Chlamydia websites

Recently i've been receiving a lot of information about new websites around that are solely there for chlamydia prevention.

Chalmydia is one of the most common bacterial sexually transmitted infections. It is easy to test for, just a urine sample and easy to treat, just some antibiotics. The concering thing is, that in 75-80% of women, and up to 50% of men the infection has no signs or symptoms, and even worse, if it is left untreated it could lead to infertility. It is most common in young people under 25yo.

Check out these websites:

http://www.couldihaveit.com.au/
WA project about chlamydia with some good resources, the main message is that a simple urine test can stop the spread of chlamydia.

http://www.getcluedup.com.au/
An australian website with some good information. You can even change the colour of the webpage in the top left hand corner!

http://www.checkyourbits.org/
A site from the UK which you can order a free testing kit which they will send you. I tried to order one but they only post to Northumberland and Tyne and Wear region. Great site.

http://www.chlamydiahelp.net/
A site with info for young people about chlamydia, has some good resources and links.

Nasal Delivery Technology!

So, everytime i drive anywhere i am bombarded by massive billboards and radio advertising for this "new" nasal delivery technology for erection problems, so what is it all about?

After some discussions with Lud and a few other people at work, we thought it might be a good idea to find more out about what was in this nasal spray.

The website states that it contains 2 ingredients, 1 that opens the blood vessels in the penis directly and 1 that stimulates the production of hormones in the brain that are responsible for erections.

I wanted to find out more information about these drugs, so i've written to them at the beginning of May to ask about the medications they use in the nasal spray and if the drugs are meant for other uses.......i am still waiting to hear back and i may phone them soon to get some answers!

I'll keep you posted on what the outcome is!

Website for young people about relationship violence

This is a new website for young people regarding relationship violence.

www.keepsafestaycool.com.au

The Keep Safe Stay Cool program based on peer education priciples provides young people with interaction, education and information to young people about domestic violence and healthy relationships.

It has some great links including Domenstic Violence (DV) in same sex relationships, exploring emotions and healthy relationships, which includes a quiz!

There is also a section on gender roles and stereotypes, i couldn't get the link to work on my computer, see how you go!

Men as victims of sexual assault

I want to approach the myth that men are not victims of sexual assault with this diagram ( taken from the Australian Institute of Criminology website).

While we know that women are overwhelmingly the majority of victims of sexual assault - this does not mean that men are not victims as well.

What is amazing to me is that while only .6% of men have been victims of sexual assault: THIS ACTUALLY TRANSLATES TO 42000 PEOPLE. ( Imagine what the actual numbers of women is!!!!!)

Yet again the perpetrators are almost always family members or friends: "Findings of sexual assault against men aged 18 and over in the 12 months before the survey include that 0.6 percent of men (42,300) experienced sexual assault, and that 44 percent (18,500) of these men experienced sexual assault by a family member or friend in the most recent incident, 35 percent (14,900) by an other known person and 33 percent (13,900) by a stranger".

The numbers of people in our society that are in some way effected by violence is staggering. The numbers of people that are effected by sexual violence is staggering.

Its time to bring this stuff into the open - to engage in discourse - to stop supporting the media in its condoning of violence-to stop supporting hyper masculinity - to stop the sexualisation of children and on and on.

All I can say is: I need it.

Digital Art Exhibition

The following is copied from the website ( Go on have a look for yourself) http://www.informationeconomy.sa.gov.au/ie/dbu/david_unaipon/home

"Legendary Tales, an Exhibition Inspired by David Unaipon, call for entries is NOW OPEN "

It would be great if some people put in some of thier digital art with some sort of connection to sexual health or sexuality I reckon: See below for details of the

exhibition.

'The Exhibition will be part of The SALA Festival1-17 August 2008, at Higher Ground, 9-15 Light Square, Adelaide

Young people are invited to submit digital art under the theme stories of customs, beliefs and imaginings to tell their own stories of their lives, beliefs and hopes for the future.

For the purposes of this exhibition Digital Art is defined as art created with the use of a computer.

Closing Date:5:00pm, Friday, 27 June 2008


Exhibition
The Exhibition is open to South Australian residents aged between 5 and 25 years. Entrants will be grouped into the following categories:
Primary School
High School
18 – 25 years
Individuals and groups of no more than 4 people are eligible to enter
Competition
Entrants aged between 18 – 25 years may elect to have their entry entered into a competition
1st: $10002nd: $5003rd: $250'

Some sort of order

In this post I am going to try and give you a link to all the topics that we have posted to so far over the years. If I misplace or put something in a topic area that you think doesnt fit PLEASE let me know and I will change it. Here goes:

Abstinance only education vs comprehensive sexual health education:
1_ Abstinance only research shows
2 What makes the news
3 Yet again CDC study
4 Another Study of 2000 adolescents

Abortion:
1 Govt and RU486

Body Image Self Esteem:
1 Phantom Penis Phantom Breasts
2 About Face
3 Designer Vagina
4 T-shirt messages
5 More ads from About Face
6 Esteem
7 You are beautiful
8 Wonderful scales


Books of Interest:
1 The Vulva; The science of Orgasm; Point Last Seen -childchood sexual abuse
2 The Sex Lives of Australian Teenagers
3 Unhooked
4 Family Planning A Global Handbook for Providers
5 Boys Adrift
6 Female Chauvinist Pigs - Women and the Rise of Raunch Culture
7 The Porn Report

Contraception:
1 Continuum Chart of effectiveness

Diversity in Health Conference:
1 Key note speaker Dr Marsella

Female Circumcision:
1 Female Circumcision and Clitoris Reconstruction

Gender:
1 Picture
2 Gender and Power workshop ad
3 Gender and Power workshop notes
4 In hip hop culture
5 In hip hop culture

General Sexual Health:
1 Sex Etc
2 European Sexual Awareness Campaign
3 The SEX Talk

Global Health Learning Centre:
1 online course

Hep C:
1 Hep C Council of SA youth site

HIV/AIDS:
1 Aids Council of South Australia
2 GBLTIQ and HIV
3 Strightpoz
4 Post Exposure Prophylaxix
5 2007 in Rwanda
6 Opening doors with young people

Homophobia:
1 Teaching Tolerance
2 Get up campaign
3 Borders and homophobia
4 Peers Outsmarting Homophobia

HPV Vaccine:
1 FAQ

International Day Against Homophobia:
1 Adelaide IDAHO forum 2007
2 Tshirt iron on
3 Information and Orgnisations
4 2008

Internet:
1 Sex on the Net
2 Voki program
3 Voki program

Lesbian:
1 Girl to Girl website
2 LOTL
3 Lesbian Zest

Male Contraception:
1 Whats Happening?

Orgasm:
1 All Questions Are Good Questions

Pleasure:
1 Pleasure workshop ad
2 Pleasure Workshop Notes and Panel Responses
3 Pleasure Workshop Questions Answered

Podcasts:
1 Sex Positive
2 STIs
3 What Young Christians Say About Contraception

Porn:
1 The Porn Report

Racism:
1 Racism and GBLTIQ Community

Sexual Health Counselling/Depression:
1 Youth Work and Counselling
2 Bryce Mackie

STIs:
1 National Institute for Health and Excellence stats

Teen Pregnancy:
1 Pregnancy Choices Training
2 Positive 60 min Story
3 Huge Numbers

Trauma/Assault/Abuse:
1 Vicarious Trauma
2 Stand Up For You
3 Criminal Law Consolodation Act
4 Violence Against Women - White Ribbon Day

Youth in a Global World:
1 Network Spaces Online
2 Transactional Nature of Sex
3 Opening Doors With Young People
4 Global Brief

Viagra:
1 Viagra as a Recreational Drug

sextxt

I tried this out today, it costs 55 cents per text and had trouble getting to the main menu but it did work for me second time around! It's certainly a creative way of promoting sexual health information - I wonder how utilised the service is?

Has anyone ever promoted this service or received feedback on it's usage / popularity? Their website is worth a look, some amusing stories can be found in their "sexcapades" section. More info below on sextxt....


Got a question about sex? sextxt™ gives you accurate answers when you need them... all in the time it takes to send and receive a text message.

sextxt™ SMS messages give you quick answers to those emergency questions such as what to do when a condom breaks or when you've missed a pill.

And just to make sure you get all the facts you need, the sextxt™ website includes additional info on sex and sexual health.

So next time you want to find out more about sexually transmitted infections (STI), oral sex or contraception, you can turn to your mobile phone or surf this site for immediate, confidential help and advice.

SMS the message “sexinfo” to 19SEXTXT (19739898).

You will then receive an instant reply with the following Menu Options:
A1 – for info on STIs
A2 – for info on oral sex
A3 – if you think you are pregnant
A4 – if you have missed a pill
A5 – if your condom has broken
A6 – for info on emergency contraception
A7 – for info on unprotected sex
A8 – for info on unprotected anal sex
A9 – for info specifically on chlamydia
A10 – for info specifically on HIV

Chris.

I am Changing

Has anyone come across this resource before?
I have had a quick look at it, it's seems to be a very comprehensive look at puberty.....very smart marketing by Libra.

In association with respected independent sexuality educators, Family Life & Interrelate Family Centres, Libra has developed a FREE downloadable puberty, health and relationship education program. Topics have been carefully selected and curriculum links fully updated so materials can be used as part of school health education programs in Australia and New Zealand.

Incidently, Family Life visited the region I live in last week. They ran a session on the reproductive system and babies for younger kids and then a session on puberty for older kids. Parents were also present at the sessions and a lot of interaction between kids and parents was encouraged during the night. The sessions were great. Famiy Life also have a bookstore, many of these books looked excellent - targeting kids and parents.

Chris.

Masturbation in Relathionships

I was reading Cory Silverburgs blog in sexuality.about.com and was impressed by this series on masturbation. There are tips on how to for men (relax get into it, try different positions, explore yourself) and women ( get into the mood, relax, fantasise,touch yourself) as well as information for people in relationships etc etc.

Below is an excerpt from the 'masturbation in relationships' entry

"Do most people in relationships still masturbate? While there isn’t a lot of research, there have been several studies, dating back to the 1970s, that have asked people in relationships about their masturbation practices. zSB(3,3) This research has shown that people in relationships don’t masturbate significantly less than people who aren’t in relationships. Yet it is a common masturbation myth that masturbation is just a substitute for partner sex, and that once you have a partner you don’t “need” to masturbate. Whether we’re honest with our partners about masturbation, in research we are fessing up to the fact that many of us continue to make masturbation part of our sex lives, even when we’re in relationships."

Go on and follow the links. It will give some great information to discuss with young people

Lud

When Bodies Become War Zones

I have recently been reading Danielle Topins blog which is very interesting. Her latest entry about violence, poverty and the use of womens bodies as a target is very interesting. She writes about Jamaica BUT this is applicable anywhere. Here is the first paragraph of her entry around this issue.

"During a recent walk through a secluded road in my neighborhood, I came face to face with the discomfort of unwanted desire. I was in a zone: in my own world, feeling confident and self-assured. As I walked, however, I became aware that I was attracting male attention, and an interesting thing happened. The more attention I received, the more uncomfortable I became; and at some point I became aware that I had noticeably slowed the pace of my walk, and quieted the skip in my step. I was trying to make myself less visible, in order to detract the male attention I was receiving. I also became aware of a feeling of fear...fear that someone would seize me and try to forcefully kill my jauntiness. I felt fearful of being raped. "

This is an issue that all of us need to combat and denounce at all times. Does anyone have examples of working with young people around this issue that has been successful????

Lud

Synergy Magazine

Today I came across this magazine, published 3 times a year by Multicultural Mental Health Australia.

This edition of Synergy reflects on the struggles that young people face – especially those from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.
It taps into their stories of trying to be accepted, the challenge of caring for a parent living with a mental illness and the various initiatives that have been developed to provide these young people with a safe space where they can be themselves.

Bilingual Mental Health Resources

This is something I found today, these resources would be more suited to adults and workers....

Multicultural Mental Health Australia (MHA) has a collection of new mental health resources for everyone.

MHA has released a new series of bilingual resources with beyondblue: the national depression initiative. The resources include: The Depression Checklist, Understanding Depression, Living and Caring for a Person with Depression, How Can You Help Someone with Depression? Depression and antidepressant medication and Emotional Health During Pregnancy and Early Parenthood.

Chris.

IDAHO