What can one do about premature ejaculation? by James Leslie McCary.


   From "Human Sexuality" a brief edition by James Leslie McCary.  D. Van
   Nostrand Company, Copyright 1973, ISBN 0-442-25236-6

                    The Treatment of Premature Ejaculation

   Given the cooperation of his lover, a man can train himself (except
   when the cause is purely physical) to withhold orgasm until both want it
   to happen.  The main enemy is the fear and anxiety engendered in the man
   by previous failures.  Once he gains confidence in his "staying power"
   and accepts the fact that all men face the problem at one time or
   another, the battle is half won.  To assist him toward confidence in his
   abilities, several routes can be taken.

   Some counsellors recommend that a local anesthetic (for example,
   Nupercainal) be applied to the penile glans--care being taken not to
   smear any of the ointment on the woman's vulva--a few minutes before the
   beginning of intercourse.  The assumption is that the deadening effect
   will decrease the sensitivity of the penis and delay ejaculation.
   Others prescribe the wearing of one or more condoms to reduce the
   stimulation generated by the friction of intercourse and the warmth and
   moisture within the vagina.  Since muscular tension is a notorious
   catalyst in ejaculation, premature ejaculation my be prevented by the
   man's lying beneath the woman and thus taking a more passive role in
   coitus.  (Sexual intercourse in the cramped confines of an automobile is
   unsatisfactory for many reasons, one of which is that it often creates
   muscular tension that terminates in early ejaculation.)

   Some men also find that taking a drink just before coitus helps, since
   alcohol is a deterrent in all physiological functioning.  Other men
   claim similar success through concentrating on singularly unsexy
   thoughts, such as their income tax payments.  (It is suggested, however,
   that these men take care not to let their partners know of their
   diversionary thoughts, lest they be dumped from the bed before
   ejaculation, premature or otherwise!)  Having an orgasm and, after a
   short rest, attaining another erection often permit a man to experience
   a more prolonged act of coitus the second time.  Some men masturbate
   shortly before they expect to have sexual intercourse; because their sex
   drive will thereby be decreased, they can then prolong intercourse
   later.

   The technique of delaying the man's orgasm can be learned, and
   probably the best method is one requiring the cooperation of both the
   man and his sex partner.   The best chance of success lies in both
   partners' consulting a psychotherapist who will, first of all, assure
   the couple that premature or early ejaculation is a reversible
   phenomenon.  The couple will then be instructed in the somewhat
   complicated technique of bringing about the reversal of premature
   ejaculation.

   The technique requires that the woman manually stimulate her partners'
   genitals until the point that he feels the very earliest signs of
   "ejaculatory inevitability."  (This is the stage of a man's orgasmic
   experience at which he feels ejaculation of seminal fluid coming, and
   can no longer control it.)  At that moment he signal the woman with such
   a pre-agreed word as "now", and she immediately ceases her massage of
   the penis.  She then quickly squeezes its glans, or head, by placing her
   thumb on the frenulum (on the lower surface of the glans) and two
   fingers on the top of the glans, applying rather strong pressure for 3
   or 4 seconds.  The pressure will be uncomfortable enough to cause the
   man to lose the urge to ejaculate.  Such "training sessions" should
   continue for 15 to 20 minutes, with alternating periods of sexual
   stimulation and squeezing.

   In later sessions, the man inserts his penis in the woman's vagina as
   she sits astride him until he senses impending orgasm, at which point he
   withdraws and she once more squeezes the penis to stop ejaculation.  Use
   of these techniques is continued un further sexual encounters until,
   progressively, the man is capable of prolonged sexual intercourse, in
   any position, without ejaculating sooner than he wishes.

   Two notes of caution should be sounded to those using this technique.
   First, the technique will be unavailing if the man himself applies the
   pressure to his penis; and, second, the couple must not treat this new-
   found sexual skill as a game and overdo it.  If the technique is
   overused, the man may eventually find that he has become insensitive to
   the stimulation and unable to respond to it.  He may then develop new
   fears, this time about his potency, and risk developing secondary
   impotence.  The guidance of a therapist is strongly recommended in the
   treatment of premature ejaculation to prevent such secondary problems.

   Masters and Johnson report a 97.8% success rate in the treatment of
   premature ejaculation.

   In any discussion of premature ejaculation, a word of caution must be
   injected.  It is important to understand that at any one time or another
   almost every man has experienced ejaculation more swiftly than he or his
   partner would have liked.   The essential thing is that the man not
   became anxious over possible future failures.  Otherwise what is a
   normal, situational occurrence may become a chronic problem.

---------------------------------------

c3-16. Is it possible for men to be multi-orgasmic?

   From: sawyer@hubble..westford.ccur.com (George Sawyer)
   Keywords: NEMO, Taoist Yoga, Sexual techniques
   Message-ID: <62486@masscomp.westford.ccur.com>
   Date: 4 Nov 91 16:49:14 GMT

   The following is a modified repost of my answer to "Postie's query"

   I study and teach Taoist esoteric yoga, and among the practices are
   sexual techniques which are VERY EFFECTIVE. There are solo techniques,
   and partner techniques. They require ongoing practice and, for men,
   realistically speaking, the partner techniques require a practising
   partner.

   A basic concept is that you can have an orgasm without ejaculating.
   Since ejaculation takes you through the refractory period & etc. cycle
   as well as emptying your fluid level, it tends to limit activity.
   Remove this constraint and you can go on as long as you want.
   (Have as many orgasms as you want).  When you get close to the point
   of ejaculatory inevitability, you perform the techniques, which pull
   the sexual energy out of your testes / prostate up to your brain &
   compress the prostate causing partial loss of erection & subsiding
   of prostate. When the energy moves upward, you have an non-ejaculatory
   orgasm.

   The only way I can describe the orgasm experience is to compare it to
   to some types of psychedelic drug experiences - except that you are in
   control and can stop immediately if you want. The more you practice, the
   longer and stronger the effects are.  An orgasm of 5 to 10 minutes
   is "quite easy" and you can become able to have one of more than an hour
   with "determined practice". About an hour twenty minutes is my personal
   best (from solo practice at that) and I made it stop because I was
   getting too high.

   You tend to rest for a few or several minutes after each orgasm, being
   with your partner, and then optionally doing it again. Use lots of
   lubricant.

   There are different levels of orgasm, the initial one being a
   "senses" orgasm, in which you experience amplified pleasure from all
   your senses simultaneously. Since this includes touch, it is a
   bodywide experience. An "unexpected" benefit for men
   is that you will always have more energy after sex than before,
   thus dramatically reducing the "roll off and snore" syndrome.
   Also, after sex you will feel much closer to your partner and
   much more connected than prior. Many people have intense experiences
   of total connection and submersion into each other.

   It is also a First Class system for being celibate. Completely eliminates
   wet dreams, and gives you a fair amount of choice about whether to allow
   yourself to become aroused or not. Over the long term you develop some
   degree of control over your sexual desire in general. Feels great
   (even the non-aroused solo practice), and doesn't require "struggle
   and effort". The non-aroused solo practices are being done by individuals
   in many Christian monasteries & nunneries in Europe.

   Downsides. NOT TO BE IGNORED
   For men, it only really works if your partner practices too. Otherwise
   they get BORED watching you have extended orgasms while they wait.

   Initially, it is QUITE DIFFICULT not to ejaculate, and you will need
   cooperation from your partner at the WORST possible times - "I need to
   stop NOW!".

   It does not work well with promiscuity.

   It takes time to learn - I'll say an average of 6 months to beginning
   of competence and control, and requires 15min to 30min per day of
   various meditative practices.

   Realistically, most people don't stick to it long enough to be able to do
   it. Success rate among persistent people is very high, and the practices
   are not difficult.

   Some women find it really weird if you don't ejaculate, and you can really
   fuck up your relationship/marriage if you don't take care of your
   significant other first and foremost. That is far more important than
   mastery of sex techniques.

   These techniques are not part of a religion, no Deities to believe in,
   no statues, none of that.

   The techniques are described quite clearly in:

   "Taoist Secrets of Love: Cultivating Male sexual energy" (men's)

   "Healing Love thru the Tao: Cultivating Female sexual energy" (women's)

   Both are written by Mantak and Manewan Chia, and widely available at
   New Age bookstores.

   The pre-requisite is: "Awakening Healing Energy Thru the Tao"

   Most people find these reference books a bit much, and take one day
   courses.  There are about 70 instructors in the USA, you can find the
   nearest one by calling the Healing Tao center @ (516) 367-2701. Classes
   are about $85, and there is a pre-requisite course "The Microcosmic Orbit"
   which is also about $85.

   DO NOT IGNORE THE SAFETY POINTS IN THE BOOKS

   Happy practice!

---------------------------------------

c3-17. What are some good positions to try out?

   The Teachings of Kama Sutra:
   (See Appendix 3.  The list is long enough to warrant it's own section.)

   From the net (* indicates beginning of a new post):

  * Both are variations of the missionary position and can be done with either
  person on top:

  1) Instead of the usual man's legs inside the woman's legs, have the man
  place one leg _outside_ the woman's legs.  The allows a "sideways"
  penetration which makes my SO happy.

  2) Place _both_ man's legs outside the woman's legs.  This causes inward
  pressure on the vagina and clitoris and tightens the vagina.  We both
  like this very much :)  Note:  If the woman is on top you must be careful
  not to crush the man's testicles :(

  * Have her lay on her side, bottom leg straight and top leg bent at
  the knee, which is in the air. You approach her, sitting up, straddling
  her bottom leg and enter her this way.  This allows for *deep* entry which
  your SO may or may not like.

  * Penile thrusting from the right angle can pull the labia enough to
  give amazing clitoral stimulation. I usually find this happens most
  with rear-entry positions.


  * The first is with the woman on top, her legs straight and directly over
  the man's, pushing her weight backwards and forwards with her arms
  (above the man's shoulders);

  The other is basically the same thing with the man on top, sliding
  forward and backward.

  We also occasionally use a position with her legs inside mine, but on top.
  We both have to be pretty energetic for this, though. It seems to produce
  intense sensation, increased tightness and friction, etc., but we've never
  been able to make it lead to an orgasm for my partner.


  * Have the guy lie on his back legs spread wide. Have her mount with her
    back towards you. Now, with your thigh between her legs bend your knee
    slightly, this way she can bounce her clit on your thigh with each
    stroke. With your leg you can control how much she gets... straighten
    out your leg and she has to go down further to get the same
    stimulation. Guess it works well for me 'cause of my 18" thighs.  ;)


  * A recent x-SO of mine had a favorite position, and I was wondering if
  other women enjoy this also. I would enter her from behind (just like
  doggy style), then while I was fully inserted she would lie down with me
  on top of her. We would both place our hands underneath her (just above
  were I was inserted. Then she would wiggle almost methodically. I assume
  this put great pressure on the clitoris. However after a short time she
  would orgasm and even sometimes multiple.

  * My ex-SO much preferred doggy style. She indicated that that
  was the right level of penetration. What is the position
  called that has man on top, woman with legs up so far that
  her knees are practically at her ears? My ex-SO did not like that,
  she said penetration was too deep. Same thing with her on top,
  but sitting up, making her body at right angles to mine. Also,
  she says that doggy style caused some stimulation of the
  clitoral and pudendal region that wasn't there in other
  positions, presumably because of the movement of tissues
  around the outside of the vagina during intercourse.

  Upside-down position:

  * That question on the purity test refers to (I believe) the people being
  opposite - ie one standing upright and one standing on their hands or
  head.  This is a fun one, but you have to be careful that you don't stand
  up too quickly afterwards if you have been upside down or you could
  possibly pass out.

  OR

  * Have her sitting on the edge of the bed, facing away from the edge,
  on your lap.  Lean over forwards, holding on to a handy dresser.  She does a
  handstand, and you hold yourself up with one hand and hold both of you
  together with the other.  Good for some giggles.

  * We prefer it with the man on his back, with lots of pillows under
  his rear end, propping him up.. I then mount directly on top, one leg
  between his and the other between his leg and arm, i.e. I am
  at a 90 angle with him, sort of squatting, at least initially :-)

  If I then lean forward and move up and down and around, the combination
  of deep penetration and frontal rubbing of my clitoris on his leg makes
  for a very interesting combination.

  * standing up...my girlfriend's hanging on to my shoulders,
    and her legs definitely don't touch the ground.

  * My SO likes really deep penetration. She likes "doggie-style"
  but she prefers variations of "in the buck" (legs over the man's
  shoulders to provide deeper penetration.) Actually, as long as you get
  your arms under her knees it provides the same effect -- some women,
  my SO included, find it extremely uncomfortable to have their knees
  pressed all the way up to their chest during intercourse and just putting
  your arms under her knees or legs will lift her rear up and arch her back,
  giving you a better angle to penetrate at. Also, since your arms are under
  her legs, you are supporting some of her weight, so she doesn't have to
  hold her own rear up for you.

  When we get into this position, I've found that she prefers a sort of
  rocking motion as opposed to a straight in-and-out thrusting (try
  bending your own legs so that your knees come up about even with her
  hips, then you'll be almost cradling her in your lap and if you rock
  back and forth you will stay inside and alternate between plunging
  deep and not-so-deep--this has been the easiest way for me to bring
  her to orgasm).

  Another thing she likes is to get on top and face away from me. I'm
  living in a college apartment and I've got the bottom bunk and the bed
  above has bars under it. I can grab one of these bars and pull myself up
  into her, and if I go fast and hard enough, we can get the bed bouncing
  pretty good and she actually bounces up off of my penis and plunges back
  down onto it. She really enjoys this but it's tough for me to do it for
  very long.

---------------------------------------

c3-18. What is the M-spot?

   From: (unknown)
   I don't know if the spot I'm talking about is really the "M-spot," or
   not.  There's actually a *pair* of these "spots."  You stimulate them
   from outside the body, unlike the G-spot, which you get at from inside
   the vagina.  These "M-spots" are on both men and women!

   They're not easy to find, and you've got to already be somewhat
   sexually aroused, I think, or it won't feel like anything.  I think
   you probably also have to be ticklish, but maybe not.

   Stand up.  Take your shirt and pants off.  Put your hands on your
   hips.  Now, feel how your hands are resting on a big "shelf" of bone?
   That's your pelvic bone.  Grip that bone, and get a feel for the shape
   of it in that area.  Now, concentrate on where the tips of your
   fingers are.  Feel around that area.  Relax your stomach muscles
   completely.  (Try sitting down if it helps you relax that area.)  If
   you have big hands, or a small waist, your fingertips are probably
   already on "the spots."  Otherwise, move your hands forward, around
   towards the front of you a little bit, until you find the edge of that
   bone, on both sides.  Now reach around that ridge of bone, pressing in
   on the sides of your tummy.  Dig in with your fingertips.  That's it!
   They're *right* on the edge of that bone, off the insides of it, not
   off the top of it.  Your fingertips should be somewhere just below and
   to the sides of your belly-button.

   I can't describe it any better than that.  It's probably easier to
   find if your partner does the searching, instead.  If you look for the
   spots yourself, you could be pressing right in them and not know it,
   because it's like trying to tickle yourself -- it just doesn't work.

   Get naked with your partner, do some normal foreplay for a while, and
   get to where you're really ready for sex.  Then have your partner
   stand behind you, and have him/her put their hands on your hips, as if
   you were, then proceed as given above.  If they push and poke around
   in that area long enough, they're bound to find the spots.  They might
   end up just tickling you to death, though.  :-)   (If it tickles,
   they're not pressing hard enough.)

   When they do find your M-spots, you will KNOW IT.  You will feel a
   fire light up inside you.  Within moments, you will want to turn
   around and kiss your partner so hard they suffocate.  It is VERY
   intense.  It's kind of uncomfortable, at first, and you can't take it
   for very long.

   If you're SO is "moving too slow" during foreplay, go for these spots.
   Things will speed up REAL fast.

   Good luck ...

   Sorc


   Re: M-spot

   I've experienced something like this, although she (my girlfriend at
   the time, not a prostitute :-) touched a spot to either side of the
   navel, not directly below it.  1 - 2 inches down is about right, but
   then 2 - 3 inches over.  It's right on the inside of the pelvic bone.
   If you're wearing jeans, and you casually hang your thumbs over those
   first two belt loops, the tips of your thumbs are right there.

   This wasn't just a "male" thing -- it worked on her, too.  It's just
   ticklish if you do it too lightly, but press a little more firmly, and
   it's *very* intense.  It's not really orgasm-inducing, but it turns
   light arousal into high arousal *really* fast.  Get ready for your
   partner to *tackle* you if you do this right.  Use several fingers and
   kind of "push in" on it, like you're kneading dough with your fingers.

   So, I don't know if this is the "M-spot," but it's definitely some
   kind of spot.  :-) And it was great for warming up, but I don't know
   what it'd be like having it stimulated during actual intercourse.  If
   she was on top, so the guy was relatively stationary, and she did that
   "kneading" while "riding" ... hm ... I'll put that on my list of
   things to try.  :-)

---------------------------------------

c3-19. What are Kegel exercises?/How can one increase the force of ejaculation?

  From: sesharp@happy.colorado.edu
  Message-ID: <1991Oct5.231811.1@happy.colorado.edu>
  Date: 6 Oct 91 05:18:11 GMT

  Kegel exercises (pronounced "Kay-gill", in case you ever actually have a
  conversation about them) were invented to give women better bladder
  control.  They have a number of useful advantages in sex.  In women, they
  can help tighten the vagina, particularly after childbirth.  The muscles
  can also be used deliberately during intercourse to stimulate her partner.
  They have a variety of uses for men.  As I already mentioned, they
  strengthen the muscles used in seminal retention, making that technique
  more effective.  They can make ejaculation more powerful.  This may
  increase male enjoyment somewhat and female enjoyment if she is sensitive
  to it.  Deliberate twitches during intercourse are also useful for males.
  Knowing how to force relaxation of the muscles can help maintain control
  and prevent premature ejaculation, as well as relieving the muscle cramps
  that can occur from too many ejaculations in succession.

  For females:

  My recollection of the exercise regimen taken from the older ESO book is
  as follows.  First you have to identify the PC muscles and get them under
  conscious control.  Starting and stopping urination is one method.
  Inserting a finger into the vagina to feel the contractions or watching the
  movement of the erect penis is another.  Once it is under control, there
  are three kinds of exercises.  The first is to clench the muscle and hold
  it for two seconds before releasing it.  The second is to bear down as
  though constipated, using the abdominal muscles to force the PC muscles to
  relax.  I find that alternating reps of these two works well.  The third
  exercise is a fast twitch of the muscle, with repetitions as close together
  as possible, similar to orgasmic contractions.  An initial set of exercises
  consists of 10 repetitions of each exercise.  Five sets should be performed
  in a day.  As strength improves, the number of repetitions in a set is
  increased.  Around 30 repetitions in a set is suggested as a good number
  for retaining good muscle tone.  The exercises are unobtrusive and can be
  performed almost anywhere.


  For males:

  Kegel exercises might indeed help with [increasing the force of
  ejaculation].  Here is how they are performed by males.  First you have to
  learn to consciously control the muscles.  One way of doing this is to use
  them to stop and start urination repeatedly.  When you have an erection,
  contracting them causes it to move, making them easy to identify.  Once
  you have the muscles identified, there are three types of exercises to
  do:

  1) try contracting the muscles and holding them that way for a slow
     count of ten.  You may not be able to last that long at first, but
     that is why you are exercising.

  2) force them to relax by bearing down as though you were constipated and
     trying to force a bowel movement.

  3) twitch (contract and release) the muscles as fast as you can ten times
     in a row.  I find that it works well to alternate each of the first type
     with one of the second type.  I don't recall how many of these are
     recommended.  Something like ten of each to start, eventually working
     up to a hundred.

  In addition to the possibility of increasing the force of ejaculation,
  these may increase the number of contractions and the total enjoyment.
  The same muscles can also be used to reduce the amount of semen in an
  ejaculation by contracting them as hard as possible during it.  This
  leaves a less than satisfied feeling, usually accompanied by an urgent
  desire for another orgasm 10 to 20 minutes later.  This can be useful if
  your partner wants more sex than you do.  Supposedly, increasing the
  strength of the muscles can increase this effect to allow quite a few
  orgasms in a row.

---------------------------------------

c3-20. What are blue balls?

  From: markley@grad1.cis.upenn.edu (Jim Markley)

  Blue Balls is a real condition! The "correct" term for blue balls is
  epididymitis, which is an inflammation of the epididymis. So what is
  an epididymis, you ask?

  Well from the library dictionary -- an elongated mass at the back of
  the testis composed chiefly of the greatly convoluted efferent tubes
  of that organ.

  In simple terms blue balls most commonly occurs when the epididymis
  get blocked up when the sperm leave the testis but not the penis.
  The "efferent tubes" are the conduit for the sperm from the testis to
  the urethra. When they get blocked you get pain. Why blue balls and
  not "swollen balls," well maybe the connotation is that you balls have
  the "blues", or maybe its because with all that swelling some of the
  blood flow is restricted enough to cause some blueing of the area
  because of pooling blood.
----------------------------------------------------------------------

c3-21. Is spanish fly dangerous?

From: japlady@casbah.acns.nwu.edu (Rebecca Radnor)
Subject: Re: Aphrodisiacs??? does really work???

In article bugs016@bugs.mty.itesm.mx (Hector Velazquez
Ochoa) writes:
>I was wondering about all the aphrodisiacs that are announced on some
>magazines, and wanted to know if they really work.. like the famous
>spanish fly that i know the use it's illegal??? in their various
>presentations like liquid or capsules, or the pheromones
>lotion that claims to attract and seduce women in 3 out of 4... is that
>really true??? anyone have tested yet???..
>

There is this great show on CNBC called steals and deals that recently did
a week on sex related stuff.  They said that most of the spanish fly stuff
that is sold is basically sugar water.  The real machoy is illegal, and an
over dose can be lethal.  (I think they said it will give you a permanent
hard-on that can develop gangrene and need to be surgically amputated, but
I'm not sure.)  There are some places that are selling it, but on the show
they said that the risks are far to high compared to the benefits.  On the
other subjects, they said that most of the really good stuff is the kind of
thing that you can get at any reputable sex shop (like the treasure chest
in Chicago, or is it the Pleasure chest?).  Just about everything else is a
rip off.

========================================================================

Category 4. SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASES

A quick table of current treatment effectiveness:
 Gonorrhea:    curable
 Syphilis:     curable in early stages
 Herpes:       incurable, but effective treatment available.
 HPV:          incurable, but treatment available.
 Chlamydia:    curable
 Lice:         curable
 AIDS:         incurable, but some treatment available.
 Hepatitis B:  incurable, but possible vaccine available.

c4-1.  How is the AIDS virus transmitted? and what does a HIV test show?

 (From: Travis Lee Winfrey )

 "AIDS is caused by the Human Immuno-deficiency Virus (HIV).  In a
 person infected with HIV, the virus can be present in the body's
 semen, blood, and breast milk.  It can also be present, in much
 smaller quantities, in vaginal secretion, saliva, and tears.

 The AIDS virus can be transmitted via any of these fluids, but only
 the first two -- semen and blood -- are likely to be involved.  Anal
 sex is the most commonly _perceived_ method of transfer, but vaginal
 sex has been repeatedly shown to transmit HIV.  Men are less likely
 than women to be infected through vaginal sex, but they have, in
 fact, been infected this way.  Cunnilingus and fellatio have also
 been established as capable of transmitting the virus.  Sexual
 activities, not sexual orientation, transmit the virus.

 HIV cannot be passed on through casual contact, hugging,
 hand-shaking, touching the sweat of an infected person, or mosquito
 bites.  HIV can pass through non-latex or "natural" condoms, such as
 Fourex Lambskin condoms.  HIV transmission has nothing whatever to
 do with the presence of feces in anal sex.

 The HIV test shows the presence of antibodies to HIV.  It does not
 show the presence of the virus: the body first has to develop
 antibodies, which normally takes about six weeks.  Hence, a positive
 result means that someone has antibodies and could possibly develop
 AIDS in the future.  A negative result means that someone does not
 have antibodies _at the moment_.  If there is a reason to think that
 exposure was more recent than six weeks, then a test taken
 immediately can only serve as a baseline to compare against a test
 taken later.  Within six months of HIV infection, 99% of the
 population will test positive.  No one should be tested for HIV
 without first obtaining counselling and ensuring _beforehand_ support
 from his or her family or friends.

 The following numbers may be of use.

 AIDS Hotline                 (800) 342-2437
 AIDS Information Clearing House   (800) 458-5231 9-7 EST

 CDC AIDS Ethnicity, Age recording      (404) 330-3020
 CDC AIDS Transmission mode recording   (404) 330-3021
 CDC AIDS Top 10, Projections recording (404) 330-3022

---------------------------------------

c4-2. What is HPV (human papilloma virus)? Treatment?

  *** The writer raises several good questions, which are still ***
  *** unanswered.  Any help will be greatly appreciated.        ***

  From: loredich@miavx3.mid.muohio.edu (Loredich)
  Subject: HPV and genital warts: a dossier
  Message-ID: <427.294a72cb@miavx3.mid.muohio.edu>
  Date: 15 Dec 91 02:08:27 GMT

  HPV (human papilloma virus) is, like any virus, resistant to
  antibiotic therapy.  Once a human is infected with the virus, there
  is no known treatment.

  HPV can cause warts to appear on the genitals, on the head of the penis
  in men, and both internally and externally in women.  These warts have
  been inconclusively linked to cervical cancer in women.

  There is no reliable examination or culture that will reveal the
  presence of the virus unless warts have already developed, as far as I
  understand it.  Is there anyone with differing information?  Is it possible
  to diagnose HPV without the actual appearance of warts?

  The diagnostic procedure for women is called a colposcopy, which involves
  an examination of the cervix with a microscope-like device.  The procedure
  for men involves an application of a solution to the penis which turns the
  warts white, making them easily visible.  A similar examination for women
  involves the application of white vinegar, which makes the woman smell like
  a salad for several days afterward.

  The virus is transmissible through sexual contact.  However, there seems
  to be some disagreement over the likelihood of transmission when no
  warts are present.  The gurus at Planned Parenthood swear that the virus
  is transmissible at any time, with or without warts.  But several letters
  I received declared that transmission is highly unlikely unless warts are
  present: apparently, the virus is not close enough to the surface of the
  skin to cause damage if no warts are visible.  The jury is still out on
  this one.  Anyone know for sure?

  Once the warts appear, they are removed either by freezing, burning, or
  laser surgery (which sounds like the least unpleasant option).  Now, the
  virus itself does not go away, I was told, but the warts do once they are
  removed.  Do they reappear?  The consensus seems to be that they
  generally do not.  One woman who wrote to me declared that she had seen
  no warts in seven years.  Has anyone had recurring warts?

  No real word on whether oral sex is a bad idea.  When the warts are
  present, I can't imagine that it would be too terribly pleasant, but
  wartlessly, is there a high risk of transmission?  Again, Planned
  Parenthood shrieked in dismay and issued a stern "NO!" when I asked, but
  I am not quite sure how reliable their information has been.  Does anyone
  know about this?  Plenty of readers have suggested that oral sex be
  performed with a condom, but I am also concerned with being the receptive
  partner in this.  Can oral sex be safely performed WITHOUT a condom or
  dental dam?

  Response from (anonymous)

  The serotypes of this virus that commonly cause venereal warts are
  associated with cervical cancer.  Other serotypes of the virus have
  been linked to other malignancies.  As to transmission of HPV in the
  absence of visible warts, even if no microscopic warts are  present,
  the mechanical trauma of sex is known to cause at least microscopic
  damage to the skin/mucosa of the genitals that may provide a means of
  transmission of this virus.  The presence of visible warts only
  increases the likelihood of such a transmission occurring in the
  absence of adequate barriers to transmission.  HPV can be detected in a
  PAP smear as cellular atypia, but I believe that a PAP smear has a low
  sensitivity for detecting HPV.

---------------------------------------

c4-3. The major sexually transmitted disease (STDs) and their symptoms
   (Gonorrhea, Syphilis, Genital Herpes, AIDS, Pubic Lice (Crabs),
   Nonspecific Urethritis (NSU), Hepatitis B are covered.)

   From: mf2x+@andrew.cmu.edu (Michael Raymond Feely)
   Date: 13 Oct 91 01:35:57 GMT

  All information is courtesy of "On Sex and Human Loving", Masters and
  Johnson Copyright 1985. All typos are mine, but sadly, this newsreader
  doesn't have a spell checker on it. Further info on the development
  times and the percentage of asymptomatic cases of AIDS would be
  appreciated...


  Gonorrhea
  ---------

   Transmission:  Intercourse, fellatio, anal sex, cunnilingus, kissing
                  (infrequently) Women run a roughly 50% chance of
                  contracting the disease after one session of inter-
                  course, men 20-25%.

  MALE Symptoms:  Yellowish discharge from the penis. Painful, frequent
                  urination. Symptoms develop from two to thirty days
                  after infection. Roughly 10% of men have no symptoms.
                  Later stages of the infection may move into the prostate,
                  seminal vesicles, and epididymis, causing severe pain and
                  fever. Untreated, gonorrhea can lead to sterility in a
                  small minority of cases.

     UPDATE:      Traditionally, gonorrhea in the male was thought to be a
                  symptomatic disease as described above. More recently it
                  has been recognized that a significant number of males have
                  asymptomatic gonorrhea.  As asymptomatic infections can
                  lead to the same complications as symptomatic infections
                  and can be transmitted in the same way, it is important for
                  men to realize that an exposure needs to be investigated
                  whether or not there are symptoms.  Also, a complication of
                  gonorrhea not mentioned above is septic arthritis (infected
                  joint). While the infection itself is easy to treat, this
                  can severely damage the involved joint (often the knee)
                  leading to a permanent disability.

  FEMALE Symptoms:  Under half of women with gonorrhea show no symptoms, or
                  symptoms so mild they are commonly ignored. Early symptoms
                  include increased vaginal discharge, irritation of the ex-
                  ternal genitals, pain or burning on urination and abnormal
                  menstrual bleeding.  Women who are untreated may develop
                  severe complications. The infection will usually spread to
                  the uterus, Fallopian tubes, and ovaries, causing Pelvic
                  Inflammatory Disease (PID).  PID, though not only caused
                  by gonorrhea, is the most common cause of female infer-
                  tility. Early symptoms of PID are lower abdominal pain,
                  fever, nausea, vomiting, and pain during intercourse.


  Syphilis
  --------

   Transmission:  Nominally sexual contact, but can be transmitted by blood
                  transfusion or from an infected pregnant woman to her fetus.

       Symptoms:

   PRIMARY STAGE  A chancre sore develops at the site of infection from two
                  to four weeks after infection has occurred.  The chancre is
                  painless 75% of the time. The chancre starts as a dull red
                  spot, turns into a pimple, which ulcerates, forming a round
                  or oval sore with a red rim.  The sore heals in 4-6 weeks -
                  however, the infection is still present. The chancre is
                  usually found on the genitals or anus, but can appear on
                  any part of the skin.

    SECOND STAGE  One week to six months after the chancre heals. Pale red
                  or pinkish rash appears (often on palms or soles) fever,
                  sore throat, headaches, joint pains, poor appetite, weight
                  loss, hair loss. Moist sores may appear around the genitals
                  or anus and are highly infectious. Symptoms usually last
                  three to six months, but can come and go.

    LATENT STAGE  No apparent symptoms, and the carrier is no longer
                  contagious. However, the organism is insinuating itself
                  into the host's tissues. 50 to 70 percent of carriers pass
                  the rest of their lives without the disease leaving this
                  stage. The reminder pass into Third Stage syphilis

     THIRD STAGE  Serious heart problems, eye problems, brain and spinal cord
                  damage, with a high probability of paralysis, insanity,
                  blindness or death.

    From: (anonymous)

    While all of the symptoms mentioned are possible (as well as others),
    it usually manifests with a limited number of these symptoms at any one
    time (often just one).  In the past, syphilis was known as the great
    imitator because it could resemble almost any known illness (It was
    said that "To know syphilis was to know medicine.")  Modern diagnostic
    techniques now make this a much simpler disease to diagnose, especially
    in the early stages.  The statement in the FAQ that later stages of
    syphilis are not curable is IMHO wrong.  There is some controversy on
    this point in treating advanced neurosyphilis, but I believe this
    represents difficulties in evaluating the effectiveness of treatment in
    the short term in these patients.  I believe patients who are not
    successfully treated represent treatment failures not incurable
    disease.  Having said this, let me point out that damage by the disease
    prior to treatment is not reversible, although it is often treatable.


  Genital Herpes
  --------------

   Transmission:  Generally by sexual contact. Direct contact with infected
                  genitals can cause transmission via intercourse, rubbing
                  genitals together, oral genital contact, anal sex, or oral
                  anal contact.  In addition, normally protected areas of
                  skin can become infected if there is a cut, rash, sore.
                  Herpes viruses can be spread in some instances by kissing,
                  if one participant has the infection sited in or near the
                  mouth.

       Symptoms:  Herpes is marked by clusters of small, painful blisters
                  on the genitals. After a few days, the blisters burst,
                  leaving small ulcers. In men, the blisters usually appear
                  on the penis, but can appear in the urethra or rectum.
                  In women, they usually appear on the labia, but can appear
                  on the cervix and anal area. First outbreaks are accompanied
                  by fever, headache, and muscle soreness for two or more
                  consecutive days in 39% of men and 68% of women. Other
                  relatively common symptoms include painful urination
                  discharge from the urethra or vagina, and tender, swollen
                  lymph nodes in the groin. These symptoms tend to disappear
                  within two weeks. Aseptic meningitis occurs in 8 percent of
                  cases, eye infections in 1% of cases, and infection of the
                  cervix in 88% of infected women. Skin lesions last on
                  average 16.5 days in men, 19.7 in women. Secondary symptoms
                  are most prominent in the first four days and then gradually
                  diminish.

     Recurrence:  None in 10% of cases. Frequency for the remaining
                  population is from once a month to once every few years.
                  The majority of sufferers do not have repeat attacks after
                  a few years. Most repeat attacks are less severe than the
                  initial attack.


  AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome)
  -----------------------------------------

   Transmission:  Sexual contact, sharing IV needles, blood transfusion
                  (Note that blood is now routinely screened for HIV) Note
                  also that the HIV virus is significantly less likely to be
                  transmitted than the gonorrhea or syphilis bacteria.

       Symptoms:  No single pattern exists. Most common symptoms are
                  progressive, inexplicable weight loss, persistent fever,
                  swollen lymph nodes, and reddish purple coin sized spots
                  on the skin (These spots are Kaposi's sarcoma, a form of
                  cancer) When symptoms appear, they may remain unchanged for
                  months, of may be followed by any one of a number of op-
                  portunistic infections. Typically these include pneumocystis
                  carinii, an unusual form of pneumonia, fungal infections,
                  tuberculosis, and various herpes forms. Treatment may fend
                  off these infections, however the typical course is for one
                  overwhelming infection to follow another until the victim
                  succumbs due to the immune system's failure to return to a
                  normal state, and hence, the opportunistic infection's
                  relative freedom to wreak havoc on the victim's systems.
                  It is possible for AIDS to be asymptomatic for prolonged
                  periods of time while still being contagious.

        On the significance of symptoms of HIV separate from infections:

           While most AIDS patients do eventually die of/with various
        opportunistic infections, the significance of the chronic wasting
        can not be ignored.
           In the early days of AIDS, there were patients that by current
        definitions clearly had AIDS, but were never classified as such
        since they died of the "dwindles" before acquiring an opportunistic
        infection that would have made that diagnosis.
           Also, there has been much discussion of the minimal time until
        HIV seroconversion.  It should be noted that patients with advanced
        HIV disease can become "HIV negative" as they lose the ability to
        make antibodies to HIV (this does not represent an improvement in
        the condition).
           A final comment on HIV: the opportunistic infections encountered
        in HIV infection are generally acquired common environmental
        pathogens or acquired from the host themselves.  This is why HIV wards
        do not serve to infect all occupants with all diseases present.


  Pubic Lice (Crabs)
  ------------------

   Transmission:  Nominally through sexual contact, however they may be
                  picked up through use of sheets, towels or clothing used
                  by an infected person.

       Symptoms:  Intense itching, usually felt mostly at night. Some
                  victims have no symptoms, others may develop an allergic
                  rash.


  Nonspecific Urethritis (NSU)
  ----------------------------

   (Most commonly - Chlamydia trachomatous and T. mycoplasma)

   Transmission:  Some cases are allergic or chemical reactions, and are
                  not transmitted per se. Others are through sexual contact.

       Symptoms:  Similar to gonorrhea but usually milder. Urethral
                  discharge is generally thin and clear. Some cases are
                  asymptomatic.

     Also: This can also precipitate a condition called Reiter's syndrome in
           susceptible persons. This is most commonly characterized by


  The Facts on Hepatitis B
  ------------------------

    What is Hepatitis B?

    Hepatitis B, a potentially deadly, sexually transmitted disease, is not
    selective about who it infects:  anyone can get hepatitis B.  Yet,
    even though it affects the lives of hundreds of thousands in the
    United States, most people know very little about this serious
    disease.

    The hepatitis B virus has been spreading rapidly in the United States,
    with 14 Americans dying each day from hepatitis B-related illnesses.
    Chances are you know at least one person with hepatitis B because one
    in 20 Americans has been infected with the virus.

    Why is Hepatitis B Called a Sexually Transmitted Disease?

    Hepatitis B is not commonly thought of as a sexually transmitted
    disease.  The fact is that it is commonly spread through sex, just
    like AIDS, syphilis, herpes and gonorrhea.  The number of Americans
    who have contracted hepatitis B through sex has almost doubled in the
    last decade.

    Who Can get Hepatitis B?

    Because it is extremely contagious--100 times more contagious than
    AIDS--anyone can get hepatitis B.  But you are in even greater danger
    if:

    o    you have had more than one sexual partner in the last six months
    o    you have had unprotected sex (without a condom)
    o    you or your partner have ever been diagnosed with a sexually
         transmitted disease (such as herpes, gonorrhea, syphilis,
         chlamydia, genital warts or AIDS)
    o    you or your partner have had sexual contact with someone who has
         had hepatitis B, or someone who is in one of the categories
         listed above

    What Are the Symptoms?

    About half of those who get hepatitis B will suffer from an
    inflammation of the liver, called acute hepatitis.  Many people with
    hepatitis B mistake the symptoms for other illnesses, such as the flu,
    while others are more seriously affected and may miss school or work
    for months.  Some of the symptoms caused by hepatitis B are:

    o    mild, flu-like illness
    o    skin rashes and arthritis
    o    nausea
    o    vomiting
    o    loss of appetite
    o    malaise
    o    abdominal pain
    o    jaundice (yellowing of the eyes and skin)

    What Happens if I Get Hepatitis B?

    Those who become chronically infected with hepatitis B have
    substantially higher risk of developing liver cancer than the general
    population.  But even if you don't get liver cancer, the effects of
    hepatitis B infection can be so severe that you may not be able to go
    to school or work for several months.

    Then there are those who don't even know they have hepatitis B.  We
    call them the "silent carriers".  This group of symptomless carriers
    can pass the disease on to countless others unknowingly (and may
    eventually get very ill themselves).

    NOTE: THERE IS NO KNOWN CURE FOR HEPATITIS B although there is a
    possible vaccine.  Ask a physician for more information.

    After May 1, you can call 1-800-HEP-B-873 for referral to a physician
    near you who can answer questions.

Because the transmission of different STDs are not independent, persons who
acquire _any_ STD are at considerably  greater risk (epidemiologically) of
acquiring other STDs.  Persons diagnosed with one STD should be examined for
other STDs at that time (Multiple infections are possible!!!).  Persons who
have ever had a STD (except lice, "crabs") should be aware of whatever was
done that led them to acquire that STD.

========================================================================

Category 5.  CONTRACEPTION

c5-1. What are the various methods of contraception? and their effectiveness
  rates? and their associated risks if any?

  From: c31002wb@jezebel.wustl.edu (William Burris)
  Message-ID: <1992Mar10.215138.11142@wuecl.wustl.edu>
  Date: Tue, 10 Mar 1992 21:51:38 GMT


                        % of women experiencing an
                        accidental pregnancy in the
                        first year of use
              ----------------------------------------------------
                   Lowest                        Lowest
Method              Expected       Typical        Reported
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chance                   85             85        43.1

Spermicides              3              21        0.0

Periodic abstinence                     20
 Calender               9                        14.4
 Ovulation Method       3                        10.5
 Symptothermal          2                        12.6
 Postovulation          1                         2.0

Withdrawal               4              18         6.7

Cervical Cap             6              18         8.0

Sponge
  Parous women          9              28        27.7
  Nulliparous women     6              18        13.9

Diaphragm                6              18         2.1

Condom                   2              12         4.2

IUD
 Progestasert           2.0             3         1.9
 Copper T 380A          0.8             3         0.5

Pill
 Combined               0.1             3         0.0
 Progestogen only       0.5             3         1.1

Injectable progestogen
    DMPA                0.3            0.3        0.0
    NET                 0.4            0.4        0.0

Implants
 NORPLANT (6 capsules)  0.04           0.04       0.0
 NORPLANT (2 rods)      0.03           0.03       0.0

Female sterilization     0.2            0.4        0.0

Male sterilization       0.1            0.15       0.0

                     Associated Risk statistics

Activity                        Chance of Death in a Year
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Risks for men and women of all ages who participate in:
    Motorcycling                       1 in 1,000
    Automobile driving                 1 in 6,000
    Power boating                      1 in 6,000
    Rock climbing                      1 in 7,500
    Playing football                   1 in 25,000
    Canoeing                           1 in 100,000

Risks for women aged 15 to 44 years:
    Using Tampons                      1 in 350,000
    Having sexual intercourse (PID)    1 in 50,000

Preventing pregnancy:
    Using birth control pills
         nonsmoker                     1 in 63,000
         smoker                        1 in 16,000
    Using IUDs                         1 in 100,000
    Using diaphragm, condom or spermicide   NONE
    Using fertility awareness methods  NONE
    Undergoing sterilization:
         Laparoscopic tubal ligation   1 in 67,000
         Hysterectomy                  1 in 1,600
         Vasectomy                     1 in 300,000

Continuing pregnancy                    1 in 14,300

Terminating Pregnancy:
    Illegal abortion                   1 in 3,000
    Legal abortion
         Before 9 weeks                1 in 500,000
         Between 9-12 weeks            1 in 67,000
         Between 13-15 weeks           1 in 23,000
         After 15 weeks                1 in 8,700
------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 The source is the 1990-1992, 15th Revised Edition of Contraceptive
 Technology.  Authored by too many doctors to cite.  However, this book is
 used by millions of doctors around the world as an authority on
 contraception.  It's authors gather their sources from data published by
 several different statistic gathering organizations (such as the Centers
 for Disease Control) and then compile and interpret it in their book.
 Happy Reading.

-----

  From: mf2x+@andrew.cmu.edu (Michael Raymond Feely)
  Date: 1 Oct 91 20:52:32 GMT

  Nominally, the failure rates for contraceptive methods are expressed
  as "number of pregnancies per one hundred user couples per year" Thus of
  one hundred couples who used condoms as a birth control method, two
  experienced unwanted pregnancies in one year.

  Below are reproduced the failure rates for typical contraceptive methods.
  My source for this is the tome "Sex A User's Manual" published
  by The Diagram Group. (Berkeley Publishing Group, New York c 1981) The
  list of credited contributors includes Toni Bellefield, Medical
  Information Officer, Family Planning Information Service, and D.B.
  Garrioch, MD, MRCOG, Senior Registrar in Gynecology, St. Thomas' Hospital,
  London.

  Actual failure rate - number of pregnancies per 100 couples per year of
                     use, includes conception do to user's failing to use
                     the method properly, as well as through method failures.

  Theoretical failure rate - number of pregnancies expected per 100 couples
                     per year of use, allowing only for failure of the method
                     to function when used properly. Condoms breaking for no
                     apparent reason, etc, are method failures.

  I = less than 1
  X = expected failure rate, one X per pregnancy
  x = actual failure rate minus expected rate, one x per pregnancy

  I                    Tubal Ligation (E 0.04/A 0.04)
  I                    Vasectomy (E 0.15/A 0.15)
  XXXxx                IUD (E 1-3/A 5)
  Ixxxxxxxxxx          Combined Pill (E 1-1.5/A 5-10)
  Ixxxxxxxxxx          Minipill (E 1-1.5/A5-10)
  XXXxxxxxxx           Condoms (E 3/A 10)
  XXXxxxxxxxxxxxxxx    Cap & Spermicide (E 3/A17)
                         (Rates for diaphragm are probably somewhat lower)
  XXXXXXXxxxxxxxxxxxxx           Rhythm (temp) (E 7/A 20)
  XXXXXXXXXXXXXxxxxxxxx          Rhythm (calendar) (E 13 /A 21)
  XXxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx      Rhythm (mucous) (E 2/A25)
  XXXxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx      Spermicides (E 3/A 20-25)
  XXXXXXXXXxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx      Withdrawal (E 9/A20-25)


  It is to be noted that this data is rather old, and therefore omits one
  crucial form of birth control currently available - the low dose pill.
  Low dose birth control pills are a more sophisticated development of the
  combined pill, and function in essentially the same way, but do not
  require as high an overall dose of hormones per month, thus reducing
  side effects considerably. Low dose pills may also be taken right up til
  menopause, whereas it is recommended that the combined or mini pills be
  discontinued around age 40-45.

  The rate I remember for "No birth control" was somewhere on the order
  of 80%, however, that is for a statistical sample over time, not for
  "one fuck".

  >I believe some women also have strong allergic reactions to spermicides. I
  >would (personally) say they are a poor choice.

  Independently, they are, but bear in mind that spermicides are absolutely
  necessary to the functioning of some forms of birth control - even a well
  fitted diaphragm is pretty much useless without spermicidal jelly.


  DIAPHRAGM
  ---------
  (from: elf@halcyon.com)

  Has a failure rate of 2% (i.e. out of 100 women who primarily use the
  diaphragm, two become pregnant).  Always use spermicide; both partners
  _must_ learn how to place it properly.  It has few associated risks; it
  cannot become 'lost' because the vagina is only a few inches long.
  Can 'slip' and press against the rectum; this can be uncomfortable.
  Also, some men can feel the diaphragm during intercourse.  Some women
  have recurrent yeast infections when using the diaphragm.

  The average diaphragm costs about 20-30 dollars, but it must first
  be sized and fitted by a gynecologist, so there is the cost of a
  doctors' fee.  Must be replaced every two years to ensure correct fit
  and product lifespan.  A tube of Gynol II costs around 11 dollars and
  is good for 24 doses of spermicide.

  The major disadvantage to the diaphragm is that it must be used one
  of two ways; either it is inserted before any sort of sexual play, in
  which case the taste of spermicide can become an issue if the couple
  wishes to engage in oral sex, or is inserted after oral sex but before
  intercourse, which can be considered a major interruption of play and
  may lead to not using it all.
  (SOURCE: "The New Our Bodies, Ourselves" The Boston Women's Health
  Book Collective, 1984.  Pgs 225-228.)

  A personal observation:  Omaha and I rely on the diaphragm as our
  primary birth control.  As mentioned, she does have recurrent yeast
  infection, but we both agree this is a minimal compared to the intense,
  suicidal depression that came when she mixed birth control pills and
  her epilepsy medication.

  We are both fond of oral sex, so we use the diaphragm in the latter
  way described in paragraph three.  We have never failed to used it;
  insertion of the diaphragm has become a major part of our play, a way
  of saying "I love you, I care about you, I _will_ be responsible with
  your body" during lovemaking.

  The diaphragm, it _must_ be remembered, is _not_ an effective method
  of STD control; only a condom can do that.  The diaphragm is a
  reproduction control method for primary partners only!


c5-2. What kinds of condoms are there?

  (from: Steven Sharp, sesharp@happy.colorado.edu)

  This is a posting of information about types of condoms which are
  significantly larger or smaller than average.  I got it out of a book
  called "The Condom Book" or something similarly imaginative.

  One thing that was apparent from reading through the descriptions was that
  advertising on size (or for that matter thickness or ribbing or whatever)
  is often misleading.  A brand which is claimed to be smaller than average
  frequently isn't outside the normal variation.  There may also be
  differences in size based on variations in manufacturing and these figures
  were probably based on single samples.  Different size measurements for
  different styles of the same brand may indicate such variations or be
  an attempt to provide some size variation, in which case getting the
  precise style named is important.  All measurements are flat and don't take
  into account elasticity, which might influence comfort when worn.  Typical
  condom flat widths range from 2" to 2-1/8" (meaning two and one eighth, not
  two minus an eight).  All the condoms listed here are both lubricated and
  reservoir ended.  Company names are listed in parentheses.  Extra words
  which may appear in the name on some packages are listed in square brackets.
  It is possible I've copied some numbers wrong (and other disclaimer noises).


  Slimmer condoms
  ---------------
  Bikini (Barnetts) : slightly less than 2" by 7-1/4",
                      packaged in that frustrating plastic wrapper

  [Sheik] Fetherlite (Schmid) : 1-7/8" by 7-1/2"

  Hugger (Circle) : 1-7/8" by 7-1/8"

  Slims (Circle) : 1-7/8 by 7-3/4

  Mentor (Mentor) : 2" by 8",
                    not smaller, but has adhesive inside to prevent slippage,
                    rather expensive though


  Wider condoms
  -------------
  Excita (Schmid) : 2-1/4" by 8-1/4",

                    Excita Extra has spermicide

  [Lifestyle] [Horizon] Nuda (Ansel) : 2-5/8" head, 2-1/8" shaft, by 8-1/8"

  [Ramses] NuForm (Schmid) : 2-1/2" upper, 2+" lower, by 8-1/4,
                             has benzocaine anaesthetic

  Rough Rider (Ansel) : 2-1/2" by 8"
                        thick but doesn't block sensations, raised studs

  Sheik Ribbed (Schmid) : 2-1/4", forgot to note length

  (Note wide variation in Sheik.  Elite with spermicide and Lubricated (with
   benzocaine?) are both 2-1/8".  Fetherlite is 1-7/8".)

  Trojan-Enz Lubricated (Carter-Wallace) : 2-1/4" by 8"


  Longer condoms
  --------------
  Man-form Lubricated (Protex) : 2" by 8-3/4" long
                      packaged in that frustrating plastic wrapper

  [Trojan] Naturalube (Carter-Wallace) : 2" by 8-5/8"