Tips for a Safe, Healthy Spring Break


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Spring Break is a rite of passage for U.S. college students. As millions of young adults head for popular hotspots this month, it’s crucial to remember that the motto "what happens on Spring Break stays on Spring Break" doesn’t always ring true. Risky behavior can lead to serious health issues, such as sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) or an unintended pregnancy.

"An American Medical Association survey of college students found that 83 percent agree that Spring Break trips involve more or heavier drinking than typical college life(1a)," says Jennifer Wider, M.D., author of The Doctor’s Complete College Girls’ Health Guide: From Sex to Drugs to the Freshman 15. "Almost three-quarters of the surveyed students acknowledged that increased sexual activity takes place on these trips(1b) — 70 percent know friends who were sexually active with more than one partner on Spring Break(1c). STDs and pregnancy are two very real risks of spontaneous sex that have lasting consequences after the trip ends."

Dr. Wider notes that the only sure way to prevent an STD or an unintended pregnancy is to abstain from sex; however, if you do have sex on Spring Break, always use a condom. She also suggests the following tips for a safe and healthy vacation.

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Sexual incompatibility troubles marriages


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He’s a 38-year-old executive. She’s a 34-year-old homemaker. He says they never fight, and in many ways they’re compatible — but not when it comes to sex.

“It’s almost like a checklist,” says Jon (who asked that his real name not be used) of their once-a-month lovemaking. The problem, he believes, is a lack of desire.

Sexually unfulfilling marriages aren’t limited to new parents or aging baby boomers with hormone imbalances. They can ensnare even the relatively young and the recently married. When they are unable to blame kids, stress or physical issues, many couples struggle unhappily to identify — and resolve — the problems behind their lackluster sex life.

Couples end up in sexually unfulfilling marriages for a variety of reasons, says Marty Klein, a licensed marriage counselor and certified sex therapist in Palo Alto, California. One reason, he says, is America’s obsession with marriage.

This article goes on to focus on warning signs and to debunk the common belief that sexuality fades over time. Sex is a very real part of a healthy relationship - if your relationship lacks sex, most everything else fades from there.

Why not take time to learn the warning signs and avoid falling into an unfulfilling relationship to begin with?

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5 things you don’t know about genital herpes


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1. Common but on the decline: Nationwide, at least 45 million people ages 12 and older have had genital herpes, a sexually transmitted disease caused by the herpes simplex viruses type 1 or type 2. It’s more common in women (about one in four) than men (almost one in eight).

2. Symptoms: Most people who have genital herpes have never had symptoms or don’t recognize them. When a person becomes infected for the first time, symptoms usually appear within two to 10 days. Early signs include a tingling feeling or itching in the genital area, or pain in the buttocks or down the leg. Blisters typically appear on or around the genitals or rectum. You can still infect a partner if sores aren’t visible.

3. New research: Clinical trials are testing drugs aimed at disrupting genes or enzymes that the virus needs to survive. Several vaccines are in various stages of development, as well as gels or creams that a woman could insert into the vagina before sex to prevent infection in herself and her partner.

4. Pregnancy: If a woman has her first episode of genital herpes while she’s pregnant, she can pass the virus to her unborn child and may deliver a premature baby. Half of the babies infected with herpes either die or suffer from damage to their nerves. If a pregnant woman has an outbreak and it is not the first one, her baby’s risk of being infected during delivery is very low.

5. Donating blood: People with herpes can donate blood. According to the American Red Cross, individuals taking antiviral medication (acyclovir, valacyclovir, famciclovir) will need to wait 48 hours after their last dose before donating blood. However, they should not donate blood during a herpes outbreak.

Frisky 50-year-olds putting their sexual health at risk


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Protection isn’t just about pregnancy prevention and sometimes I think middle-aged singles tend to forget that.

A recent study found that one in 10 sexually active over-50s did not use any form of contraception which would stop them catching sexually transmitted infections.

 

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Herpes Singles


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Have you ever been in a singles night club and taken a good look around at the number of people there and realize that 1 in every four people that are laughing and having a good time could very possibly be a member of the herpes single scene?

Herpes singles are making their way to social support groups all over the U.S.

For years, herpes singles found themselves in a virtual hiding for fear of transmitting the virus or facing possible rejection if they revealed their intimate secret to a potential partner. Fortunately over time, things have changed and the internet gave a new hope to herpes singles everywhere.

Herpes singles can be found in a number of places including dating sites tailored to meet the needs of those living with herpes and social support groups which are somewhat an extension of the well known Help groups that cater more to those seeking medical information and emotional support.

Social support groups are being founded to meet the needs of Herpes Singles by offering a social setting in which to fraternize with others who have the same affliction by don’t need quite the emotional and informational support that newly diagnosed people do.

Herpes singles have an abundance of options available today as opposed to even 10 years ago. There are better treatment options; there are scientifically supported ways to reduce the risk of transmission to a non-infected partner, which certainly is a great promise to herpes singles. And for those who would rather not ever have “that talk” - there are dating sites just for people with herpes and various other STD’s. The Herpes Dating site we recommend most is Positive Singles.

One product that herpes singles are choosing to help control their outbreaks and to increase the healing time of existing outbreaks is Dynamiclear. Dynamiclear is supported by real testimonials and a product guarantee.

 

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Link To Human Herpes Susceptibility Found


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There’s a high probability that people who are prone to herpes simplex virus (HSV) outbreaks can inherit that susceptibility through their genes, University of Utah researchers report in a new study.

It’s very exciting seeing so much headway being made in herpes research. With a greater idea of how herpes is contracted, there’s a much stronger possibility of finding an effective vaccination sooner.

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Friends with benefits


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Only 33 per cent use condoms with friends

That friend with benefits could also be a friend with chlamydia. How sexy is that?

An Acadia University graduate student is researching FWB relationships, with an eye to finding out why friends who have sex aren’t likely to use condoms.

“Sexually transmitted infections - like chlamydia, AIDS, HIV - among adolescents and young adults, have rapidly increased over the past couple of years,” Heather Patterson said. “By understanding what goes on in the friends-with-benefits relationship, it would be possible to develop prevention programs specifically geared towards increasing consistent condom use.”

Perhaps it’s because people who view their sex partner as a friend first may think that a friend would tell them openly if there were anything to be concerned about.

What do you think?

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Dating in London with Gumtree.com


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Gumtree.com, at first glance is a much cleaner, neater and pleasing to the eye version of the hugely popular Craigslist. Gumtree was started in March 2000 as an answer to the classifieds need in London and to serve as a community site, designed to connect people who were planning to move, or had just arrived in the city, and needed help getting started with living space, employment and even dating in London.

What Gumtree has exploded in to is an all encompassing forum where people can visit to find everything from furniture to love.

How convenient is that?

Regardless of the type of relationship you’re looking for, whether it’s penpals, friends or dating - Gumtree has the categories to meet your needs. There’s straight, gay, lesbian, casual and missed connections, just to name a few.

The service has expanded beyond London and can now be utilized for areas such as Scotland, Wales, Poland, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland and Asia.

What could be better than a one stop shop where you can find just about anything you need or could possibly want.

While this post may be a sponsored post, I’m personally a huge fan of this type of forum. Being the busy professional that I am, I enjoy the one stop shop communities and based on the membership base, I’d say I’m not the only one.

Enjoy!

 

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Ann Coulter Founds Naked Dating Club


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Palm Beach, FL: Columnist Ann Coulter has announced she is starting a new, online subscription-based naked dating club. “It is for busy people like myself who don’t have the time for traditional dating rituals.” she said. “It is entirely internet based, though ultimately the goal is for the dating couples to meet in person. Naked of course.”

Coulter says the club will concentrate on traditional, christian, right-wing American family values and that ‘liberals, Democrats and ‘outed’ homosexuals need not apply’. “But, traditional type Neocon perverts are OK as long as they are discreet.” Coulter remarked. “Folks like Senator Larry Craig, or ex Representative Mark Foley are entirely welcome for example - as long as there’s no ‘outing’ and no publicity.”

The club will feature online listings similar to current internet dating sites Coulter said. “But, with one big difference. My site will encourage the postings of pictures of others, not yourself. This is to encourage dating successes since many people like myself, are not themselves very photogenic. So, subscribers will be free to use any picture they choose - actresses, actors, whatever. Eventually, we will provide an online library of pictures for people to choose from to use.”

“Sure, it is duplicitous,” said Coulter. ‘but, that is the American way as I see it.”

“And, speaking for myself, I certainly plan to use someone else’s picture. What person in their right mind is gonna want to date a mannish looking giraffe like me with a prominent adam’s apple? The ends justify the means.”

Coulter said she expected Karl Rove to become a charter member.

The story above is a satire or parody. It is entirely fictitious.

 

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7 Surprises About Dating After 50


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Don’t get me wrong: Love is amazing at any age. But dating at midlife can in particular give us chills. I didn’t always think this was the case. When I first began interviewing people for my book, Thinking About Tomorrow: Reinventing Yourself at Midlife, I expected to hear of terrible battles and grievous wounds from the dating wars. Instead, I was delighted to find that love is in the air. Men and women are having fun together, savoring romance, discovering true love. Let’s sit in as these happy couples reveal some of the biggest (and most pleasant) surprises that dating at midlife has to offer.

Surprise #1: People are nice—way nice
Remember the Sex and the City episode where Berger breaks up with Carrie on a Post-it note? That would never have happened if they were in their 50s. As my friend Maggie, a veteran of midlife dating, says, “There are no horror stories at this age. People may be Think back to how you felt about your very first crush. Now, get ready for major déjà vu.
duds, but nobody is mean.” In your 20s and 30s, she says, people would not show for a date, or if it were a blind setup, walk right by if you didn’t measure up to their aesthetic expectations. By the big five-oh, though, the game has changed. People return phone calls; they’re considerate. Maybe we’ve been kicked around enough by life to understand the value of being nice. Whatever the reason, The Golden Rule is writ large for us. Maggie reports, “I’ve done a lot of online and personal ads dating, and I haven’t had a single bad experience. I might think, ‘He’s not The One for me, but he’s The One for somebody.’ She even recalls with fondness a date who said, “We’re not clicking but I have a friend who would really like you.” P.S.: He did.

Surprise #2: You see old friends in new ways
Sarah and Matthew grew up three blocks from each other in a suburb of Atlanta. They were buddies in high school, but then went their separate ways. Sarah moved to New York and launched a career as a news producer; Matthew went to law school. He married, she didn’t, and over the years, they stayed friendly. When they were in their early 50s, his marriage ended. The next time Sarah and Matthew got together — just a casual dinner with an old friend — Cupid sat in. Suddenly they saw each other with new eyes. “I always thought he was a really nice guy, but at the dinner—wham!” Sarah says. Matthew felt it too. Within six months they were living together. The moral of the story: Love can happen anywhere, anytime… and with anyone. And the longer you’re on this earth, the bigger the pool of friends and acquaintances who may suddenly catch your fancy.

Surprise #3: Or sparks may fly with someone you already dated
Judy, an accountant in Des Moines, IA, never married; she never even lived with a guy. She adopted a baby girl from China when she was in her 40s. It was only after becoming a mother that she got the urge to merge. “I adored my daughter but I thought to myself, ‘There’s got to be more,’” she told me. So she started dating—and reconnected with someone she’d met years earlier on a rowing team. “When I met him the first time, I wasn’t thinking about a relationship,” she recalls. “Now, here he was again. I was in a different place. I was looking. We started training together, one thing led to another, and now we’re buying a house.” What Judy learned (and you can,too): Don’t discount people you’ve already dated. Times change, tastes change, and a rematch could be in the stars.

Surprise #4: You can feel puppy love all over again
Think way, way back to how you felt about your very first crush. Giddy? Crazy? Wonderful? The works? Now, get ready for major-league déjà vu. I saw this first-hand when my friends Carol and Joe met. Joe, a doctor in Portland, Oregon, widowed after a long, happy marriage, never imagined he’d fall in love again: “That part of my life was over, I told myself,” he says. But when he met Carol, he was a love-sick teenager. “She’s all I can think about,” he confessed. “Either I’m with her or she’s on my mind.”

Surprise #5: We’re comfortable with our sexuality
Gail Sheehy, author of Sex and the Seasoned Woman, told a story on the Today show recently about speaking before a Richmond, VA women’s club—as she put it, a more conservative group you could not find. Sheehy was a little nervous about the subject of her talk—sex at midlife and beyond. How graphic could she be without offending anyone? But when she arrived, she was greeted this way: “Too bad you got here a little late. We were just having this great conversation about vibrators and orgasms.” The moral of the story: Men and women this age are often beyond having sexual hang-ups and are living it up!

Surprise #6: Nobody sweats the small stuff
“It doesn’t cost you anything to compromise, because your ego is much stronger than it was at twenty,” says Brooks, a 58-year-old psychotherapist in Amarillo, TX. “At 20, every compromise felt like giving up a part of yourself. Now, you just let your date choose the restaurant. It’s no big deal. In a good relationship, there aren’t that many imbalances, and anyway, you’re old enough to say, well, gee, nothing is 100 percent.”

Surprise #7: You don’t have to change each other
We all know the old saw: Marry him now, remodel him later. By midlife, we’ve smartened up. Caroline and Robert, who live in Chicago, married in their 50s. “Dating was a lot less arduous than when I was a kid,” Caroline says. “At 52, you’re a secure person, you’re not struggling with your own identity, there’s no fierce striving at your career. The person you choose—you know he’s not going to change. You’re more accepting.” Robert adds, “The biggest difference in marrying at midlife is having thought it out much better. I have no idea why I married my first wife, other than that she was beautiful.” With Caroline, he shares a passion for travel and books as well, which is a much better recipe for long-term compatibility. And their situation represents exactly the way more and more 50-somethings daters are finding happiness these days.

Susan Crandell is the founding editor of More magazine and author of Thinking About Tomorrow: Reinventing Yourself at Midlife.

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