Sexual permissiveness is perhaps one of the most evident marks of post-modern society. We see it everyday. Just consider the music videos of popular artists with provocative suggestions of sex, as well as films touted to be artistically produced and directed. Even advertising makes use of subliminal messages of seduction to promote their products. While there is really nothing wrong with sex, adults have to be sensitive and responsible in dealing with sexual health issues especially when the youth is concerned.
Boys and girls will normally get curious and interested about sex as they go through physical and emotional changes during puberty. And due to media and internet access, our youth are easily exposed to a lot of possibilities about sex. The risks of acquiring Sexually Transmitted Diseases or STD are high in this age group. It is the responsibility of the parents to strike a balance between teaching their teens about responsible sexual health while, at the same time, making them understand that the knowledge about safe sex does not give them a license to engage in sex with every willing party and at every available opportunity.
Sexually Transmitted Diseases or STD are diseases caused by viral or bacterial infections that can be transmitted through sexual contact. STD affects men and women of all ages and backgrounds who are sexually active or engage in unprotected sex. People who are aware of STD may experience social, emotional and psychological stress due to guilt or embarrassment. But there is more to STD than stress and shame. There are serious sexual health problems that may cause permanent damage such as infertility or even death, as in cases of AIDS, if not given proper attention. But the good news is, STD can be treated.
The spread of STD is due to the common thinking of people that sexual intercourse is a requirement to get the infection. STD, like herpes or genital warts, can be acquired through skin-to-skin contact with an infected area or sore. The myth that one cannot get infected through oral and anal sex is just a myth. Viruses or bacteria that cause STD can enter the body through tiny cuts or tears in the mouth and anus, as well as the genitals.
The fact that it is difficult to tell whether a person is infected or not makes STD spread easily. People who are infected may not even know that they have STD, thus, endangering their partners with the infection without even realizing it. Sometimes, STD takes a long time to display any kind of symptoms. The following are some of the most common STDs that affect sexually active individuals chlamydia, gonorrhea, crabs or pubic lice, genital herpes, genital warts, and syphilis.
Just like with other medical conditions, preventing Sexually Transmitted Diseases is much easier than treating them. Abstinence from all types of sexual contact may be the only way to prevent STD. But people do not have to deprive themselves of sex as long as they remain faithful to their partners or at least, try using a condom to reduce the chances of getting STD. Other birth control methods may help prevent pregnancy but only latex condoms can lessen the risk of getting an STD.
People who are sexually active should consider getting regular gynecological or male genital examinations to give doctors not just the opportunity to check for STD while they are still in their earliest and most treatable stage, but also to teach people about STD and how to protect themselves.
People should always be honest to tell their doctors if they are thinking about having sex or if they have already started having sex. The more you hold back, the more chances you allow STD to develop and cause more serious damage.
There is a delicate harmony that balances guilt-free sexual health awareness, self-worth, and social responsibility. Parents need to be more willing to hold open discussions with their children. It is the duty of the parents to prepare their children in the matters of physical, emotional and social dimensions of sexual health and its consequences. STD is a serious sexual disease. It could happen to you.

Preoccupation with the male genitalia and virility is not a new social behavior. Ancient civilizations had already placed a high value on the phallus not only for sexual reasons but also for the preservation of peace and order. The phallus was a very important symbol in the Roman Empire, specifically in the city of Pompeii. Pompeii is famous for being the Roman city that was literally buried in lava, mud, and rocks when Mount Vesuvius erupted in 79 B.C. Accidentally discovered in 1748, the city was found beneath meters of ash and pumice. People who resided in that city were found stone-like and lying in different poses that showed their panic and despair that fateful day when the volcano took away their lives and property. But another interesting find in the ruins was a fresco inside the Villa dei Vetii. The fresco showed Priapus weighing his penis against a sack of money. In Greek mythology, Priapus was a fertility god who was also considered the protector of livestock, plant life, and yes, even the male genitals. Called Mutinus Mutunus in Roman mythology, the said minor god was the son of Aphrodite and Adonis. The fresco boasted how Priapus’ privates outweighed the bag full of coins. In fact, sculptures and images of Priapus were placed by farmers in the field supposedly to ensure the abundance of the harvest. For the Romans, his status also served as a scarecrow. The erect penis was not only propped to scare off the birds but burglars as well. These statues usually had inscriptions that contained the threat of sodomy on anyone caught stealing in the field or house where the said stone figures were set-up. During those times, rape was a common punishment for criminal offenders.

Archeologists and sociologists believe that for many men during those ancient days, a properly functioning penis was crucial to having self-esteem. Proficiency and endurance in sexual activity were considered manly attributes, and are still viewed as such by most 21st century men. But what is really interesting in the archeological ruins of Pompeii is how the penis as a symbol was highly regarded, even revered, by the Roman people.

Today, we can hardly see pictures or statues of men that show the disproportionately sized penis. In ancient Rome, it was important enough to commission an artist to paint such a scene inside one’s villa. Still, the preoccupation with the male genitals and sexual performance is still a silent concern for most men. Lack of sexual ability, or more accurately, the inability to achieve an erection is a major male concern. It is estimated that at least 30 million American men have been diagnosed with erectile dysfunction. As a sexual health problem, male impotence is defined as the total inability to achieve an erection; an inconsistent ability to achieve an erection; or a tendency to sustain an erection for only brief moments.

Sexual health is more than just an issue of prevention and control of sexually transmitted disease. More appropriately, it is concerned with the physical, emotional and even relational conditions of people. Specifically, male sexual health is focused on a man’s ability to have an erection, which is crucial to performing the sexual act. Intimacy in marriage or in deeper, physical relations between a man and a woman is normally attached to the issue of having the capacity to perform. While professional definitions of sexual health goes beyond anatomical and coital discussions, most ordinary men and women attribute the term to acts in the bedroom. Surely, men will do well to elevate the discussion of
male sexual health above sexual trivia, positions, and performance. Aside from the obvious need to be informed about the dangers of sexually transmitted disease, men should also be educated about the women’s sexuality and women’s needs. Unlike men, the sexual functions of women are influenced by a number of factors, and not the normal rise in libido.

To access reliable and professional advice regarding sexuality and sexual health, both men and women should consider an appointment with a professional counselor or doctor at the nearest sexual health clinic. It is a known fact, especially in poor countries, that what goes around as knowledge about sexual health is nothing short of a myth. Often, young boys and girls rely on the peer group to get information about sexual health, or about sex itself.

But for men, whether they live in a poor country or in a developed nation, sexual problems must still be addressed by going to a sexual health clinic. Erectile dysfunction is not just a physical problem. It is also linked to emotional and psychological distress. While men who suffer from erectile dysfunction still have the ability to father a child, they do encounter challenges in sustaining their relationships and even their own self-esteem. By getting professional help, men with erectile dysfunction can benefit from science-based information and even medications such as Sildenafil usually sold under the brand name Viagra, Vardenafil, and Finasteride.

Indeed, getting information on how to attain good sexual health need not be as difficult as excavating Pompeii. Male sexual health is not about achieving the legendary size of Priapus or have circus-like abilities for the most intimate human act. Sexual health is, above all, about maintaining physical health, safety in intimacy, and sustaining good relationships with those we love.

There are three basic types of orgasm for women. Most women can reach orgasm through stimulation of the clitoris with the fingers, oral sex or vibrator.

A vaginal orgasm involving the uterus and reproductive system can be achieved by stimulating the G-spot. The G-spot is a spongy mass of tissue that swells when stimulated. It’s still elusive to a lot of women, but it can be found a couple of inches inside the vagina on the front wall. G-spot stimulation can produce a more intense, deep orgasm.

Blended orgasms are a combination of clitoral and G-spot stimulation. These can produce some of the most powerful orgasms, often accompanied by female ejaculation.

Multiple orgasms are a series of orgasms that happen over a short period of time and they can happen with any type of orgasm. After the first climax a woman can have sequential multiples where she stops for a brief period and then stimulation is continued, or she could have serial multiples, where there is no interruption in arousal.

A simultaneous orgasm is when a couple orgasm at the same time. This can be a wonderful experience, though probably not something you should aim to do every time you make love, half the fun of orgasm is watching your partner have one.

The brain is the biggest sex organ, and because of this, some people are able to reach climax without genital stimulation. Spontaneous orgasm or extragenital orgasm is when a woman has erotic thoughts and fantasies until she reaches orgasm.

Nocturnal orgasms or wet dreams are another type induced by the brain while sleeping.

An extended orgasm is a single orgasm that maintains the pleasurable sensations of climax over a period of time. The length of the orgasm can be built up over time and can last an hour or more.

Expanded orgasm is a path of expanding both sensual awareness and consciousness while receiving genital stimulation. It is felt in the body, mind, emotions, and spirit, all at once. The goal and focus of receiving expanded orgasm is simply to feel as much of that pleasure as possible.

In this day of premarital sex and kids growing up sexually liberated, it is important that we understand some of the most common sexually transmitted diseases STDs. One of these disease is syphilis. It takes first prize for the top ten most commonly acquired STDs. But what do we really know about syphilis?

Syphillis
Syphilis is caused by the treponema pallidum sprichete. Even if it is considered a sexually transmitted disease, it isn’t always acquired through sexual contact. There are rare cases where the infectious organism is passed on through open wounds or lesions as point of entry. Syphilis may also be passed on from mother to fetus during pregnancy and childbirth. It is a sad fact, though, that 25 percent of fetuses born of syphilitic mothers end up in stillbirths, while the remaining 75 percent develop congenital syphilis which may aggravate into another medical complication if left untreated. Also, people with syphilitic sores who remain sexually active are at higher risk of acquiring HIV or AIDS.

There are four different stages of syphilis infection, these are
l Primary syphilis. It is usually acquired through direct sexual contact with the infectious lesions of a syphilis sufferer. Around 10-90 days after initial exposure, skin lesions may start forming on the genitalia. This lesion, or the chancre, is a firm, painless skin ulceration localized at the point of initial exposure to the spirochete. This often appears on the penis, vagina or rectum. The lesion may persist for 4 to 6 weeks and usually heals spontaneously. Local lymph node swelling may be noticed. During the initial onset, sufferers are otherwise asymptomatic. As a result, many patients do not seek medical care immediately.
l Secondary syphilis. This stage manifests itself approximately 1-6 months after the primary infection. Symptoms of secondary sage of the disease includes a symmetrical reddish-pink non-itchy rash on the trunk and extremities. The rash can involve the palms of the hands and the soles of the feet. In moist areas of the body, the rash becomes flat broad whitish lesions known as condylomata lata. Mucous patches may also appear on the genitals or in the mouth. These lesions are infectious and harbor active treponeme organisms. A patient with syphilis is most contagious when he or she has secondary syphilis.
l Latent syphilis. This stage is defined as having serologic proof of infection without signs or symptoms of disease. Latent syphilis is further described as either early or late. Early latent syphilis is defined as having syphilis for two years or less from the time of initial infection without signs or symptoms of disease. Late latent syphilis is infection for greater than two years but without clinical evidence of disease.
l Tertiary syphilis. This usually occurs 1-10 years after the initial infection, though in some cases it can take up to 50 years. This stage is characterized by the formation of gummas which are soft, tumor-like balls of inflammation known as granulomas. The granulomas are chronic and represent an inability of the immune system to completely clear the organism.

Treatment
It is important that you seek immediate medical assistance once you see unusual lesions or nodule formations on your genital area, or even anywhere on your body. Syphilis is best treated on its early onset. The organisms that cause this disease react to a certain form of penicillin. Abstinence from any sexual activity until you’ve settled with just one partner is the best way to prevent yourself from acquiring this disease. However, for the people who are unable to avoid engaging in sexual activities, protecting yourself from possible infection is the best way. Wearing condom during sexual intercourse prevent actual genital skin contact as well as getting in contact with seminal fluids from an infected partner.

Being liberal doesn’t have to equate to being careless. Living in a permissive society wherein casual sex, however frowned upon it may seem to people of the older generation, is almost a normal thing. However, it doesn’t mean we mean we should abuse that privilege and in turn abuse our bodies.