetite. This is why a considerable percentage of the clients of the sexy escorts in Sunshine Coast are elderly.

Scientists have realized how necessary it is to make sure that the quality of these sexual relations remains good as men and women enter their old age.

The sexual behavior of 26 thousand men and women between 40 and 80 years of age were evaluated in 28 countries, including Brazil, where the research was conducted by the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz).

Contrary to what specialists have always thought, men and women over 40 continue not only to find sex important, but also to practice it with regular frequency.

More than half of those who participated guaranteed that they have sex between one and six times a week. In Brazil, 75% of the men and women interviewed said that they have sex at least once a week.

The scientists said that the data are very similar to the times that younger people have sex. On the other hand, doctors point out, however, that the quality of relations tends to get worse with age. Between 39% and 44% of those interviewed claimed to suffer from sexual problems.

What are the most common problems?

They are related to difficulty in erection in men and reaching orgasm in women. Therefore, it is important to take care of sexual health because it has been proven that sex is essential for human beings practically until the end of their lives.

It is essential to develop new therapies, medicines for sexual problems, and also to deal with sexology without taboos, naturally, as it should be.

Having sex frequently is good for your health

With all the research, the benefits of sex have also been proven to help lower blood pressure, reduce stress, anxiety, and help with sleep quality.

Let’s take care of our sexual health!

Featured image from Shutterstock

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August 24, 2022
What Men Need To Know About STDs

Carvaka Sex Toys brings you this latest excellent infographic on STDs. With a growing number of people affected by STDs each year, Carvaka shares the facts about the common STDs such as Syphilis and Chlamydia, symptoms to look out for and most importantly, the preventive measures you can take to keep yourself safe. Check it out below!

Infographic courtesy of Carvaka Sex Toys

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April 8, 2016
What is your HIV status?

Well December 1st is of course World Aids Day, the day that’s set aside to remember people who are no longer with us because of HIV and AIDS, and to remember those everywhere living with HIV and AIDS.

Now thankfully, more and more people are living well with HIV although they have to stick a life on medications and this isn’t always easy. Let us remember at one time, thousands of our Gay and Bi brothers were dying of HIV related conditions a year.

This year has seen an alarming jump in the number of Gay men testing positive for HIV, and yes as whereas more men are testing for HIV overall and this can account for the rise in some ways, somehow and somewhere men are still taking risks and contracting HIV. I know myself. I have taken risks in the past and I have accepted responsibility for myself in that respect. I am lucky to have tested negative so I am aware of my current HIV status.

There has been a lot of debate in sexual health promotion circles and amongst HIV organisations about the disclosure and negotiations around sex and awareness of ones HIV status. Absolutely awareness of one’s status is important. With awareness comes knowledge and being to make decisions about the sex you want and will have.

Even now with advances in the ways that we can prevent HIV transmission such Prep and Pep. PrEP means Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis, and it’s the use of anti-HIV medication that keeps HIV negative people from becoming infected. Pep is Post Exposure Prophylaxis, something guys take if they feel they have been exposed to the virus. There is still fear and stigma about HIV in our communities.

Despite the fact that if an HIV+ gay man is and had an undetectable viral load (amount of HIV present in blood/semen etc.) he is highly unlikely to pass the virus on and if the untested or negative guy is on Prep then research in 4,000 couples has shown that no transmission will take place. A recent survey in the UK revealed 45% of gay men would not sleep with a HIV+ guy. Seriously what’s that about?

This stigma and positive men feeling that they may be rejected by potential partners, because of their HIV status, and this happens to many HIV+ men (and the research in the UK sadly agrees with this). So this is a real barrier to men to talk openly about their HIV status!

I can’t help but wonder; perhaps more can be done to support men to deal with potential rejection? You know to feel, well, if you can’t accept my HIV status or you won’t have sex with me because of my status (and remember there are so many safe sexy things to do with another men, plus advances in prevention that doesn’t involve condoms), then that’s your issue not mine. This is about judging men who do this either; they in some way need support as well. Perhaps when they get reactions along the lines of I’m HIV+, if that’s an issue for you, then sort it yourself and they may go on to look at changing their attitudes. While people remain silent and not talk about it, or disclose it, then the issues remain as men do not get the chance to be challenged around their attitudes to HIV + men or the chance to change their attitudes towards it as well.

We all need support in this and we can all have our own attitudes or worries or concerns about HIV and AIDS. At the moment it’s not going away and men are still contracting HIV, so isn’t it better that we all have a different attitude and willingness to be open about our HIV status, whatever that may be?

Remember, talking about it and challenging people’s ideas, stereotypes or prejudice is the only way we can.

Featured image courtesy of Shutterstock
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November 27, 2015
Solve sexual health issues with squats!

Squats will do more than help you get a nice booty and thighs of steel; it is one of the best exercises for strengthening the internal muscles in the pelvic floor.

Now the term ‘pelvic floor’ refers to the group of muscles that form a muscular hammock across the opening of the pelvic.

These muscles, together with the surrounding tissues, keep all our sexual and reproductive organs in place so they can function properly.

And why do we want a fit and healthy pelvic floor?

So we don’t experience problems like impotence, incontinence, urinary problems, prolapsed organs… and the list goes on!

Now what I LOVE about squats, is that they are super effective in strengthening the Pubococcygeus muscle (or PC muscle), which forms part of the pelvic floor.

When you push up from a squat you naturally contract the PC and anal muscles, so over time the men will develop more penis control and the women, more vaginal control.

When we orgasm our muscles contract – so that’s why the more control you create the more intense your orgasms will be.

Of course as you build more muscle mass in your thighs and buttocks the demand for blood from your heart increases.

As a result, your groin receives more of the energy-rich blood you need to maintain an erection.

(Not just in men, as women’s clitoris’ become erect when they get aroused too!)

This is why squats are so beneficial for men who have erection issues!

This extra thigh strength you’ll get from squats also means you can dance with much more freedom when you’re in the on-top position.

For the women, combining squatting with vagina activation is key for allowing us to have the stamina for on-top lovemaking.

And those sexy moves you see pole dancers doing, helps open all of this area – so if you’ve been curious about pole dancing, I suggest giving it a go!

But the great thing about squats is they engage all the pelvic muscles and all of your internal organs.

They help open up the groin, they help our digestive system to have healthier elimination, they help us release tensions that cause lower back pain, and they increase the energy circulation in our leg meridians.

Why is this important?

These meridians actually bring chi (or energy) to our sexual organs.

This is so so important, because if you have any energetic blocks in your groin, that can inhibit sexual function.

Most of the activities we do in the Western world actually promote a tight groin.

For instance, if we spend more than an hour per day sitting in a chair, it can create a tight groin.

Most of us are so accustomed to feeling this that we don’t think of it as being bad.

Tight groins often result in or are accompanied by a tight sacrum and sore lower back.

So this week I’m recommended everyone do at least one set of squats daily.

Start with as many squats as you can do right now, and as your strength and stamina improve, slowly build up.

This article has been republished with permission from Tamara Mercieca

Please visit Tamara’s website to view the original post and more of her works.

Image courtesy of Shutterstock
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September 25, 2015
How do I tell my partner I have HIV?

Have a question on your mind about sex or seeking advice? Ask us on any topic and we’ll provide you with the answers from an expert. Send them in to editorial@simplysxy.com.

We have collected your questions on HIV and sexual health, and are delighted to have Caroline Maposphere to answer them below.

Qn: What are some symptoms and early stage signs of HIV?

Acute HIV infection may present as a ‘flu-like’ illness as the immune system attempts to fight the virus. Some of the signs may include but are not limited to Fever; Sore throat; Tiredness; Diarrhoea; Joint/ muscle pain; Swollen glands; Skin rash. This may then be followed by an asymptomatic stage where one has no obvious signs and symptoms of an illness except for generalized lymphadenopathy (swollen glands).

Qn: How well do condoms and use of lube prevent HIV?

When correctly and consistently used, condoms have been demonstrated to be effective for HIV prevention. This has been demonstrated both in the laboratory and demographically. Laboratory studies have shown that condoms provide an effective barrier against HIV. Studies have indicated that people who report correct and consistent use of condoms have reduced risk of HIV transmission.

Although safety of lubes has been debated however, it is generally safer to use lubes with condoms than have dry sex which increases the risk of friction and consequent condom tearing or bursting. If the objective of using lubes is to have a condom protected sexual intercourse session, then lubes are safe and help to prevent HIV.

Qn: What is the best way for one to inform their partner of possible HIV infection?

There is no prescribed formula for disclosing one’s HIV status to a partner but having a relationship that allows or is based on open and honest communication is helpful. Bringing a brochure on HIV could be helpful or tuning in to a TV /radio program on HIV and then personalize the discussion might help. One can also make an appointment with a professional counselor/ doctor for their partner and have the professional call the partner.

Qn: What are the potential health problems one will encounter if HIV positive?

Once the virus is inside the human body, HIV attacks the body defense system – the immune system which would normally fight off any infections. With a weakened immune system, one can expect to get sick more often and the illnesses to last longer than in a person whose immunity is intact. Because the virus targets cells that are all over the body, all body systems may get affected. The severity of how the systems are affected and at what point in time, depends on one’s nutritional status, other co infections and one’s general health.

Qn: If I have an active lifestyle, how often should I be tested for HIV?

Ideally, one should get tested at every routine health check, after every risky exposure to HIV or at least every 3 – 6 months.

Caroline Maposphere is a registered nurse (RN) and a midwife with training in public health and holds a BA in Theology.

Featured image courtesy of Shutterstock
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August 19, 2015
Ladies beware: Your sexual organs could quite literally fall out of you!

We all know the side effects of not brushing our teeth. Abandon the toothbrush long enough and your teeth are likely to rot and fall out.

Well. a woman’s sexual organs are no different.

Autopsies done on nuns have shown their sexual organs completely rotted out due to non-use.

And this is more common than you might realise. One in two women will experience some degree of prolapsed sexual organs in their lifetime.

One third of women will have a hysterectomy by the time they’re 60-years-old.

I don’t know about you, but I want to hold onto my most womanly parts! What’s important to understand is that these issues are a symptom of our sexual organs not getting enough TLC. We go to the gym and exercise three times or more a week, but how many women exercise their vagina?

How many of us dedicate time to ensuring our sexual organs remain fit?

And I’m not talking about doing Kegels exercise. If you want to look after your sexual organs, you need to pay them some attention, or you run the risk of them not working as they were designed.

Did you know one in three women over 35 are infertile?

This is shocking given that our body is made to remain fertile right up until menopause.

Then you have the harrowing statistic of 12% of ALL women of childbearing years being unable to conceive naturally.

Infertility, prolapsed sexual organs and other women’s health concerns don’t need to be a part of your life.

Why would you want them to be?

There is a preventative measure you can take, that is inexpensive, and will keep your sexual organs fit and healthy until the day you die.

That preventative is the Jade Egg practice.

The Jade Egg was used 5000 years ago by Queens and concubines in China in order to stay youthful, keep their sexual organs tight and resilient and deliver the Emperor immense pleasure in the bedchamber!

But what’s important to understand here, is that the Jade Egg was used as a preventative, and while it can certainly be used to help reverse the degeneration that is the result of a lack of self-care, women can actually stop this unnecessary aging in the first place.

Just 2-3 Jade Egg practices per week is all that’s needed to help cure incontinence, bring fresh blood to the sexual organs so they remain in optimum health and increase your chances of conceiving.

But what the Jade Egg practice offers women of today is a respite from their hectic schedule.

Down time.

Time to be with themselves, be still, connect with their body, listen to their intuition and become more centered.

What busy woman doesn’t want to escape the hustle and bustle of life, where everything is go go go 24 seven?

And the great news is that the Jade Egg practice is anything but a chore.

It’s a time to be still.

To connect in with your body. It’s much like a meditation of self-love.

And not only will your sexual organs thank you, you’ll experience more pleasure in the bedroom as you awaken the vaginal canal so you can experience G-spot and cervical orgasms!

…orgasms that often remain elusive to women because their vaginal canal is numb.

So if you don’t want to become a statistic it’s time to start exercising your lady parts.

Giving them some love. We hear about the risks of breast cancer all the time, but we don’t hear as much about cervical and ovarian cancer.

We know about these cancers of the sexual organs, but we don’t necessarily know how common they are until we receive the diagnosis.

Every ten hours a woman in Australia dies of ovarian cancer.

One in 70 women will develop ovarian cancer in their lifetime, with only 20% of these women surviving longer than five years.

While cervical cancer isn’t quite as common, you still have a one in 155 chance of becoming a statistic.

I don’t tell you all this to scare you.

I share this with you so you can be aware and start taking steps so you don’t end up with an unfortunate diagnosis and the difficult decision on how to heal yourself of illness and disease.

All of the afflictions I have mentioned today can be prevented through a regular practice with a Jade Egg.

I myself used the Jade Egg as part of my holistic treatment to return my cervix to full health after being diagnosed as being the stage before cancer when I returned an abnormal pap smear result in my early 30s.

These kinds of issues of the sexual organs can be healed naturally, and most importantly, they can be prevented.

That is my message today.

Don’t wait until you have a life-threatening diagnosis.

Get in first. If you take care of our body, using a tool such as the Jade Egg practice, your sexual organs have the best possible chance of functioning as they are designed too.

Simple as that!

Ok. Take a breath….

I know I needed to when I discovered the shocking truth about the state of most women’s sexual organs. Our sexual organs play a vital part in our overall health so please don’t let them die a slow death.

Buy yourself a Jade Egg and reap the benefits of having ripe sexual organs right into old age. It was disease that brought me to the Jade Egg, don’t let disease be the thing that brings YOU to the Jade Egg.

Get in first so you don’t have to experience the same fear I did.

The Jade Egg really is a ladies best friend.

Image courtesy of Shutterstock
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August 4, 2015
Sexually Transmitted Infections Awareness

The 1800s, and the birth of the industrial revolution, is deemed by many historians to have been the beginning of a sexual revolution also. More and more people were pushed together in densely populated areas, and attitudes to sex began to become more liberal. The 1960s also acted as a catalyst for increased sex due to the invention of the birth control pill, enabling women and men to have the opportunity to act on impulse and have sex for pleasure, as opposed to having sex for procreation alone.

Of course not all countries and cultures have evolved and developed sexual liberalisation at an equal rate. Ireland for example, prohibited the sale of condoms from 1935 to 1978 due to heavy influence from the Catholic Church. There has also been evidence to suggest that the number of sexual partners varies in different regions. Swedish people generally have many partners, while the Chinese tend not to have many.

Sex is an important part of any healthy relationship. It brings people closer together and even has health benefits such as: improving your immune system, lowering blood pressure, lowering heart attack risk, and exercise benefits. However, with figures indicating that over one million people contract a sexually transmitted infection every day, it is clear that many are taking unnecessary and dangerous risks when it comes to sex.

At Union Quay Medical Centre in Cork, we provide GP care as well as sexual health screening to help educate and prevent the spread of sexually transmitted infections. Being aware and informed on the dangers and consequences of unprotected sex is vital in order to prevent the spread of sexually transmitted infections. Sexual liberalisation has enabled people to speak more openly about sex and this should also extend to sexual health. This infographic aims to increase awareness and to give confidence that there is nothing embarrassing about visiting your GP or clinic to discuss sexual health.

Infographic courtesy of Union Quay Medical Centre (http://www.unionquaymedicalcentre.ie/)
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August 1, 2015
When is a Transgender person ready for surgery?

Have a question on your mind about sex or seeking advice? Ask us on any topic and we’ll provide you with the answers from an expert. Send them in to editorial@simplysxy.com.

We have collected your questions on Transgender health issues, and are delighted to have Gavin Everard to answer them below.

What are some common health issues transgender people face?

The primary issue that trans people face is a pervasive lack of access to healthcare. Most doctors think that our care is not their job, and that we should be under the care of some specialist that our insurance will not pay for, like an endocrinologist. Imagine having asthma and going to a doctor, and the doctor saying “I am happy to be your doctor, except that I don’t treat asthma. You will have to go to someone else for that”. This is the situation most trans people are in, except that there is often no other doctor to go to. We need help with chronic pain, mental health struggles, and all of the other common health problems in the US, only from doctors who are completely ignorant of our needs as patients, and who don’t really want to be our doctors in the first place.

When does the doctor determine that one is ready for surgery?

The gatekeeping system in the US for determining who gets access to surgery and hormones is deeply problematic. A transgender or gender non-conforming patient needs letters from therapists or other doctors to prove that we are “really” trans, and often a requirement that we have “lived in our desired gender role” for 6-12 months prior to receiving care. This basically means that people have to try to pass as their felt sex/gender with no access to hormones or surgery in a world where they will be faced with extreme violence for failing to pass. The system treats trans people as mentally ill children who cannot really make our own choices about our healthcare, and is insulting and paternalistic. Luckily, a lot of this is up to the discretion of the doctor, and many providers allow trans patients to access hormones or surgery on an informed-consent basis, at the pace that the patient desires. This is key because many trans patients have been living with serious dysphoria (the feeling that something is wrong with the body) for years, and need intervention as soon as possible. The American Medical Association recognizes gender dysphoria as a serious and real life-threatening medical condition, and blocking access to treatment can be tantamount, in my opinion, to torture.

What are the health concerns when one is transitioning to male? And female?

The health concerns associated with hormonal transition are primarily those associated with being hormonally estrogen or testosterone-dominant, ie. increased risk for breast cancer with estrogen and increased cardiovascular disease risk with testosterone. Some studies suggest that there is increased risk for elevated serum cholesterol with both estrogen and testosterone therapy as well. Surgeries carry their own risk factors, mostly due to the possibility of infection. Surgeons in the US generally do a great job, but because insurance companies largely do not cover these procedures and consider them “elective” despite AMA standards that say otherwise, many patients choose to travel abroad to have procedures done more cheaply. Many surgeons in Thailand and other countries are also very skilled, but the medical industries are not always regulated as well abroad as in the US, so there can be more risk associated with accessing services in this way.

How can partners of trans people be respectful and supportive during sex?

It’s all well and good to support us by defending us in conversation, but we also need more intimate solidarity; we need you to fuck us. Luckily, the way to have hot sex with a trans person is pretty similar to the way to have hot sex with anyone: good communication and consent. As us how we want to refer to our body parts. Tell us what you like, and ask us what we like. Ask us what helps us feel comfortable and safe, and tell us what helps you feel comfortable and safe. A good rule of thumb for any sexual interaction is, if you can’t talk about it first, you should not be doing it. Flip this, and you have a mandate to go through the sexy process of laying out what you both want to have happen, getting all hot and bothered about it, and then doing it. Remember, trans people are just people, and we want to feel loved and desired, and to make you feel loved and desired in return.

Gavin Everard is an acupuncturist who works with primarily queer and trans clients on chronic pain, urogenital issues and trauma healing. Gavin also trains healthcare providers on how to give trans-competent care.

Images courtesy of Gavin Everard
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July 29, 2015
What is it like to have 2 vaginas and how does it feel during sex?

Uterus Didelphys is a condition where a female has a double uterus. A double uterus may have one opening (cervix) into one vagina, or each uterine cavity may have a cervix. There may even be two vaginas. We find out more about this condition with Hannibal Rose, a cam model who was born with Uterus Didelphys and how she copes with it.

You were born with Uterus Didelphys which is extremely rare. Could you share more about what it is?

I found out during a c-scan for my kidneys, which usually most women who have this rare abnormality have kidney issues, or at least the women I have read about. I have never talked to nor met anyone with this condition.

How will other women know if they have Uterus Didelphys and what can they do?

It will typically go undetected without medical exams and or tests. And if they feel they have this, they should routinely get check ups, and see what else can be done for them.

Are there any health concerns regarding Uterus Didelphys?

Yes, quite a few actually. Risk of miscarriage, tearing due to the septum that separates the two vaginas, high risk pregnancy, pelvic pain, and pre-term labor. I myself have had all of these happen.

Having two vaginas, does sex feel different with either one?

Yes, and No. I can feel when a penis is entered into either side but I don’t know what it would be like with just one. This is my normal, all I have ever known. I feel that because of this condition I have a higher sex drive, and crave sex daily. My fiancee says that I have the sex drive of 100 women.

Do you get double periods and how do you cope?

Yes, I do. I can have two periods at once or I have one period every two weeks. It is my bodies’ choice, but I take birth control to deal with this condition which lighten my periods.

What can you share from your experience with other women who have the same condition?

I would tell them to learn about this condition, and see how they would like to handle it. I myself am proud of it, and have learned how to handle it during sex, during my period, and my everyday life. I quite enjoy having two, I feel like once again I define the social norm. Which I always have done, and will continue to do so.

I am a nineteen year old nude cam model who is a mother of three, as well as being a engaged to a man twenty two years older than me. I am also a feminist, environmentalist, a vegan, a spiritualist, and what would be deemed a conspiracy theorist. I come from a small town in North Carolina where God is main priority and you will be looked down for my line of work. Which I have, I define the social norm, and that has never been accepted where I am from. On top of my job, and all that I am, I have many piercings, and that alone would define the social norm.

Some of the links to my videos are here and follow me on Instagram and Twitter by clicking on the links in my profile below!

https://www.manyvids.com/Profile/249428/HannibalRose/

http://adultwebcamawards.com/hannibal-rose-on-chaturbate-nominated-for-best-anal-live-cam-show/

http://www.ladiesonline.net/profiles/Hannibal_Rose.html

mail: dollcherokee@gmail.com

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July 26, 2015