I am afraid.

Children. That is what they are–although they think that they are prepared and ready to face the world–often suffer one of the most traumatic and life altering events early in life and away from the protection that the watchful eyes of parents could provide.

Ross Duthat, a prolific writer on matters of politics and policy, wrote a thoughtful opinion piece in the New York Times about the dire state of college campuses with respect to the sexual assault. http://nyti.ms/1mrBNtZ  “In the debate over sexual violence on college campuses, two things are reasonably clear. First, campus rape is a grave, persistent problem, shadowing rowdy state schools and cozy liberal-arts campuses alike.”

Many parents focus on paying expenses and parting from beings who, for many, have given meaning to their lives. But, we have more to prepare for. Do we adequately give our young women the tools they need to protect themselves? Do we talk to them about drinking to the point of oblivion; falling down drunk in the presence of strangers; or the need to pay close attention to their surroundings? Have we taught our sons that to treat women with respect and not as objects is a true manifestation of manhood? Have we taught them about consequences?

Institutions need to do more. But, more work needs to be undertaken before we unload the laptop and dorm room supplies.

There you have it. Now spread the word.

Tweet @JulietMB_BTBB

The post Rape. appeared first on Below The Belly Button.

From the American Sexual Health Association

HPV affects men and women.

Ask your doctor is you are a candidate for the vaccine.

There you have it!  Now spread the word. @JulietMD_BTBB

The post If you have had sex; you have had HPV. appeared first on Below The Belly Button.

There you have it. Now spread the word!

WATCH IT!

The post HPV (human papilloma virus) by JulietMD on her new show!! appeared first on Below The Belly Button.

There you have it. Now spread the word!

Human Papilloma Virus (HPV): I Will Protect My Boy, To Protect Your Girl

READ !!!

http://blackandbrownnews.com/lifestyle/health-fitness/human-papilloma-virus-hpv-i-will-protect-my-boy-to-protect-your-girl/

The post Human Papilloma Virus (HPV): I Will Protect My Boy, To Protect Your Girl appeared first on Below The Belly Button.

Every sexually active woman should know of PID (Pelvic Inflammatory Disease).  Most women diagnosed with this infection are under the age of twenty five.  Unfortunately, many women find out that they have had this infection, years later, when they are diagnosed with infertility.Other consequences of PID include chronic pelvic pain and ectopic pregnancy (pregnancy in the fallopian tube instead of in the uterus).

The most frequent cause of PID is an initial infection with Gonorrhea (gon-o-ri-a) or Chlamydia (Cla-mid-e-a).  Basically, PID occurs when infection passes the cervix (the opening to the uterus or womb), ascends into the uterus and further, up into the fallopian tubes.  Most physicians will diagnose PID when a woman presents with lower abdominal pain and the cervix, uterus and tubes are tender on the gynecological exam.  Pain is often accompanied by fever or vaginal discharge.  Some women will only have mild pain while others will have unusual signs like bleeding between periods, bleeding with sex, frequent need to urinate or nausea and vomiting. 1

PID can be treated with antibiotics even though some women, those with severe infections, will need hospitalization.  If the infection involves just the cervix or just the cervix and the uterus, there are no long term damages.  However, once the infection reaches the fallopian tubes, permanent damage can occur, even with treatment.  Once the inside of the tubes are scarred, infertility can result.  And, even if a woman is able to become pregnant, a fertilized egg may not be able to slide into the uterus because the pathway is scarred;  this is how ectopic pregnancies are formed.  Lastly, scarring can occur outside, as well as inside the tubes, causing constant pain that does not respond to antibiotics.

I’m often surprised that some women take great offense when I offer testing for Gonorrhea and Chlamydia.  Finding and treating these infections early is the best way to protect one’s ability to have children in the future.  It is also important to limit the number of sexual partners and to practice the consistent use of condoms.  Also important, Bacterial Vaginosis (Read my blog: The Fishy Vaginal Odor) weakens the vagina’s natural ability to keep bacteria from moving up into the uterus and into the fallopian tubes; BV should be treated when present.

Each episode of PID causes more damage and waiting days before seeking medical attention only allows the infection time to reek havoc.

There you have it! Now spread the word!!

1. Obstetrics & Gynecology vol. 116. num 2, part 1, August 2010

The post What is PID? appeared first on Below The Belly Button.

It is such a frightening topic to read about.  Some mistakenly believe that the danger has been subdued.  One could possibly go an entire week without hearing it mentioned on the news.  Even so, in America, it is the 5th leading cause of death for women between the ages of 19-39.  For black women, it is the leading cause of death for those between the ages of 25 and 34.  Most women are being exposed to the virus by having sex with men who are infected.

AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome) was first reported in 1981.  Two years later, scientists were able to find the cause of this disease: HIV  (Human Immunodeficiency Virus).  The infection has touched lives in every part of the world.  Countries in regions of the world with little resource: Sub-Saharan African, the Caribbean and Asia, have seen millions of their citizens die from this disease.  HIV in contracted by contact with infected blood and body fluids.  The virus then attacks the immune system, leaving the body unable to defend itself against infections that might otherwise be effectively eliminated.

Recently, there has been a flurry of discussions about the number of single professional black women, of whom, 45% will never marry.  With so many women spending an extended amount of time “out there”, I thought it prudent to bring up the topic of safer sex.  Nice guys, guys with good hygiene, hard workers, men who love children, professional men and men who always smell nice, can be infected with HIV.  While you’re looking for Mr. Right, take steps to protect yourself: use condoms, ask about their sexual history, limit the number of sexual partners and get tested.  The very act of getting an HIV test is a reminder to be vigilant about protecting yourself.  It’s amazing how many women chose not use condoms based on how they feel instead of acting on facts.

Since the isolation of the virus, scientists have worked hard to discover ways to treat people with HIV/AIDS.  There is no cure and a vaccine is far in the horizon.  Prevention should be the goal but early discovery of one’s infection, will lend itself to early treatment and to a longer and better quality of life. Women who are HIV positive should take steps to prevent pregnancy or at least seek early prenatal care to reduce the risk of passing the virus to the child.  Without treatment, one in every four (25%) of babies born to HIV positive mothers will become HIV positive.  With early detection and treatment, the risk of passing the virus to the child can be reduced to less than 2%.  Mothers who are HIV positive should not breastfeed.

There it is!  Now spread the word.

The post Those Three Letters…HIV appeared first on Below The Belly Button.

Interestingly enough, even as a gynecologist, I hear a lot about erectile dysfunction (ED)—the inability to achieve or maintain an erection to complete sexual activity.  Women do get frustrated when their sexual partners cannot perform.

Keep in mind, men suffer from some of the same ailments that women do, namely emotional and relationship problems that get them down…no pun intended.

But, I wanted to alert you about the fact that erectile dysfunction can be a sign of serious medical problems like coronary heart disease, hypertension and diabetes.  Diabetes can affect the penile nerves and atherosclerosis (build up of fatty material like cholesterol in the arteries) also affects the penis!

More than one third of men between the ages of 40 and 70 suffer from moderate to severe ED.  That’s a lot…probably includes someone you know.  Seventy four per cent of men are too embarrassed to discuss erectile dysfunction with their physicians, but since it is often a result of disease, it can also alert physicians that an undiagnosed problem is at the root cause.

Of course, we have all heard about Viagra, Levitra, and Cialis.  I want to remind you that some men cannot use these medications because of heart problems.  For those who cannot use these medications however, there is a wide range of other therapies that a urologist or primary care physician can offer.  There is something available for every man.

There it is, now spread the word!

The post Below his belly button…erectile dysfunction appeared first on Below The Belly Button.