2012 June | Dr. Janell Carroll

Archive for June, 2012

Untreatable STDs Coming?

Wednesday, June 6, 2012

The World Health Organization recently announced that a new “super bug” strain of gonorrhea is growing resistant to treatment with antibiotics and could soon become untreatable. Gonorrhea is the second most common sexually transmitted infection today, just behind chlamydia. While years ago a gonorrhea infection was easily treated with penicillin, the bacteria’s adaptability has made it resistant to many types of antibiotics. Mutations that enable the bacteria to survive antibiotic treatments then quickly spread their genes, making treatments more difficult. Experts claim that an overuse of antibiotics, as well as the use of the wrong antibiotics has led to the development of the super bug.

Again, the answer is here is sex education. We need to educate people about the risks of sexually transmitted infections and help them understand how to protect themselves. In addition to this, we need a positive approach to sexuality that includes the discussion of sexual pleasure, needs, and desires. Without this, individuals will be unable to communicate about sex and rates of sexually transmitted infections will continue to increase.

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The Censure of Nuns Who Talk about Sex

Tuesday, June 5, 2012

In 2006, Sister Margaret Farley, an award-winning scholar, published “Just Love: A Framework for Christian Sexual Ethics.” The Vatican recently denounced the book, mostly because of how Farley presented her opinions about same-sex relationships and female masturbation. Farley asserted that same-sex marriage could be an important step to reducing the hatred, rejection, and stigmatization aimed at gays and lesbians. The Vatican responded that opinions such as these were “unacceptable” since homosexual acts are “acts of grave depravity” and “intrinsically disordered.” In talking about female masturbation, Farley claimed that many women enjoyed masturbation and that she believed it can help teach women about their bodies and sexual pleasure.

Given the enormous pressure to conform to the Vatican’s teachings, I applaud Sister Margaret Farley for thinking outside the box and for having enough strength in her convictions to share them publicly. I think it is time for organized religion to take a good look at the importance of sexuality and began talking about it. It can only make the world a better place.

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