Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, is a U.S. board-certified Anatomic Pathologist with subspecialty training in the fields of Experimental and Molecular Pathology. Dr. Stöppler's educational background includes a BA with Highest Distinction from the University of Virginia and an MD from the University of North Carolina. She completed residency training in Anatomic Pathology at Georgetown University followed by subspecialty fellowship training in molecular diagnostics and experimental pathology.
Dr. Shiel received a Bachelor of Science degree with honors from the University of Notre Dame. There he was involved in research in radiation biology and received the Huisking Scholarship. After graduating from St. Louis University School of Medicine, he completed his Internal Medicine residency and Rheumatology fellowship at the University of California, Irvine. He is board-certified in Internal Medicine and Rheumatology.
The female condom is not well known in the United States. It is
essentially a vaginal pouch made of soft polyurethane (a type of plastic) with
two rings at either end. One end of the pouch is open. The other end is closed.
A woman inserts the closed end high up in her vagina over her cervix. The open
end remains on the outside of her vagina. The vagina is now lined with the
condom. When a woman has intercourse, the man inserts his penis into the open
end of the woman's condom. Once intercourse is over and the man withdraws his
penis, the condom containing the ejaculated sperm can now be removed and thrown
away.
The female condom can be put in up to 8 hours before intercourse. A woman may
need some practice before she can easily insert and position the condom within
her vagina. The sides of the internal ring can be folded together and inserted
into the vagina much like a diaphragm. The female condom is thinner than the
male condom and is resistant to degradation by oil-based lubricants.
A female condom should never be used when the man is also wearing a condom.
The two condoms can stick together and tear, resulting in no protection at all.
The female condom (Reality) was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
in 1993. The Reality Condom is made of polyurethane, but other types of female
condoms are available in other areas of the world. Its estimated effectiveness is 79% (21 pregnancies/100 women per year)
as compared to 87% to 90% for the male condom.
Objections that have been made to the female condom include irritation and
allergic reactions to the polyurethane. Other concerns are that the female
condom is cumbersome, difficult to insert, may not remain in place, and is
unattractive. It may also produce unpleasant noises if there is not enough
lubrication. For this reason, most female condoms are now generously
pre-lubricated with silicone and packets of additional lubrication are included.
The female condom (Reality) can be purchased over-the counter (OTC) without a
prescription, but it may cost more than a male condom. Package
instructions currently advise single use but studies are underway to determine
if the female condom can be safely washed and reused up to five times.
The main disadvantage of the female condom is that it is not as effective as
the male latex condom in preventing pregnancy.
Sexually transmitted diseases, or STDs,
are infections that are transmitted during any type of sexual exposure,
including intercourse (vaginal or anal), oral sex, and the sharing of sexual
devices, such as vibrators. Women can contract all of the STDs, but may have no symptoms, or have different symptoms than men do.
Chlamydia, a type of bacteria that causes an infection, is spread through sexual contact. Most of the time, women with chlamydia have no symptoms. Antibiotics are an effective treatment for chlamydia.
Sexually transmitted diseases, or STDs, are infections that are transmitted during any
type of sexual exposure, including intercourse (vaginal or anal), oral sex, and
the sharing of sexual devices, such as vibrators. Although treatment exists for many STDs, others currently are
usually incurable, such as those caused by HIV, HPV, hepatitis B and C, and HHV-8.
Gonorrhea is a bacterial infection transmitted during sexual contact. In women, symptoms include a yellow vaginal discharge, burning or frequent urination, and redness, swelling, burning and itching of the vaginal area. Gonorrhea can be treated with injectable (penicillin) or oral medications.
Trichomoniasis is a sexually transmitted disease (STD) caused by a parasite passed from person to person. Trichomoniasis can be picked up from contact with damp, moist objects like towels, wet clothing, or toilet seat. Symptoms include yellow, green, or gray vaginal discharge with a strong odor, painful intercourse or urination, genital irritation and itching, and lower abdominal pain. Medication is the only treatment for trichomoniasis.
Syphilis, a sexually transmitted disease, is caused by a microscopic, wormlike bacterial organism called a spirochete. There are three stages of syphilis. The first involves the formation of the chancre. The second stage often includes hair loss, a sore throat, white patches in the nose, mouth, and vagina, fever, headaches, and a skin rash. The third stage can cause extensive damage to the internal organs and the brain, and can lead to death. Though early infection often resolves on its own, treatment usually varies based on the stage of the infection at the time of diagnosis.
Pregnancy planning is important to help prevent exposure of the mother and fetus to potentially harmful medications and substances during the early days, and throughout the pregnancy. Nutritional planning, prevention of birth defects, conditions such as high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, and kidney disease need careful monitoring. Gestational diabetes, preeclampsia, and pregnancy induced hypertension are conditions that may arise during pregnancy. Immunizations, inherited disorders, exercise, air travel, intercourse, and birth control are important factors to consider when planning a pregnancy.
There are a number of different methods of birth control to include: barrier methods, IUDs, hormonal methods, natural methods, and surgical sterilization. Birth control methods can be reversible or permanent. In simple terms, all methods of birth control are based on either preventing a man's sperm from reaching and entering a woman's egg (fertilization) or preventing the fertilized egg from implanting in the woman's uterus (her womb) and starting to grow.
Premature ovarian failure (POS) is the cessation of normal functioning of the ovaries in women under the age of 40. Premature ovarian failure may be caused by follicle depletion or dysfunction. The most common symptom of premature ovarian failure are irregular periods. There is no "treatment" that will restore the ovarian function, but there are treatments that my relieve symptoms.
Sexual health information including birth control, impotence, herpes, sexually transmitted diseases, staying healthy, women's sexual health concerns, and men's sexual health concerns. Learn about the most common sexual conditions affecting men and women.
When you are pregnant, many sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) can be especially harmful to you and your baby. These STDs include herpes, HIV/AIDS, genital warts (HPV), hepatitis B, chlamydia, syphilis, gonorrhea, and trichomoniasis. Symptoms include bumps, sores, warts, swelling, itching, or redness in the genital region. Treatment of STDs while pregnant depends on how far along you are in the pregnancy and the progression of the infection.
There are four phases to the sexual response for men and women. Couple do not usually reach each phase at the same time, and they are dependant from individual to individual. The four phases of the sexual response cycle include phase 1, excitement; phase 2, plateau; phase 3 orgasm; and phase 4 resolution.
Reproductive health encompasses the beginning of menstruation for women, choosing the right birth control method for you and your partner, preventing contracting sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), and for women, ending with the menopausal transition.
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