Sexologist gives innovative advice

Sex is generally one of college students’ favorite topics, and

it just so happens to be the area of expertise for Yvonne

Fulbright, a sexologist and sex columnist from New York University.

On Tuesday night, she visited campus to give a talk on

relationships and safe sex.

Fulbright, a native of Iceland, is a bonafide “sexpert,” and the

author of, “A Hot Guide to Safer Sex,” which hit bookstores last

June. She advocates safe sex while offering tips to eroticize the

experience.

The first thing Fulbright covered was the different types of

sexually transmitted diseases. Parasite infections, such as crabs,

and bacterial infections, like Chlamydia, are curable while viral

infections such as herpes and hepatitis are not. Many viral STDs

can be asymptomatic, meaning the carrier may not even be aware he

or she is infected.

“With viral STDs, you can be transmitting it to other people

without even knowing you have it,” Fulbright said.

She then discussed various sex toys and activities that can be

manipulated to help do away with the awkwardness of putting on a

condom or other protection. Among other things, anal beads,

handcuffs, a vibrator, role-playing and a blindfold were presented

as avenues into safer sex.

“What a perfect time to slip a condom on,” Fulbright said of

blindfolding one’s partner.

On the topic of sex toys, she said that people should not feel

limited only to toys sold in a sex shop.

“You guys can turn anything into a sex toy,” she said. “Even

something in your room.”

Fulbright also said to “talk dirty” to a partner while putting

on a condom.

“A lot of the time, the power of our voice can make putting on a

condom a sexier, easier thing to do,” she said.

According to Fulbright, many people complain that using a condom

does not allow for the same type of physical sensation that happens

during unprotected sex. As one way to increase this, Fulbright

recommended the female partner perform Kegel exercises during

intercourse.

“They can provide you with so much sensation that you can forget

you’re using a condom,” she said.

Fulbright also discussed the commonly-believed myth that drugs

and alcohol can act as aphrodisiacs. She said that while alcohol

may make sex more attainable, the third or fourth beer often acts

as a buzz kill. Furthermore, people may have difficulty maintaining

arousal when inebriated.

Fulbright wrapped up the presentation with a question and answer

session. One audience member asked how he could get his partner to

be more open to new sexual experiences.

“A lot of people have expectations and desires but don’t know

how to share them,” she said in response, suggesting to bring up

the topic with a partner in a confident and not demanding way.

If a partner isn’t interested in exploring new sexual avenues,

Fulbright said a person should not take it personally. She said

there are a number of reasons that do not directly involve the

partner that could be influencing his or her decision.

“It was worth coming,” said Krystal Lull, a freshman animal

science major. “She’s got a really good way of presenting sex in an

interesting and non-lecturing way.”

Freshman business major Neil DiMuccio agreed.

“It was fun, informative and explicit in a good way,” he

said.