October 2009

Panel fails to push vaccine for males

October 27, 2009, Washington Post

U.S. vaccine advisers last week declined to press for the use of Gardasil in boys and men, opting instead to simply advise doctors they are free to use the drug.

Despite some impassioned pleas from patients and doctors, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices voted almost unanimously for "permissive" use of the Merck vaccine for boys. It protects against the human papillomavirus, or HPV, which causes a variety of cancers and genital warts.

New Reviews Expose the Shortcomings of Abstinence-Only-Until-Marriage Curricula Used in Florida; Need for Comprehensive...

For Immediate Release                                                   Contact:  Stephanie Kunkel
October 22, 2009                                     850-425-5097

New Reviews Expose the Shortcomings of Abstinence-Only-Until-Marriage Curricula Used in Florida; Need for Comprehensive Sex Education Funding

Letter: Education can prevent teen pregnancies, STDs

October 21, 2009, Palm Beach Post

Legislature: Sex Education Changes Being Revisited

October 14th, 2009, Jacksonville Observer

Florida Democrats and a coalition of groups are renewing the push for more comprehensive sex education in public schools.

Abstinence-Only Education is Back

October 1, 2009, Newsweek

by Katie Connolly

After weeks of railing against the price tag of health care reform, Senate Republicans managed to bond over pumping up the budget for one aspect of health care reform yesterday: abstinence-only education. Proposed by Utah Senator Orrin Hatch the amendment reinstates $50 million in funding for abstinence only education that President Obama had previously removed in his budget proposal earlier this year. Committee Republicans were joined by Blanche Lincoln (D. Ark) and Kent Conrad (D. ND) in voting up the measure, which passed 12-11.

Past sexual behavior can affect future health

October 1, 2009, Hernando Today

Trichomonas vagilitis is an insidious germ. It's a type of parasite that's sexually transmitted and though women may experience symptoms - men do not.

Unless a sexual partner mentions experiencing symptoms, most of the time a man would not know he had it. And since this particular infection usually goes away by itself in time, the man is none the wiser until years later when he's diagnosed with aggressive and potentially life threatening prostate cancer.