STI Linked to Advanced Prostate Cancer

Researchers have demonstrated a strong association between the risk of aggressive prostate cancer and a common sexually transmitted infection.

Trichomonas vaginalis infects an estimated 174 million people globally each year, and is the most common nonviral sexually transmitted infection. T. vaginalis can also infect the prostate and be a source of inflammation.

The study, conducted by researchers from Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH) and Brigham and Women's Hospital, analyzed blood samples from 673 men with prostate cancer and compared infection status of the sexually transmitted infection, T. vaginalis, based on antibody levels to 673 control subjects who were not diagnosed with prostate cancer.

Carnal Nation Posts: 23 - 29 Nov 09

I have been appointed a news reporter with Carnal Nation, a website that provides comprehensive current, consistent, and uncensored content that embrace and honor human sexuality.

I am posting my posts for the week.

• 11/29/2009 - 7:11am
Uganda: Imprisonment for Life for Gays; Death for HIV-Positive Gays

• 11/26/2009 - 4:03pm
Irish Catholic Church Apologises for Hiding Child Sex Abuse

• 11/26/2009 - 6:40am
Sex Change No Longer a Snip in Thailand

• 11/25/2009 - 11:24am
UK Straight Couple Sues for Refused Civil Partnership

• 11/25/2009 - 10:58am
Lambert Too Hot for ABC News, Cool for CBS

• 11/25/2009 - 10:09am
For Rent: 12-Year-Old Dominatrix

• 11/24/2009 - 10:40am
First Dating Review Website for Singapore

• 11/23/2009 - 3:42pm
U.K. Straight Couple Applies for Civil Partnership

• 11/23/2009 - 3:30pm
Iran Arrested 12 Couples for Partner Swapping

• 11/23/2009 - 2:24am
Shocked Penises Stand

You can subscribe to my posts on Carnal Nation here.

UN Network of Men Leaders Launched

UN chief Ban Ki-moon has unveiled a Network of Men Leaders to act as male role models in a campaign opposing violence against women.

He urged all men to join the campaign, saying about 70% of women experience some form of physical or sexual violence from men.

How to Kiss Under the Mistletoe

The experts claim polite social kissing – a brief touch of your cheek on the other person’s – was more hygienic than a handshake and so it was safe to continue that festive tradition.

But the guide says people should not kiss on the lips, ‘leave a saliva trace’ or allow a hand to wander. Air kissing and any ‘mwah’ sound effects should also be avoided.

The guide advises anyone feeling unwell to stay at home, rather than go to a party and spread swine flu. A ‘target’ should be willing so no embarrassment is caused, it is polite to ask first and do not get too close during the kiss itself.

Women Breadwinners Exaggerate Partner's Faults

Dr Rebecca Meisenbach, professor of communication at Missouri University, questioned 15,000 American female breadwinners for the study, to be published in the journal Sex Roles this week.

Only women without children under 18 said they did not feel a strong sense of responsibility for the home.

Little research has been carried out into the role of the female breadwinner. The only British study, in 2007, found that 14 per cent of homes had one, although recent estimates say around four in ten women in the UK now earn more than their partner.

Dr Meisenbach told the Observer that most of the women she interviewed did not resent the fact that their husband was neither a breadwinner nor a home maker.

By highlighting stories of how men have to be told or asked to do specific chores in he home, these female breadwinners are making sure they still fit gender boundaries of a wife as someone who manages the home and children.

Eros Coaching Year-End Promotion

Take ownership for your sex life.

Sign up for four sex coaching sessions with Eros Coaching and receive a S$100 discount (usual price S$150 per session, now S$125 per session).

This promotion ends 31 December 2009. Rates will be revised from 1 January 2010.

Tuesday Draw - Week 3 of 4

This is part three of four of our workshop series called 'Tuesday Draw'. It is being restricted to only ladies for additional comfort level.

Have you stopped and appreciated your body recently? Any of it? How about a small bit? We are often our worst critic and quick to judge our bodies harshly. We want to focus on what is positive and likeable of your body and celebrate it.

‘Tuesday Draw’ is an effort to help women reconcile with negative messages about our bodies and recognise we are beautiful, whole and complete sexual beings. Drawing a body part we appreciate of ourselves is a way of celebrating our bodies, womanhood and being women.

What we will do on Tuesday 1 Dec:
• Short Introduction of the Sexual Parts of a Body
• Drawing of a body part you appreciate (can be based on memory/ image you bring/ abstract)
• Non-judgmental Sharing

I like to encourage you to come to this session with an open-mind, with the knowledge that the other participants will be women just like yourself desiring to acknowledge their sexual beauty and with the confidence that this will be a safe and supportive group.

Participants who wish to contribute those digital photographs and/or their artistic work anonymously towards a future art exhibition may do so.

Schedule:

Tues 17 Nov – My portrait (Over)

Tues 24 Nov – My sexual anatomy (Over)

Tues 1 Dec — My body part I like (except genitalia, since we ‘covered’ it)

Tues 8 Dec — Ideal sexual self

Venue: 33 Taman Warna Singapore 276369

Time: 7 – 9:30p.m.

Fee: S$30 per session including art materials

No.: Max 12 pax

To enquire/ register: please email info@eroscoaching.com or call 6100-0851

What are Cougars?

A woman over 40 who sexually pursues younger men, typically more than eight years her junior. The term is Canadian, appearing first in print on the Canadian dating website Cougardate.com and has been used in TV series, advertising and film.

In a survey of 4,500 British singles by online dating service Parship.com, it showed that about 35% of single females in their 40s, 50s, and 60s are hunting for men at least five years younger. The figure was only 8% five years ago. It appears, about 21% of British men in their 20s and 30s say they would date an older woman — compared with8% five years ago.

A South Korean Statistics study of 1,462 cougar couples in 2007 shows that one in every 10 married couples is estimated to have an older bride.

The report mentions that 70% of unmarried women did not not care if their date was three or four years younger, and 40% of unmarried men said it was unimportant whether their date was three or four years older, but stressed that she must be financially independent.



Kim Cattrall, the 51-year-old actress - famed for her man-eating character Samanatha Jones in the 'Sex and the City' TV series and movies - says she's over the trend of older women dating younger men and thinks the stereotype of a so called "cougar" is dead.

She said: "Cougar is passe. I think we're on to something else now. It's not about kitten or cougar - we're moving beyond those stereotypes.

With These Bales of Hay, I thee wed

A man in Pettling, Germany, proposed to his girlfriend using 150 bales of hay.

Markus Schmidt, 27, the son of a farmer, used materials found on the farm to make his marriage proposal memorable. Schmidt stacked the bales to spell out the words "Will you marry me?"

His girlfriend, Corinna Pesl, saw the message while looking out her bedroom window. She said "Yes, of course."

For Baby, Meditate

Research from Israel shows women who cope with the stress of infertility treatment by relinquishing control are nearly twice as likely to get pregnant as those who don't adopt this strategy.

Possibly, this is because there is increasing evidence that stress and emotional distress can influence the success of in-vitro fertilization (IVF). Evidence on the effects of other psychological factors has been inconclusive.

Techniques like meditation, which is focused on teaching people to "let go," could help improve a woman's chances of getting pregnant.

Visioning for 2010

It’s the end of another year. Begin the new year with a clear picture of where you want to go and what 2010 should look like for you. You can do this through ‘Visioning for 2010’ workshop!

Eros Coaching is organising a workshop where you can:

1) Learn the importance/ value of creating a Vision Board
2) Create your own Vision Board – you can bring your own images/ magazines or use the materials provided to create one
3) Share what is on your Vision Board in a supportive environment, and cement your intentions for 2010.

What is a Vision Board?
A Vision Board is typically a poster board on which you affix images that you’ve removed from various magazines or other sources. The purpose is that when you surround yourself with images of who you want to become, what you want to have, where you want to live, or even where you want to go on vacation, your life changes to match those images and those desires.

Date: Fri 11 Dec 2009

Time: 7:30 – 9:30p.m.

Venue: 33 Taman Warna, Chip Bee Gardens (opposite Holland Village Shopping Centre). Nearest MRT: Buena Vista. Email for directions.

Facilitator: Dr Martha Lee, Clinical Sexologist and Life Coach

Cost: S$35 (Refreshments + cork board for everybody)

No.: Max 12 pax

To enquire/ register: please email info@eroscoaching.com or call 6100-0851

Lab-grown Penis one day

Researchers have engineered artificial penises in rabbits, using cells taken from the animals, which then used their new organs to father baby rabbits.

The work takes scientists closer to making other complex solid organs, such as livers, using a patient's own cells. It provides a tailor-made transplant, said Dr. Anthony Atala of Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center's Institute for Regenerative Medicine, who led the study.

This means hope for those born with deficient genitalia.

Put Sex Myths to Bed

12 sex myths debunked. Note: 9 is missing.

1. You can't get pregnant during your period - FALSE!

2. You can't get pregnant if the man pulls out before he ejaculates - FALSE!

3. You can't get pregnant if you shower or douche right after sex - FALSE!

4. You can't get pregnant while having sex standing up, or in the shower - FALSE!

5. Condoms are 100% safe - FALSE!

6. You can't get pregnant while on the pill - FALSE!

7. Peeing after sex washes out sperm and prevents pregnancy - FALSE!

8. Men want sex more than women do - FALSE!

10. Men are more promiscuous than women - TRUE!

11. Women don't like porn or dirty sex - FALSE!

12. Men always want sex - FALSE!

For the full answers, click part 1, 2 and 3.

Bats Perform Fellatio Too!

Female Chinese fruit bats (Cynopterus sphinx) add oral sex to get the males to prolong the act.

Oral sex, or fellatio, is often used in human foreplay, the researchers noted, but rarely seen in other animals. As such, there have been few evolutionary reasons given for oral sex to date, and fellatio is largely thought confined to humans, although juvenile members of the chimpanzee-like bonobo do it for play.

For the full story, click here. For a video of the deed, click here!

Abstinence-Only Sex Ed Rejected

As we have heard time and again, abstinence-only sexual education doesn't work.

Now, a task force of public health experts has found no evidence that abstinence-only sexual education programs cut teens' risk of sexually transmitted disease, HIV, or pregnancy.

But the panel finds that sex ed that includes information about condoms and delaying sexual initiation does work by:

* Reducing the number of teens who have sex.
* Reducing the frequency of sexual activity in teens who have sex.
* Reducing the number of sex partners in teens who have sex.
* Reducing sexually transmitted infections.
* Increasing use of condoms and other methods of birth control.

For more, click here.

Tuesday Draw - Week 2 of 4

This is the second part of four of our workshop series called 'Tuesday Draw'. It is being restricted to only ladies for additional comfort level.

Next Tuesday 24 Nov, we are meeting to draw our vulvas. It is important that as women we celebrate the diversity of vulvas - different shapes, sizes, colours - because we are all beautiful, whole and complete the way we are not what the others say.

Do not worry too much if you do not understand your anatomy as I will run through before the drawing session.

What we will do on Tuesday 24 Nov:
• Short Introduction of the Female/ Male Anatomy
• Drawing of anatomy (can be based on memory/ photograph you bring/ abstract)
• Non-judgmental Sharing

Before you can do a good anatomy drawing, you can do a self examination with a mirror in private. This can be very confrontational because as women, we are taught from a young age not to touch ‘down there’ and our private parts being ‘dirty’. As adults, we need to reconcile with past negative messages and recognise we are beautiful, whole and complete before we can truly have a wonderful sexual life. Anatomy drawing is a way of celebrating our bodies, womanhood and being women.

I like to encourage you to come to this session with an open-mind, with the knowledge that the other participants will be women just like yourself desiring to acknowledge their sexual beauty and with the confidence that this will be a safe and supportive group.

Each session is facilitated by clinical sexologist, Dr. Martha Lee and art therapist-in-training, Ms. Sha Najak. Participants who wish to contribute those digital photographs and/or their artistic work anonymously towards a future art exhibition may do so.

Schedule:

Tues 17 Nov – My portrait (Over)

Tues 24 Nov – My sexual anatomy

Tues 1 Dec — My body part I like (except genitalia, since we ‘covered’ it)

Tues 8 Dec — Ideal sexual self

Venue: 33 Taman Warna, Chip Bee Gardens (opposite Holland Village Shopping Centre) Singapore 276369

Time: 7 – 9:30p.m.

Fee: S$30 per session

To register/ enquire: email info@eroscoaching.com or call 6100-0851.

Young, Pregnant and Clueless

In Singapore, person who has sex with a minor under 14 can be jailed up to 20 years with a fine or caning. Having sex with a girl under 16 can land a person in jail for up to five years and a fine of up to $10,000.

Girls below 16 having sex: 310 cases last year 216 cases in 2007

Statutory rape involving girls below 14: 63 cases last year 57 cases in 2007

For the full story, click here.

Eating Partner Influences Women's Food Choices

Researchers at McMaster University say that what women choose to eat depends on if the person they are dining with is male or female.

It was found that women who ate with a male companion chose foods of significantly lower caloric value than did women who were observed eating with another female. Furthermore, when women ate in mixed-gender groups their food choices were at the lower end of the caloric scale; the more men in the group, the fewer the calories. Contrastingly, when women ate in all-female groups, their food was significantly higher in calories.

So if you are on a diet, eat with men not women.

For more, click here.

Number 1 Killer of Women?

HIV.

The World Health Organization has released its first study on women’s health worldwide. The United Nations agency found that the leading cause of death and disease among women between the ages of 15 and 44 is HIV/AIDS.

The leading risk factor for HIV infection is unprotected sex, and in order to see a substantive reduction in infections steps need to be taken to inform women about contraception, reduce the stigma surrounding its use, and mitigate sexual violence against women.

Bonobos have sex for fun

The Bonobos reside only in the rainforests of the Democratic Republic of Congo.

These slender, graceful apes settle conflicts, such as food ownership, jealousy or who gets off the tree limb first, sexual interaction rather than with aggression.

Bonobo sexual behavior is integrated into the day-to-day social relationships amongst all individuals within the tribe. Frequent sexual arousal often is instigated by anything that stimulates the interest of two or more Bonobos. It could be feelings of jealousy over a fellow ape or simply coveting the banana or plaything of another.

For more, click here.

Fiddler Crabs Exchange Sex for Survival

In the world of fiddler crabs, the best form of protection for females is, apparently, having sex with the neighbors, according to an Australian study published Wednesday.

Researchers from The Australian National University in Canberra found male fiddler crabs will happily defend a nearby female against intruders — partly because the females will dole out sex in return.

Most of the time, female fiddler crabs are selective about their partners and choose to mate in the male's burrow. But the researchers also found females mating on the surface — and 85 percent of the time the surface sex was with a neighbor.

Read more.

Arrested for Calling 911, Asking For Sex

Florida police say a man arrested for repeatedly calling 911 looking for sex claimed it was the only number he could dial after running out of cell phone minutes.

29-year-old Joshua Basso made sexual comments to the 911 dispatcher and asked if he could come to her house. She hung up, but he called back four more times.

He was arrested about 15 minutes later at his home late Wednesday and charged with making a false 911 call.

Uncontested Divorce? No Court

In Singapore, married couples who agree to go their separate ways will not have to show up in court to attend divorce hearings from yesterday (Fri 13 Nov).

Up till now, uncontested divorce proceedings required a couple to attend court to confirm the contents of their sworn statements before the divorce was granted.

Last year, the family courts handled more than 6,300 divorce cases, a 'vast majority' of which were uncontested.

London Commuters Baffled by Sex Broadcast

London commuters listening out for the latest news about train services got a broadcast with a difference when the noise of a couple apparently having sex was blasted out over a station's loudspeaker system.

It seems that because the station's public address system worked on radio waves and somebody must have been broadcasting on the same wavelength.

Turn off or turn on, you decide.

For the full story, click here.

6 Signs He is Cheating

According to Amber Madison of BettyConfidential.com, the signs that your guy could be stepping out on you could range from changes in behavior to mysterious disappearances.

1. He’s Acting Differently.

2. He’s Avoiding You.

3. You’re Having Less/Different Sex.

4. His General Response to You Has Changed.

5. He Has Suddenly Become Very Private.

6. He is Unreliable

Read Why Women Stay With Men Who Cheat.

Miss England Gives up Crown Over Brawl Reports

Beauty pageant winner Miss England gave up her title on Friday after reports she had been involved in a nightclub brawl with another beauty queen.

The story is here.

Good girls aren't supposed to fight? Not in public anyway?

Passive Work, Less Activity

If you have an unchallenging job with little control over what you do?, you may be more likely to be a couch potato in your leisure time, a new study shows.

Apparently working in "passive jobs"-where the worker has little stress and little control-affected leisure time activity.

Click here for more.

Rihanna Describes Night of Attack

R&B singer Rihanna broke her silence on Friday about the night her ex-boyfriend Chris Brown attacked her, saying he had bitten her, put her in a headlock and left her bleeding and swollen.

"It wasn't the same person that says 'I love you.' It was not those...eyes," Rihanna, 21, told Diane Sawyer in an interview on ABC television's "Good Morning America" show.

"He had...no soul in his eyes. Just blank...He was clearly blacked out. There was no person when I looked at him," she said.

For more, click here. On their young love, click here.

Chris Brown apologies.

Do not allow yourself to be abused. Period.

Reopening of Annabelle Studio

I spoke at the reopening of Annabelle Studio at The Adelphi on Sat 7 November.

The topic was "How to Manifest the Man of Your Dreams".



I am speaking at a networking event hosted by Whattherapy tomorrow.

What is Virgin?

A mother is asked by a daughter what virgin meant.



Our own discomfort talking about sex carries through to our children and their children if we do not make an attempt to examine our own sexual attitudes.

Would you have been able to explain virgin better to your daughter? Watch for my Nov article in Today's Motherhood on 'Talking to your child about sex'.

11 Reasons He Dumped You

Reasons why women dump a man

• He changed
• We weren't compatible
• He cheated on me

11 Reasons a man might dump a woman according to Rich Santos, Marie Claire:

• I Got Bored
• One of Us Was Too Serious
• Burnout
• I Was Tempted To Cheat
• All My Friends Broke Up With Their Girlfriends
• Divergent Lives
• Feeling Selfish
• I "Misread" My Feelings
• My Friends Or Family Didn't Like Her
• I Took Her For Granted
• She Was Too Negative

For the full article, click here.

Miss International Queen 2009 Crowned

A Japanese television host wept and called for greater tolerance as she was crowned the world's most beautiful transsexual at a pageant in Thailand.

Haruna Ai, 37, beat off stiff competition from 20 other glamorous contestants at the Miss International Queen 2009 who came to the Thai beach resort of Pattaya from as far as Brazil and the United States.

Amanpour Farmers sell wives

In Bundelkhand, India, poor men sell their wives to pay debts sometimes.

This exploitation of women common in some northern states where women are objectified and treated as commodities.

What can we as individuals do about this? Get involved in your local communities and do your bit.

Read more here. The video is here.

Formula for a Happy Marriage

The formula for a happy marriage has been discovered – a man should choose a wife who is smarter and at least five years younger than him.

This, according to the findings of a British study which appeared in the European Journal Of Operational Research.

For more, click here.

Talk: How to Manfest the Man of Your Dreams

I am speaking on "How to Manfest the Man of Your Dreams" this Saturday 7 November at Annabelle's Grand Opening cum Year End Party.

Date: Sat, 7 November 2009
Time: 10:45a.m. - 4p.m.
Venue: The Adelphi #02-42, 1 Coleman Street
Tel: (65) 6336-8975
RSVP: info@annabellestudio.com

Programme:
1045 Registration & door gift

1100 Welcome speech & game

1130 Theme workshop 1: “How to manifest the man of your dream” – by Dr. Martha Lee, Doctorate in Human Sexuality. This talk provides four easy steps to attracting and keeping the man of your dreams.

1230 Buffet Lunch

1330 Theme workshop 2 “Body Detox made easy” with Aqua Detox Demo – by Shirley Mok. This talk clarifies the concept of body detox and provides ways to stay healthy.

1400 Beauty Queen Makeup Contest

1430 Games & Prizes

1530 Lucky Draw

To RSVP, please email info@annabellestudio.com directly.

Top 10 Foods for Great Sex

1) Whole grains

2) Chocolate

3) Oysters

4) Chili Peppers

5) Chia Seeds

6) Ginger, Garlic, Onions

7) Olive oil

8) Tomatoes

9) Soy

10) Artichokes

Read why here.

HIV Travel Ban Lifted By President Obama

President Barack Obama said Friday the U.S. will overturn a 22-year-old travel and immigration ban against people with HIV early next year.

The U.S. has been among a dozen countries that bar entry to travelers with visas or anyone seeking a green card based on their HIV status.

The Best of the Bond Girls

What would Bond films be like without the Bond girls? They are sexpots, saviors, villainesses and heroines, examples and exemplars.

Like them, hate them? I bet you are curious as to who is the best of the Bond Girls.

Click here.