A person who discovers that a previous or current partner is infected with HIV should not assume that he or she, too, is infected. Testing is the only way to know whether or not a person is infected. Similarly, if one person in the relationship is tested for HIV the results reveal nothing about the other partner’s HIV status. People often assume that if they have been together for a while with a person who is tested and is found to be HIV negative, then they are also HIV negative and don’t need to be tested. This is not true. Both partners must be tested six or more months after any other sexual contacts or exposure to risk factors, be found to be HIV negative, and remain mutually monogamous to know that they are free of HIV.

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Women

Symptoms of cervical infection with gonorrhea are discharge (often yellow) from the vagina and spotting between periods or after sexual intercourse. Between 10 and 20 percent of women who are infected with gonorrhea develop PID. With PID, the infection moves from the cervix up into the uterus, Fallopian tubes, and ovaries, and there can be pain in the pelvis, pain with intercourse, and fever in addition to discharge and bleeding. There is a risk of infertility caused by the scarring that can occur; this scarring also puts women at increased risk of an ectopic pregnancy (a pregnancy outside the womb, such as in the Fallopian tubes). Pelvic pain from the scarring caused by an untreated gonorrheal infection can be chronic—lasting a lifetime for some women.

A woman can also acquire a gonorrheal infection of the Bartholin’s glands; located inside the vaginal opening, these glands provide lubrication for the vagina. Gonorrheal infection of these glands causes a painful, noticeable swelling at the vaginal opening. The urethra can also become infected in women, causing painful urination which may feel like that experienced with a common bladder infection. Finally, the gonorrheal infection can move to the abdominal area and cause infection around the liver (a condition called Fitz-Hugh Curtis syndrome), producing pain in the upper right part of the abdomen.

Women with gonorrheal infection in the cervix can also experience it in the rectum, even if they have not received anal sex. Most likely this co-infection results from secretions from the genital area reaching the anal area and causing infection.

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The reality is that adequate data have not yet been reported on the frequency of STDs in lesbian women—how often transmission takes place and how likely transmission is with each type of sexual practice. Studies of these questions are currently under way, but in the meantime this type of information must be extrapolated from data from heterosexuals and from the few studies of gay women that have been done. We do know that lesbian women have a high rate of bacterial vaginosis (BV) infection between sexual partners and that BV may be a sexually transmitted infection among them, which is not the case among heterosexual women. In one study, 18-29 percent of lesbian women who had not had sex with men within the last year were found to be positive for BV and about 73 percent of the sexual partners of these women were also positive for the disease.

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Encouraging results. And, just as doctors had hoped PSA would become a “male Pap smear,” many hoped transrectal ultrasound could be a “male mammogram,” another means of screening for and detecting prostate cancer early. That hasn’t happened yet. Transrectal ultrasound is neither quick nor cheap, and the results often depend on the skill of the doctor using the ultrasound equipment. So right away, these three factors rule it out as the perfect tool for routine screening—it’s just not worth it to use transrectal ultrasound on everybody.

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This elaborate filtering network enables the kidneys to manage an incredible volume of fluid each day. The body of a man who weighs 150 pounds, for instance, contains about ten to twelve gallons of water. But his kidneys process about forty-five gallons of water a day—which means this water is constantly being refined, reabsorbed, and then processed again. If the water and minerals weren’t reabsorbed, our bodies would become seriously dehydrated within a matter of hours.

So what happens to the fluid that is not reabsorbed? It continues on its way through the tubular network, to make about two quarts of urine—that’s how much the average man excretes each day. By the time it reaches the collecting ducts, it’s highly concentrated, and ready to be transported out of the body.

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If you develop desire for someone who has one major visual annoyance for you, you will accept it initially since there are more important things on hand. You know that you shouldn’t judge someone on looks alone. But when the glory and the passion of desire has waned, the physical annoyance may haunt you and may well cause unhappiness. A word of common sense. When you fall in love, make sure from the beginning that the look and presence of your beloved takes your breath away.

Perhaps not someone else’s breath, because we are not all looking for movie stars as partners, but your breath.

Then those looks and those feelings will warm you on cold nights and comfort you when your beloved is away.

Why are we attracted first by appearance? Because that’s where all primates receive their sexual clues. Primal urges flow strongly. What do our closest primate cousins, monkeys, do when wanting a partner? They examine closely and sniff out a rear end of utmost fascination. At backside level any male monkey can tell if the object of his desire is female and is ready to mate.

Fortunately, men and women don’t show off backsides in that way. We walk upright, but according to zoologists, we have compensated for not having an exposed rear end by developing a new kind of appearance. The rump muscles became better developed so we could walk tall. This meant the backsides of both men and women became muscled, rounded buttocks, something no other primates have.

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Colours with a lot of white added are termed pastel. To be accurate, you must be able to give the colouring of your room a name beginning with ‘pale’ or ‘light’, for example pale pink, light blue, pale green, light lemon, pale lilac, pale mauve, light apricot, light peach, pale aqua or white with pastel accessories. If there is no definite colour, you have a neutral.

When you want communication in your relationship to be more open, choose pastels. They are full of light and more free-flowing than the controlling elements of dark colours. Want more romance as well? Choose pastels. The softness of their coloring makes them non-confronting – and very seductive. A bedroom with lots of pastel colours in walls and floor coverings as well as accessories, or white walls with neutral floors but lots of pastels in bedcovers, sheets, lamps and the pictures on the wall, is most alluring and inviting. It suggests romance, love and fantasy more than any other colour scheme. If you have chosen pastels for your bedroom, you are romantic, sensitive and looking for nurturing, love and fun in your intimate life. You will be friendly and non-threatening in your intimate experiences and will want to receive exactly what you have portrayed in your bedroom: to be treated gently, thoughtfully and with sensitivity by your partner.

Pink and peach are the most romantic pastels because they send the subconscious messages of love and communication (the psychology of colours is explained a little later). They are also very flattering against all skin tones. If you shudder at an all pink r peach bedroom, take heart. It is not necessary to have all pink or all peach to add romantic overtones. Just a small amount will do, perhaps in sheets, pillow slips, accessories or even on the walls. The room could be very pastel or could have some stronger highlights of these colours. There will be however an identifiable amount of peach or pink in the room.

Not all pastel bedrooms have pink or peach in them. The general feeling with other pastels is one of tranquility and composure. Some people however feel that the use of predominantly pastel colours creates an insipid, superficial atmosphere. There is no way they want a romantic light look.

Key words: light, open, soft, inviting, romantic, tranquil and composed.

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The Classic bedroom is elegant, dignified and controlled, as is the person who chooses it. It is a tailored look that is visually balanced, with no extremes in its presentation.

T he Classic preference can be seen in the choice of tailored bedspreads rather than the soft comfort of a doona.

The way the bed is made tells you a lot about the Classic style too. Everything is straight, level, and immaculately even and neat. Pillows and cushions are placed formally and symmetrically. Piped edging on bedspreads and cushions is typical. There is a classy and neat finish to all decorative embellishments.

Fabrics are of good quality and either plain or with traditional patterns. These patterns are often geometric rather than curved, although traditional florals are sometimes used. Classics always have quality drapes, usually pleated, and usually with a pelmet or draped fabric across the top to give an immaculate finish to the window. Curtains are often elegantly tied back with well made and tailored corded tassels. Frills are not a feature. They are too romantic for a Classic. Wallpaper is often used and is always traditional or understated in pattern and colour.

Colours in fabrics are usually neutrals or muted medium to deep tones of blue, green, dusty pink or burgundy. Sometimes an all-over monochrome look in soft white or ivory is chosen for fabrics, with dark furniture breaking up the colour scheme.

Furniture is either darker classic timbers such as mahogany, rosewood or walnut, or lighter timbers such as western cedar and oak. Its styling is traditional if not antique.

The Classic bedroom is classy and traditional with medium size patterns and medium size accessories. Symmetry is important so you won’t find any unusual abstract patterns or artwork on display. Some may say Classic is boring. Classics would not. They insist subtle, WON’T FIND ANY classy and good quality are the essence of good decorating.

Classic mixes well with other styles, probably because of its balanced and simple styling. As a Classic you could find yourself adding dramatic touches to create the Classic—Dramatic style, or perhaps creating a softer look to give the mix of Classic-Romantic. A popular combination is Classic-Town and Country where texture and country, plant or animal motifs become part of the theme. A certain elegance will be apparent when Classic is combined with another style.

The bedroom of a Classic, whether he/she mixes other styles with it, will always be a visually balanced room, with no jarring elements to upset its symmetry.

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Colours are bright and make an individual statement, in blues, turquoises, pinks, oranges, yellows and reds. Sometimes the theme is black and white, maybe with an accent of one of the bright colours. In others there could be a geometric print using combinations of several brights. The overall look is usually light, bright and open.

Minimal decoration is the choice of Contemporaries, so one or two large, individual art pieces or sculptures on display at any one time is usually the norm. Contemporary is not cluttered or busy-looking. It is a sparse and simple form of decoration with furnishings which make their own individual statement. Although similar in some aspects to the Dramatic style, the Contemporary look is more casual, light-hearted and fun.

Accessories in a Contemporary bedroom are few,- the design of the furniture and its placement create the interest. Lamps are simple, possibly geometric and angular in shape, or unusually curved. Lights attached to the wall are preferred. Nothing appears in these bedrooms unless it is there as part of the design of the room. There are no accidents. Placement for line, colour and design is all important. Mirrors also have simple frames and photos are not on display unless in an unusual frame which fits with the whole design of the room. Sometimes Contemporary style bedrooms have one or more large pot plants as part of the decor.

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