Anal health is not just a gay issue: Women also need rectal microbicides
by Bobby Ramakant
August 18, 2012

http://www.weeklyblitz.net/2489/anal-health-is-not-just-a-gay-issue-women-also


PHOTO: WEEKLYBLITZ.NET

"It is high time that anal health and hygiene comes out of the closet" said Dr Ross Cranston from University of Pittsburgh, USA. Dr. Cranston was referring to the multitude of anal health complications people practicing receptive anal sex are likely to be dealing with in their lives and very little quality care and products that exist to relieve them. The awareness level in people (women, men, transgender women) who reported to practice receptive anal sex was abysmally low. Zero per cent of such respondents had knowledge related to their anal cancer risk, and just half of them knew about Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV - the virus that causes genital herpes).

Carol Odada: "Women face the brunt of health problems, be it communicable or non-communicable diseases. Anal sex happens everywhere. That is why there is a pressing need for more options for these people to protect them from a range of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) including HIV."

There are major efforts taking shape to boost communication strategies around rectal microbicides. Rectal microbicides are products that could take the form of gels or lubricants – being developed to reduce a person's risk of HIV or other sexually transmitted infections (STIs) through anal receptive sex.

We should all be discussing anal health more often, not just because it's good evidence-based practice, but because "anal health" is one of the giggliest phrases I've heard in awhile.

I had to go to see my proctologist the other day.

The doctor was about to begin the examination, when he said something to the nurse, who momentarily left the room.

A few moments later, the nurse returned, carrying a cold bottle of beer.

The proctologist took one look and said, "No, no, I asked for a 'Butt light'!"