Scientists are developing a pill to be taken before sex that would stop transmission of HIV. In the latest development in the battle against the global epidemic, researchers are investigating whether drugs used to treat the disease might be harnessed to protect against it.

Antiretroviral drugs are already used to prevent transmission from mothers to their babies during birth and scientists hope the same protection can be obtained during sex. If successful, the research would raise ethical questions about the prevention of HIV, including who should take such a drug, in what circumstances and with what risk of side effects.

Three trials of antiretroviral drugs which are being given to uninfected people at high risk of HIV are under way around the world and are showing great promise, according to a report in The Lancet, published to coincide with the International Conference on Aids in Mexico City.

One British researcher said yesterday that the return of the bathhouse culture among gay and bisexual men, involving sex with multiple partners, could provide the scenario in which a preventive pill might be taken.

Sheena McCormack, a specialist in HIV prevention and reader in clinical epidemiology at Imperial College London, said: The party scene involving multiple sexual partners is definitely back in London and probably in most European cities. There is metrosexual mixing involving gay, bisexual and some heterosexual cases. We estimate new HIV infections in gay men in London are running at 3% a year.

Her clinic already offers post-exposure prophylaxis to people who have had unprotected sex with someone in a high-risk group, involving a month-long course of treatment with three drugs. But a preventive drug would provide an extra option. People could pop a pill on a Friday night and be covered for the whole weekend, she said.

On a global scale, use of a preventive pill would have to be restricted to groups at highest risk, such as commercial sex workers or injecting drug users, who would take it daily for the duration of their exposure. Concerns about side effects and the development of resistant strains of HIV would first have to be overcome.

The research is being driven by the lack of progress in the search for a vaccine against HIV, and the failure of efforts to develop vaginal microbicides to protect women which has left scientists determined to find any chink in the virus's armour.

The trials include 2,400 injecting drug users in Thailand, 1,200 heterosexual men and women in Botswana and 3,000 men who have sex with men in five countries. One trial is using tenofovir, a drug used to treat Aids in the West, and two are using Truvada, a combination of tenofovir and STC. A fourth trial involves 980 women in South Africa who are being given an experimental vaginal gel based on tenofovir.

Studies in primates have shown the drugs do prevent transmission, the Lancet report says.

Sex seems to be everywhere these days, yet the details of Max Mosley's privacy hearing have helped lift a veil on one type of sexual behaviour still shrouded in secrecy - sadomasochism.

Nobody knows how many people are involved in the "scene": a loose grouping of people across the country who enjoy an unorthodox - and under current laws potentially illegal - sexual lifestyle. However, one US study suggests 11% of women and 14% of men have engaged in BDSM - an abbreviated acronym for bondage, discipline, domination, submission, sadism and masochism - activities.

If those figures are translated to the UK, it could mean around four million people have tried BDSM. A smaller, but still substantial, number has chosen to make it a "lifestyle choice".

...Read full article

Fighting Freedom

Thanks to Alan
See full article from the Pandora's Blog

More and more papers are adding their voices to the consensus that spanking play is normal, common, and harmless. More articles on spanking have been posted in the last week than ever before. The Daily Record recently ran an advice column on how to seek out introducing healthy spanking play, and yesterday's Metro ran a story on Peter Jones, author of Confessions of a London Spank Daddy, which surely was only published because of the kink-curious climate provoked by the Mosley case, for all that it studiously avoids mentioning it. Spanking has never been so fascinating to the UK press.

The Mosley case was hugely depressing to me at the time, not least because I was busy stressing about the new violent porn legislation which was passed a few weeks ago, and which groups all over the UK fought for years to prevent, criminalising possession of images which appear to depict serious injury to the anus, breasts or genitals. I didn't write about this legislation, either, because when it was passed I felt so disaffected, so disenfranchised, that I just didn't know what to say. We'd campaigned and protested for months, and they'd passed it anyway.

The actual wording of the legislation is dangerously vague. Spanking and CP material isn't necessarily illegal, but given an unsympathetic judge armed with waffly, imprecise language, it could be. As a result, most of the individuals I know who own spanking porn haven't changed their habits since the law was passed; but the film producers are getting increasingly antsy. Several times this year, ideas I've had for shoots which would have been perfectly fine a few months previously were vetoed by nervous site owners who didn't want to risk it. Any caning on the breasts, for example, was deemed off-limits by one site owner unless it was so light as to be laughable. Face slapping was another no-no, although quite why when faces aren't a part of the body listed in the new legislation, I have no idea.

...Read full article

What do I do when my love is away. (Does it worry you to be alone) How do I feel by the end of the day (Are you sad because you're on your own) No, I get by with a little help from my V's, Mmm I get high with a little help from my V's, Mmm I'm gonna to try with a little help from my V's

Sexually-transmitted infections have doubled in under a decade in people over 45 and are now rising faster than in the young, research suggests.

The Health Protection Agency study said internet dating and erectile dysfunction drugs were partly to blame.

Men were most likely to be affected, with increases in herpes, syphilis, gonorrhoea and genital warts.

The study was  published in Sexually Transmitted Infections.

The number of sexually transmitted infections is rising in both young and old, despite sexual health campaigns urging people to avoid unsafe sex.

The Health Protection Agency (HPA) looked at people coming to clinics in the West Midlands between 1996 and 2003. The vast majority of these were younger people - accounting for more than 95% in 2003. However, the proportion of over-45s rose during the preceding eight years.

In total, 4,445 infections were detected in older people, with genital warts accounting for almost half of these diagnoses. Herpes was the next most common, with one-in-five diagnoses.

The overall rate of infections more than doubled over the eight-year period from 16.7 per 100,000 population to 36.3 per 100,0000.

Dr Babtunde Olowokure, from the HPA's regional surveillance unit in Birmingham, said: Older people are increasingly likely to be single or undergoing relationship changes and are less likely to consistently use condoms, perhaps because the risk of pregnancy no longer exists. Increased international travel, internet dating, new drugs to counter erectile dysfunction and overlapping sexual networks may also be factors.

The government said using a condom was relevant for anyone having unsafe sex...regardless of age.

Described as an iron fist in a velvet glove, Hera the Goddess of Dusseldorf has grabbed the public of Germany by the balls and is not going to let go anytime soon. She has achieved a remarkable level of fame since the publication of her book Hera: Lawyer by Day, Domina at Night (Schwarzkopf & Schwarzkopf 2006) which describes her double life as a lawyer and a dominatrix.

A cover girl for Fallen Angels Productions, Hera’s reputation precedes her. Whether dressed for business in a courtroom or clad in leather and snapping a whip, Hera commands the full attention of her audience. She has quite the reputation in her native Germany and we at AEBN wanted to steal a glimpse into the life of the famous domina. We were not disappointed.

AEBN: Were you a lawyer or a domina first?

Hera: Both evolved parallel to each other. I enjoyed visiting the studio in my spare time while I was in college, and since I needed money to get through school, it just happened naturally.

AEBN: How would you explain the SM attraction to a mainstream person?

Hera: Ohh...one does not have to understand everything. But tolerance would be something I would try to create.

AEBN: Why do you think that people want to experience pain and humiliation?

Hera: Well, I think people are trying to balance their childhood. It is about controlled repetition of humiliation, hurt etc. Through this one can find control and find a way out- in combination with pleasure hopefully.

AEBN: What attracted you to this practice?

Hera: I have always admired strong women. I love the spirit of rebellion that this practice invokes.

AEBN: Would you describe yourself as power-hungry?

Hera: No. power-hunger is a weakness.

AEBN: Describe yourself in one word.

Hera: Compassionate.

AEBN: Do you have female clients?

Hera: I do. It is rather seldom and usually in the company of their male partners.

AEBN: You have mentioned in previous interviews that the majority of your clients are married men. Why do you think this is?

Hera: I have no idea. Possibly it is that they want to isolate that part out of their marriage. Usually there is an element of fear of completely opening up to the partner and scaring her away. Not everybody is able to be so impartial with their sexuality. The fact that they come to me for release is an honor.

AEBN: Are the majority of your clients wealthy and powerful?

Hera: This does seem to be rather a cliché of a power-person. But that is ONLY my experience.

Every domina attracts a certain clientele. Just like a restaurant that attracts certain guests.

AEBN: Have you ever had a colleague from your day job come to you for discipline at night?

Hera: Of course. I see myself as a servant and respect the wishes of my clients. There are no stereotypical sequences. I find that to be very important.

AEBN: How does your role as domina play out in your personal relationships?

Hera: All of my relationships are different. I don’t have any workday dominance. In a loving relationship, I would be submissive anytime.

AEBN: What is your advice for new dominas?

Hera: Find your way and try it. Never lose respect for the person across from you.

AEBN: Where do you see yourself in five years?

Hera: I will work as a domina for as long I can please my clients. I really never planned anything in my life before. My girlfriend and I have a saying when we say good bye to each other:” I am so excited…” („ich bin ja so gespannt...“) translated that means that we are alive and open for all adventures.

AEBN: What do you want to take away with you from your experience as a domina?

Hera: Freedom.

Spoilt for choice? Take them all

Scientists claim to have discovered the secret of sexual desire in a breakthrough that could change millions of lives around the world. They are developing a "wonder pill" to generate sex drive in both women and men who struggle with their libido.

The medication could also have the potential to boost fertility rates and is believed to have the side-effect of encouraging weight-loss.

If successful, it could outsell the market-leading impotence drug Viagra, as it bolsters the brain's desire for sex, whereas Viagra boosts only physical capability.

Loss of libido affects more than a third of women and up to one in six men, but experts report a growing problem with a decline in sexual desire among stressed-out males.

The pill would use a hormone that releases Type 2 gonadotropin, which drives the reproductive system in animals and humans. Tests on animals have proved successful and researchers at the Medical Research Council's Human Reproductive Sciences Unit in Edinburgh are working on an equivalent for humans.

Swedish mums want far more sex than they are actually getting, according to a survey done by mummy magazine Mama.

Apparently, 43% of mums under the age of 29 own a dildo and almost 28% of those questioned in the Mama survey have checked out online porn.

Having said that, 31% of those surveyed think their man's freshly showered body is the greatest turn-on. Some mums would prefer a completely different man altogether: 7% of mums have been unfaithful after becoming mothers.

39% of the Swedish mums surveyed have had anal sex and 23% fantasize about other men or women during sexual intercourse. 37% of the younger mums (under age 29) have had lesbian fantasies. 2% have had group sex and 23% of mums under the age of 29 use handcuffs as part of sex play.

But the most telling statistic in the survey - though not exactly surprising - is that 60% of mums simply want more frequent sex. They would like to have sex at least once or twice a week but only 38% of them actually get it that often.

The Mama survey questioned 918 Mama readers in an internet survey carried out in co-operation with RAM (Research-and analysis of media).

Raquel Pacheco, better known as “Bruna Surfistinha” is an ex-call girl from the state of São Paulo, Brazil who became famous for sharing stories about her life as a prostitute in the book The Scorpion's Sweet Venom: The Diary of a Brazilian Call Girl. The book quickly has become a tremendous success in Brazil, and in the US and in some European countries as well. At 23 years old, Bruna has found love and left behind her three-year prostitution and brief movie career.

AEBN: How was the beginning of your life as a call girl?

Bruna: It was difficult because I was not used to have sex with strangers. I have always been able to feel pleasure though, and it helped me to relax.

AEBN: Would you have done things differently if you could go back in time?

Bruna: I really don’t have any regrets. I believe that everyone has the power to choose his or her own actions in life. The only thing that I would have done differently is the way I left my parents home. I simply ran away and left a goodbye letter to my mother. If I could go back, I would try harder to get along with them.

AEBN: What do you say to couples interested in improving their sexual performance?

Bruna: Sex is an important part of people’s lives. I think that men should always respect their partners, and women should try to compromise a little more when it comes to sex. Women need to try to overcome the fear of sex and try new stimulants- like sex toys, masturbation and anal sex, for their own pleasure – and not to please their men. Women really need to get past the taboo of anal sex- especially if they are Brazilian- because Brazilian men are crazy for this practice! Believe me- if it wasn’t good, there would be no homosexuals!

AEBN: What made you want to go public with your life blog and your book?

Bruna: In 2004, the personal blogs became extremely popular among young people in Brazil. I decided to create my own blog as a form of therapy to work on my feelings when I felt lonely. I was a good writer, and I got a lot of e-mails from people who could not believe that a call girl could write so well, since most people think prostitutes don’t have any intellectual capacity. This made me realize how strong the prejudice against prostitution was. I decided that I would show people the other side. After beginning my blog, it didn’t take very long before I was invited to write a book about my story by two Brazilian publishers.

AEBN: What was the most difficult situation you went through as a prostitute?

Bruna: I was in a motel room with this crazy guy who started insulting me and tried to force me to do several humiliating acts while we were having sex. He decided that he was not going to pay me and that he wouldn’t let me leave the room. After a lot of talking, he threw the money on the floor and let me out. It was scary.

AEBN: Where do you want to be in five years?

Bruna: I want to be an anonymous person again, and I want to have a degree in Psychology. I want to have kids and reconcile with my parents. I also want to enjoy the fruits of my labor from my book, and of the movie based on it.

[According to the news portal “G1” from Brazilian Rede Globo, Marcus Baldini (the director of Madam Satã) will direct the movie The Scorpion’s Sweet Venom produced by TV Zero. It is due for release in 2008].

AEBN: You mention the word “freedom” many times in your book. What does freedom mean to you?

Bruna: Freedom is something everybody wants, but most never reach. I was looking for freedom when I left my parents house, but ended up becoming a prisoner of the prostitution world. The fact that I’ve become a celebrity is just another example of my freedom being taken away from me. I can’t simply do whatever I want- I have to give away autographs and pay attention to my fans. To me, freedom is an unattainable utopia.

For many Australian men anal sex is an unattainable dream, the holiest of holies murmured about with mates yet rarely realised.

Studies put the number of men and women who've engaged in the act anywhere between 15 and 40 percent, with half that number practicing regularly.

The reason anal is such a rare bird comes down to both culture and anatomy: like going back stage at a concert or picking food up off the ground, anal sex is viewed as both forbidden and dirty by us up-tight Aussies.

But then, fifty years ago, so were blow jobs.

Kath Albury, in her book Yes Means Yes says anal sex is seen as men's sex, something only bad men ask for and only bad women agree to.

...Read full article

...Mark says he used to spend a lot of time trying to pick women up in clubs and bars. Now the 31-year-old business consultant from London doesn't have the time: It is a mixture of the convenience and the time aspect. I work very, very long hours.

He recognises there is a stigma, but it is one he utterly rejects: Some of my friends are fully aware that I visit prostitutes. Many of them do themselves. There is this fear that it is in some way abusive. I would disagree with the idea that nobody chooses to do it for a living.

Patrick views it as a totally mundane transaction between adults: I see us as adults. I want to pay and someone wants to sell. As long as I'm not hurting them in any way what harm am I doing. I'm distributing my wealth to people who don't have it.

The trio all use a website, PunterNet, where "punters" - the men who visit prostitutes - go to discuss their encounters.

The men speak of forming friendships with the women in the parlours and saunas.

There's always a lot of girls that I know, says Patrick: We have a good camaraderie. I treat them as my friends and I feel to some extent they confide and talk to me.

There is one aspect of the media coverage that all three men find irritating - the idea that trafficked or coerced women make up a significant proportion of prostitutes. Patrick, Mark and Pete say they have never encountered a trafficked woman and that conversations with prostitutes lead them to believe it is rare.

The perception is that everybody is trafficked, says Mark: The figures bandied around for the numbers of trafficked women are absurd. Mark's position is clear. If he did meet a woman he suspected was trafficked he would do something about it, there and then.

I've never come across one, says Patrick: All the people I've seen, they have always been happy, we have talked beforehand.

All three men are, needless to say, opposed to the Swedish model that is now gaining currency in the UK where, the act of buying sex is criminalised.

...Read the full article

A search that has preoccupied many women for year, not to mention their partners, may finally be over. An Italian scientist believes he may have found the female G-spot.

Emmanuele Jannini, of the University of L’Aquila, claims to have found the first anatomical evidence for the existence of the elusive and controversial pleasure point, which some women say triggers powerful vaginal orgasms. His research could also explain why so many women have searched for their G-spot in vain: it suggests that not all of them have one.

The G-spot is named after Ernst Gräfenberg, a German gynaecologist who in 1950 proposed that a sensitive point on the vaginal wall could provoke particularly intense orgasms in some women, which differ from normal orgasms caused by clitoral stimulation. Finding it has since become a staple of good-sex handbooks.

Its existence, however, has been widely questioned. Many women have always found it impossible to locate, leading them to doubt their own sexual skills or that of their partners, or to wonder whether the whole idea of a vaginal pleasure point is a myth.

Dr Jannini has found anatomical differences between women who can have vaginal orgasms and those who cannot and told New Scientist magazine that it may be possible to develop an ultrasound test that can tell women whether they have one.

He used ultrasound to examine nine women who said that they could have vaginal orgasms and eleven who said that they could not. He found that the tissue between the vagina and urethra was thicker in the first group, which could be linked to their ability to have an orgasm.

An anti-Aids gel tested on humans in Thailand and other countries has proved ineffective in preventing transmission of the HIV infection from men to women as hoped.

The study was unable to show Carraguard's efficacy in preventing male-to-female transmission of HIV, said principal investigator Khatija Ahmed of Population Council, an NGO behind the vaginal drug and trials.

Carraguard, a candidate microbicide produced by the Population Council, had spent three years in large-scale "phase three" trials, was unable to prevent transmission of the Aids virus, the investigators said. But the gel was found to be safe for long-term vaginal use, a finding they described as extremely promising.

It is the third major setback in the seven-year-long drive to develop a vaginal microbicide, the term for a cream that would block or kill the AIDS virus during vaginal intercourse.

Antiretroviral drugs used to treat people with HIV might also prevent vaginal transmission of the virus, claims a study by researchers at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas.

The vast majority of new HIV infections worldwide, which total about 6,800 new transmissions daily, occur through unprotected vaginal sex with an infected partner.

For this study, the researchers used special mice with fully developed human immune systems that produced the infection-fighting cells specifically targeted by HIV in people. The Texas team found that daily doses of antiretroviral drugs before and after exposure to HIV can prevent vaginal transmission of the virus.

The study was published in the Jan. 14 online issue of PLoS Medicine.

Our motivation is to look for interventions that can be implemented rapidly and have the potential to make a big difference, senior study author Dr. J. Victor Garcia-Martinez, a professor of internal medicine, said: We don't want something in 10 years. We want female-controlled prevention measures now. Our observations support the potential for antiviral drugs to function as an effective pre-exposure prophylaxis against the further spread of AIDS.

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