Breast Implants Lift Sex, Self-Esteem

Posted on November 14, 2007
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March 23, 2007 — Women report better sexuality and improved self-esteem
after cosmetic breast surgery, a University of Florida study
shows.

Cynthia Figueroa-Haas, PhD, clinical assistant professor at the University
of Florida College of Nursing, advertised for volunteers in the offices of
cosmetic plastic surgeons. Eighty-four women completed questionnaires on
self-esteem and sexuality before and after cosmetic breast augmentation
surgery.

Overall, the women didn’t have particularly low self-esteem or particularly
poor sexual function prior to surgery. But both aspects of their lives
significantly improved after they got breast implants.

“They were already OK with self-esteem and sexuality — they just wanted
larger breasts,” Figueroa-Haas tells WebMD. “They got increased levels
of self-esteem and sexuality.”

Figueroa-Haas bristles at the idea that it’s frivolous for women to want to
improve their body image. Body image, she says, is an important factor in a
woman’s self-esteem.

“A lot of people consider plastic surgery a procedure that doesn’t need
to be done. They say women should stay with their bodies and what God gave them
and be satisfied. I don’t agree,” she says. “This procedure does change
women’s psychosocial issues. There are differences [in life satisfaction]
between people with good and poor self-esteem.”

Figueroa-Haas reports her findings in the January/March issue of Plastic
Surgical Nursing.

Sex and Breast

After getting breast implants, women experienced every measure of sexuality
more strongly, Figueroa-Haas found. After breast augmentation, women reported
significant increases in arousal, sexual desire, sexual satisfaction, and
lubrication.

Figueroa-Haas says women tend to be left out of the discussion when it comes
to enhancing sexuality.

“Improved sexuality is not all about men’s sexuality and Viagra,”
she says. “It is a subject women even have trouble discussing with other
women. But women who suffer sexuality issues feel like they are not feminine
enough.”

Despite the benefits she finds in cosmetic breast augmentation,
Figueroa-Haas warns that surgery cannot address serious underlying issues women
may have.

“This isn’t a cure-all. If you have underlying psychological issues,
don’t run out and see a plastic surgeon. These issues have to be addressed
first,” she says.

That’s a very important point, agrees clinical psychologist David B. Sarwer,
PhD, director of the weight and eating disorders program at the University of
. Sarwer has studied psychological issues surrounding breast
augmentation surgery.

“Sure, body image is an important part of self-esteem,” Sarwer tells
WebMD. “But self-esteem is based on all sorts of things other than body
image. It may be to think that, just by having breast augmentation,
a woman will improve her overall self-esteem.”

Sarwer has found that women who seek cosmetic breast surgery have their own,
personal motivations. They are not, as stereotype would have it, trying to
please their husbands or boyfriends.

Sarwer says women considering breast implants should consider three
things:

  • A woman should make sure it is what she wants. She should not seek plastic
    surgery under pressure from someone else.
  • “A breast implant is unlikely to change women’s lives in any major
    way,” Sarwer says. “They may get some positive attention, but they may
    also suffer negative attention. For everyone who says you look great, there may
    be whispers down the lane: ‘She is too big, too showy.’”
  • Some women seeking breast implants suffer from a serious psychological
    problem called body dysmorphic disorder: disproportionate concern over
    relatively minor physical . Both Sarwer and Figueroa-Haas warn
    that women must be evaluated for this condition before surgery.

And Sarwer warns that researchers are now becoming aware of a dark side to
breast implants: suicide.

“What we think is going on here, although we are not sure, is these
women have some pathology, perhaps clinical depression, prior to surgery,”
he says. “And when implants don’t improve their depression, these women
become suicidal. For women with profound underlying issues, there is something
going on here that is potentially dangerous.”

Originaly from: page

Who Should Cover the Cost of Contraception?

Posted on November 13, 2007
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July 26, 2000 –Until last week, Jennifer Erickson was just an ordinary pharmacist, working at a drugstore in Seattle. Now, the 26-year-old married woman is the poster girl for women everywhere who have had to plunk down their own money to pay for birth control.

On July 19, Erickson, who says she would like to have children some day but is not ready yet, filed suit against her employer, Bartell Drug Co., charging them with sex discrimination for paying for other prescription drugs, but not prescription birth control. Erickson is one of approximately 42 million women in this country who use birth control. Although she has a good job and can afford the more than $300 per year that her prescription birth control pills cost, she doesn’t think she and millions of others should have to pay for them. And neither do plenty of medical professionals and health policy experts.

“Contraception is a fundamental part of health care, just like vaccinations,” says David A. Grimes, MD. “It’s good, cost-effective, preventive health care.”

Grimes is vice-president of medical affairs at Family Health , a nonprofit group in Research Triangle Park, N.C., that helps men and women get access to family-planning services and methods. He says that from a corporate viewpoint, makes sound economic sense. By averting a birth, the company saves money, especially if that birth is premature or there are other , he tells WebMD.

Approximately half of all large group insurance plans will not pay for any form of prescription birth control. Only about a third of health-insurance policies include oral contraceptives in their prescription drug coverage. Most HMOs do cover the Pill, but only about 40% cover the other four FDA-approved contraceptive options: IUDs, diaphragms, Depo-Provera shots, and Norplant implants.

“As women, we’ve been excluded from so much,” says Karen Rashke, staff attorney for the Center for Reproductive Law and Policy. “We’ve just sort of taken it in stride. I don’t think a lot of us thought much about this until recently.”

Although plenty of women have complained for years about being refused coverage for what many see as a basic health need, until the Erickson lawsuit was filed last week, no single person had ever stood up to an employer and demanded that they pay. Erickson’s lawsuit seeks birth control coverage for herself and all other non-union female employees of Bartell Drug Co., which has more than 45 pharmacies in the state of Washington.

In a statement to the media, of Bartell Drug Co. said they believe their insurance plan is “lawful and nondiscriminatory.” They point out that they do not pay for Viagra, infertility drugs, drugs for weight reduction, immunization agents, drugs for cosmetic purposes, and various other items.

Roberta Riley of Planned Parenthood of Western Washington, who is the lead attorney in Erickson’s, case, says her client repeatedly asked her employer to change its policy and cover birth control. When they continued to refuse, she decided to sue.

“I think it was only a matter of time before something like this happened,” says Cynthia Dailard, senior public policy associate at the Alan Guttmacher Institute in Washington, D.C. “If the lawsuit is successful, it will put many employers on notice that they could face similar lawsuits if they do not cover contraceptives, and that it is a matter of gender discrimination.”

Both Planned Parenthood of Western Washington and Planned Parenthood Federation of America, which is also representing Erickson, say birth control prevents unintended pregnancies and reduces the need for abortion.The group cites 1998 statistics showing that nearly half of all pregnancies in the U.S. are unintended, and many of these pregnancies end in abortion.

Experts who spoke to WebMD agree that one thing that has increased women’s anger over this lack of coverage is the advent of Viagra.

“Viagra is covered by many [insurance] programs and was scooted onto the market so quickly, while women have been struggling for decades to get coverage of contraception,” Grimes says. He believes the discrepancy amounts to nothing less than discrimination against women, many of whom cannot afford $20-$30 per month for birth control pills.

It is estimated that women of childbearing age pay about 68% more out of their own pockets for medical expenses than men. And now, even the Viagra pills — at $10 apiece — are often covered, while birth control is not. According to estimates, paying for birth control would cost insurers only about $1.43 per month for each female employee. That would provide them with all available FDA-approved forms of contraception; the cost would be even less if the employer only provided coverage for some methods.

Some in Congress are trying to force change by passing a law that would require all employers and insurance companies to pay for birth control. Progress has been slow, but individual states have passed such laws on their own. States that require companies who pay for other prescription drugs to pay for prescription birth control include Maryland, Georgia, Vermont, Maine, Nevada, Connecticut, North Carolina, Hawaii, New Hampshire, California, Iowa, Delaware, and Rhode Island. But nine of the 13 states have provisions that let employers, enrollees, or insurers who object to such coverage on “religious grounds” off the hook.

Most experts say individual states will probably continue to pass laws, and people will keep a close eye on the progress of Jennifer Erickson’s lawsuit. But what can a woman who is paying for her own birth control do in the meantime?

“Employees have the ability and the right to speak to their benefits manager,” attorney Rashke says. “There’s no reason an employee can’t go to the benefits manager and say, ‘I notice in my prescription coverage there’s an exclusion for contraception.’ That’s the first step.” If you don’t want to do it on your own, Rashke advises talking to other women you work with to see if they will take the concerns to the benefits manager as a group.

“One person can do a lot by raising the issue at cocktail parties, writing a letter to the editor … just point out this lack of coverage that so many of us haven’t even thought about,” she says.

Original article

Clinical Trials About ED

Posted on November 12, 2007
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Original article ‘’

There are currently several clinical trials under way for treating erectile
(ED) caused by prostate cancer.

Trial 1

In this trial, the effectiveness of nerve-sparing prostatectomy (surgical
removal of the entire prostate while preserving the
nerves), with and without nerve grafting, followed by standard therapy is being
examined. will be in one of two groups: the first group will have
nerve-sparing prostatectomy with nerve grafting, then will use a standard
therapy such as Viagra, a vacuum constriction device, injection therapy, or
MUSE (suppository in urethra for erections) therapy. Participants in the second
group will have the nerve-sparing surgery without nerve grafting, and will use
the same standard therapy as the first group. The objectives of the study are
to compare the two types of surgery for effectiveness and their effects on
potency rates and erection quality in men with prostate cancer.

Trial 2

This study will be evaluating the effectiveness of Prograf, a medication
known to suppress the immune system, in the prevention of erectile dysfunction
in men who have had a nerve-sparing prostatectomy. Participants will be in one
of two groups: the first group will receive the active medication and the
second group will be given a placebo (sugar pill). The study will look at the
percentage of people who can achieve spontaneous erectile function.

Trial 3

In the third trial, researchers are examining the effectiveness of erectile
dysfunction treatment with Viagra versus a placebo for men with prostate cancer
who have undergone radiation therapy and total androgen suppression. The
studies are attempting to determine if there is a difference in overall sexual
function and between Viagra and placebo.

Trial 4

This study will be looking at the effects of radiation therapy, high energy
X-rays to destroy cancer cells, on erectile dysfunction. It will investigate
whether reducing the dose of radiation helps to prevent ED. Participants will
be placed into one of two groups: the first one will receive the standard
radiation therapy while the second one will receive a restricted dose of
radiation.

Reviewed by the doctors at the Glickman
Institute at The Cleveland Clinic.

Viagra May Help Crohn’s Disease

Posted on October 26, 2007
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Source article

Feb. 23, 2006 — Researchers in the U.K. have a new theory to explain the cause of Crohn’s disease, and they say medications like the erectile dysfunction drug Viagra may prove useful for treating the bowel disorder if they are right.

In Crohn’s disease, chronic inflammation causes ulcers within the digestive tract that can lead to severe gastrointestinal symptoms, including abdominal pain, persistent diarrhea, and rectal bleeding.

The most widely accepted theory is that an overactive immune system causes the damaging inflammation. But researchers from the University College London say the opposite appears to be true.

They believe a weaker-than-normal immune response triggers the bowel inflammation that leads to Crohn’s disease. Their research appears in the Feb. 25 issue of The Lancet.

1 Disease, 2 Theories

The prevailing theory of Crohn’s disease is that the body’s immune system reacts abnormally in people with the disorder, producing chronic inflammation that leads to bowel injury.

Tony Segal, professor of medicine at University College London, explains the weak immune system theory like this: “The wall of the bowel is normally an effective barrier against the bowel contents, but sometimes the barrier is broken by an infection or injury and the bowel contents, which include large numbers of bacteria, penetrate into the bowel wall.

“Normally, an acute inflammatory response would kick in to remove the bacteria and return the condition of the bowel to normal. But in Crohn’s disease, we think that the acute inflammation fails to kick-start, leaving bacteria to fester in the bowel wall which, in turn, triggers chronic, secondary inflammations.”

Segal and colleagues conducted a series of small experiments that measured white blood cell production in response to intestinal and skin trauma in both Crohn’s patients and healthy patients. With inflammation, white blood cell numbers are expected to rise. In one experiment, researchers injected a killed gut bacteria into the forearms of patients and healthy participants to study blood flow and immune response.

They found that the Crohn’s patients produced unexpectedly lower levels of white blood cells and proteins involved in inflammation, compared with people without the disorder.

Segal tells WebMD that people who carry a gene that has been linked to Crohn’s disease may be especially vulnerable to getting the disease if they have weak immune systems.

He added that drugs like Viagra, which open the blood vessels and increase blood flow, may help.

The Viagra Response

The researchers tested this theory by treating 10 Crohn’s patients with 50 milligrams of Viagra after injecting them with the killed gut bacteria. They found that blood flow to the infected area improved.

“Increasing blood flow is an important part of the inflammatory response, and that is why this drug may work,” Segal says. “But we don’t yet know if this will give rise to successful treatment. We need to study this further to find out.”

Segal and colleagues are among a growing number of researchers suggesting that a weak immune system, rather than an overactive one, is largely responsible for Crohn’s disease, says University of Chicago associate professor of medicine Sunanda Kane, MD.

She adds that the new research adds credibility to the theory but does not prove it.

“This is a little more evidence that maybe we have been barking up the wrong tree,” she tells WebMD. “The idea that we should be strengthening the immune system — rather than suppressing it — sounded a little crazy at first, but the evidence continues to come in. But we still have a long way to go to really understand what causes Crohn’s.”

Biologic agents that stimulate a specific part of the immune system are now being tested in Crohn’s patients. If such treatments prove effective, Kane says doctors would have an effective alternative to steroids, which work well for many patients but have many side effects.

“For decades now suppressing the immune system [with steroids] has worked, and we will continue to do so until we find alternatives that work for everybody and are risk-free,” she says. Read more

Erection Problems (Erectile Dysfunction) - Medications

Posted on October 23, 2007
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Source:
erection problems (erectile dysfunction) that are
caused by blood vessel (vascular), hormonal, nervous system, or psychological
problems. They also may be used along with counseling to treat erection
problems that have psychological causes.

If erection problems could be caused by a
prescribed medication, it may be possible to change
the dose or try another medication. Do not change or stop taking any medication
without first talking with your health professional.

Medication Choices

Commonly used oral medications include: Read more

FDA Asked to Approve Once-a-Day Erectile Dysfunction Drug

Posted on October 11, 2007
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July 6, 2001 — Viagra, the little blue pill that made erectile dysfunction household words, may have some serious competition by this time next year when a new long-acting erectile dysfunction drug is expected to hit the market.

In clinical studies the experimental drug, called Cialis, improved erections in 85% of the men taking 20 mg of the drug and the drug’s effects last for 24 hours or longer. Viagra usually works for about four hours says Albert Yu, MD, senior director of clinical affairs at ICOS Corporation.

Cialis, pronounced “see-Alice”, is being developed as a joint venture between ICOS Corporation and Eli Lilly and Company. Late last week the manufacturers submitted a new drug application to the FDA. If the process goes smoothly “we expect to begin marketing by late in the second quarter of 2002,” says ICOS spokesperson Lacy Fitzpatrick.

From former Senator Bob Dole to Playboy founder Hugh Hefner, Viagra proved not only to be an effective treatment but has also caused a sea change in Americans’ attitudes about sexual dysfunction. Once considered a taboo subject, erectile dysfunction is now the subject of television, radio, and newspaper advertisements. For NASCAR fans, Viagra sponsors a race team.

Most men experience erection problems at some time in their lives, but about 30 million American men have chronic problems achieving erection. Erectile dysfunction, or ED as it is often called, can affect men at any age but becomes more common with age and 35% of men aged 60 or older have ED.

Considering the size of the market it is not surprising that the makers of Cialis are hoping that lightning will strike twice.

Yu tells WebMD that the new drug is very similar to Viagra, which is known medically as sildenafil. Both drugs, he says, inhibit an enzyme that affects the blood flow to the penis. “By inhibiting this enzyme, PDE5, blood flow is increased,” says Yu.

In studies reported at the recent American Urological Association meeting, 78% of men with mild to severe erectile dysfunction were able to complete intercourse after taking 20 g of the drug. Eighty-five percent of the men said they had improved erections, and 63% said they achieved normal erectile function when taking the drug.

Raymond Rosen, PhD, professor of psychiatry at the Robert Wood Johnson Medical School in New Jersey, tells WebMD that no clinical comparison of Viagra and Cialis has been attempted. “So any statements comparing the two are really hypothetical.” Rosen is a clinical investigator who has been involved in designing trials of Cialis and other drugs.

Rosen says Cialis “appears to have a rapid onset of action. You get an effect in about 30 minutes and it is effective up to 24 hours or possibly longer.”

At this point Rosen says the main advantage of Cialis is this long-acting effect. “People wouldn’t have to plan quite as carefully for when they would have intercourse. For example, if a man is planning to be with a partner all day Saturday, he could take the drug in the morning and have intercourse in the afternoon or evening. It’s less focused, more natural.”

Yu says the new drug appears to be “more specific for PDE5″ than Viagra is and this increased specificity means that the drug may cause fewer side effects than Viagra. Yu says that Viagra is generally well tolerated but that some men who take the drug get “blue tinge vision” because the drug also affects an enzyme called PDE6, which is involved in color perception in the eye. “We have not seen any color vision effects,” in any men treated in clinical trials says Yu.

Rosen agrees that the drug is well tolerated but he says that a small number of men will complain of headaches, flushing and, in a few cases, low-back pain when taking the drug. “But typically men don’t drop out of the studies because of side-effects,” says Rosen.

Cialis, like Viagra, should not be taken by men who are taking nitrates, says Yu. “This is because the drug has the same metabolic pathway as nitrates,” says Yu. He says, however, that the drug can be taken by men “who take any other type of heart or hypertension medication. There is no contraindication for men with heart disease.” Read more

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