ToyBox Consulting
Katoya Palmer Public relation, marketing, sales, and event management consulting.
A Seattle based boutique firm specializing in sales, marketing, public relations, event management / production, and advertising projects. It's my Business to appropriately facilitate your project of any scale with trust, professionalism, and a positive energy while implementing new tools for professional success. "Think out the box" with TBC creative direction, nurture a trusting bond, and reap long term results.
Offering Consulting and Project Management Services in the following: Sales Marketing Public Relations Image Consultant Social Media Management Professional Blogging Event Planning and Management Fundraising Writer (Press Releases, Reviews, Bios, etc) Business Development Concert and After Party Business Events Celebrity Booking
Specialties: Meetings facilitation, marketing strategy, personal events, public relations, community relations, concerts, celebrity booking, fundraiser, branding, reputation management.
Celebrity Booking projects: Jean Grae, Jagged Edge, Amber Rose, Rick Ross, Wale, Tasha Jones, Black Ice, Jagged Edge, Gyptian.
Direct booking responsibilities for Black Stax (Jace Ecaj, Silas Blak, Felicia Loud) and the Klyntel band.
Mr. Marcus Comes Clean on Syphilis Incident
Performer admits to altering STI test; also alleges TTS altered test for him
VAN NUYS, Calif.—In a meeting yesterday at his studio, 18-year adult industry veteran Mr. Marcus sought to put to rest swirling rumors and identified himself as positive with syphilis and admitted to submitting a test he altered that omitted his syphilis status to producers so he could perform in sex scenes, but said he had sought treatment already from a private doctor and had received a penicillin shot to treat the disease, and had waited a recommended period of time before performing again.
The meeting at Mr. Marcus’ studio was attended by this reporter, XBIZ Executive Managing Editor Dan Miller, FSC Executive Director Diane Duke, FSC board member and Evil Angel General Manager Christian Mann, and Mr. Marcus himself.
Yesterday afternoon’s meeting was the first time Mr. Marcus admitted to being diagnosed as positive for syphilis, performing three times after that diagnosis, and willfully doctoring one test from Talent Testing Service.
Mr. Marcus said that as of yesterday each of the female performers he worked with since testing positive had re-tested negative for syphilis, which Duke confirmed. Duke has been working with Mr. Marcus since the weekend on creating a genealogy of co-stars that he worked with both before and after his positive diagnosis.
With the gossip mill churning heavily in the San Fernando Valley in recent weeks over unsubstantiated news reports of a cluster of syphilis-positive U.S. performers—particularly in light of the outbreak in Budapest, and with two adult industry agents last week claiming the performer admitted to them that he worked while positive with syphilis, and that he doctored his test—something he denies he told them—Mr. Marcus felt that it was important to come forward and be accountable.
According to Mr. Marcus’ timeline, he saw his personal physician July 11 after not feeling well. The next day, July 12, the physician told Mr. Marcus that he tested positive for syphilis. On the subsequent day, July 13, he went and got a penicillin shot and was told to abstain from sexual activity for 7-10 days, which he reports he did and even cancelled shoots within that timeframe.
On the eleventh day after he received the dose of penicillin, July 24, he worked, he said, based on his physician telling him after 10 days that he would be able to have sex.
“My personal doctor doesn’t know what I do for a living,” Mr. Marcus said. “So his thing was just don’t have any sex for 7-10 days. Once I did that shot I felt pretty confident. Every doctor I talked to up to that point said ‘you get the shot. That’s it.’ If you had the syphilis in your system a lot longer than that you need three shots. But based on what he determined from my blood and looking at my symptoms, he said the one shot was good enough. So I did the one shot and I didn’t have to do anything else.”
Mr. Marcus went to TTS on July 21 to test and received his positive syphilis result on July 23. He then said he cancelled the scene he had scheduled that day because he was confused as to why he would test positive after receiving treatment and waiting the required amount of time he was told to wait by a doctor.
All told Mr. Marcus said he took five STI tests—two from his personal doctor and three at TTS—because he was confused as to why the tests kept coming back “reactive” for syphilis after he received treatment. The three TTS tests continued to display fluctuating numbers for Mr. Marcus’ RPR level which indicates how strong the infection is within his body.
“I called my doctor up, ‘what’s going on?’” Mr. Marcus said. “He said, ‘It’s in your system, it’s going to stay in your system, it’s going to read in your system because that’s how syphilis is.’ At that point I felt, ok, I can continue to work because he said it’s always going to read that way. And the thing with TTS is that they didn’t know prior to me testing that I had taken a [penicillin] shot. They didn’t know that. They didn’t know I already had it. They just assumed that I needed to go take one after the fact, but I had already done that.”
On July 24 Mr. Marcus shot a sex scene and alleges the producer didn’t ask for a paper copy of the test, nor did he verify on the computer that Marcus was cleared to work through the TTS database. The producer did ask Marcus to produce visual evidence, however, and Marcus said he was able to position a copy of the test on his cell phone screen so that the syphilis portion of the test did not appear visible. He claims the talent on set that day did not ask to see a copy of his test.
“And this is, I was explaining this, the rapport that I have with producers and directors - they’re not so much - I show up on the set most of the times and it’s really between me and the performer,” Mr. Marcus explained. “The director’s not really asking for a test or a copy of it. It’s just ‘You’re here, let’s shoot.’ And that specific shoot didn’t ask for a [copy of the] test. They just wanted to see something visually. So what I had on my cell phone, I showed it. But the way I showed it was, I showed that my HIV was clear, my gonorrhea and chlamydia were fine. You didn’t see the syphilis part of the test because of the way I showed it.”
According to what he was told by medical professionals, Marcus believed syphilis can only be spread by direct contact through open sores or wounds on the body, which he claims to not have had, and combined with the injection he received and the subsequent waiting period, felt comfortable that he wasn’t putting his co-workers at risk for infection. He said he does not believe working on July 24, 11 days after treatment, was a mistake.
“No, I don’t feel that it was a mistake,” he said. “I was treated. I allowed the medicine to take effect, and I wanted to proceed as normal. I wanted to go back to work as usual, and that’s the way I functioned. I shot for this company before and it was the same routine. I just wanted to get back to the routine. And that was it.”
After initially testing positive for syphilis at TTS on July 21, Marcus admitted to being dismayed that there was no doctor at TTS to talk to and was upset that he was not offered any aftercare or asked about his recent sexual history in order to properly notify performers until his final visit to the Northridge, Calif. facility.
It was at this point in the conversation that Mr. Marcus made the allegation that he asked a TTS employee to omit the syphilis portion of his test and print out a copy that would reflect that omission so he could present the doctored one to producers. Marcus claims the employee was able to do so and provided him the print out, but he did not present this allegedly TTS-altered test to any producers, he said.
Marcus returned to TTS the first week of August in order to get a new test per the requirement of the producer he was scheduled to shoot for.
When he arrived, Marcus said the clinician at TTS told him “your numbers are still there,” meaning Marcus was still testing reactive to syphilis.
“I looked at them with a look of concern, but they said ‘Maybe we can omit it from the actual test. When we submit your blood, we can just not have them test for that,” Marcus claimed. “And I was like, ‘can you do that?’ They were like, ‘I think so.’
“So they sat down at the computer and started clicking on things. And I didn’t see what they were clicking on but I saw that they were clicking on something.”
Marcus stated that when he returned to the clinic to pick up his test on the way to the set “they told me the numbers were still there and they gave me the printed copy of my test without the syphilis [at the top where it would say ‘reactive.’] It was omitted.”
He added, “There’s a man and a woman there and the guy was the one that sat down at the computer and was trying to change it for me. To try to make it so that that’s not tested for.”
The allegation was vehemently denied by TTS president Sixto Pacheco, who told AVN this afternoon that he was asked the same question previously by AVN CEO Theo Sapoutzis. “I told him that was not possible,” he said. “Our system does not permit that to be done. The system does not allow for that to happen. There’s no way of choosing what tests to put on a report.”
TTS began testing for syphilis as part of its basic panel of tests on June 12. Prior to that, it was included on the full panel only.
Duke mentioned that she reached out to TTS on behalf of APHSS “to tell them that if there’s more than one [syphilis positive] please give me information so we can start partner notification. I did not get any cooperative response back from them on that, so that was unfortunate.”
Things get murkier when Marcus admitted to personally altering a TTS test he presented to Blazing Bucks, a company he worked for Aug. 7. On the TTS test dated July 21, Marcus claims he folded the test in such a way that the syphilis portion was obscured, photocopied it, and presented it to the Blazing Bucks director. On Aug. 15, Blazing Bucks operations manager Mark Blazing realized there was something amiss with the test Mr. Marcus had provided his director.
Mr. Marcus recalls that Mark Blazing called him Aug. 15 to check on the test.
Mr. Marcus said Blazing told him, “‘This test doesn’t look right. Do you have another version of it?’ And I said, “Well, I do.’ And he’s just like, the way it went down was kinda like, ‘Marcus I need another test from you. Can you give me another test? This is not right. I gotta let somebody know that you altered this test. It looks altered. It doesn’t look right. I’m gonna get Derek [Hay] on the phone.’”
It was one of Hay’s clients that Mr. Marcus worked with on the Blazing Bucks shoot.
“And we were going back and forth,” Mr. Marcus continued. “I didn’t think that was necessary but he was adamant. So Derek gets on the phone and he’s saying ‘You’re altering tests. I’ve seen it and you got this fake test.’ Shy [Love] was supposedly on the phone but she never said a word if she was. So they said they needed the original copy. So I said, ‘OK, I’ll email it to you.’ When I did that I also scanned in the copy from TTS to show him my test and their test side-by-side and that they had omitted it because I asked them to. But I had omitted it because I was trying to like void that discussion, that inquiry as to why it was reactive. And I thought for the longest time in my heart that I was doing the right thing by omitting it and moving forward and not admitting it. I eventually had to just admit that I changed that test.”
When asked to comment for this story, Mark Blazing told AVN that the company would be releasing a statement of its version of events shortly, but would not comment directly on the situation at this time.
During the interview Marcus showed genuine remorse for his actions while acknowledging he made mistakes along the way. He hopes that as a result of this unfortunate situation people learn more about testing and particularly about syphilis, which until this point, was rarely talked about in the adult entertainment community.
“So now we’re dealing with [syphilis] in our industry, and I’m the guy,” Marcus said. “I didn’t want to be the guy, but I’m the guy. Because of who I am the guns are out. But the learning curve from what I found is that a lot of people in this industry didn’t know, were totally unaware of how the testing works, how this test reads it.
“I tried to cover it up. I didn’t want to have to share that part because it was like the Scarlet Letter,” he continued. “Because then it’s like Mr. Marcus, syphilis? Mr. Marcus, the one I worked with? Mr. Marcus, the one everyone’s worked with? The one that’s been in this industry forever? Yeah, you got all that shit man. It ain’t just me. There’s so much more…I’ve wanted to just like make sure that the people I worked with got tested. That whatever if people wanted to talk to me directly, which they can, my number ain’t changed and I’m not hiding from anyone, I can tell you. And when I finally owned up to the alternate test that’s when I said, ‘Yeah, I guess I need to do it this way because I know people were disappointed because I am held to a standard and I should set a better example.’ I know that now. I didn’t think of it, I just thought okay, how do I not have this on my test? No one else is talking about it. Now it’s all we’re talking about it. The whole city’s talking about it.”
Mann revealed that that APHSS has begun working behind the scenes to piece together a genealogy of European and American performers who have worked together in recent months prior to the outbreak in Budapest coming to light.
“We’ve already begun the process of outreach to Budapest to performers who identified as positive for syphilis to get the genealogy of what American performers would have gone there any worked with them, which of those performers in Budapest visited the U.S. and were working here, and submitting the performers names to the medical staff—the American performers who worked with some of these European performers—so they can have an appropriate notification from somebody with a medical background and familiar with our industry protocol so that somebody who might have worked with somebody identified as positive for syphilis can know that look you might come back on the test that’s out there now as non-reactive but all the more reason to take the prophylactic treatment because you can have that dormancy on the test result and yet be carrying—not necessarily infectious,” Mann said.
“But we’re doing the right thing as best we can, which is to let the medical professionals do their part and us as industry professionals to help them understand the scope of it, the fact that it’s trans-Atlantic—there’s definitely a crisis in Budapest—and to make the number one priority partner notification, and I’ll go one step further, partner education, about what’s the right thing to do at this moment.”
The hottest book in America is undoubtedly the steamy “50 Shades of Grey” and Jimmy Fallon decided to commemorate this important moment in pop culture by inviting members of his studio audience down to the stage to sing excerpts from the novel.
The geography of sex… What cities top the list of healthiest when it comes yo sexual satisfaction?
I didn’t make this or write this…. and rarely use profanity online. SUE ME for having a sense of humor just this one time :)
(via missbreyonna)
1. Why don’t my breasts match?
Unless you’ve had a boob job, most breasts aren’t perfectly matched. That’s because they’re made of mammary gland tissue and fat and have naturally different amounts in each, explains Glenn Updike, M.D., assistant professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Magee Women’s Hospital in Pittsburgh.
For some women, the difference is more pronounced, and it’s usually a cosmetic issue. If it’s embarrassing or affecting your sex life, surgery is an option.
But if one breast suddenly becomes much larger than the other, it could indicate an infection or tumor, so have your gynecologist evaluate it immediately.
2. Is it normal to pass gas during orgasm?
When you climax, the muscles around your genitals – including the sphincter muscle – relax, so it’s not unusual for a little gas to escape, says Millicent Comrie, M.D., founder and medical director of the Long Island College Center for Women’s Health in Brooklyn.
But even before orgasm, the in-and-out motion may trigger gas because the penis rubs against the anus through the vaginal wall, she says.
If it happens frequently and is embarrassing, take an over-the-counter anti-gas medication that contains simethicone before having sex, she says.
3. I had a dream about having sex with another woman. Am I gay or bisexual?
Not necessarily, says Michele Sugg, a certified sex therapist in Branford, Conn. It could mean you’re attracted to women (or a particular woman), but it may signal that you’re missing the close, cozy feelings of hanging with a girlfriend.
“Sometimes women symbolize nurturance, love and closeness” in your dreams, Sugg explains. “If you’re in a relationship with a guy and you’re not getting enough closeness,” such a dream might mean you need more of that.
Remember: An erotic dream doesn’t define your sexual identity.
“Even if it means you feel sexually attracted to another woman, you don’t need to pigeonhole yourself,” she says. “Maybe you’ll be attracted to women at times. There’s a scale rather than being gay, straight or bi.”
4. Is a cold sore the same as herpes?
Cold sores don’t carry the same stigma as genital herpes, but strains of the same herpes simplex virus cause cold sores on the lips (and other areas of the face, chest, even the fingers), as well as blisters around genitals.
In some cases, the virus strain that causes cold sores can also cause serious eye and brain infections. About 50%-80% of American adults have oral herpes; 20% have genital herpes.
Herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) usuallyoccurs above the waist (generally through kissing or sharing eating utensils), while herpes simplex virus 2 (HSV-2) usuallyoccurs below the waist (generally through sexual contact). But you can get either virus in either area through oral-genital contact.
“People aren’t as embarrassed to say, ‘I get cold sores,’ but fewer people are apt to bring up that they have genital herpes, although both of them could be in either place,” Updike says.
Genital HSV-1 actually appears to be on the rise among adolescents, Comrie says, “because they’re having oral sex instead of intercourse.”
Both HSV-1 and HSV-2 are treatable, but neither is curable.
5. Can certain exercises really lead to better sex?
Absolutely. For starters, a good cardiovascular routine helps build energy and stamina. Strength training and stretching can help you build muscles and improve your flexibility so you can get into – and maintain – various positions during sex.
The best exercise to improve sex is the Kegel squeeze – basically strength training for your pubococcygeus (or PC) muscles, which hold up your vagina, anus, uterus, bladder and urethra.
“The stronger these muscles are, the more intense your orgasms will be,” says Chicago sex and relationship therapist Laura Berman, Ph.D., author ofThe Passion Prescription (Hyperion).
To locate your PC muscles, try to stop your urine flow when you pee. Hold the squeeze for five seconds, then release. Doing 50-150 Kegel squeezes a day will help keep those muscles in good shape. Don’t do Kegels regularly while urinating, because it can lead to urinary tract and bladder infections.
6. Is cybersex really cheating?
Many may not consider provocative emails to be cheating. After all, they reason, you’re only exchanging thoughts or fantasies, not bodily fluids.
But ask yourself: Would you want your partner to read your exchanges and would he be hurt, angry or resentful if he did?
“If your partner wouldn’t feel comfortable with what you’re doing, you’re probably out of bounds,” Sugg says.
Try to figure out what’s missing from your relationship that you’re looking for online. Bored with your sex life? Does your husband see you as the mother of his children while you still feel like a sex kitten? Or maybe you want to try something more risque in the bedroom?
Rather than act out online, talk about it with your partner and expand your sex life together. Real sex beats the virtual kind any day.
7. Will my vagina be noticeably bigger after I have a baby?
If you push a baby out through your vagina, expect some stretching.
“After delivery, the vaginal opening is anywhere from 1-4 centimeters bigger than it was before,” says Bruce Rosenzweig, M.D., director of urogynecology at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago.
Whether it snaps back to pre-delivery size after your recovery depends on how big your baby was, how long you pushed, how well your obstetrician repaired any tears and whether you’re diligent about doing your postpartum Kegel exercises.
“If you do those Kegel exercises to strengthen the vaginal muscles, the outcome is better,” Comrie says.
If you had an episiotomy and your OB was meticulous about sewing it up, she adds, “you could be better than before.”
That said, after multiple deliveries, your vagina may still feel roomier and you may want more tightening than you’ll get from marathon Kegel sessions.
If so, ask your gynecologist about vaginal reconstruction (aka perineoplasty or vaginoplasty), which can help lift and tighten the sagging muscles at the vagina’s opening and deeper inside.
8. I’ve never had an orgasm during intercourse. What’s wrong with me?
“If you can’t have orgasms with intercourse, you’re normal,” assures Stephanie Buehler, director of the Buehler Institute for sex therapy in Irvine, Calif. “Sometimes women get upset because their partners say, ‘My last lover could have orgasms, so there must be something wrong with you.’”
Now, assuming you don’t dump him for being an insensitive cad, you’re well within your rights to point out that about 70% of women don’t orgasm during intercourse without direct clitoral stimulation. You can also clue him in to the fact that it’s perfectly OK for one of you to lend a hand.
“Touching your clitoris during sex really ups the chances that you’ll have an orgasm,” says Carol Queen, staff sexologist for the online sex toy boutique Good Vibrations (GoodVibes.com).
If you’ve never experienced an orgasm – and about 10% of women haven’t – you might consider investing in some slippery lube (not oil, which can irritate sensitive vaginal tissues) and experiment alone. Don’t get discouraged if there are no immediate fireworks.
“The first time, it might take an hour of stimulation to produce an orgasm; it might also take many tries to get comfortable with the feelings of strong arousal,” Buehler says.
9. Where’s my G-spot?
That’s the million-dollar sex question. Some researchers don’t believe in the G-spot; others staunchly defend its existence but disagree about its exact location.
One school of sex researchers says the G-spot is the glandular tissue around the urethra (found behind your pubic bone, about two inches inside your vagina). Others believe it’s farther back, in a triangular area on the back of the bladder wall – called the trigone or T Zone – where three nerves come together.
It’s probably some combination of these. But if your partner’s plucking the right strings, so to speak, does it matter which instrument he’s playing?
10. Can anal sex give me hemorrhoids?
Not as long as you’re relaxed and enjoying it, assures Ellen Barnard, a sex educator/counselor and co-founder of A Woman’s Touch in Madison, Wisc. (a-womans-touch.com).
Hemorrhoids (painful swollen veins in the anal area) can result from excess pressure around your anus – say, when you’re really straining to go to the bathroom.
But when you use a good lubricant and the penetration feels comfortable – not forced – there’s no risk of anal sex causing hemorrhoids. In fact, some sex researchers believe tush play may actually prevent hemorrhoids.
“It improves the strength and flexibility of the skin and muscles so that the anus is better able to respond to pressure, rather than bulging and producing hemorrhoids,” Barnard says.
11. Why don’t my privates look like a centerfold’s?
Beyond the extensive airbrushing magazine photos undergo, the hard truth is that even if you started with a nice, tight package, child birthing changes everything. Once you push a couple of 8-10 pound babies through the birth canal, things down there won’t look the same.
Indeed, Rosenzweig says, some women’s vaginas sag so much that they complain of discomfort while walking.
Not surprisingly, age is another culprit. You don’t expect to look like the pouty-lipped young things in Clearasil ads when you’re 45, right? Well, just as the lips around your mouth can thin with age, so can the ones in your southern hemisphere.
“Women lose fat in that area, the elasticity and tone of the tissue decreases and the inner vaginal lips droop,” explains Dolores Kent, M.D., a Beverly Hills ob-gyn and cosmetic surgeon.
But women can recapture the vaginas of their youth with labiaplasty (trimming up the inner lips) and/or perineoplasty (tightening the vaginal opening). Click here to read more on genital surgery.
Some “have their vaginas done” because vaginal changes cause medical problems or make sex uncomfortable, but Kent says that 85% of the women who come to her for such procedures are worried about aesthetics.
“They’ve seen the men’s magazines and feel their vulvas aren’t pretty,” she says.
12. If I’m uncomfortable with how I smell down there, can I change it?
Sure, but you’re probably worrying needlessly,says Mary Jane Minkin, M.D., clinical director of obstetrics and gynecology at Yale University School of Medicine in New Haven, Conn. “Most of the women who come in saying, ‘I smell really bad,’ smell fine,” she says.
If you’re concerned, see your gynecologist because strong odor (and discharge) is a sign of a bacterial infection. If there’s no infection and you’re still worried, avoiding spicy or pungent foods may help, Rosenzweig says.
Minkin recommends an over-the-counter product called Rephresh that rebalances the vagina’s pH and makes you more fragrant.
Don’t use douches or feminine sprays. They can irritate and can alter the vagina’s natural flora, which increases your risk of getting an infection and mask an existing one.
13. Do I have a greater risk for infection if my genitals are pierced?
“It’s not a great idea to have foreign objects around your genitalia because areas that are prone to moisture and intimate contact are very attractive to bacteria,” Rosenzweig says.
“But if you have great hygiene and a normal immune system, a genital piercing isn’t going to increase your risk for yeast infections or bacterial vaginosis.”
Still, some people always have a little redness or irritation around pierced areas, even when they’re in ho-hum spots like ears, noses or navels. So, if your piercing seems perpetually inflamed, take it out.
14. If I’ve been diagnosed with HPV once in the past, do I still have it? Am I still at risk for cervical cancer?
If you’ve had sex, you’ve probably bumped into human papilloma virus (HPV) – about 80% of sexually active people have been exposed to at least one of the 30 known HPV strains.
But in most cases – 90% – the infection clears up on its own. Odds are, you won’t even realize you had it. Most HPV viruses come and go without notice, but about 10 strains can increase your risk of developing cervical cancer.
If you’re under 26, consider getting the HPV vaccine, Gardasil, which protects against the four main strains of HPV responsible for about 70% of cervical cancers. (This goes for men too.) Also, protect yourself with routine Pap tests, which look for changes in the cervix that could eventually become cancer.
“We don’t know why some women develop cervical cancer and others don’t,” says Thomas Herzog, M.D., director of the gynecologic oncology at Columbia University in New York City. “But there are millions of women with HPV and more than 11,000 cases of cervical cancer in the U.S. each year, so if you’re screened regularly, it’s very unlikely you’ll develop cervical cancer. And if you did it would be caught extremely early and likely completely cured.”
There are four types of birth control: hormonal, barrier, natural, and surgical. Most are reversible, but not all. Here’s what you need to know about each of them.
Hormonal Methods:
Birth Control Pill
What it is: An estrogen and progestin pill taken daily to block the release of eggs from the ovaries.
Effectiveness: 99.9% when used correctly.
Advantages: May reduce premenstrual symptoms, acne and risk of pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), ovarian cancer, and benign ovarian cysts.
*The Mini-pill, an oral contraceptive alternative for women who can’t take estrogen, contains only progestin. It works in the same way the combination pill does to prevent pregnancy. It’s also good for women who are breastfeeding, women who are over 35 and women who smoke. It must be taken every day, even during menstruation, and is 97% effective.
What it is: A patch that is worn on the upper outer arm, upper torso, abdomen, or buttocks and releases progestin and estrogen; prevents the ovary from releasing an egg to be fertilized; thickens the cervical mucous, making it difficult for the sperm to enter the uterus.
Effectiveness: 99% when used correctly.
Advantages: Discreet form of birth control; needs to be changed only once a week.
Drawbacks: Releases about 60% more estrogen than birth control pills, increasing the risk of blood clots and other serious side effects; may be less effective for women who weigh more than 198 pounds; does not protect against STDs or HIV.
Depo-Provera
What it is: Time-released synthetic progesterone injected into the buttocks or arm every three months to stop the ovaries from releasing eggs; thickens cervical mucous.
Effectiveness: 97-99.7%.
Advantages: Discreet form of birth control; injections needed infrequently; can be used by nursing women and women who cannot take estrogen.
Drawbacks: Using Depo-Provera for more than two years can trigger bone calcium loss, which may not return after usage stops; can cause irregular or heavy menstrual bleeding; can result in absence of periods after one year; triggers weight gain (about 5 pounds on average); does not protect against STDs or HIV.
What it is: A soft, flexible ring worn inside the vagina for three weeks each month; it releases a combination of estrogen and progestin that is continuously absorbed into the bloodstream.
Effectiveness: 99% when used correctly.
Advantages: Discreet; can be worn during sex; regulates menstrual period; creates lighter menstrual flow.
Drawbacks: Increased vaginal discharge; may cause irritation; requires a prescription; ring must be self-inserted and removed, and replaced monthly; does not protect against STDs or HIV.
Male Condom
What it is: A thin sheath of latex or polyurethane fitted over an erect penis to prevent ejaculated semen from entering the vagina.
Effectiveness: 88%. With spermicide: 85-98%.
Advantages: Inexpensive; non-prescription; one of the only contraceptives that reduces the risk of STDs.
Drawbacks: Some people are allergic to latex; reduces sensations for some people during sex.
What it is: A sheath made of polyurethane that lines the vagina to prevent sperm from entering the cervix.
Effectiveness: 85-98%.
Advantages: Non-prescription; reduces the risk of STDs; can be inserted up to 8 hours before sex.
Drawbacks: Sheath may move; can be noisy and uncomfortable; outer ring is visible.
Intrauterine Devices (IUDs)
What it is: A “T-shaped” device inserted into the uterus by a doctor to prevent sperm from fertilizing an egg. There are two types: Paragard (or Copper T), which contains copper and can be left in the uterus for 10 years, and Mirena, which releases a progestin-like hormone continuously for up to five years.
Effectiveness: Paragard/Copper T: 99% in first year, though effectiveness dwindles over time; Mirena: 99.9%.
Advantages: Long-lasting; Mirena may reduce risk of PID; can be used while breastfeeding; cost-effective over time; reduces risk of ectopic pregnancy.
Drawbacks: May cause menstrual discomfort (especially true of Copper-T); risk of accidental expulsion; slight risk of perforating uterine wall during insertion; neither device protects against STDs or HIV.
What it is: A solid polyurethane foam that contains spermicide.
Effectiveness: 84-91% for women who haven’t had children, 68-80% for those who have.
Advantages: Non-prescription; inexpensive; doesn’t contain hormones; often undetected by partner.
Drawbacks: Difficult to insert and remove; must be left in 6 hours after sex; may cause vaginal irritation or dryness during sex; does not protect against STDs or HIV.
Diaphragm
What it is: A soft, shallow rubber dome that fits over the cervix, blocking sperm from fertilizing an egg. It must be used with a spermicide every time.
Effectiveness: 86-94% when used properly with a spermicide.
Advantages: Inexpensive; effective immediately; can be inserted hours ahead of time; few side effects.
Drawbacks: Must be fitted by a doctor; must remain in place 6 to 8 hours after sex; difficult to insert; may cause allergic reactions; increases risk of urinary tract infection; does not protect against STDs or HIV.
*Cervical caps fit over the cervix and are used with spermicide; 84-91% effective for women who have not had children, 68-74% effective for those who have. Lea’s Shield is a rubber disk that covers the cervix and is 85% effective. Both must remain inserted for 8 hours after intercourse, require a prescription and do not protect against STDs or HIV.
Rhythm Method
What it is: Abstaining from sex or using a barrier method on the days of the menstrual cycle when a woman is ovulating.
Effectiveness: Up to 92%, depending on how meticulously it’s practiced, how regular a woman’s menstrual cycle is and what type of barrier method is used during ovulation.
Advantages: No hormones; no side effects.
Drawbacks: Requires that you keep track of your cycle, often by testing basal body temperatures and changes in cervical mucous, which makes it inconvenient; does not protect against STDs or HIV.
Sterilization
What it is: Female: Fallopian tubes are blocked, preventing the sperm from getting to the egg. Male: Vas deferens are cut to prevent sperm from traveling to the penis.
Advantages: Permanent; few to no side effects. Female: allows sexual spontaneity; cost-effective in the long run. Male: low-risk procedure; no effect on erectile function.
Drawbacks: Permanent. Female: requires abdominal incision. Male: small risk of infection. Does not protect against STDs or HIV.
Of course, the most effective contraceptive of all is abstinence. For more information on contraceptives, consult your doctor.
There’s pretty much no reason for anyone to accidentally get pregnant these days, particularly on Pennsylvania University’s campus, unless students are just being totally reckless.
In case anyone on the campus passed up the condom aisle at Walgreens or decided to take a risk and go raw one night, they can now obtain Plan B, also known as the morning after pill, from a vending machine located in the campus health center.
According to NewsOne, Roger Serr, Vice President for Student Affairs, says the machine was installed after a request from the student association and a follow-up survey found that 85 percent of students supported it.
Plan B, which is already available without a prescription to girls 17 and older, isn’t covered or subsidized by the school. Students are charged $25 for the pill, which is the school’s cost to the pharmaceutical company, and less than what pharmacies off-campus charge. In addition to the emergency contraceptive, students can also purchase condoms, decongestant, and pregnancy tests from the machine.
I guess if access to preventive methods is a big issue in the Shippensburg, PA, area then the campus has that covered.
What do you think about this method? Is it progressive or too casual of a way to deal with something so serious?
Brande Victorian is a blogger and culture writer in New York City. Follower her on Twitter at @be_vic.
1. Historically, sweat has been an active ingredient in perfume and love potions.
2. In Bali, men believed a woman would fall in love if her suitor fed her a certain kind of leaf incised with the image of a god who sported a very large penis.
3. The Mexican chief Montezuma considered chocolate a “love drug” and drank 50 cups of chocolate a day before visiting his harem of 600 women.
4. Engagement rings are often worn on the fourth finger of the left hand because the ancient Greeks maintained that that finger contains the vena amoris, or the “vein of love,” that runs straight to the heart. The first recorded wedding rings appear in ancient Egypt, with the circle representing eternity as well as powerful sun and moon deities.
5. Roses are a traditional symbol of love and, depending on their color, can suggest different nuances of love.
6. For example, red roses indicate passion and true love. Light pink suggests desire, passion, and energy; dark pink suggests gratitude. Yellow roses can mean friendship or jealousy. A lavender or thornless rose can mean love at first sight. White roses mean virtue or devotion. Some roses even combine colors to created more complicated meanings.
7. When a person falls in love, the ventral tegmental area in the brain floods the caudate nucleus with dopamine. The caudate then signals for more dopamine; the more dopamine, the higher a person feels. The same system becomes activated when someone takes cocaine.
8. Men and women with highly symmetrical faces tend to have more lovers to choose from. Additionally, men with symmetrical faces begin to have sex four years earlier, have more sex, and have more affairs than their lopsided peers. Women also tend to have more orgasms with symmetrical men.
9. Timing significantly influences love. Individuals are more likely to fall in love if they are looking for adventure, craving to leave home, lonely, displaced in a foreign country, passing into a new stage of life, or financially and psychologically ready to share themselves or start a family.
10. Men in love show more activity in the visual part of the brain, while women in love show more activity in the part of the brain that governs memory. Scientists speculate that men have to size up a woman visually to see if she can bear babies, while women have to remember aspects of man’s behavior to determine if he would be an adequate provider.
• The Perfect Date/Worst Date: describe your best and worst date. Was there anything that could have been done to salvage it? What could have made “good” even better?
• Dating Do’s and Dont’s: what are some things that are totally and completely unacceptable while on a date? And what things should you absolutely do? What are some places/venues to avoid on a first date? What subjects should you discuss/avoid when going out with someone for the first time?
• Online Dating: The best sites to sign on with, what outcome to expect from them and do they really work? Have you ever met someone through an online dating site (or online, period)? If so, what was your experience?
• Who Wants to Go on a Date With S? S100 is putting himself on the market and will be letting his co-hosts set him up on about 3-5 dates. These dates (sponsored by Banquet TV dinners and bottled water) will be paid for by the show.
Also:
• The polls are on! AskMen.com has posted the Top 99 Most Desirable Women 2012 list and you wont believe who did and who didn’t make the cut!
Thursday at 8:00PM (PST)
Listen Online and chatroom: www.blogtalkradio.com/100Radio
Call in to listen or join the converstation: (310) 982-4231
Can’t catch us live? You can always listen to any of our shows after they air in our archive atwww.blogtalkradio.com/100Radio
100 Radio
if you’ve ever seen a porn you know what a female orgasm looks like… but have you ever experienced one first hand? no? well, you should get off your computer and hop to it, because it’s majestic. there are actually multiple types of female orgasms and 6 of them will be discussed here-
1. CLITORAL- the clitoris is the most sensitive and one of the most nerve rich areas in the human body. every woman is different, some prefer a gentler touch… while others like it rough, so test the waters a little bit. but for god’s sake- DON’T BITE IT. (unless you know for a fact that she’s into that ridiculously painful shit)
Clitoral orgasms can be very intense and are very pleasurable, they’re relatively easy to achieve through oral stimulation and/or with a toy
2. VAGINAL- now you may be thinking… but the whole thing is the vagina, right? wrong. wrong. wrong. wrong! take a moment to study this diagram. are we clear now? good. carrying on.
This kind of orgasm takes longer time to achieve and rhythmic thrusting is often the best way to it.
Many women describe this kind of orgasm as “less intense” then clitoral but more deeply felt. They feel it as a pressure that slowly grows and explodes deep inside of a woman’s vagina. But remember everyone is different…3. G-SPOT- During sexual arousal, the tissue surrounding the urethra becomes engorged with blood and the Paraurethral/Skenes glands produce and fill with prostatic fluid. This area on the front wall of the vagina becomes that same mysterious and sensitive spot… the G-SPOT…
In fact, this process is very similar to the process of male arousal. As a result, the urethral sponge becomes “erected” and if you touch, it feels firm. This is a kind of female hard-on. The only difference is that it all happens on the inside of a woman’s vagina.
There are different ways of stimulating the G spot. Rhythmic pushing or circular friction movements are the best for achieving this kind of orgasm. I use a lot special Tantric sensual massage techniques for stimulating this area of a woman’s body.
This orgasm may also lead to female ejaculation
*some women do not actually have a g-spot (unfortunately)
4. SQUIRTING- an instructional video on how to squirt
5. A-SPOT- This kind of female orgasm is achieved by stimulation of an area deep in the vagina (about 7-10 cm (3-4”) deep) on the front wall of it. It is the same wall as where the G spot is situated.
Many women find the feeling incredibly pleasurable while some may not like it at all. Keep it in mind when experimenting.
After an orgasm the A-spot does not become too sensitive because of different kind of nerve wiring in this particular area and you can easily continue stimulation bringing your partner to new heights of pleasure.
6. THE DEEP SPOT ORGASM (THE POSTERIOR FORNIX ORGASM)
Direct stimulation of the deep spot can cause very intense orgasms. Some women may feel as if they are having anal sex. This kind of female orgasm get responses like’ “I never felt like this before” or “What are you doing? It’s amazing!” This particular area is not widely recognized so very few women have ever experienced those sensations.
This kind of female orgasm can be given with a hand using “Come Here” motions. Use both long and short strokes and you can even use two fingers if you like.
1. Tantra Yoga Promotes Sexual Vitality
Tantra is a branch of yoga that seeks inner peace and transcendence through everyday acts of daily life like breathing, eating and the sacred union of the male and female. Ancient tantric teachings have been used for millennia to heal sexual dysfunction, strengthen the sexual system and raise sexual energy.
Tantric yoga poses such as mula bandha, or “root lock,” train and strengthen abdominal, pelvic and genital muscles. Similar to Kegel exercises, mula bandha improves arousal, prostate health and blood flow through the reproductive organs.
2. Yoga Treats Premature Ejaculation
One study, published in The Journal of Sexual Medicine, suggests that yoga can treat premature ejaculation and promote sexual satisfaction. Premature ejaculation (also known as rapid ejaculation) is the most common male sexual problem, affecting 25 to 40 percent of men. SSRI antidepressants such as fluoxetine (Prozac) are often prescribed to help delay ejaculation.
Researchers at All India Institute of Medical Sciences in New Delhi, India, administered daily either yoga or 20-60 mg fluoxetine (Prozac) to 68 men with premature ejaculation for three months. The yoga program included common yoga poses such as Paschimottanasana (seated forward bend), Sarvangasana (shoulderstand), Halasana (plough), Matsyasana (fish), and Dhanurasana (bow).
The researchers found that yoga treated premature ejaculation more effectively than fluoxetine (Prozac). Findings showed that 100 percent of the yoga group had improvement in premature ejaculation and sexual satisfaction, compared to 82 percent of the drug group.
“Yoga appears to be a feasible, safe, effective and acceptable nonpharmacological option for PE [premature ejaculation],” the study authors conclude.
3. Yoga Enhances Women’s Libido
Another study, published in The Journal of Sexual Medicine, reports that yoga meditation can enhance women’s libido (sex drive) and treat sexual dysfunction. Female sexual dysfunction is a persistent decrease in sexual desire and sexual arousal, and difficulty in achieving an orgasm.
Researchers from the University of British Columbia reviewed studies of yoga, mindfulness and acupuncture in treating women’s sexual problems. Yoga meditation cultivates mindfulness — an awareness of the present moment.
The researchers found that mindfulness practice significantly improved women’s sexual arousal and response. Furthermore, mindfulness reduced pain and improved sexual health in women with vestibulodynia (chronic pain of the vulva). Findings also revealed that acupuncture significantly improved libido in women with sexual dysfunction.
Happy Valentine’s Day! We would love to hear from you. Please share your insights in the comments section below.
For more by Elaine Gavalas, click here.
To learn more about mula bandha and yoga poses, download a free sample chapter from Elaine Gavalas’ book, ”The Yoga Minibook for Weight Loss”.
You can buy “The Yoga Minibook for Weight Loss” here. Elaine Gavalas is an exercise physiologist, yoga therapist, weight management specialist, nutritionist and healthy recipe developer.
Follow Elaine Gavalas
Twitter: http://twitter.com/ElaineGavalas
Facebook: http://facebook.com/elaine.gavalas
Blog: http://elainegavalas.com/blog.htm
Website: http://elainegavalas.com
- Keeps Your Blood Flowing According to Dr. Jennifer Berman, co-founder of the Female Sexual Medicine Center at UCLA, orgasms increase your circulation, keeping the blood flowing to your genital area. This in turn keeps your tissue healthy!
- It’s A Form Of Cardio Although it can’t be considered an alternative to daily exercise, having an orgasm is a cardiovascular activity. “Your heart rate increases, blood pressure increases [and your] respiratory rate increases,” says Berman. And because it’s akin to running in many physiological respects, your body also releases endorphins. Sounds like a pretty fun way to work your heart out.
- Lifts Your Mood Feeling down in the dumps? An orgasm might be just what you need to pick yourself up. In addition to endorphins, dopamine and oxytocin are also released during orgasm. All three of these hormones have what Berman terms “mood-enhancing effects.” In fact, dopamine is the same hormone that’s released when individuals use drugs such as cocaine — or eat something really delicious.
- Helps You Sleep A little pleasure may go a long way towards a good night’s rest. A recent survey of 1,800 women found that over 30 percent of them used sexual release as a natural sedative.
- Keeps Your Brain Healthy Having an orgasm not only works out your heart, but also your head. Barry Komisaruk, Ph.D. told Cosmopolitan that orgasms actually nourish the brain with oxygen. “Functional MRI images show that women’s brains utilize much more oxygen during orgasm than usual,” Komisaruk says.
- Natural Pain Killer One thing that Victorian practitioners may have been onto is that orgasms can work to soothe certain aches and pains — namely migraines and menstrual cramps. (So now you know what to do next time you have a headache if you don’t feel like popping an Excedrin.) According to Berman, the contractions that make up an orgasm can actually work to evacuate blood clots during your period, providing some temporary relief.
- Stress Relief Most of our lives are so hectic that it’s hard to even imagine being relaxed. However, it turns out that sexual release can double as stress relief. Not only do the hormones help with this task, Berman says that being sexual also gives our minds a break: “When we’re stressed out and overextending ourselves, [we’re] not being in the moment. Being sexual requires us to focus on one thing only.”
- Healthy Glow There actually might be something to the idea that we “glow” after sex. The hormone DHEA (dehydroepiandrosterone), which shows increased levels during sexual excitement, can actually make your skin healthier.
- Aids Emotional Health Last but not least, when you know what it takes to make yourself orgasm, you may increase your emotional confidence and intelligence. “When you understand how your body works and … [that it] is capable of pleasure on its own, regardless of your partner status, you make much better decisions in relationships,” says Logan Levkoff, Ph.D., a sexologist and certified sexuality educator. “You don’t look to someone else to legitimize that you’re a sexual being.”
by Emma Gray
Dream About Me My lustrous smile andDesigner influenced style… Dream about me
The twinkle in my eye and Roundness of my thighs…. Dream about me
The complexity of my mind and Ohhh how I’m so kind…. Dream about me
The way I love you down and Sweeten up your frown…. Dream about me
Soul dripped into your meals Kisses from your forehead to your heels…. Dream about me
My sexy lingerie After a long and intense day…. Dream about me
The way I rub your back and Keep your love on track…. Dream about me
