In The News
Adolescents and the
Dangers of Oral Sex
By Joe S. McIlhaney, Jr., M.D. founder of The Medical Institute
for Sexual Health
December 1, 2004
Some
people say it isn't sex. Well then how come it's causing the rampant spread of genital
herpes among America's young people?
Oral sex is very popular among teens as young as thirteen. Young girls and boys
participating in this kind of activity is said to be a common sight at parties
of middle schoolers. The saddest part is that they don't believe they are
having sex. Many really think they are protected from the emotional and
physical consequences of early sexual activity because, after all, "it's just
oral sex."
But a study out of the University of Wisconsin has shown the impact of the oral
sex rage. There are two basic types of herpes - one kind transmitted orally and
the second transmitted through genital contact. In other words, orally
transmitted herpes generally stays transmitted mouth to mouth and genitally
transmitted herpes generally stays transmitted genital to genital. Studies
conducted over the past 20 years have shown that only about 25 percent of the
orally transmitted herpes shows up in the genitals. Now, at least according to
the research out of the University Wisconsin, the ratios have reversed. Of
students at that university who were newly infected with genital herpes in
2001, 78 percent had the type usually associated with oral transmission, but in
the genital area.
Simply put, these data show that young people are suffering the consequences of
their false sense of security of this form of "not" sex. Oral sex has become a
predominant mode of transmission and spread of the most troubling form of
herpes - genital herpes. While less than 10 percent of individuals who have
genital herpes even know they have the virus, fully 85 percent of these
individuals can still spread the virus. In addition to causing painful symptoms
in some infected individuals, herpes can also increase the risk of contracting
HIV, the virus that causes AIDS.
It's time we started warning our kids about oral sex. No parent can stomach
picturing his or her sweet, 15-year-old daughter giving oral sex to some high
school boy. But it's happening, and these oral sex parties include the "good
kids". There's lots of peer pressure to do it because, after all, it's
supposedly not sex and it's supposedly just a safe, pleasurable activity. And
if you do it, girls get convinced, that boy will really like you. Parents who
can't imagine their son or daughter involved, just might be shocked.
And we need to warn them about more than just herpes and other diseases - which
are scary enough. The emotional consequences of oral sex can be just as
traumatizing to a teenager as intercourse -- especially to girls. There are the
same feelings of being used, of low self-esteem, of degradation.
Oral sex - it's sex, for sure. The disease rates are proving it. And the
teenagers feeling emotionally used, they are proving it as well.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A
Pro-Life American Idol: Idol Winner Jordin Sparks Known for Pro-life Advocacy
By John
Jalsevac
HOLLYWOOD,
CA, May 25, 2007 (LifeSiteNews.com) - It seems that Jordin Sparks, the winner
of the sixth season of the hugely popular "reality TV" show "American Idol," is
not only an example and inspiration to aspiring musical artists, but also those
who are fighting for the Culture of Life.
Whisperings
have abounded in the so-called "blogosphere" for some months now, with blog
posters speculating and presenting evidence for Jordin Spark's Christian and
pro-life stance. Since Jordin has gone from merely one contestant amongst many,
however, to winner of the widely-viewed talent contest, those whisperings have
taken on new significance.
Although
Jordin has remained neutral onstage and in the public spotlight when it comes
to matters of religion or politics, focusing instead on her music, she has a
past of pro-life advocacy, and of outspoken Christian faith.
Several
photos have circulated online that show Jordin participating in pro-life and
Christian events. One in particular, which allegedly originally came from
Jordin's personal MySpace page (it is no longer there), shows Jordin holding up
a popular pro-life sign-a red stop sign with the words "Stop Abortion Now".
Several
other photos show the 17-year-old, home-schooled Idol winner performing at an
annual pro-life rally in 2006 in downtown Phoenix. Several blogs also indicate
that she has performed at other pro-life events as well.
This comes as no surprise, since Jordin's artistic
career was largely begun in the realm of Christian music, singing at her own
home church, Calvary Community Church, and at other Christian festivals. In
2004 she finished second at the Music in the Rockies competition, which is a
competition for aspiring Christian musicians. She has also toured with and
recorded songs with several other well-known Christian artists.
On her official page on the American Idol website Jordin responds to a
question, saying that before she goes on stage she "prays and breathes". She
also says that if she were to win she would thank God and her parents before
anyone else.
Pam
Wiedmann, Jordin's grandmother, was interviewed about her granddaughter in
January of this year by the Arizona Republic. She told the newspaper that
Jordin's "faith is so important to her, and she wants to maintain that
throughout this whole process."
TV news: Jordin Sparks and her Purity
Pledge
Jordin
was on Fox & Friends this morning with Brian Kilmeade, who was asking her
questions from viewers' emails. She was asked about a ring she wears on her
wedding ring finger (she's 17 years old). She said, without hesitation, "that
it was her Purity Ring, and that it says she waiting until she is married, and
saving herself for true love. "
Sourced: FreeRepublic.com
Consistent Condom Use Not Effective in Preventing HPV Infection
American Journal of Epidemiology
February 1, 2003
Incidence data on human papillomavirus (HPV) are limited, and risk
factors for transmission are largely unknown, according to a new study
published in the American Journal of Epidemiology. The study also found that
consistent condom use was not effective in prevention of HPV infection.
The authors of the study followed 603 female Washington State University students between 1990 and 2000 at four-month intervals. At each visit, a
nurse-practitioner administered a face-to-face interview and a standardized
pelvic examination and collected separate cervical and vulvovaginal specimens
for HPV DNA analysis. A subset of 529 women provided 2,640 toothbrush samples
of the buccal mucosa, which were also analyzed for HPV DNA. Participants
answered questions about socioeconomic status, gynecologic and obstetric
history, current and past sexual behavior, and history of genital tract
infections at the first visit. On subsequent visits, this information was
updated.
Smoking, use of oral contraceptives, and reporting a new male sex
partner - especially one known for less than eight months or who had other
partners - were predictive of increased risk of HPV infection. Always using
male condoms with a new partner was not protective.
The 24-month cumulative incidence of HPV in virgins was 7.9
percent.
"Infection in virgins was rare, but any type of nonpenetrative sexual
contact was associated with an increased risk," Winer and colleagues
wrote.
"In conclusion," the researchers summarized, "the
present study showed that the incidence of genital HPV associated with
acquisition of a new sex partner is high and that risk of infection is
especially high if a partner has been known for less than eight months and if a
partner reports having had sex with other partners. Oral HPV infection is rare
and not clearly associated with oral-penile contact. Genital HPV infection in
virginal women seems to be rare, but non-penetrative sexual contact is a
plausible route of transmission."
