Category: Sex Education

The latest headlines of sexual harassment in the workplace and otherwise, the #metoo movement, and men of influence falling into disgrace after sexually inappropriate behavior have lead to many conversations in our society. What is “normal” sexual contact? What is a baseline amount of sex? What is allowed to be pursued sexually in a relationship, casual or otherwise? For many years, sex has been viewed as recreational and fun and not necessarily connected to any commitment. Sex is not the problem. Society’s attitude toward sex is more problematic.

 “The idea that pursuing one’s sexual imperatives should take place over workplace rules, lines of power or even just appropriate social behavior is what allows predators to justify sexual harassment and assault. And it encourages the not-predators to value their desires above those of others.”
(Washington Post, “Let’s Rethink Sex”)

So, what does this mean? The “sex-above-all ethic” has lead to the reduction of virtues of prudence, temperance, respect and even love. Perhaps sex has a deeper significance than momentary pleasure or recreation. Respect and love of one’s partner leads to commitment. With commitment comes facing unintended consequences such as an unplanned pregnancy together. It also leads to the reduction of STI (sexually transmitted infections) diagnoses/ treatments or facing an abortion decision in an unplanned pregnancy without a partner a reality. Children are brought into committed relationships and less likely to be fatherless. Security within the relationship builds a strong tie between partners and their children, building a strong family unit.

Unfortunately, marriage is declining in popularity. Many people have a fear of commitment. Sex is readily available and “cheap.” Men can readily find sex and women ask little in return. Porn is easily accessible, and women have to compete with virtual encounters. With the rise of the use of birth control, there is “easy sex without consequences.” (Wall Street Journal, “Cheap Sex and the Decline of Marriage.”)

For more insights on this topic of sex and consequences, a recent article from the Weekly Standard, quoting the Washington Post has some great insights. Read the entire article here: Washington Post: Conservatives Are Right About Sex.

When it comes to issues of sexual behavior, it can be helpful to have someone outside of your close circle to discuss thoughts and feelings with. Someone who can be both knowledgeable AND trust-worthy, all in a non-judgmental atmosphere.

Keep us on your short list. We can be that friend that you talk to when you don’t feel you can talk to anyone else. No pressure. No agenda. Just a helpful, compassionate ear.

Chlamydia is a common sexually transmitted infection (STI) that can infect both men and women. Untreated, it can cause serious, permanent damage to a woman’s reproductive system called pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). PID can lead to long-term pelvic pain, inability to become pregnant, and increase the risk of ectopic pregnancy (pregnancy outside the uterus). If you are pregnant and have chlamydia, you can pass the infection along to your baby during delivery. This could cause an eye infection or pneumonia in your newborn. Having chlamydia may also make it more likely to have a preterm birth.

How Did THIS Happen?
Chlamydia is contracted by having sex of any type with someone who has chlamydia. If you’ve had chlamydia and were treated in the past, you can still get infected again if you have sex with someone infected with it.

Being in a long-term, mutually monogamous relationship such as marriage is the best way to avoid contracting a STI.

The Symptoms – Ugh!
Most people with chlamydia have no symptoms. However, if you do have symptoms, they may not appear until several weeks after you have sex with an infected partner. Even when chlamydia causes no symptoms, it can damage your reproductive system.

Symptoms for women may include abnormal discharge and/or a burning sensation when urinating. The discharge may have an unpleasant odor. Some women may have pelvic pain and (rarely) may experience unusual bleeding. Men may experience discharge, a burning sensation during urination, and/or pain and swelling.

How In the World Do You Know?
There are laboratory tests that can easily diagnose chlamydia. There are two main ways to test for chlamydia: a urine sample or a swab test. Test results come back in 2-7 days depending upon the lab. You should not have sex while waiting for the results of the test.
If detected early, chlamydia is a highly treatable STI, responsive to antibiotics. During treatment, it is important to take all of the medication prescribed by your health-care provider. When taken properly, it will stop the infection and could decrease the chance of later complications. Repeat infection with chlamydia is common. You should be tested again about three months after you are treated, even if your sexual partner(s) was treated. You should not have sex again until you and your partner(s) have completed treatment. If your health-care provider prescribes a single dose of medication, you should wait seven days after taking the medication before having sex. If you health-care provider prescribes a medication to be taken for seven days, you should wait until the seven days of medication have been taken and completed. Medication for chlamydia should not be shared with anyone else.

Have an honest and open discussion with your health-care provider and ask whether you should be tested for Chlamydia or other STIs. If you are a sexually active person not in a monogamous, committed relationship such as marriage, or have had new or multiple sexual partners, you should be tested for chlamydia each year.

Information in this article were taken from the following website:
Lab Tests Online

For more articles on STIs, how to identify, treat and avoid:
So You Think You Know All About STD?
Sex Education Articles

Need to talk to someone? We understand. In fact, we even have a nurse on staff that can offer you some very valuable insight. It’s even easier than you think: Simply make an appointment online (no uncomfortable talking on the phone), then show up at our office to meet with our nurse, who just happens to be very non-judgmental and completely easy to talk to. It’s that simple!

Gonorrhea, also commonly known as “the clap,” may affect any man or woman that is sexually active. The infection may occur in the genitals, rectum or throat.  It is a very common sexually transmitted infection (STI), especially in sexually active men and women between the ages of 15 to 24.  This infection may be spread through any type of sex with an affected person.  Pregnant women with gonorrhea can pass the infection to the baby. The baby may contract the infection during the delivery, and this can cause serious health issues for the infant.

Men with gonorrhea may experience a burning sensation with urination; a white, yellow or green discharge; and/or painful or swollen testicles. Women may not experience any symptoms if infected with gonorrhea. However, women may also experience mild symptoms that could be easily mistaken for a bladder or vaginal infection. They may experience painful or burning sensation with urination, increased vaginal discharge, or vaginal bleeding between periods. Rectal infections from gonorrhea may not have any symptoms, or the person affected may have discharge, itching, soreness, bleeding, or painful bowel movements. Anyone experiencing the above symptoms should be examined by a health care provider, including their sexual partner(s), so everyone may be treated to prevent further infection or complications.

Testing for gonorrhea may be performed using a urine test, or a swab may be used. Once a diagnosis has been determined, and treatment is needed for the infection, gonorrhea may be cured with the right medication. It is very important to take all medications as prescribed and do not share any medications with others. The right medication will cure the infection but not undo any permanent damage caused by the infection. Some gonorrhea strains are more drug resistant than others. If symptoms persist after the first few days of treatment, you should return to your health care provider for further examination.

Sexual partners also need to be treated in order to prevent a reoccurrence of the gonorrhea infection. It is very important to wait at least seven days after finishing treatment for the infection prior to engaging in sex again with your partner.  This will prevent reoccurrence of the STI with your current partner or giving gonorrhea to a new partner. Gonorrhea may be contracted again despite past treatment for the infection if engaged in sex with an infected partner.

Women without any symptoms at all are still at risk for serious complications. Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) may occur if gonorrhea is not diagnosed or is left untreated. Women may experience the formation of scar tissue that could block the fallopian tubes, increase the likelihood of ectopic pregnancy (pregnancy outside the womb), infertility, or long-term pelvic or abdominal pain. Men may experience a painful condition that causes swelling of the testicles, causing the inability to become a father. In rare instances, untreated gonorrhea can spread to an infected person’s blood or joints, or may increase the chances of getting HIV or giving HIV to a partner.

The only way to totally prevent gonorrhea is to not have any type of sex. Also, when in a long-term monogamous sexual relationship with your partner, your risks will be greatly reduced. The use of latex condoms used in the correct manner every time engaged in sex will also greatly reduce the likelihood of contracting a STI.

If you are sexually active, it is important to be open and honest with your health care provider about whether you should be tested for a STI. Men who are gay or bisexual, and have engaged in sex with another man, should be tested every year. Women who are sexually active under the age of 25, or women who have new or multiple sex partners, should also be tested yearly.

For more information, visit www.cdc.gov or www.mayoclinic.org.

If you (or someone you know) suspects that you might have contracted and STD, you should contact your doctor immediately for an appointment.

However, if you are not ready to talk to a doctor, it could be helpful to discuss your symptoms, concerns and options in a confidential and helpful setting with someone who has answers. Feel free to contacts us at 913.962.0200 to speak with someone who can help you determine your next steps. Our staff is compassionate, knowledgeable and can offer the support and direction that you need.

At Two Lines (formerly Advice & Aid), we encourage everyone to practice abstinence outside of marriage, and fidelity inside of marriage.  Two Lines (formerly Advice & Aid) does not provide or prescribe birth control.

Additional education articles on sexually transmitted diseases:
The Unfortunate Case Of Bacterial Vaginosis
What You Need To Know Now About HPV

Breaking up is hard to do!
Breaking up is even harder after you have been sexually intimate with your partner. There is a great deal taking place in just the brain alone during sex. Not to be too technical about it, but there are several neurochemical processes that occur during sex, which serves only to strengthen human bonds.

Remembering the good, forgetting the bad
The brain is, obviously, a huge part of sex, and is strongly stimulated during intimacy. Because of this, the act of sex is desired by the partners to be repeated. The brain produces dopamine which is a very powerful chemical, allowing you to feel very strong pleasure. When dopamine is released, it literally changes how we remember.

Another chemical released is oxytocin, which helps us to forget all we perceive to be painful. Oxytocin is primarily produced in women’s bodies, most notably during childbirth. After a woman gives birth and breastfeeds her child, she produces oxytocin, producing a strong bond with her child. Mothers will die for their child due to this strong bond, triggered by the release of oxytocin, as well as from the skin-to-skin contact with their newborn.

This same response occurs when a woman has sex with a man. Oxtocin is released, and she bonds with him emotionally. Often, this bond is so strong that when a woman is being abused by a man, she cannot bear to leave him.

But what about the men?
Men produce vasopressin, also known as the “monogamy hormone.” It has the same effect that oxytocin has on a woman. It strengthens the bond between a man and woman when they are sexually intimate.

These “bonding” chemicals narrow the selection to one person as our sexual partner. It is definitely good in a marriage relationship, but not good in a dating relationship because you are less likely to be objective when making your selection of a mate.

Save it – and here’s why!
When you have sex before marriage, you are more likely to be deeply hurt. Relationships unfortunately end, causing a great deal of pain due to what has taken place within the brain during sex. The emptiness following the end of the relationship is very painful, and you may rush into a new relationship to dull the pain. The neuro circuits do not have time to adjust, and the ability to bond with the new partner is impaired. This is especially true if a new sexual relationship begins.

If you or someone you know is in an abusive relationship, but finding it hard to leave for any reason, contact us immediately.

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Content for this post taken from the article Science Proves Premarital Sex Rewires the Brain

Once upon a time, there was a young woman named Sally who developed a very unfortunate problem. Although Sally had only had one sexual partner, she began to experience some discomfort “down there.”  She noticed a discharge, along with persistent itching and an unusual odor.  Sally and her partner had not been using any form of protection when having sex, but they were  faithful to one another. She was very worried that she might have contracted some type of sexually transmitted disease, and immediately contacted her doctor.  After a quick exam, her doctor declared Sally’s problem to be bacterial Vaginosis (BV). Sally now needed to learn more about this new-to-her issue. She began her education by reading more here. . .

What is Bacterial Vaginosis (BV)?

Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is a common vaginal inflammation due to overgrowth of one of several different types of bacteria normally present in the vagina. The overgrowth affects the normal balance of the vaginal bacteria. The most commonly affected women are in their reproductive years. Doctors are uncertain of the exact cause of BV but believe it could be caused by unprotected sex or frequent douching. You do not have to be sexually active to be affected by BV.

Symptoms of BV

Symptoms of BV include a vaginal discharge that is thin and grayish white in color. A foul or “fishy” odor may be experienced, especially after sexual intercourse. Women may also experience vaginal itching or burning with urination. However, some women may not experience any symptoms at all.

What to do if you have BV?

It is important to see a doctor if you have never had a vaginal infection before, or if you had had a vaginal infection previously but the symptoms seem different to you. If you have tried an over-the-counter yeast infection medication and the symptoms persist, develop a fever, or have a very unpleasant vaginal odor, it would be best to be evaluated by a physician. Also, if you have had multiple sexual partners or a recent new partner, it would be important to be evaluated as BV symptoms are very similar to many Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI).

Can BV lead to other complications?

The risk factors for BV include having multiple sex partners, women having sex with other women, douching or a natural lack of the “good” lactobacilli bacteria in the vagina. The complications from BV are most likely not to occur. However, under certain conditions, BV may lead to preterm birth, infection risk following gynecological surgery such as a dilation & curettage (D & C) or hysterectomy, being more susceptible to STI or pelvic inflammatory disease (PID).

If you or someone you know suspects that you might have BV,  it might help to discuss your symptoms, concerns and options in a confidential and helpful setting with someone who has answers.

Feel free to contacts us at 913.962.0200 to speak with someone who can help you determine your next steps. Our staff is compassionate, knowledgeable and can offer the support and direction that you need.

To read more about BV, visit mayoclinic.org. The above information was taken from this site.