Genital sexuality

Sensuality and Sexuality. MDMA, often called a "hug drug," has a deserved reputation in this arena. It increases intimacy, but in most instances tends to reduce genital sexuality. The standard finding about this substance was expressed by John Buffum and Charles Moser in the October 1985 Journal of Psychoactive Drugs when they reported on the first survey of MDMA s effects on human sexuality. "It appears that MDMA does not increase sexual excitation or sexual desire in a majority of individuals," they wrote,... 

A presumptive diagnosis of genital herpes commonly is made on the basis of the presence of dark-field-negative, vesicular, or ulcerative genital lesions. A history of similar lesions or recent sexual contact with an individual with similar lesions also is useful in making the diagnosis. 

Like other natural reinforcers (water, food, sex -somatosensory genital stimulation, and sweet taste), sexual pheromones should stimulate the neural circuits responsible for reward signaling. Current ideas on the neuroanatomy of reward are based... 

Short, R. V. (1979). Sexual selection and its component parts, somatic and genital selection, as illustrated by man and the great apes. Advances in the Study of Behavior 9, 131—158. 

In recent years it seems that AIDS has somewhat eclipsed other sexually transmitted diseases. A problem, however, is that sexually transmitted diseases not only cause ill health in their own right, but can have long-term consequences including infertility, ectopic pregnancy and genital cancers. Consequently, there is increasing concern about... 

There are five main sexually transmitted diseases AIDS, gonorrhoea, syphilis, genital herpes and genital candidiasis. AIDS is discussed in Chapter 17. 

When valacyclovir is used as suppressive therapy in immunocompetent individuals with genital herpes, the risk of heterosexual transmission to susceptible partners is reduced. Instruct patients to use safer sex practices with suppressive therapy (see current Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Sexually Transmitted Disease Treatment Guidelines). 

Trichomoniasis is a genital infection produced by the protozoan Trichomonas vaginalis. Infections frequently are asymptomatic in the male, whereas in the female vaginitis characterized by a frothy pale yellow discharge is common. Relapses occur if the infected person s sexual partner is not treated simultaneously. 

Mechanism of Action An herb that produces genital blood vessel dilation, improves nerve impulse transmission to genital area. Increases penile blood flow, central sympathetic excitation impulses to genital tissues. Therapeutic Effect Improves sexual vigor, affects impotence. 

Acyclovir is useful in the treatment of herpes. Oral herpes is caused by the herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1), and genital herpes is caused by the herpes simplex virus 2 (HSV-2). More than 90 percent of the world s population is infected with the oral herpes virus, though there are many infected people who do not exhibit symptoms. Genital herpes is the most prevalent nondurable sexually transmitted disease. In the United States, there are about 30 million people infected with HSV-2 and an estimated 200,000 to 500,000 new cases each year. 

Slattery ML, Overall JC Jr, Abbott TM, French TK, Robison LM, Gardner J. Sexual activity, contraception, genital infections, and cervical cancer support for a sexually transmitted disease hypothesis. Am J Epidemiol 1989 130(2) 248-58. 

---