Men have always wanted to have sex and women, no. This one of the myths that attempts to remove the gender workshop organized this year at the XXVI edition of the Universitat d’estiu a Gandia.

“It is true that men are more sexual than women,” because there are many girls who like to practice much sex or more than men, says Vicente Bataller, MD, Surgery, Sexologist and workshop teacher. Instead, he is certain the greater willingness of men to sex.

Women understand sexuality as something more emotional, and that is linked to the peace, gentleness and patience, qualities which, according to many respondents in surveys about sex, many men do not have, something that can also be a myth.

On the third day of the workshop, on Wednesday this week, the teacher picks on paper Bataller anonymous sexual fantasies students participating in the workshop. The re-circulated at random and asked to be read aloud to the whole class. One of the sexual fantasies of one participant is having sex with another woman and a man. Before listening to the erotic dream and between students perceived characteristic nervousness start of talks about sex but once launched, many can not hide a laugh. And do not forget that you are talking about the ultimate taboo and laughter, says Bataller, “a defense mechanism that discharges the tension.”

The proposed game serves to downplay the issue and find that women have sexual fantasies traditionally attributed to men and the ‘menage a trois’. popularly known as a trio. Another medical student dreams of having an amorous encounter in a hospital stretcher. They get to hear laughter. 
“In my myths come by me and I leave for another,” said Hector Climent, a student at the workshop.

Bataller introduces an important issue as they are the most common fears about sex. They talked about and invented a lot with what has been mythologized falsamente.Entre women are the most common fears as Bataller says on its website, the fear of first time and unwanted pregnancy. Creates insecurity in men penis size and did not know if enough has provided pleasure to your partner. 
Maria Martinez, another student of the course, says it is improper for a woman talk about sex in public, but some women may be released when they talk about their fantasies in unsigned letters. The girl herself emphasizes that “the most erotic story in the course has been written by a woman.”

Bataller also insists on the need to eradicate the idea that sex “is bad, dirty, ugly, only to married, or just young men, nor just to have children.” 
For this reason, the course coordinator doctor says you have to enjoy sex “either by the fantasies or just finding the balance with your partner.” 
Also considers it essential that sex education is taught from an early age “and not at age 16 as now.” Sexology expert argues that continuing education would eradicate the myths of sexuality and more of a disappointment for parents. 
Premature ejaculation

The recent marketing of a drug that reduces the risk of premature ejaculation in men also deserves consideration for Bataller. It is not against him but says there are natural ways to avoid it. 
What it rejects is the female condom by bulky and “because the male is more secure.”

In this respect, although much information, there are still risky behavior. According to the latest survey of the pharmaceutical Bayer Schering on contraception, over two million Spanish are at risk of unwanted pregnancy and unprotected sex. The condom is the most used method, however the Valencia is ahead in terms of misuse of contraceptives systems

For many centuries, the male orgasm has presided over discourse about human sexuality. The male orgasm is easily notable because it occurs during sexual intercourse and can occur by other forms of stimulation. Contrastingly, female orgasms occur most often by clitoral stimulation. The clitoris is located on a woman’s vulva, or outer genitalia. According to experts in the field of sexology and authors of the book, Exploring the Dimensions of Human Sexuality, Jerrold S. Greenberg, et al., the clitoris is made up of similar tissue as the penis, and fills with blood during arousal as the penis does (Greenberg 125). The sole purpose of the clitoris is for sexual pleasure. Sexual intercourse has been given primary attention in educational programs, allowing for the male to orgasm to be normative, while the female orgasm is little discussed or researched. The female orgasm ought to be given the same attention as intercourse in so that women and men become aware that it is not typically intercourse that causes female orgasm, but rather, outer genital stimulation of the clitoris. Men and women need to be knowledgeable of the clitoral orgasm through increased discourse and sexual education: this spread of information will improve the study of sexuality and will improve people’s sexual lives.

There are reasons for the belief that intercourse creates orgasm as clitoral stimulation does. Human sexuality was not first considered a subject worth studying until the 1890’s. One of the first researchers of sexuality, Richard von Krafft-Ebing explained sexual pleasures such as masturbation, as a mental disease that could cause an individual harm. It took fellow researcher, Henry Havelock Ellis, sixteen volumes of scientific work to counter Krafft-Ebing by stating that masturbation is normal for both sexes and that orgasm is very much the same in both males and females (Greenberg 48). Because sexuality is a new subject in light of others that have been studied for centuries, beliefs are controversial, and many need substantiating. There is no doubt that the newness of human sexuality has caused controversy. Female orgasmic ability needs to be included into the talk about intercourse and pleasure as knowledge on the subject proliferates.

Researchers have attempted to inform the public about the process of clitoral orgasm as related to intercourse. Sexology researchers, William Masters and Virginia Johnson scientifically studied individuals engaging in intercourse in a laboratory setting. Through their studies, they created a model of the physiological pattern of orgasm during intercourse for men and women. Masters and Johnson called their model the Sexual Response Cycle. The male sexual response cycle starts with arousal or excitement, and then a plateau period occurs where sexual excitement becomes enhanced, orgasm occurs, and then a resolution phase follows. The sexual response cycle during intercourse for women, on the other hand, shows that they may not reach orgasm at all. Women’s sexual response cycle is shown as excitement, plateau, and orgasm, or multiple orgasms, but orgasms are described as uterine contractions (Greenberg 262-265). Uterine contractions may or may not be orgasmic. The uterus is not composed of sensitive tissue like the clitoris. According to Masters and Johnson, during female arousal, the clitoris is erect, similar to that of a penis. As earlier discussed, if the clitoris and the penis are similar, and the penis is what creates intense male orgasm, it can be deduced that the clitoris, and not the uterus, allows for intense female orgasm. Females’ Sexual Response Cycle stands as evidence that women do not achieve orgasm through the same means as men.

There are many reasons that the female orgasm is slacking in the rhetoric of human sexuality. According to sexology researcher, Shere Hite, who published The Hite Report on Male Sexuality in 1981, men were generally unaware that women could achieve orgasm by means other than intercourse (Greenberg 62). The anecdotal studies that Shere Hite conducted with women returned the results “that many women reported that they experienced orgasm more frequently from clitoral stimulation than from coitus and that they achieved deep orgasm from masturbation” (Greenberg 61). Studies like Shere Hite’s can be helpful for a more informed public. Informing the public of female sexuality is freeing for couples and women who may be misinformed that intercourse is commonly orgasmic for females.

Educators, researchers, and the general population should not view female orgasms as taboo or mythical. Although there has been progress in studies and information on female orgasmic potential, only some years ago, female sexuality was researched, but shunned by the public. Research completed by Alfred C. Kinsey covered topics such as the female orgasm in his book called Sexual Behavior in the Human Female. Kinsey published a similar book for males in 1948, which sold like wildfire, but when the female version was published, it sold few copies and was disapproved of by many people in the United States. This is one example of the slag in discourse about female sexuality. Taboos hinder the flow of information available to the public, and must be eradicated in order for female sexual pleasure to be viewed as normative. Popular discourse about female sexual pleasure and orgasm should be implemented in educational institutions and accepted by the public. Historically, discourse about sexual pleasure has primarily regarded males. Building information about clitoral orgasm and including it in health and education programs will allow for men and women to hear equal messages about human sexuality and pleasure.

There are challenges to including clitoral orgasm in sexual education programs. Today, some academic institutions with religious affiliations consider conflicts about human sexuality and opt not to include the subject in curricula. In 2007 and 2008, some states made the sale of vibrators illegal: an illustration on some of the restrictions placed on female sexuality. Until equal grounds for sexual pleasure are reached, like availability of information and eradication of taboos around female pleasure, then laws like this one will continue to cause prejudice views. Sexual education about female orgasm is one solution to the missing discourse. I also enjoyed hearing about Michelle Fine’s book in class lecture, The Missing Discourse of Desire, which discusses the need for improved education about women wanting to say yes to sex and pleasure. What if a woman wants to say yes to sex? How can the public better understand how to be safe, but also how to liberate misinformed views about female desire? Allowing for female sexual pleasure to be in the limelight would benefit the public, because as Sigmund Freud professes, sexuality is a central and important part of all human being’s lives. Understanding the entire scope of pleasure between man and woman, and not solely focusing on intercourse will further the subject of human sexuality, and will help people in their sexual lives.

Greenberg, Jerrold S., Clint E. Bruess, and Sarah C. Conklin. Exploring the Dimensions of

Human Sexuality. 3rd ed. Sudbury, MA: Jones and Bartlett, 2007.

Twelve years ago, Congress approved funding for “abstinence-only” sexual education programs, as an alternative to more comprehensive curricula (Goldberg). Five years later, when George W. Bush became President, almost all federal funding for any non-”abstinence-only” programs was cut (Ibid.). This was a repeat of Bush’s tenure as governor of Texas, when he “promoted and lobbied for and pushed abstinence-only education.” (Ibid.). A large part of his strategies as both governor and President has been to support, and even appoint to positions of power, doctors who have had a track record of misrepresenting scientific facts and furthering the “abstinence-only” agenda (Ibid.).

One of these doctors is Dr. Joe McIlhaney, who is “known for his published disdain for the use of condoms to prevent the spread of HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases and his continued advocacy of abstinence-only programs[...]” (Goldberg). Four years ago, Bush named McIlhaney to his Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS, as well as to the Centers For Disease Control (CDC) Director’s advisory committee (Ibid.). This was nine years after the Texas Department of Health tried to stop his practice of spreading fake facts about condom prevention of STDs (Ibid.). McIlhaney has also been criticized for only showing his “data” at presentations where there was no opportunity for other doctors or scientists to question him (Ibid.). Another doctor, part of McIlhaney’s organization, “refused to prescribe contraception to unmarried women.” (Ibid.).

The Bush administration has not only used others to spread misleading information, but has released its own reports and censored other government organizations which have countered with sound scientific evidence. Before 2002, the CDC website had a page featuring five sexual education “Programs that Work”, none of which were “abstinence-only” (Oversight). That year, the page was replaced with a message stating that PTW was discontinued to use a new process which is “more responsive to changing needs and concerns[...]” (Ibid.). Now, the link simply redirects to the CDC main youth health page. The standards by which sex-ed programs are rated for effectiveness have also been changed by the Bush administration. Before 2001, the Department of Health & Human Services rated programs on the birth and intercourse rates of those who participated in them (Ibid.). Now, programs are rated on attendance and whether participants “commit to abstain from sexual activity until marriage.” (Ibid.). This is not a true measure of effectiveness: “a 2001 review of scientific evidence concluded that ‘adolescents’ sexual beliefs, attitudes, and even intentions are . . . weak proxies for actual behaviors.’ That is, even if teens pledge to remain abstinent, they may not actually do so.” (Ibid.).

Programs are apparently not rated on accuracy of information. Many programs that have been approved for grants include inaccurate or blatantly false data, and only include real facts if they further the “abstinence-only” agenda. Some of the “facts” in these programs are that sterility is caused by abortion, half of gay teens have AIDS, and touching of genitals causes pregnancy (Connolly). Out of 13 programs studied in 2004, “two of the curricula were accurate but the 11 others, used by 69 organizations in 25 states, contain unproven claims ['a 43-day-old fetus is a thinking person'], subjective conclusions ['Condoms fail to prevent HIV transmission as often as 31 percent of the time in heterosexual intercourse.'] or outright falsehoods ['HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, can be spread via sweat and tears.'] regarding reproductive health, gender traits and when life begins” (Ibid.).

The age range that the government considers as needing “abstinence-only” education is surprising. In 2006, program funding was expanded to cover every unmarried person from 12 to 29 years of age (Jayson). The government says that the expansion was only “[...]to remind states they could use these funds not only to target adolescents.” (Ibid.). This “reminder” is viewed by many as the government trying to control the sex lives of adults. James Wagner, President of a non-profit organization that supports sex-ed, says “They’ve stepped over the line of common sense. To be preaching abstinence when 90% of people are having sex is in essence to lose touch with reality. It’s an ideological campaign. It has nothing to do with public health.” (Ibid.). Rather curbing just teen pregnancy rates, this campaign is a step toward considerably cutting the total birth rate. The 20-29 age range accounted for about 85% of births in the US in 2005, which translates to about 3.5 million births (BabyCenter). Unmarried women made up 37% of the total 4.1 million births (Ibid.). It has been proposed that instead of trying to teach abstinence, programs for unmarried adults should focus on effective use of contraception for those who don’t want to have children (Jayson). This is the same thing that proposed comprehensive sex-ed programs would do for teenagers.

Recently, there have been more and more efforts to persuade government officials to stop funding for “abstinence-only” sex education, or to approve federal funding for other programs. In November, a group of ten scientists and researchers from prestigious institutions across the nation submitted a letter to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi (Santelli). The letter cites statistics from at least ten recent studies, studies which were actually done in response to the promotion of “abstinence-only” sex-ed (Ibid.). These statistics show that abstinence-only programs have not been proven as effective in preventing pregnancy and STD infection (Ibid.). They also show that the amount of students who are learning about birth control, condoms, and other forms of contraception is rapidly decreasing (Ibid.).

According to the letter, programs which teach about contraceptives are actually more effective at preventing students from having intercourse than “abstinence-only” programs (Ibid). And while those who took the “abstinence-only” program “virginity pledge” seemed to start having intercourse later than they normally would, when they did start, they didn’t use condoms (Ibid.). This can be explained by “one of the few measurable impacts” of “abstinence-only” programs: students believed that condom effectiveness in preventing STDs was negligible (Ibid.). This means that rates of STDs and pregnancy are relatively similar between those who start intercourse early and those who start later. And while there are no concrete statistics on when teens start experimenting with alternative forms of intercourse, such as anal or oral sex, more and more young teenagers are aware of and have even tried oral sex (MSNBC). In fact taking a “virginity pledge” can actually encourage teens to engage in oral or anal sex, which, while still carrying a risk of contracting STDs, can be thought of as technically keeping someone a virgin (Connolly).

Another study shows that true abstinence is extremely limited in the general population. “Almost all Americans initiate sexual intercourse before marriage.” (Santelli). The study also found that only 3% of Americans who have had sex by the age of 44 (which is almost every American) waited until marriage to have it (Ibid.). Many professional health organizations have criticized “abstinence-only” programs based on these and other statistics (Ibid.). In fact, last year, former Surgeon General Richard Carmona delivered a report to Congress stating that, far from wanting to promote better health, the motivations of the Bush administration in pushing the programs are political, ideological, and theological (Ibid.).

Sex is an extremely polarizing topic in America, and the topic of adolescent sexuality is hotly discussed and debated. Far from having just a left and right side, there are many varying positions on this issue (Klein 103). On the most liberal front, the opinion is that the age of consent should be abolished, with extremely comprehensive sex education programs and easy access to free contraceptives (Ibid. 103). More moderately liberal positions on the subject favor keeping age of consent laws intact, while still providing comprehensive, non “abstinence-only” sex education (Ibid. 103-104). On the other hand, moderate conservatives propose making abstinence a large part of sex education curricula and limiting access to birth control, while the farthest conservative positions advocate removing all non “abstinence-only” sex education from schools, as well as not providing any form of contraception to teenagers (Ibid. 104). The current presidential administration represents the latter viewpoint.

A bill called the Responsible Education About Life (REAL) Act has been introduced into Congress by Senator Frank Lautenberg and Representative Barbara Lee (Responsible). The bill “would provide $206 million per year in grants to states for the purpose of conducting comprehensive sexuality education programs.” (Ibid.). The programs would be “medically accurate”, would not “teach or promote religion”, and most importantly would stress “the value of abstinence without ignoring those young people who have had sexual intercourse” (Ibid.). “Sen. Frank Lautenberg, D-N.J., and Rep. Barbara Lee, D-Calif., introduced the REAL Act in the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives on March 22, 2007.” (Ibid.). The bill is pending, having been referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions and the Subcommittee on Health in the Senate and House of Representatives, respectively (GovTrack.us).

Comparisons of teenage STD infection rates before and after “abstinence-only” education are not readily available, which seems to indicate that the programs have not produced any significant changes. It is true that abstinence is the only 100% effective way of preventing pregnancy. It is more effective than condoms and birth control, and the only way to get an STD without having sex is by sharing needles or sharing blood between open wounds. “Abstinence-only” programs and proponents of course tout these facts as reasons why the programs work and should continue. They also state that proponents of comprehensive sex education do not recognize or would not teach abstinence as a way of avoiding pregnancy and STDs. This is untrue, as most advocates for comprehensive sex education promote the teaching of abstinence as effective for those who don’t plan on having sex, but recognize that contraceptives must still be taught as a way to protect teenagers who are sexually active from pregnancy and STDs. With a new presidential administration in 2009, there may come a breakthrough in the long battle to provide teenagers with sex education that truly teaches them about the risks of sex while giving them the knowledge and the tools to protect themselves if they choose to have sex.