On September 26, 2002, a broad-based coalition of leading scientists and health groups called on manufacturers of condoms and lubricants to voluntarily remove Non-Oxynol-9 (N-9) from their products.This came about because test results consistently showed that it exfoliates (rubs off) the protective epithelial layer in both the rectum and the vagina, which can lead to lesions (open sores) and, in fact, could increase the risk of HIV infection, particularly in women.In 2001 the World Health Organisation concluded that products containing N-9 should not be used rectally, that it did not provide microbicidal protection against STIs of any kind and could allow HIV to pass into the body more easily - this research was conclusive by the end of 1999/ beginning of 2000.
Five years later - and guess what?We are still in the same position – there has been no radical reduction in the use of N-9, nor do products display a usage warning on the packaging! This especially applies to the leading brands trusted by millions worldwide and consistently sold in leading stores and pharmacies.As a result of this lack of action, certain government drug and medical supervisory bodies are enforcing a ban.However, for many years now these same governments and agencies, alongside manufacturers and retailers, have known about the health issues but continued selling their products.
These same products have indirectly been promoted by government health campaigns that tell us condom use (and thus necessary lubricant use) is the best way of having safer sex!The companies who make their profits by selling sexual safety and quietly implying they have your best interests at heart are, in fact, putting your health at risk.As part of a planned campaign to get more market share from their competitors, they design ever stronger, thinner, ribbed and flavoured condoms as part of this policy to make their products more attractive, yet still manufacture protection and lubricants with N-9.They continue to do this knowingly and blatantly in spite of the scientific proof and even though there are viable and safer alternative ways of adding spermicides to lubricants.
Governments in Europe, the United States and Australasia, all with complex HIV/AIDS problems, are willing to spend millions on poorly educating the public by only giving the most savoury “Middle England” facts in these educational/informative campaigns.They fine-tune them so that they are minimally offensive to anyone and are filled with a perceived “right amount” of politically charged information to suit the current climate.These campaigns never really address the heart of the problem - rather they simply gloss over it.Some of these countries are even taking sex education off teenage curricula in schools, but at the same time they tell us we need to take responsibility for our individual actions.Nowadays teenagers and adults have a greater awareness of so many issues compared with those of generations, say 50 years ago, but how do these governments expect adults to make informed decisions without them giving us honest facts - warts and all?How does this compare with smoking - an issue that is high on government agendas?
In a rare show of European togetherness there is a commitment to tackle smoking reduction and thus hopefully reduce smoking related illnesses.These campaigns are graphic and hard hitting at a high level, they give facts - warts and all - and have a strong psychological impact on individuals.As a smoker, even I find these adverts nauseating, which at least means they are getting through to even a hardened psyche.So far, they haven’t stopped me lighting another cigarette, but I do get the message – in greater gory detail!
Even with the 25th anniversary of HIV/AIDS in the UK, there weren’t any similar campaigns to raise awareness, in spite of infection figures rising dramatically.Only very occasionally is there an advert or government health warning about HIV and safer sex, and they are sponsored by governments and government agencies that dress up and sanitise the evidence (even when directed at specific target groups – say in the gay press) so it is more of a suggestion than a necessary fact – a soft campaign.Can this be effective?All agree that safe sex is the most effective way to remain disease free, and most of us will practice safe sex to the best of our knowledge or desire (but mistakes do happen, whether by accident or design), so why do governments that are elected by us and profess to represent our very best interests still allow companies to use N-9 in protective devices, knowing the consequences?
Let’s compare some of the figures for cancer versus HIV.There are roughly 40,000 people reported as living in the UK with HIV, of which it is thought around half are on anti-viral therapy costing £18,000 per year.These people have an average life expectancy of 20 years, which means a lifetime cost of £360,000 provided there is no price increase over the life of the individual. (We are using government-released figures so, given the reputation of this government to misrepresent and their perfection of creativity with figures, we can assume that these are going to be much higher).The average cost of treating someone for cancer is about £35,000 as reported by the BBC on 11th April 2006, a figure almost double that for HIV in one years treatment. (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/breakfast/4898158.stm).
This cost per person from diagnosis to final treatment offers (on average) a life expectancy of less than 10 years from initial diagnosis but still a cost of £35,000.Treating cancer is perhaps better value for money per head than treating someone with HIV – yet the advertising to reduce new cases differs as much as a mouse to an elephant!
Perhaps the government would argue that there are more people smoking in this country than living with HIV.However, that begs another question - “Are there more people living in this country having misinformed “safe” sex than there are smokers”?Which is really the greater risk - a self-inflicted, smoking-related illness or a diagnosis of HIV to someone who thought that they had done it by the book?
Given the amount of money the government spends on treatments after the fact, and that our caring government has known about the consequences of N-9 for at least five years but has done nothing to inhibit its sale in the UK (in reality they would have been aware long before 1999 that the scientific community had it’s doubts), how many people who trusted the “infomercials” and believed that they were having safer sex became infected because of the use of N-9 in products that they thought were safe?
How many more people would not be at risk if the government actually told the whole truth for once and did an honest campaign about STIs, or even allowed an evenly taught curriculum in schools on sex education.
We have a National Health Service in crisis that is laying off its most valuable assets - our wonderful nurses - whilst creating more bureaucracy and jobs at the top for the PCT administrators.Perhaps if this government, which has been in power since the knowledge and consequences of N-9 use as a spermicide has been known, had brought in legislation on the manufacture of condoms and lubricants, we may have had a few more millions to spend in the NHS looking after the existing cases that we have rather than contributing to the making of new ones.
The UK government claims it wants to make all things equal and protect the rights of the disaffected; it probably has the highest record for putting “human rights” driven acts through parliament.It has an amazing publicity machine upholding these claims – even though more and more of these acts have to be amended because in fact they breach rights or were so fast-tracked that important issues and facts were missed in the delivery of the original version.So much so, that for every claim they make, an already disillusioned country looks at this government and wonder how much of the spin is truth, how capable are they of delivering it and how the hell we are going to pay for it all.
All of this new legislation usually creates another pigeonhole and stereotyping of yet another minority group that needed special laws and its own bill against discrimination simply because it either looked good or they weren’t quite good enough to be included in the one that covers everyone else.
What governments still avoid acknowledging is that this heightened awareness from childhood onwards also transfers to sexual behaviour.More and more people are trying new (or if you truly look at morals historically “not so new”) sexual games and, whilst the older generations still take a moral high ground on such things, younger people are experimenting more – whether that be same sex, bdsm or whatever.But alongside this, the adult industry is still stuck in a time warp of seediness and most are in for the quick buck they can make out of the punters, which the public in general still view as something distasteful.
Retailers like Anne Summers, Clone Zone, Prowler, etc offer well lit, well fitted out units for the average market, whilst those independent stores such as Fettered Pleasures, RoB and Regulation offer an environment that appeals to a particular sector or lifestyle - these are usually out of town, often in run-down areas and usually painted black.These latter stores still provide an image of “dirty mac” sex and they indirectly feed that ideology to Middle England who still takes the moral high ground and make comments such as “If they were normal they would be alright”.Middle England is mostly led by those with the highest morals - the clergy (not forgetting those with the lowest morals who stand on the highest moral peaks - our politicians who would not know the truth if faced with it).
I wonder how many of their ecclesiastical Graces voted against same sex partnerships, women clergy and a few other controversial agendas that have been put before the Synod in recent times whist still professing one thing in public and keeping a few dark secrets and same sex partners in the closets (personally I can think of a few - not that I agree with outing, each must reconcile their own mind)?
Then there are some of my favourites that have been clichéd and been around for just a little too long.For example “it’s against Gods law to wear a condom; Cross your fingers and hope you don’t catch AIDS and, (my personal favourite) abstention is the only way”.The Hell Fire and Damnation “wear a condom and you’re damned, don’t wear a condom you’re damned” and, oh yes, just in case you forgot about the earlier point - the damned things have N-9 on and in anyway, so you’re doubly damned.
All religions tell us that “God” is full of love, hope and compassion, perhaps one day those in his employ may just learn a bit themselves and start to not only preach, but do the right thing.I know that practicing what they preach is still asking a bit much.Perhaps I was naive in hoping a new Pope would have new more modernistic views.One word from this man and a whole generation of young people would enjoy the various protections available without the guilt trip and the ensuing future results from the GUM clinics because they were trying to live by “God’s will”.Perhaps the Pope and other secular clergy should remember that “God” made us in his image, no matter what our sexuality, and tells us He looks at our individual hearts and that no man should judge another – because only “God” has the facts!
The other day whilst walking around the supermarket looking for a bit of inspiration (you know - “every little helps”), I thought that I would look at some of the marital aids - yes they do sell them - manufactured by some of the biggest international producers.Putting condoms aside, I thought I’d look at the lubricants on sale. I was more than pleased to see that Durex, one of the most respected companies globally, had removed N-9 from their product range - but this was in 2004, a whole two years after they knew the problems surrounding the ingredient.
How many lives were put at risk or people stigmatised, not just from HIV but, given the problems caused by N-9 and the damage it causes the skin cells, the risk of Chlamydia, Genital Warts, LGV….ouch is an understatement!
The government’s record on Sexual Heath and getting theinformation to the public at large is appalling. Mr. Blair should wake up and smell the infections (not the coffee); it’s not enough to say we have done this and that…. and our record on this and that… and compare it to previous records.
Mr. Blair, you should be asking “What else can we do?” Perhaps sex education leaflets should be in the foyer of every school.Perhaps when an eleven year old entering high school picks one up, reads it and then shows it to his or her parents, if the school then gets a phone call from the parent or guardian to ask why their child has got this leaflet, the school answers “better the leaflet than the infection in a couple of years”, then Mr. Blair we will have achieved something!!
Why do they do nothing to protect the very health they claim to represent - namely yours and mine? Could it be simply because they don’t have to?Could the reasons that Tony Blair and his good Catholic nuances and lap-dog Parliamentarians have not had time to bring this little problem before parliament be similar to those of the Saudi/BEA scandal - big business dictates to government no matter what the cost to the nation?It’s not in the public interest?Is it not for the nation’s health?Could it be that they have more important things to do, like making sure his legacy tour is in order and he enters the history books as the “saviour of the world”?
THE REAL LEGACY OF THIS GOVERNMENT IS THAT IT COULD HAVE DONE SO MUCH MORE FOR THE PEOPLE!
You expect our favourite high street supermarkets and pharmacies to be in it for the money, after all they do have shareholders to satisfy and it’s all about the balance sheet and profit and loss accounts.But what about some of the most famous adult retailers in the business, both on the web and off it.You would hope that they would know better, given the amount of business they do with you, the customer, hoping for your repeat business down the years.Why then are they (who can exert so much influence over manufacturers) still stocking this harmful, life threatening rubbish?In fact, many of the lubricants sold in adult stores are manufactured on behalf of or by adult companies – so why don’t they clean up their acts?
Trawling the websites
In trawling some of the most famous online stores (gay, lesbian and heterosexual), I was astounded to find that almost all the sites I visited carried lubricants and condoms with N-9 in them.One site, JDL for Leather, proudly announces that “JDL Lube is back.Compatible with natural and synthetic materials.Water soluble.Contains Nonoxynol-9.Great value for 250g POST FREE.” (https://www1.securesiteserver.co.uk/jdl/viewitem.php3?thisitem=170)
JDL uses the phrase “Is back”.This means it was there before – as we’ve seen above!Given the fact that N-9 has been decried and proven to be dangerous for many years, one has to ask why they are proudly promoting this lubricant?
I am surprised that JDL and, more importantly, their manufacturing company (it’s unlikely JDL is big enough to have their own manufacturing plant) has chosen to use a product known to impair health and due to be banned by major countries.I have to ask myself about their claim “Great value for 250g”. Yes it is cheap at £4.95: for less than a fiver you can ruin your future health!Do I need to go any further with this argument or the irresponsibility of some of the companies involved?
People, you give the adult industry a bad name and you’re putting your customers’ lives at risk.If you want to sell a branded lubricant sell one that’s safe – not containing a product about to be banned globally!!
Wet Lubricants, one of the biggest selling brands globally, states in the FAQs area on their website.“Do Wet products contain spermicides?Do they contain Nonoxynol-9?Wet was the first manufacturer to remove Nonoxynol-9 from all of its products, based on recommendations from the CDC.As a result of our responsible actions, most (italics mine) lubricants no longer contain Nonoxynol-9”.
This statement is a little odd to say the least – in one sentence they say they have removed it from ALL products and then go on to say MOST.How confusing is this?However, I did try to find which ones did and did not contain N-9.
Whether or not any of the other major lubricant manufacturers’ products contain N-9 is not known.Although Wet do not state which of their products contain N-9, I take my hat off to a company that is honest enough to admit the contents of theirs.It could be that there is so little N-9 in these products that they produce no threat at all.
So what about an alternative
There are responsible lubricant manufacturers out there that do produce products that can help stem the spread of STI’s - albeit it not 100%.Some of these companies have spent time and an incredible amount of money on research doing their bit to be responsible.
These companies - and the list is not exhaustive - are as follows:
Pjur (made in Germany)
Manufactures “Med Clean”, “for gentle, hygenic cleaning. Works as a guard against infection and has an intensive antimicrobial effect against bacteria, fungal infections, and viruses such as Hepatitis B and HIV.Suited for use on sensitive or irritated skin and safe for application on alcohol sensitive materials such as latex, rubber and silicone.”
This an external product used prior to intimacy. Whether or not Pjur use the same technology in their lubricants we cannot ascertain, but at least this company is addressing the problems we are all encountering.Other products from this socially responsible company include, BodyGlide and Eros.
Kirklees Medical Ltd (made in the UK).
The K-range is a range of personal lubricants that contain a microbicidal agent against bacteria, fungal infections, and viruses such Hepatitis B and, to a certain degree, HIV as well as Chlamydia and other STIs as standard in all their lubricants, all of which are water based. They have been fully tested and carry a minimal carbon footprint, fully biodegradable and all packaging is made from recycled material and is, in turn, fully recyclable.
The ‘K’ range includes sensation-generating stimulations, neutral formulations and even powdered versions to re-hydrate as required. All of the ‘K’ range are sterile lubricants from start to finish, dermatologically tested and non-irritant and are of a certified medical standard.
Johnson & Johnson
KY Jelly is a good basic lubricant that is sterile - used by the medical profession in all manner of applications (such as providing a slippery coating for the ultrasound scanner used on pregnant mothers) and other medical (sometimes intimate) examinations.KY contains a microbicidal agent to help prevent the transmission of STIs, bacterial and fungal infections.
The product is sold in tubes and tends to be a bit on the expensive side - the bonus side of course is that it is available at all chemists, pharmacies and supermarkets.
Bodywise (made in the UK)
Branded as Liquid Silk and Maximus, both formulated to be bio-static.This means that should it be exposed to any bacteria, yeast infection or fungal spores it will stop them spreading.This makes it an ideal lubricant for anal intercourse as well as all other forms of sexual contact.
There are many more responsible lubricant companies out there, but very few are happy to tell us how responsible their formulations are! Honesty is always the best policy unless you have something to hide.
So, after finally going into a store, how do we choose the lubricant we want to try?
Well, firstly it is down to branding - how pretty the packaging looks. “I want to f@*k” style branding, enticing you into all kinds of erotic interludes, the packaging designed to stimulate promises of good times.
The next may be a recommendation from a friend.Is this really the way we should buy products that can affect our health?Perhaps now you have read the above you should also be aware of the following statement that appears on many personal lubricant packages.“External Use Only”.
Doesn’t give you much confidence does it?
Obviously these lubes are not for use with penises, dildos or condoms whether they have N-9 or not in them.So what’s the point of buying a lube that is for external use only?I’m sure that there is a fetish out there somewhere about covering your body externally in lube and getting off on that - perhaps I need to try it.Is frottage (sexual touching) the new sexual high?Are we changing from mud-wrestling to lube-wrestling?If all these lubes are for external use only, someone must have found some use for them that’s a great alternative to the norm.So what are these “external use” only lubes for and why are they being sold with this on the labelling.You might ask!!The answer is more worrying than you can possibly imagine.
Lube manufacturers put “External Use Only” on their products because there is a massive hole in the law!!!Lubes are classed as “cosmetics” unless they make a medical claim and then they are medicinal and subject to the gamut of EMEA/MHRA/FDA regulations and licensing costs – from £85,000 - £200,000 in the UK.So, could the lube manufacturers (many of which are gay/lesbian owned and came into the business to provide for that specific market) be unaware of the risks involved in using certain ingredients?
Could the people who manufacture products aimed at these groups be more concerned about profit than safety?
Could they be too tight (financially speaking) to get their products tested?
Are the ingredients used of dubious origins and may not be safe for soft tissue use?
Does their manufacturing process only meet the standard requirements for production of “external use” cosmetics?
Major cosmetic companies spend millions of pounds/euros,dollars a year in testing their products before marketing them – do lubricant manufacturers?
The lube market basically comprises three types of lubes, the most common being the water based condom friendly.
Differences among water-based lubricants
The majority of lubricants available are water-based. They are typically recommended by doctors and health care workers, and they are the kind usually made available for free at sexual health clinics.
Water based lubricants are considered safer and better than the old style oil based lubricants because they don’t damage condoms and they flush out of and off the body more easily than oils.
There are three main differences between most of the water-based lubricants:
Feel and consistency
Ingredient list
How long they last
Feel & Consistency of Water Based Lubricants
Water based lubricants are available in every conceivable consistency - from thin as water to thick as pudding.
Thicker lubricants can be better for anal play and easier for playing with toys.It is possible that a thicker lubricant creates an extra cushion of comfort for anal play and it is certainly true that it’s easier to use with toys as it stays on better than a thin lubricant will.They can also be messier and more noticeable in use.Some people find thinner lubricants are cleaner and less noticeable.
You may also want to consider how the lubricant feels when it dries. Most water-based lubricants will feel a bit tacky when they dry up, although there are a few non-tacky products that are less sticky when they dry.
Thin water based lubricants:
Astroglide, KY Liquid
Medium consistency water based lubricants:
Slippery Stuff, Liquid Silk, ID Lube, K-Gel Sensation range.
Thick water based lubricants:
Astrogel, Maximus, Probe, K-Gel, and AD1
Powdered Lubes that you can mix to your own consistency:
K-Lube, K-Fresh
Ingredients of Water Based Lubricants
Knowing ingredients is important to determine if you will have a bad reaction to a water-based lubricant.There are three types of ingredients people are most likely to react to:
Preservatives, antiseptics and microbicides.
These are the ingredients whose long names end with “parabens”, but not all lubricants’ ingredients end with this.Some people can and do react to these products, and increased exposure to them increases the allergic reaction in some very rare cases.However, it is proven that without these preservatives and antiseptics there would a lot more STI transmissions between people during intimate contact.
Paraben-free water based lubricants include:
Probe and Hathor Aphrodisia:these kinds of lubricants cannot prevent bacteria and other sexually transmitted fungi from spreading.
Glycerin.
Many educated sex stores tell their customers who are prone to yeast infections to avoid lubricants with glycerin or sorbitol.While research hasn’t been done on this, glycerin is very sweet, and that sweetness could feed the yeast that is naturally occurring in a healthy vaginal canal.
Glycerin-free water based lubricants include:
Liquid Silk, K-Gel, K-Lube and Maximus.
Extras: warming, scented, flavoured.
There is nothing necessarily harmful in these products, but if you are already sensitive to products, stay away from these options and stick with the regular lubricants above.
Lasting Power of Water Based Lubricants
Some companies claim that their lubricants contain less water, and therefore don’t dry up as quickly as other brands. But after 20 years of talking to people about lubricants I have found that different people report the same lubes very differently.One person will say that lube X lasts much longer than lube Y, and another person will swear that lube Y lasted longer for them.It may be that lubes feel and last differently for different people because perception and individual bodily fluids are involved.
In many cases it could be down to the hydration levels in each body – someone who drinks a lot of natural water will have better internal hydration than someone who lives on coffee or fizzy drinks.
The bottom line is that the only way to find out which lubricant lasts longest for you is to try them out.Many online sex stores offer “lube samplers” which allow you to try a small amount of several brands to see which is best for you.
One important trick is that you can reinvigorate any water-based lubricant simply by adding more water – but use either pre-boiled (then cooled and kept in a fridge) or sterile water from the pharmacy.This way you are not introducing chemicals that are in regular tap and bottled supplies. Remember, you don’t need to keep applying more lube.
Sadly, all water based lubes do eventually dry up, and almost all of them get a bit tacky when they do.
The only product that doesn’t dry up like this is a silicone based lubricant.
Silicone lubes
While thought of as relatively new, silicone based lubricants have been used by condom manufacturers for many years. More and more manufacturers are offering silicone-based lubricants because of their safety and staying power.
Because they are not water based, silicone lubricants don’t “dry up” like water-based ones do and they are safe for use with condoms.
The pros of silicone lubes
Because they contain no water, silicone lubricants never dry up - they stay slick for a very long time.If you use silicone lubricants without additives you are unlikely to have any topical body reactions, irritations, allergic reactions. For this reason it is a good choice for people with sensitive skin.
Silicone based lubricants are also great for full body massage, as a skin moisturizer, and you can use it for shaving. Because they don’t break down in water, silicone lubricants can be used in the bath or shower, or for any kind of underwater fun.If you live in an area where there is snow in the winter, silicone based lube is great for putting on the bottom of a sled or toboggan and going down hills!
And, of course, the cons
Silicone lubricants are not always compatible with silicone rubber sex toys or “cyber skin” sex toys.You should never use silicone lubricant with these toy materials – it can change the chemical structures.
It is very difficult to wash off.Silicone is not water-soluble so it won’t come off your sheets.It is more expensive (although it goes further than water-based lubes, so the price evens out in the end).Silicone based lubricants have a “coating” effect on the skin which some people don’t like.
Silicone lubricants tend to have a bad taste – fancy putting a petro-chemical by-product in your mouth?
Quality and Texture Differences between Silicone Based Lubricants
There are very few differences in the way silicone lubricants feel, but there is one main difference which affects both the quality of the lubricant and the cost.Better quality silicone lubricants use more of the denser ingredient called dimethicone.
This ingredient is also more expensive. It feels more velvety and lush than the other ones.
If you are comparing silicone lubricants you can check to see where dimethicone comes in the ingredient list.In the better quality, more expensive silicone lubricants it should come first.
Premium quality silicone lubricants include:
Eros & Wet Platinum.
Basic quality silicone lubricants include:
ID Millennium
Barebacking, Fisting and Oil Based Lubes
Let’s move onto those fabulously frenzied favourites, the oil based lubes used by people who prefer the extreme sexual pleasures, fisting and large toys particularly.
You know extreme players like to use products such as Crisco, Slam Dunk, Boy Butter (or any other butter or cooking fat for that matter), Vaseline, Baby Oil and the like - the list is endless.The damage to your rectum is not.
Well these aren’t really all that bad for health, unless you want to consider the fact that the main ingredient is baking fat, chip fat, lard or whatever you want to call it, and the current hype about saturated fats and stuff like that.
The fact is that even if you are using a condom, he’d better be quick, because the average life expectancy of that little protector is less than two minutes!Your life expectancy, if it breaks and you’re unlucky, could be less than twenty years.
THE RECTUM ABSORBS SUBSTANCES FASTER THAN THE STOMACH. THIS IS WHY SOME MEDICATIONS ARE ADMINISTERED RECTALLY.
Some products out there (Crisco and Trex) are pure cooking fats and other “designer” products (Slam Dunk, Boy Butter and Fist) are mixed with either silicone or dehydrated polymer lubes such as J-Lube or K-Lube.However, these “designer” lubes with their exotic marketing campaigns (often heavily featured in adult films) are simply not safe, and the medical complications ensuing from using this kind of lubricant are endless – particularly if rectal or vaginal walls are damaged during play.
Neither Jorgensen Laboratories, nor Kirklees Medical - owners of J-lube and K-lube respectively - have licensed their products for use in combination with hydrogenated fats and there is no test data that proves it is a safe combination chemically.
However, both J-Lube and K-Lube are fully tested and safe on their own.I am equally certain that The JM Smucker Company in the US (owners of Crisco) have not done tests either - even for use as a sexual lubricant on its own!Really, it is far better not to “play” using this stuff.The other problem is when it all gets warmed up, it’s just like switching on the deep fat fryer at home - the fats and oils make you smell like last week’s fish and chips - just make sure you can put up with the odour.
But let’s look on the brighter side!!Healthwise, it’s not all that bad if you can put up with prostitis (an infection of that great male pleasure giver, the prostate); how about a few fatty polyps or, the best one yet, constant diarrhoea?What about the amazing speed with which all kinds of bacteria and fungal infections will spread and, of course, the raping of your rectal lining allowing all these infections plus HIV to get in and make a comfortable home in your welcoming body?Even if you have HIV and a number of other opportunistic hangers on, then you are leaving yourselves open for more little party revellers to take hold and have a wild rave with your immune system.Sexually transmitted infections will move into anyone they encounter, they don’t care if you are black, white or pink with purple spots, they don’t pay rent and cost you dearly, no matter what your social background is.
Life is precious; let’s keep it that way.
Having cleared that little lot up, let’s go back to N-9.
Unfortunately the inherent problems that surround N-9 do not just affect gay men, but just about every section of society who thinks that they are being responsible by taking precautions, preventing unwanted pregnancy as well as thinking that they are protecting themselves from a whole catalogue of Sexually Transmitted Infections, (yes, we used to call them Sexually Transmitted Diseases, but due to political correctness we have made this less abrasive so as not to give the patient a stigma).
STIs are no longer stigmatised because they are simply OK and can generally be cured with a short course of drugs - most of which are just a short course of antibiotics.Of course, none of us are interested in the fact that we are becoming resistant to these little pills, and that we are fast running out of options to cure a lot of these inconsiderate social pests.
Again this is where our government could do more.
Chlamydia, gonorrhoea and syphilis (to name but a few) are on the increase and the Government’s Health Protection Agency (HPA) saying they can simply be treated with a short course of antibiotics is not enough.Antibiotics are a rare commodity these days, expensive and not meant to replace a condom (these are not the Morning After pill).Prevention is better than cure, but prevention will not be an option until the Government puts out all the facts, not just the ones they want you to know about.
There is no social demographic group that is really any more prevalent than others when it comes to susceptibility to STIs, and numbers are off the scale when it comes to people who have been infected at sometime.The UK has the highest teenage pregnancy rate in Europe, with a huge majority of teenagers being diagnosed with an STI that they have never even heard of let alone can pronounce or spell.What are the ministers of Education and Health up to?
Welcome to the Nanny Society.The problem is that nanny evidently does not want to know, and neither does she have the resources to treat you effectively anymore - mainly because a lot of these clever little viruses have learned how to give the drugs a run for their money.Perhaps prevention is better than cure, but prevention does not include crossing your fingers and hoping for the best.Prevention means telling the youth of today the whole truth and if it upsets them or is too much for them to take in, so be it.
As a society, sometimes the individual will fail to comprehend; we just have to find another way of getting them to understand.When we start to be a society that becomes responsible for our actions then we will become a responsible society.
Condoms may protect you against an HIV infection and yes, they are the gold standard when it comes to protection (better if they are not coated with N-9) for other sexually transmitted infections.However, ladies and gentlemen, condoms do not cover the testicles, groin or rectal areas and they do occasionally fail (actually more times than the condom manufacturers want you to know, but therein lies another article).
There is another way.There are products already on the market that do carry a small amount of protection in them dependent on the intensity of the activities being enjoyed. Remember, the more vigorous the sexual activity, the larger the toy and whether you share toys or just enjoy mans best friend - some lubes do offer limited protections.Not 100% - that’s a tall order - but some lubricant manufacturers have spent the time and money researching and developing lubes with microbicidal agents in them.They are not a cure and they certainly don’t offer total protection, but isn’t something better than nothing?
The majority of microbicides are natural substances that destroy infectious agents including bacteria, funguses and viruses.They are used in products designed for hospital use, specifically for staff that need to carry out internal examinations, but are also used in hospital hand cleansers and cleaning solutions.
Domestically, they are the active ingredient in mouthwashes and the hand cleansers used to prevent transmission of STIs and other bacteria, viruses and germs.
Microbicide has almost become the great buzzword of the 21st century: It is the area of research that people are pinning their hopes on for prevention of HIV transmission through intimate contact.That is some years away yet, but there are ways of helping to prevent other STIs being passed on through intimate contact.One of these is Chlamydia.
Genital chlamydial infection is an STI caused by the bacterium Chlamydia Trachomatis.It is the most commonly reported bacterial sexually transmitted infection at Genito Urinary (GU) clinics in the United Kingdom.
If left untreated, then it can make women infertile or they can pass the infection on to their baby.In men it can cause an uncomfortable large swelling around the testicles and if untreated can cause arthritis.
The HPA guidelines say the best way to protect yourself against this bacteria is to wear a condom.The condom appears to be the answer to everything, but they don’t protect every warm moist skin surface that touches another during intercourse.However, some lubes (AD1 and K-Gel and pre-intimate contact products such as Sani-K and Med Clean) use a microbicide that, in combination with a condom, can help to protect these areas.
Genital herpes simplex virus (HSV) infection is the most common ulcerative sexually transmitted disease in the UK. Symptoms can start with mild soreness and clusters of small painful blisters appearing on the genitals and surrounding areas.Further episodes of these symptoms can occur from time to time as recurrent episodes.
The virus can cause severe systemic disease in neonates (newborn infants) and the immuno-suppressed, and it may facilitate HIV transmission.Many HSV infections are sub-clinical (not detectable, as there are no signs or symptoms).The HPA guidelines are again to wear a condom.If I have said it once, I have said it a thousand times, condoms on their own do not protect the genitals completely, but when used in combination with a microbicidal lubricant, then you are in with a fighting chance.
Then there are STIs that are the new wonders of modern man such as LGV (it really puts the pyramids of Egypt into perspective doesn’t it?)The list is endless and the information out there is scant, and in many cases scandalous. The scandal of course is that many of the organisations, which shall remain nameless, simply target only one sexually active group and give socio-political advice and information, the Government being the worst offender of all at disseminating advice.In fact if the Government had to go into a confessional and confess all the half-truths and lies that it has told, supposedly for our well being, then a new world record would be set for time spent on the knees.
It makes sense to have a bit more protection than relying on a condom for everything, and remember, if you are going to use a condom or lubricant, use one without N-9 for your own sake and preferably one that contains a microbicide.
Bugger the packaging design - read the label - and if there isn’t a list of ingredients, then don’t buy it!You wouldn’t buy food that didn’t say what was in it, nor would you buy a car or electronic device without knowing the specification.
The same applies to lubes that are being used inside your body, in areas that are warm/hot, moist and are made with very soft, sensitive skin with nature’s own natural lining - the epithelial layer.
When choosing a lube, choose one where the manufacturer really did think about you above their bank balance.If going for a shop branded version, ask questions and make sure you get the best advice – if there’s hesitancy, avoid buying.
In this day and age when we all know at least one person who has or has had an STI, and not necessarily HIV, please take the time to write to the Minister for Health.
Let’s try to make Patricia Hewitt the first “honourable” Member of Parliament, by righting a wrong that her department has known about for too long - N-9 and lube labelling standards!
