Fathers’ Increased Supervision Affects Teens Risky Sexual Behavior

This morning when I was reading the local newspaper, I crossed a piece about a child who was taken into state custody after it was alleged that her mother had injured her. One of the people who commented on the piece asked where the young child’s father was in all of this and then listed a series of astonishing statistics concerning fatherless homes; children from fatherless homes are 32 times more likely to become runaways, 9 times more likely to drop out of school, 10 times more likely to abuse drugs and 20 times more likely to end up in prison. A few weeks ago in Sunday School, our teacher also mentioned that children whose fathers went to church with them every Sunday were twice as likely to continue the practice throughout their own lives and throughout the lives of their own children. Where many times fathers tend to get put on the back burners when talks of children and their upbringing come up, the facts show that fathers are especially impactful in the raising of their children. A new study stemming from combined resources at Harvard University, Boston College and the University of Pittsburgh shows that fathers step up their efforts to supervise their children when they discover their children have engaged in risky sexual behavior.

This recent study had over 3,000 teenaged participants between the ages of 13 and 18 and followed them for a span of four years. These participants came from a larger survey called the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth which serves to sample American teenagers. In this recent study, the teenage participants answered questions on how informed their parents were of their friends and their activities. If the teenage participant was age 14 or older, the survey also included questions on sexual behavior, including how often they engage in sexual activity, how many partners they have and whether or not they used contraceptives like condoms to protect themselves.

Findings from the study show that mothers and fathers react differently concerning the sexual behavior of their child/children. This study showed that when parents found out their child was experimenting with sexual behavior deemed risky, fathers, in particular, became more involved in their child’s life and strove to inquire and learn more about the activities and friends of their child. These results are much different than previous research efforts which suggest that parents become hostile and less involved in their child’s life upon finding out their child has engaged in sexual activities.

For those of you who participate in frequent family activities, bravo! Results from this study also show that children who are involved in various family activities are more shielded from engaging in risky sexual behavior. Some examples include teenagers who regularly eat dinner together with their families and those who participate in fun family projects/activities. Rebekah Levine Coley, the lead author of the study, states, “This research highlights the complex interplay of relationships between parents and their adolescent children. Given the notably negative potential repercussions of risky sexual activity during adolescence, this study can inform efforts to increase parents’ oversight of and active engagement with their teenage children.”

Review : Astroglide Personal Lubricant

The Astroglide Personal Lubricant is perhaps the most famous brand-name lubricant that is used the world over. It is manufactured by a Californian company that goes by the name of BioFilm Inc. The lubricant has been popular not just in the consumer market but also has some kind of culture built around it with celebrities and entertainers having spoken in their performances about it.

Everything about the Astroglide Personal Lubricant is quite slick. The shape of the bottle is quite unique and has that curvy runny shape which women associate with the product. The liquid itself is clear, but the bottle is purple in color. However, recently an strawberry version of Astroglide has hit the store shelves; Astroglide Strawberry. This version is meant for women who are looking for a strawberry taste, which the traditional Astroglide was not known for.

The lubricant is not oil-based like some lubricants in the market are; it is water-based. Due to this, the lubricant is recommended for more women than any other. The lubricant doesn’t dry out. Most lubricants do that over long periods of time. However, the Astroglide Personal Lubricant stays slick for a long while. Because of the absence of oil content in it, the lubricant is quite smooth too. It is not greasy or sticky like oil- or gel-based lubricants.

When applied, most women get a feeling of velvety smoothness. The lubricant reduces any uncomfortable friction that is associated with sexual activities, making sex more comfortable and enjoyable. From the point of view of the men too, Astroglide is a winner. The lubricant does not feel sticky or messy to them and because it is made with a water-based formulation, the lubricant appears and feels like the woman’s own natural lubrication to the man. Thus, using this compound can heighten the sexual pleasure for both the participating partners.

The best thing about this product that you will find in most Astroglide reviews is that women vouch for its long-lasting nature. Women say how this product, which looks no different than water, can last for a long time without any problems. To add to that, the feel that Astroglide gives is something that is the full money’s worth.

However, you must remember that Astroglide is not a prescription product in any way, though your physician might recommend it to you for some kinds of problems. There are no health claims from Astroglide whatsoever, but it does contain a slightly acidic nature which is detrimental for the growth of yeast. However, Astroglide does not and is not meant to protect the user from any kinds of infections.

It is very easy to obtain the Astroglide Personal Lubricant because it is available almost everywhere. Your local pharmacy will have a supply of it, and it is also very easily available online. Try it today!

Female Condoms Try to Make a Comeback

While very popular overseas, the Female Condom has never made much of a dent in the US market. The reasons for that are many – women complained that they were noisy, reduced feeling, difficult to correctly insert, uncomfortable, expensive, etc etc etc.

This month, the Female Health Company (FHC), is trying to slowly – but surely – change all of that. They are set to begin distribution of a new female condom to state agencies, non-profit groups, and medical offices. They are ramping up production slowly, seeing how people react and respond to the new product, and then if all goes well, they hope to distribute to retail outlets soon thereafter.

The new female condom – the FC2 – is no longer made out of polyurethane, but rather a new material which should be less noisy and less expensive. Whereas the old female condom could cost as much as $4 each at retail, the new condom should come down significantly on this price.

This new phase of distribution will be critical for the company. If they are able to resolve some of the complaints that hindered distribution of the original female condom, perhaps they will be able to make small inroads into the US retail market. Still, they are far away from any sea change in American’s dislike of the female condom. I believe that could only be addressed by going straight to the US consumer and confronting them directly – a new marketing campaign designed to sell the product to a new generation. This, of course, would take a lot of money, and before they do that they have to make sure they have a product that will sufficiently stand up to the customers’ demands.