Free He Comes Next by Ian Kerner

they contained appetite suppressants or anabolic agents, designer knee pads may become the hottest new fashion statement).
    In Jonathan Margolis’ O: The Intimate History of the Orgasm , he cites the controversial work of Dr. Gordon Gallup at the State University of New York, who maintains that women who had sex without a condom were quantifiably happier than women who had protected sex, based on answers to a questionnaire. Other findings stated that women whose partners did not use condoms became more depressed when their relationships ended; that agitation, irritability, and suicide attempts increased with condom use; and that women with gloved partners took longer to get involved in new sexual relationships than their nongloved-love counterparts. He concluded that some women become chemically dependent on semen. Again, this is highly controversial work, but given that semen contains 60 percent of the USDA recommended daily dose of Vitamin C, perhaps it’s only a matter of time before the latest herbal supplement will be sperm-capsules. “Organic,” we’ll assume.
     
    Shots in the Dark
     
    Regardless of the possible emotional or health benefits, I would not consider engaging in unprotected sex with a partner unless the relationship is monogamous and you have comfortably ascertained that your partner is disease free.
    I probably don’t need to tell you that there’s no such thing as completely safe sex, but you can, and should, take steps to make sex safer. By using condoms and being careful, straightforward, and smart in your choices, you can significantly reduce the risk of contracting and spreading sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).
    There are approximately nineteen million new cases of STDs each year in the United States alone, and that number does not account for the large population of people who don’t report, or even know , they have an STD due to the asymptomatic natures of their illnesses. Also the incidence of STDs is on the rise. It’s been estimated that 20 percent of Americans are living with genital herpes and more than 50 percent of women will contract HPV (Human Papillomavirus), which often leads to cervical cancer and infertility. Millions of women are suffering from Chlamydia, which can lead to pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) and infertility. And let us not forget the more than one million Americans living with AIDS and the millions of others who are HIV positive. While many STDs cause lesions, abnormal discharge, or other symptoms, very often they are “silent”—exhibiting no outward signs—detectable only through blood work. For example, we now know that the viral shedding associated with Herpes can also occur in the absence of sores. What it all comes down to is the fact that many of us are wholly unaware whether we or our prospective partners, are infected with STDs.
    Thinking women of the world take heed! Recent studies show that heterosexual women suffer a higher risk of contracting STDs than their heterosexual male counterparts. For example, the likelihood of transmitting herpes to a partner is approximately 10 percent from an infected woman to a man but 20 percent from an infected man to a woman. It’s not fair, but it’s true.
    Studies reveal that while men are more likely to transmit STDs, women are more prone to ask about sexual history. According to a recent poll conducted by MSNBC and Zogby, 48 percent of the women surveyed claim to check STD status always, compared with only 33 percent of men. This makes it even more crucial for women—who are at a higher risk of contracting a disease—to bring up the subject and know the STD status of their partner(s).
    I’m always surprised by the number of smart, educated women who tell me how anxious or embarrassed they feel about introducing the topic of STDs. They’re afraid they’ll be labeled undesirable or set themselves up for rejection. As one woman told me, “It’s so unsexy to talk about your sexual history in the