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.
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