An Aging Heart

“Under normal circumstances, the heart continues to adequately supply all parts of the body. However, an aging heart may be slightly less able to tolerate increased workloads, because changes reduce this extra pumping ability (reserve heart function).”

As we age, there are changes that take place in our hearts, our vessels, and our blood. Some of the changes that take place in the heart itself are: a decrease in the rate of the heart due to cell loss in the SA node or commonly known as our natural pacemaker; an increase in the size of the heart along with thickening of the walls of the heart, which can result in a decrease in the amount of volume that the heart can hold; deposits of lipofuscin or also known as the “aging pigment”; valve stiffness, which can result in a heart murmur; and abnormal rhythms as well as degeneration of muscle cells in the heart. This MedlinePlus article serves to acquaint you with the changes that take place in other parts of the circulatory system mentioned above, such as the changes that take place in the blood and in our blood vessels. The article, not only gives you information about the changes that take place in our cardiovascular system as we age, but also about actions you can take right now to keep your cardiovascular as healthy as possible for as long as possible.

Explore Spirituality & Relieve Stress

“For many, spirituality takes the form of religious observance, prayer, meditation or a belief in a higher power. For others, it can be found in nature, music, art or a secular community. Spirituality is different for everyone.”

According to the Mayo Clinic, spirituality offers many benefits for, not only stress relief, but also for your overall mental health. Spirituality can help you discern what are the most important aspects of your life, which can help you to relieve stress by giving less focus to the less important aspects of your life. Spirituality can also help you find your life’s purpose, which can give you inner piece, and therefore relieve your stress. Another way that spirituality can help is by showing you the connection you have to other human beings, which can help you to realize that you cannot be responsible for everything that happens in your life. These are just some of the many ways that spirituality can guide you to attain a stress-free, happy, and healthy life. This article can help you explore your own spirituality and find the path that speaks to you.

What is Your Risk Level for Heart Disease?

“If you’re like most people, you think that heart disease is a problem for other folks. But heart disease is the number one killer in the U.S. It is also a major cause of disability.”

While some people are born with heart disease, for most people, it is a disease that can be prevented with behavior modification. Heart disease most commonly occurs as a result of plaque build-up on the surface of the walls of coronary arteries. This is very serious since coronary arteries are the vessels that supply blood to the heart. If blood is prevented from reaching the heart this can result in a heart attack and coronary artery disease is the major reason for myocardial infarctions.

Reduce your risk by:

not smoking
monitoring blood pressure
frequent exercise
eating a healthy diet
lowering cholesterol levels

Take a quick questionaire to find out your risk level.

Take The Heart Disease Risk Questionnaire

Retirement Event is This Wednesday | 11/14/12

For those of you who may not received your electronic invitation, we just want to make sure you know that you are welcome to attend. It is possible that your invitation ended up in Junk or SPAM folders. Here is a direct link to the invitation online.

Click here for invitation online!

We are very excited that the event holds several different components we believe will be entertaining and insightful. As we prepare to transfer nearly 20 years of accumulated program materials and supplies for permanent archival storage at the Tretter Collection, we are ready to embrace the changing strategy in HIV prevention.

Please join us for an afternoon/evening to reflect upon these changes and to celebrate a new home for the archives of Man2Man | Among Men.

4-5:30PM

Reception and viewing of the STI surveillance presented by the University of Minnesota Social Welfare History Archive.

5:30

PM B.R. Simone Rosser, Ph.D. will reflect upon the history of the program(s)

6:00PM

Tour of the secure archives of the Jean-Nickolaus Tretter collection in GLBT Studies

We hope you will be able to join us!

Dangerous Pains

“Most of the time, it’s good that the little Vince Lombardi sitting on our shoulder tells us to shut up and play through the pain, otherwise we’d never get anything done. On the other hand, there are a few instances in which we can actually talk ourselves out of existence. That’s what happened to NBC reporter David Bloom. While covering the war in Iraq from his specially outfitted armored vehicle, he began to feel pain behind his knee. He reportedly sought out medical advice by satellite phone, decided not to follow the advice—”Go to a doctor”—popped a few aspirin, and kept right on going. Three days later, Bloom died of a pulmonary embolism caused by deep-vein thrombosis. He was 39.”

groin pain that occurs suddenly: this pain usually feels like someone or something has hit you in the testicles. This pain can most likely be attributed to a congenital defect called testicular torsion. In the average male, there are two spermatic chords that anchor the testicles from the scrotum to the abdomen. However, some people are born with just one spermatic cord, which runs the risk of getting tangled causing testicular torsion. The testicles can be saved if the man receives medical attention within 4-6 hours of the onset of pain; pas 12 or 24 hours there is risk of losing one or both testicles.

back pain: if the pain is not related to exercise, back pain can be the result of an aneurysm.

persistent pain of shin or top of the foot: this pain may be the result of a stress fracture. People usually develop stress fractures when they train so hard that they do not let their body heal.

sharp abdomen pain: there are many problems that could be attributed to this particular pain since there are a lot of organs present between your ribs and your hips. The most likely culprits: appendicitis, pancreatitis, or an inflamed gallbladder.

temporary chest pain: Even if the pain lasts for only a short period of time, it can be a sign of something serious like a heart attack. However, it is not always serious and it may be indigestion.

swelling and pain in the leg (calves): this pain may be due to deep-vain thrombosis (DVT). Even though your instinct may be to rub your leg where the pain is located, it is the worst thing that you can do because this allows a clot to travel to your lung or other vital organs and kill you. DVT pain is accompanied with swelling, tenderness, and warmness of the leg.

pain with urination: the worst case scenario is cancer of the bladder, which is the fourth most common cancer in men.

Symptoms of Depression in Men

“The symptoms that men experience can be different from those that women experience. Symptoms including anger, irritability, and feeling discouraged are more common in men than symptoms of hopelessness or helplessness.”

Since men are less likely to verbalize their depression it is difficult to diagnose men. Men do not normally express the symptoms that are common to depression, but rather they express their feelings through gambling, drug/alcohol use, or working more. Other signs of depression in men are changes in appetite and sleep. If you or someone that you know shows these signs of depression, talk to them about their options, which include therapy, medication, or both.

Coping with Urinary Incontinence

“If you’re a male who’s dealing with urinary incontinence, you definitely need to get medical help. But while you and your doctor are figuring out how to solve the problem, there are things you can do on your own that might improve your symptoms. Here are some tips to help you deal with male incontinence.”

Train your bladder: begin by scheduling bathroom breaks and go to the bathroom whether you feel like going or not. After some time, spread further apart your bathroom breaks. In about a month’s time you should be able to urinate about every three to four hours.

Kegel exercises: contrary to what many men believe, Kegel exercises are not just for women and they provide the perfect training for your pelvic floor muscles. If your pelvic floor muscles are strong, you will be able to better retain your urine.

Documentation: For the first few days, keep a diary of liquid intake, how much you urinate, if you have leakage, intake of caffeinated beverages, and if there is anything that triggers your symptoms; this will not only help to examine what might be causing your symptoms, but also during a consultation with your doctor.

Double-Voiding: after urination, try urinating a second time to prevent leakage.

Lower alcohol and caffeine intake: alcohol and caffeinated beverages are diuretics, which means that they will increase the rate of urination.

Other tips include: avoiding foods that aggravate symptoms, discontinue the use of tobacco, space-out fluid intake, stay hydrated, treat constipation, plan ahead, consider side-effects of medications, and get support.

Maintain a Healthy Weight

To be able to maintain a healthy weight it is important to know the numbers that fall within a healthy range. The best way to know whether you are within a healthy range is to look at your body fat composition, but unfortunately many of us cannot afford this option. An inexpensive way to, pretty accurately, see whether you fall within a healthy weight range is to measure the circumference of your waist. As we have mentioned before, the fat around your abdomen is the most dangerous fat because it can put you at risk for obesity-related conditions such as, Type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, high triglycerides, and coronary artery disease.

Know how to correctly measure your waist:

1. place a measuring tape around your bare abdomen so it is right below your bellybutton or just above your hip bone.

2. make sure the tape is parallel to the floor and snug around your abdomen, but not too tight.

3. then, relax, inhale, and measure right after exhaling (after breathing out).

Another way to asses your weight, which is also pretty accurate, is to calculate your body mass index (BMI).

“If your BMI is less than 18.5, it falls within the “underweight” range.
If your BMI is 18.5 to 24.9, it falls within the “normal” or Healthy Weight range.
If your BMI is 25.0 to 29.9, it falls within the “overweight” range.
If your BMI is 30.0 or higher, it falls within the “obese” range.”

6 Tips to Keep Your Prostate Healthy

1. Regular coffee and even decaffeinated coffee reduces your chance of prostate cancer by 59%

2. Frequent orgasms: “A 2004 study in the Journal of the American Medical Association analyzed data on 29,342 men and found that guys who had 21 or more orgasms a month were about 30 percent less likely to develop prostate cancer than those who racked up only four to seven a month.”

3. Eat more tomatoes, about 2+ servings per week

4. Exercise for at least five hours per week to reduce your chance of prostate cancer by 56%

5. Omega-3 fatty acids help to inhibit tumor formation

6. Reduce your trans fat intake by eating healthier

Learn How to Stay Healthy

“Gay and bisexual men, like all men, need to be aware of the ways they can protect their health through all stages of life. For all men, the leading causes of death are heart disease and cancer. However, among men who have sex with men (MSM), there are higher rates of HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), tobacco and drug use, and depression compared to other men.”

Since there is a higher prevalence of HIV and STDs among men who have sex with men (MSM) there is higher risk of exposure. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend that MSM get tested for HIV (minimum one test per year), Hepatitis B and C, Syphilis, Genital Herpes, Chlamydia and Gonorrhea (of the throat, penis, and rectum). If you have multiple partners or if you have a lot of anonymous partners you may want to get tested every three to six months. The CDC also recommends five vaccinations for MSM: Hepatitis A and B, Human Papillomavirus (HPV), and vaccinations for the seasonal flu as well as for H1N1. In addition, learn how to lower your risk for STDs as well as how to maintain good overall health.

Learning Happiness

We often hear from people to smile more often and eventually we will actually feel happy. Even though it sounds strange, there might be something to the madness. According to the May Clinic, for the majority of people, happiness is cultivated by changing thoughts and behaviors. People often think that if they were more beautiful or wealthy or more stress-free in general they will be happy, but this is actually not the case. Even people who are beautiful and rich are not happier on average because happiness is learned.

“People who are happy seem to intuitively know that their happiness is the sum of their life choices, and their lives are built on the following pillars:

Devoting time to family and friends
Appreciating what they have
Maintaining an optimistic outlook
Feeling a sense of purpose
Living in the moment”

Learn how to be happy (or happier) >>Tips for cultivating contentment

Take a Deep Breath

“Relaxation techniques can reduce stress symptoms and help you enjoy a better quality of life, especially if you have an illness. Explore relaxation techniques you can do by yourself.”

For most of us, sometimes it seems like our daily schedule does not allow us to even take a breath! Sometimes it may even seem stressful to think about setting time aside to meditate, exercise, or practice any other relaxation techniques on top of everything else that you have to do. However, even just a few minutes that you can dedicate to relaxation techniques can provide many health benefits such as, lowering your blood pressure, decreasing the rate of your breadth and heart, and even improve concentration!

There are different kinds of relaxation techniques:

Autogenic Relaxation
Progressive Muscle Relaxation
Visualization
Hypnosis
Massage
Meditation
Tai chi
Yoga

Click on the link below to learn about these techniques and the benefits they can provide for your health and your life over all. Remember that relaxation techniques work best when they are used in combination with a decent amount of sleep and routine exercise.

When Should You Pay a Visit to The Doc?

Here is a nice little tool offered by the Mayo Clinic to find out when and how often you should see the doctor for a check-up. With this tool you can customize the check-up guidelines to fit your age and sex. Check it out!

Go to>> Health Screening Tool

Colon Cancer Prevention: Watch out for the signs

With colon cancer being the third leading cause of death in the United States, it is crucial to understand the symptoms of this disease. If the disease is not diagnosed early it can be lethal. Here are some of the symptoms of colorectal cancer that you should watch out for:
Going to the restroom more/less oftenBlood in the stool

Pain in the abdomen

Weight loss

Decrease in appetite

Yet Another Reason to Workout

“Obese men not only raise their risk for heart disease and metabolic disorders, but they may also boost their odds for sexual dysfunction and frequent urination, say researchers from New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center, in New York City.”

This particular study included 400 men between the ages of 40 and 91 who were symptomatic for lower urinary tract problems. These were their waist lines:

less than 36 inches — 37.5%

36-40 inches — one third

more than 40 inches — 29%

The results from the study showed that about three fourths of the men with the largest waist circumference also experienced erectile dysfunction. In addition, about 65% of the men with the largest waists reported ejaculation problems. A healthy lifestyle and a healthy body not only keeps you away from the doctor’s office, but it also improves your sex life! Not to mention, if you’re feeling sexy and confident you might be more apt to engage in sexual activity.

Prostate-Specific Antigen Testing (PSA)

“In June 2012, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommended against routine PSA testing to screen for prostate cancer. The recommendation doesn’t apply to men diagnosed with prostate cancer and under observation for progression or recurrence.”

Since PSA testing ha not been proven to decrease the amount of deaths due to prostate cancer, the topic of routine testing is still being debated. Other concerns are overtreatment, overdiagnosis, and false-positives. Even though the PSA test is not one-hundred percent accurate, this does not mean that men should not be screened, especially if there are risk factors like age and ethnicity. There is a general consensus among the scientific community that a better test is needed, but until then talk to your doctor to discuss your options (if you are 40 years of age).

Health Disparities in Military Veterans

“Nearly 1 in 5 vets between the ages of 45 and 54 reported at least two chronic conditions compared to less than 15% of non-veterans. Close to 1 in 3 former service members who are 55 to 64 said they had more than one chronic disease compared to one-quarter of men who never served.”

The study, done by a division of the Center for Disease Control (CDC), compared the health of veterans to non-veterans between the ages of 25 and 64. The younger veterans did not show a significant health difference with their counterparts who were not veterans. However, disparities between veterans and non-veterans becomes increasingly evident with age. This means that even though we may not see a difference in health between veterans and non-veterans at a young age, it does not mean that the effects of military service will not show up later in life. Not only are veterans affected by poor physical health, but also by poor mental and emotional health.

Recreational ED Drug Use

“”Recreational use of ED medications increased the chance of psychological dependence on ED medicines,” says researcher Christopher Harte, PhD, a postdoctoral fellow at the VA Boston Healthcare System.”

Since 1998 there has been a huge increase of young adult males using erectile dysfunction medication for recreational use. Harte mentions that recreational use of ED medication increases the psychological dependence on these medications to have an erection. This leads to a decrease in confidence, thereby also increasing further dependence on the medication and ultimately leading to erectile dysfunction. The study was published in the Journal of Sexual Medicine and evaluated 1200 young men. Some of these men used perscribed ED medication, others used it recreationally, and others did not use ED medication at all.

Infection of The Prostate

“Because of its location, the symptoms of any prostate problem tend to be associated with the bladder and can include urgency to urinate, frequency of urination, burning with urination (dysuria), poor urine flow, or inability to begin a urine stream.”

Prostatis is the medial term for inflammation of the prostate and there are four types of prostitis: acute bacterial, chronic bacterial, chronic without infection, and inflamed without symptoms. This article describes the causes and symptoms for each type of prostatis. Information about diagnosis and treatment is also included. Some of the infections are cause by sexually transmitted diseases while others are not. Find out what are the symptoms to watch out for and how to prevent inflammation from happening in the first place.

Read More >> Prostatitis

A Silent Killer

“According to recent studies, over 40% of adults suffer adverse health effects due to stress, including heart disease, cancer, cirrhosis, migraine headaches, high blood pressure, and ulcers. These can all be linked to leading causes of death for the average American, including suicide. Nearly 90% of visits to primary-care physicians for chronic disorders and complaints are related to stress. “

In a fast paced society, such as ours, is definitely difficult to NOT have some sort of stress induced illness. Know the symptoms for both short-term and long-term stress. Men who have sex with men not only feel stressed from the fast-paced environment they live in, but discrimination and societal issues also puts a strain on our lives. Find out what you can do to relieve the stress in your life.

The Dangers of Snoring

“We snore — about half of adult men snore, according to studies — for one of two reasons. Mostly we snore because our airways narrow in sleep, creating resistance in the passageways that connect our nose and mouth to the lungs. The narrower the tube, the greater amount of pressure needed to establish enough flow. The fatter we are — and in particular, the thicker our necks — the more pressure there is on the airways, and the more they tend to collapse as we sleep.”

Your partner might be the only complaining about your snoring, but the reality is that both parties are affected. Your partner may not be able to sleep throughout the night due to the noise and you are not getting good sleep because you are also waking up several times during the night without noticing. You may find yourself getting more frequent headaches and feeling sleepy throughout the day as a result of lack of good sleep. Undiagnosed sleep apnea is dangerous because the depletion and re-oxygenation of tissues triggers the release of harmful chemicals by the nervous system. These chemicals that are released can cause tissue damage as well as increase the amount of plaque that forms on the inner walls of blood vessels.

Prejudice & Discrimination, The Root Cause of Health Inequities Among MSM

“Dr. Richard Wolitski, Deputy Director for Behavioral and Social Science in CDC’s Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention, discusses how the health of men who have sex with men may be influenced by prejudice and discrimination and impacted by policies, laws, and economic factors.”

Dr. Wolitski states that is it cruicial to focus on men who have sex with men (MSM) because there are disproportionate high rates of HIV infection as well as other sexually transmitted infections, smoking, depression, suicide, and domestic violence among this population. He attributes these health inequities among MSM primarily to prejudice and discrimination. Prejudice and discrimination are not only detrimental to mental health, but also detrimental to physical health since stress can increase the risk for many cardiovascular diseases. Prejudice and discrimination also affects socioeconomic factors and thereby affecting the ability to attain quality healthcare.

Listen to Podcast Here >> Health Inequities Among Men Who Have Sex With Men

Locker Room Infections

If you are going to the gym, congratulations! You are already taking control of your health and your body. However, even when we are at the gym we need to be vigilant about infections lurking in the locker room. The locker room is usually a prime location for fungal infestation and the most common infections are ringworm, jock itch, and athlete’s foot. Although these infections are not dangerous they are often very annoying as well as very easy to spread. Learn how to prevent and treat fungal infections as well as some locker room hygiene tips.

Exercising in The Cold Minnesota Weather

Sadly, the warm weather is coming to an end, but do not let that discourage you from exercising. There are plenty of things that we can do to stay safe while exercising in the cold weather (if you choose to workout outside). They key to stay safe while exercising int the cold weather is layers.

1st layer: a thin layer of synthetic material (i.e. polypropylene); draws sweat away from your skin

2nd layer: to provide insulation use fleece or wool

3rd layer: a light waterproof layer

Make sure to also protect your ears, hands, and feet. Use a headband for your ears, gloves lined with fleece for your hands, and thermal socks or an extra pair of socks for your feet.

10 Talking Points for Your Next Check-Up

“Following are the health issues GLMA’s healthcare providers have identified as most commonly of concern for gay men. While not all of these items apply to everyone, it’s wise to be aware of these issues.”

1. Your provider needs to know your sexual orientation to be able to offer the best care. However, if they seem uncomfortable with your sexual orientation, make sure to find a provider that is comfortable.

2. Talk to your provider about HIV/AIDS testing and/or treatment as well as safe sex practices.

3. Ask about screening and immunization for Hepatitis. “Hepatitis A Virus and Hepatitis B Virus is recommended for all men who have sex with men”.

4. Talk about your diet and exercise.

5. If substance use is interfering with daily activities and your relationships make sure to seek help from your provider.

6. Talk about depression and/or anxiety that you might be experiencing.

7. Inquire about sexually transmitted diseases (STDs)

8. Talk to your health provider about screening for prostate, testicular, and colon cancer.

9. If you are a smoker, think about joining a cessation program in order to prevent health problems related to tobacco use.

10. Ask questions about the human papilloma virus (HPV) since it can cause warts that can lead to anal cancer.

Colon Cancer Prevention: Let Thy Food Be Thy Medicine

“Colorectal cancer—the third-leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States—takes 30 years or longer to grow from polyps on your colon wall into tumors.”

It is during the last few years of those thirty that the cancer is capable of spreading and becoming very deadly. One thing to watch out for is family history, but keep in mind that 75% of people who develop colon cancer do not have any family history. If there is family history of colon cancer, it is wise to get a colonoscopy in order to remove any polyps that might be present. Here are some foods that may help prevent colon cancer:

Brown Rice: Eating brown rice at least once a week decreases the risk of colon polyp formation by 40%
Corn with Butter: If you use real butter, this combination may help prevent the formation of colon polyps.
Salmon: “A vitamin D deficiency may contribute to colon cancer, recent research suggests. Three ounces of sockeye salmon (half of a typical portion) contains 112 percent of your recommended daily value of vitamin D. Few other foods come close to its D potency.”
Legumes: Legumes, such as beans, lentils, peas, and peanuts (surprisingly peanuts are not a nut, but a legume!) can also help reduce your risk of colon cancer.
Ginger: Ginger reduces colon inflammation, which has shown to correlate with tumor development.

Other foods to decrease risk of colon cancer…

White Tea
Curry
Spinach
Mushrooms
Black Raspberries

Getting The Flu After Ejaculating

“Immediately after ejaculating, these men experience flu-like symptoms including a fever, runny nose, apathy, joint stiffness, and loss of short-term memory.”

The orgasm flu is officially called Post Orgasmic Illness Syndrome (POIS) and it is a very rare disease that occurs in less than one percent of the population. Research in the Netherlands has shown that the disease might be due to an allergic reaction to one’s own semen, but other urologists and researchers think that an allergic reaction to one’s own seminal fluid is quite impossible. Another possibility could be just simple irritability to the semen, but not necessary an immunologic response. Since the disease is so rare there aren’t any options for treatment and since it is so “new” it has not been researched enough.

Read More>> The Orgasm Flu

Breast Cancer in Men

“Most cases of male breast cancer are detected in men between the ages of 60 and 70, although the condition can develop in men of any age. A man’s lifetime risk of developing breast cancer is about 1/10 of 1%, or one in 1,000.”

Even though male breast cancer is a rare condition it is important to understand the various factors that can increase your risk. Breast cancer in men, just like breast cancer in women, results from uncontrolled growth of cells in the breast tissue. Some of the risk factors include exposure to radiation, abnormal levels of estrogen, scarring of the liver from viral hepatitis and/or alcohol abuse, Klinefelter’s syndrome, genetics, and some drugs. Find out about the different types of breast cancer, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment. Make sure that you know how to detect the signs because the best way to fight cancer, other than prevention, is early diagnosis.

Read More>> Male Breast Cancer

Safer Sex Strategies

Since different kinds of sex have different levels of risk it is important to, not only know the level associated with each particular sex act, but also to know the tools available for you to use to prevent an infection. Some of the tools that you can use are condoms and dental dams (or any other barrier that can prevent infections during skin-to-skin contact), lube (use water based lube to prevent barrier damage and use lots of it to prevent tearing), gloves, and female condoms (which can be used for both vaginal sex as well as anal sex).

Here is a list of some safer sex activities:

Kissing
Massaging
Caressing
Solo or mutual masturbation (using your hands or fingers has a pretty low risk level, but there is still a small risk of acquiring viral or bacterial infections, especially if you have any small cuts on your hands; use latex or polyurethane gloves).

If you would like to go beyond these activities, makes sure that you know the risk level for each activity and the STDs associated with each act. You can then look up information about the disease, such as cures and/or treatments, and symptoms. You can decide from there whether you are willing to partake in a certain sexual act.

Why Are Men Who Have Sex With Men More Vulnerable to HIV Infection?

“New research pinpoints a major reason why gay and bisexual men remain so vulnerable to the AIDS epidemic: When it comes to the transmission of HIV, a man who has unprotected anal intercourse is at especially high risk.”

Even though the worldwide rates of HIV infections are highest among heterosexual men and women, there is a disparity when looking at the percentage of HIV infections among heterosexuals and the percentage of HIV infections among men who have sex with men; this disparity is seen worldwide. Researchers have said that one of the reasons for which MSM are more vulnerable to HIV is the risk that comes with being on the receiving end of anal penetration. Previous research has found that anal penetration is 18 times more risky than vaginal penetration due to a higher chance of tearing, which facilitates infection.

The Benefits of The Affordable Care Act for the LGBTQ Community

“There is some evidence suggesting that at least a portion of the LGBT community is disproportionately uninsured. This makes the new coverage options under the Affordable Care Act that much more important to them. The Affordable Care Act is making new coverage options available to Americans, including those without access to coverage through a domestic partner or employer and those with pre-existing health conditions”

Since many studies have shown that chronic disease occurs at a higher rate in the LGBTQ community, the Affordable Care Act is crucial because it makes it illegal for health insurance companies to deny coverage to anybody with a pre-existing condition. The Affordable Care Act also places importance on preventative care and the alleviation of health disparities by investing in preventative care measures and community health services.

Protecting Your Eyesight

In the age of the internet, iPads, iPhones, Kindles, and Tablets, it seems that we stare at a screen for most of our waking hours. This kind of lifestyle is very exhausting for our eyes and we should learn how to be more proactive about our eye health. One of the tips given in this article is to follow the 20/20/20 rule. The 20/20/20 rule says that every 20 minutes you should look 20 feet away from you for about 20 seconds. Other tips include: wear sunglasses that protect your eyes from ultraviolet (UV) rays, using safety glasses when playing sports or during the job, eating foods that keep your eye healthy, cleaning contact lenses, and many more.

Protect Yourself From The Sun, Don’t Make These Mistakes

“…even if you slather on SPF as religiously as an Irish priest in Ecuador, you’re likely making a few mistakes without even knowing it. And since the National Skin Cancer Foundation estimates that 90 percent of non-melanoma skin cancers are caused by sun exposure, those blunders could cost you. Here are 8 common sun protection errors—and what you should do instead.”

1. You are not wearing enough sunscreen: for your body, the recommended amount of sunscreen is 1.5 ounces or roughly a shot glass of sunscreen; for your face, the recommended amount is about a teaspoon of sunscreen

2. You are applying sunscreen only once: people often think that is enough to apply sunscreen once, but the truth is that even waterproof and sweatproof sunscreen wears off. Apply sunscreen 30 minutes before sun exposure to make sure that the sunscreen gets absorbed into your skin then apply sunscreen again every two hours.

3. You might be using the wrong sunscreen: according to the Skin Cancer Foundation, sunscreen with mexoryl filters UV rays more efficiently.

4. Your T-shirt only has an SPF of 5: using SunGuard when doing laundry can increase the SPF of your clothing to 30.

5. Your eyes, lips, and head also need protection: use lenses that have 100% UV ray protection, use lip balm with an SPF of 30 or higher, and wear a hat.

Click Here to Find Out The Last 3 Most Common Mistakes>> The 8 Biggest Sun Protection Mistakes

Quiz: Are You a Men’s Health Expert?

Just because you are a man, it doesn’t mean that you are an expert on men’s health. Or are you?… Take the quiz to find out!

Take Quiz>> The Truth About Men’s Health

Men More Likely to go to ER After Hospitalization

“The study found that the return rate for urgent care within 30 days of discharge was 29 percent for women and 47 percent for men. Men were twice as likely to go to the emergency room, according to a journal news release.”

The men chosen for the study were on average about four years younger than the women in the study. They also had jobs with better pay than women and the women in the study were more likely to have been diagnosed with depression in the past.

Here is the breakdown:

72% of men were more likely to return if retired or unmarried

64% of men were more likely to return if they had not seen a family physician since they were discharged from the hospital

53% of men were more likely to return if they suffered from depression

Workout Your Pelvic Floor Muscles

“Kegel exercises for men can help prevent or control urinary incontinence and possibly improve sexual performance”

We often hear that Kegel exercises are for women only, but the Mayo Clinic suggests that it is also very beneficial for men. If you have had a prostatectomy or suffer from diabetes your pelvic floor muscles may become weak and cause fecal or urinary incontinence. By strengthening your pelvic floor muscles you can prevent incontinence and even erectile dysfunction (ED)!

To perform the excercise:

Find the correct muscles

Perfect technique

Maintain your focus

Repeat about 3x/day

Protecting The Largest Organ in The Human Body

The skin is the largest organ in the human body and its the first line of defense against pathogens so it is important to know how to keep it healthy. One of the most common problem of the skin is pimples, but the good news is that you can prevent breakouts from happening in the first place! A lot of the causes of acne have to deal with the foods that you eat. Dairy and carbohydrates have been named two of the culprits. Lack of Omega-3s in the diet is also another reason for increased sebum production (the substance that is responsible for clogging your pores). Non-dietary culprits include ultraviolet (UV) light and stress.

Read More>> 5 Hidden Acne Causes

My Penis is Curved When Erect

“Peyronie’s disease affects 8 to 10 percent of menaround the age of 40 in the United States, but the typical age of onset is in the early 50s, says Culley C. Carson III, M.D., an investigator in the trial and a professor of urology at the University of North Carolina.”

Peyronie’s disease results from scar tissue build-up in the penis, which can be due to a fracture of the penis during sexual or athletic activity or by another unknown cause. However, the disease is rare and it mostly affects men between the ages of 40 and 60. The curvature can be anywhere between 30 to 90 degrees and there is currently no oral medication that works sufficiently well. Other treatment options include surgery or steroid injections, but even with treatment the disease can result in other problems such as erectile dysfunction and/or a decrease in penis length.

Read More>> Is Your Penis Curving?

Lifestyle Changes to Prevent Cancer

As reported by the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), cancer has been shown to be the second leading cause of death in men with lung cancer being the number one killer of men (check out the first leading cause of death in men). However, these diseases can be prevented by implementing lifestyle changes. If you are a smoker, do your best to stop smoking. If you are a non-smoker, but still come in contact with second-hand smoke, you are still at risk of acquiring lung cancer. According to the CDC, “Nonsmokers who are exposed to secondhand smoke at home or work increase their lung cancer risk by 20%–30%“. Consistent physical activity and a healthy diet is another lifestyle change that can aid in the prevention of many cancers as well as heart disease, which is the first leading cause of death in men. A third lifestyle change, protection from ultraviolet (UV) light, can also help prevent or decrease the risk of skin cancer.

Find out about other types of cancers common among men >> CDC: Cancer and Men

Unprotected Sex in Committed MSM Relationships

“Gay young men in serious relationships are six times more likely to have unprotected sex than those who hook up with casual partners, according to new Northwestern Medicine research.”

The Northwestern study took place over the course of two years in Chicago, Illinois including surrounding suburbs. The study looked at the behavior of 122 young men who have sex with men (MSM) between the ages of 16-20. The study found the young men were more likely to engage in unprotected sex if they were in a serious relationship, increasing their risk of HIV infection.

6-Pack Abs: Vanity or Health?

Some people may think that trying to attain a flat abdomen it is just about pure vanity and for some people that might be true, but for some men a flat abdomen means a healthier body especially when belly fat is more likely among men. Fat localized around the abdomen is detrimental to your health and it contributes to the onset of heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, cancer, type II diabetes, sleep apnea, and even death. Most of the exercises shown in the slideshow do not require any equipment and you only have to do do them for three days out of the week! Create a routine that works for you and make sure to combine exercise with a healthy diet. Some of the recommended foods to sculpt your abs are: lean meat, whole grains, yogourt, good fats (like avocado), and of course…fruits and vegetables!

See slideshow>> The Best Flat Abs Moves for Men

Gonorrhea is Resistant to Current Treatment

“Gonorrhea—the second-most-common STD in the U.S.—isn’t responding to popular treatment options in several countries, including Australia, France, Japan, Norway, Sweden and the United Kingdom, according to a recent report by the World Health Organization.”

In the late 1940′s and early 50′s Gonorrhea could be simply treated with some penicillin. Over the years the disease has been changing and becoming resistant to other treatments so this does not come as a surprise to experts because more resistance was bound to happen. The problem lies in the fact that Gonorrhea has to be treated early, otherwise serious problems can arise such as: infertility, infections of the urethra, increased risk of HIV, and even death.

Pricier Therapy May Not Be The Answer to Prostate Cancer

“ A new study suggests that expensive, high-tech proton beam radiation doesn’t do any more for men with prostate cancer than the most commonly-used option.”

When first diagnosed with localized prostate cancer, men have the option to treat the disease early with intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT), proton beam radiation, surgery, or to not treat the cancer right away to see how it progresses. Both IMRT and proton beam radiation are high tech and expensive, but IMRT therapy still has less side effects and it is half the price of proton beam radiation.

Is Drinking Wine Really That Healthy?

“Several years ago there was a study that came out that showed that those who drink a glass of wine a day are less likely to develop several heart related diseases. The wine industry got ahold of the study and drove that to the ground. What they didn’t tell you though, is that the study also found that drinking one glass of grape juice a day had the same effect on the heart, but didn’t have the negative effects associated with the alcohol.”

We have mentioned in previous posts that drinking a glass of wine may help reduce your risk of heart related illnesses, but we have come across some information that might suggest that is not necessarily the wine that decreases your chance of heart disease. According to this article, it is not the wine itself, but rather the anthocyanins that come from the grapes from which wine is made. The reason that drinking grape juice is healthier than drinking a glass of wine is because alcohol causes insulin levels in the blood to spike during the twenty hours or so that it is in your system and the more insulin that is present in your blood stream the more fat your body will store. Like many topics on nutrition, there are always many sides to the argument so, you be the judge.

Transmission of HIV

“HIV is found in specific human body fluids. If any of those fluids enter yourbody, you can become infected with HIV.”

Some of the body fluids that can contain high levels of the HIV virus include: semen and pre-seminal fluid (cum and pre-cum), vaginal secretions, blood, and anal mucous. Other body fluids such as, vomit, saliva, sweat, tears, urine, nasal fluid, etc. do not contain high enough levels of the virus to be infectious unless they contain blood. And, even if they do contain blood one needs to have had direct contact with a significant amount to become infected. Some of the ways that transmission can happen is through sexual contact, during pregnancy, childbirth, and breastfeeding, blood transfusions or an organ transplant, and/or occupational exposure (healthcare workers). AIDS develop once your immune system has been destroyed by the HIV virus and your body can no longer protect itself. Learn more about getting tested.

Reducing Portion Size

Once we have managed to control our desires for eating junk food, we often run into another problem that prevents us from losing weight; portion control. We know to stay away from bad carbs (like white bread) and we know that we need to eat more fruits and vegetables, but sometimes we have too much of the healthy foods that our weight loss either plateaus or increases. Here are six different tricks that may help to reduce portion size:

1. Do not eat your food while doing something else

2. Refrain from getting seconds

3. Chew at least 28 times before swallowing your food

4. Drink a tall glass of water before your meal and during your meal

5. Do not eat straight from the container

6. Chew gum or brush your teeth right after meals

Read about why these tricks work >> Six Ways to Exercise Portion Control

Relationships: Negotiating Agreements

“This factsheet will address the important issues of relationship agreements for HIV positive gay men. Personal stories offer strategies and practical tips on the important issues of relationships and relationship agreements. Topics covered include: What gay men have agreements about, their understandings of the agreement, and, how and why agreements change?”

The material presented in this pamphlet not only includes information from scholarly sources, but it also includes the opinions of men who are in either an open or closed relationship and in a positive-positive or positive-negative relationship. The pamphlet expresses the importance of communication in a relationship in general, but also the importance of communication when one or both partners have HIV or the importance of communication in negotiating sexual and emotional boundaries.

Does Male Menopause Really Exist?

While it is true that hormones in males decrease with age, it is not accurate to say that “male menopause” is identical to the hormone changes that occur in women. Hormone changes occur due to the natural process of aging. In males, these hormonal changes are rather gradual in comparison to females and one may not even notice they are happening. In most cases, andropause—the term for male menopause that is generally used by physicians—or the decrease in testosterone, begins after thirty years of age and begins to decreases at about 1% per year. Once the male has reached the age of 70, the decrease in male testosterone can be up to a 50% decrease. These are some of the signs that your testosterone levels may be running a little low: changes in sexual function, sleep patterns, physicality, and emotions. The Mayo Clinic suggests some steps that you can take to relieve symptoms and also to be aware of testosterone replacement therapy because it can result in more serious health problems. Talk to your doctor for guidance.

Bisexual or Just Bicurious?

“You’ve discovered that you have sexual fantasies that involve men. Or you’ve recently found that whenever you watch pornography, you’re focusing more and more on the guy. Or you are experiencing arousal when you see other naked guys in the locker room at the gym. Regardless of how you’ve become aware of your feelings, the thing that stands out to you is the fact that you’ve come to realize that you have desires for men. And you have no idea of what to make of them.”

Unfortunately, there is no easy answer to this question because the answer lies within yourself. You may feel confused and perhaps stressed to find out about these desires, but you can take your time. If one is in a committed relationship one may feel a little more pressure to put a label on things, but ultimately you are the one who decides what is best for yourself. Take the time to understand your situation and share when you are ready. And, as always, remember to be safe.

Brain & Spinal Post-Op Complications More Likely Among Men

“The researchers analyzed data on more than 900 people who had brain or spinal surgery between 2006 and 2009. The overall complication rates within 30 days after surgery were 18.6 percent for brain surgery patients and 10.8 percent for spinal surgery patients. The complication rate for men was 20.3 percent, compared to 11.3 percent for women.”

Even after researchers controlled for factors such as tobacco and alcohol use, age, high blood pressure, diabetes, and coronary artery disease, the male rate of complication was still twice that of the female rate. Researchers also found that men were more likely to stay longer in the hospital than women, but in this case the sex of the patient did not have an influence on the length of stay.

Condom Use Differs Among Black and White MSM

“The study, titled You and Me, was conducted by researchers at San Francisco State University and is being presented at the 19th International AIDS Conference going on now in D.C.”

With Black and White gay/bisexual males being the two ethnic groups with the highest incidence of HIV infection, this study is of particular importance. The study illustrates that black males in same-sex couples are more likely to use a condom than their white counterparts. Black couples reported that safe sex is not really talked about, but condom use is rather assumed non-negotiable. On the other hand, white couples reported speaking more to each other about safe sex, but did not actually practice it. The You and Me study shows that, for black couples, practicing safer sex is not cause for the high rates. There certainly could be other factors, like socioeconomic factors, that may be contributing to the high incidence of HIV among this ethnic group. The study will be presented during the International AIDS Conference 2012 on July 22-27

The Hangover Cure

Even though a hard night of partying doesn’t exactly scream healthy, sometimes, we just drink past our limit. Instead of taking the over-the-counter medicine that has been advertised as the magic pill for your hangover, why not take a more holistic approach? This article exposes ten different methods that one can use to cure a hangover without needing to buy the whole drug store.

Miso Soup with Eggs
Omega 3s
Kombucha
Sex or Cuddling
Massage
Hydrotherapy
Have a Smoothie
Coconut Water
A little bit of exercise
Rest

HIV: Health Tracker Tool

“My Health Tracker can help you organize your HIV treatment information privately and securely in one place. This way, you can take better charge over your health, and you and your doctor can have even more productive conversations about your treatment.”

With myHealthTracker you can keep track of your lab results, upload or create a list of the medications that you are currently taking and create reports of the information in your Tracker. There is even a place to journal!

Go to>> myHealthTracker

Using Food to Prevent Prostate Enlargement

“The risk of an enlarged prostate, also called benign prostatic hyperplasia or BPH, increases about 4 percent a year after age 55. By age 60, half of men will have BPH. That number jumps to 95 percent by age 85. And, yes, diet does seem to be related.”

There are two particular nutrients that have been shown to help prevent prostate enlargement: Zinc and Vitamin C

Where to get Zinc from foods?

oysters
crab
lean beef
lamb
baked beans
duck

Where to get Vitamin C from foods?

vegetable juices
tomatoes
brussels sprouts
kohlrabi
snow or snap peas
bell peppers
broccoli
cauliflower
kale

In addition to food, there are lifestyle choices that can prevent the enlargement of the prostate:

Eat your vegetables! 5+ servings per day
Of course, physical activity
No belly fat! this is the fat that is the most dangerous for, not only the prostate, but for other part of the body and functions.
A low-fat diet
AND….2 glasses of alcohol per day!

Fixing Baldness, Creating Other Problems

“The researchers followed 3,040 men ranging in age from 45 to 78, all of whom suffered from prostate enlargement—another condition finasteride [Propecia] is approved to treat. In the study’s first year, 15 percent of the men on finasteride suffered new sexual side effects, compared with only 7 percent of the men on placebos.”

Male pattern baldness results from hair follicles shutting down. This process is controlled by a hormone called dihydrotestosterone (DHT), which is related to testosterone. Finasteride is the generic form of Propecia, which is a medication to treat male pattern hair loss. This medication however, has some sexual side-effects which includes a decrease in sexual drive and erectile dysfunction. Most of the men in the study were able to tolerate the sexual side effects, but caused others (4% of the men in the study) to drop out of the study. Even though there are studies that state that the sexual side effects of the drugs are rare and reversible, other studies have been found that make Propecia look very suspicious. With such controversial medications it is important to look at both sides of the argument to be able to make an informed decision since it wouldn’t only affect your physical health, but also your sexual and emotional/mental health as well as your intimate relationships.

Understanding Blood Pressure

“Blood pressure is the pressure of the circulating blood against the walls of the arteries, the veins, and the chambers of the heart. Blood pressure results from two forces. One created by the heart as it pumps blood into the arteries through the circulatory system. The other is the force of the arteries as they resist the blood flow.”

Blood pressure is usually measured with a device called a sphygmomanometer. This device includes a manometer to actually measure the pressure and the manometer is attached to a cuff which restricts blood flow. The cuff is placed on your arm and during this process your medical provider will listen for the systolic pressure (contraction) and the diastolic pressure (relaxation). The systolic measurement over the diastolic pressure gives the measurement for blood pressure. Normal blood pressure is usually anywhere between 120/70 and 140/90 for adults. Your blood pressure is likely to be higher than normal if you smoke, are overweight, have diabetes, have high cholesterol, have a family history of abnormal blood pressure, are physically inactive. In addition, blood pressure is more common in people that are over the age of 50.

Read More>> Blood Pressure For Men

The Top 7 Threats to Men’s Health

“Consider this top seven list of men’s health threats, compiled from statistics provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and other leading organizations to reflect men’s health risks in the United States. Then get serious about reducing your risks.”

Understand the risks that are more prevalent among men and find out how you can prevent them. There are many ways to prevent the following threats, find out how!

Threat #1: Heart Disease

Threat #2: Cancer

Threat #3: Motor Vehicle Accidents

Threat #4: Chronic lung conditions

Threat #5: Stroke

Threat #6: Type II Diabetes

Threat #7: Suicide

I Tested Positive, Now What?

”The main focus of this booklet is to let you know that you can live well with HIV. It may take some time for that message to sink in, because adjusting to this new life may be an emotional road on top of it being a physical one. But this information has been written to answer questions that many people have after testing positive. You’re not alone, and with resources and effort you can live a healthful life with HIV.”

Testing positive for HIV can be very frightening and this booklet may serve to help you during this difficult process. In the booklet you can find information on the disease itself, as well as steps that you can take to lead a healthy lifestyle and more ways to become involved in your treatment.

Read Booklet>> After You’ve Tested Positive

Another Reason NOT to Smoke

“Men who smoke cigarettes suffer a more rapid decline in brain functioning than men who don’t smoke”

In a study with 5100 male participants and 2100 female participants, the results showed that men who were smokers showed a similar cognitive decline to men who were ten years their senior. For example, a man who is sixty years old and a smoker shows a similar cognitive decline to a man that is seventy years old and a non-smoker. If you’re a smoker, find out what you can do to quit. There are also many other risks that come from smoking cigarettes:

Blood in Your Semen, AKA Hematospermia

“Blood in the semen is most commonly a result of a prostate gland biopsy. More than 80% of men who undergo a prostate biopsy may have some blood in their semen that persists for three to four weeks. Likewise, vasectomy can lead to bloody semen for about one week after the procedure.”

There are a lot of reasons for having blood in your semen. Hematospermia can result from non-threatening causes such as a recent vasectomy or a prostate biopsy. However, in the absence of a recent vasectomy or prostate biopsy, hamatospermia can be a sign of other problems in the body: benign/malignant tumors, cysts or hemorrhages in seminal vesicles, stones in the prostate or seminal vesicle, prostate or urethra inflammation or sexually transmitted infections along with many others.

Proposition 8: Then & Now

Back in February, Proposition 8, which amended the state constitution of California stating that the only valid and recognized from of marriage was the union between a man and a woman was ruled unconstitutional by a federal appeals panel. The ban was declared unconstitutional since it took away rights that the LGBTQ community already had in California. One of the judges in the appeal panel stated, “ ‘By using their initiative power to target a minority group and withdraw a right that it possessed, without a legitimate reason for doing so, the people of California violated the Equal Protection Clause’ ”. Now, Brian Raum, one of the lawyers from the Alliance Defense Fund has said that they will definitely be taking the case to the Supreme Court in order to keep the ban in California. However, there does seem to be hope on the side of equality.

Read More>> California Proposition 8 same-sex marriage ban ruled unconstitutional (February 7, 2012)

The Dating World

“There are many possible reasons why we treat other with the degree of misconduct that we do in the dating world. Some men are acting-out internalized homophobia. Others do so purely out of bad manners and poor social skills. But more often than not, many men are afraid to be direct and honest out of fear of hurting the other person’s feeling; they therefore take “the easy way out” by disappearing off the face of the earth or ignoring a dating prospect who they don’t particularly have an interest in pursuing further.”

If you are in the dating world, it is important to realize that we can only control our own actions and trying to change the other person is pointless. This article provides some advise on how we can behave respectfully in the dating world. For instance, even though talking to someone online is less personal, there still is another human being on the other side. Also, the author mentions being direct with the other person about your feelings. Tell the other person directly whether you would like to continue dating them or stop seeing each other, they will appreciate your approach and it may help prevent hurt feelings.

Read More>> The Ethical Dating Man

Protect Yourself From STIs and STDs

STI is the acronym for sexually transmitted infections, which is the initial infection and replication of a certain microorganism that causes disease. STD (sexually transmitted disease) on the other hand, is the damage caused by a certain infection whether one has symptoms or not. According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), “ In 2008, men who have sex with men (MSM) accounted for 63% of primary and secondary syphilis cases in the United States. MSM often are diagnosed with other bacterial STDs, including chlamydia and gonorrhea infections.” This article gives a brief overview of the way in which certain diseases, such as human papillomavirus (HPV), are spread, the symptoms caused by some STDs (some STDs are asymptomatic), treatment, prevention, and testing for STDs.

Rekindling The Flame

In our culture, we have been socialized to think that the only acceptable form of intimacy is that of a monogamous heterosexual couple. For the most part, this relationship model has been shown to us over and over again, but this model does not work for everyone. When sexual desire decreases, some couples try to work out problems between them and other times they try a polygamous or “open” relationship. The author of the article describes his experience with his patients during therapy, ”Some of the couples I counsel explain that while their emotional commitments to each other are solid, they long to fulfill a sexual need that lies outside the desires or even capabilities of their primary partner.” The most important thing is to communicate your feelings to your partner and to be honest with each other. Often times being “normal” may not be the choice that works best for you and your partner.

Living with HIV & its Stigma

“The United States has had some success in promoting AIDS awareness and AIDS prevention, but for a gay man living with HIV, dealing with the HIV stigma continues to be a painful and frustrating ordeal. Consider the June 2010 decision by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ to uphold the decades-old ban on any man donating blood if he has had sex with another man since 1977″

According to Tom Donohue, founder of the organization Who’s Positive and a gay man living with HIV, believes that the 2010 decision to uphold the ban is a discriminatory policy for two main reasons: 1) the chance of receiving blood that is infected with HIV is very slim and 2) a heterosexual man who knowingly engaged in unprotected sex with a partner infected with HIV can still donate. He also believes that in order to eliminate the stigma a human face needs to be added to the HIV narrative. When he first started his organization he placed a billboard in a rural area in Pennsylvania that illustrated a photograph of his face and read, “My name is Tom…25 years old…HIV positive…and in your neighborhood just like HIV. Have you been tested lately?”. The billboard received a lot of attention from the media and raised HIV awareness all over the state. However, disclosure of HIV status is a very difficult decision to make because friends and family may treat you differently. Donohue hopes that in the future men who have sex with men can feel free to openly share their HIV status.

Don’t be a Couch Potato

“The 21st-century American man spends an estimated 90 percent of his time indoors—in an office, at a desk, behind the wheel, on the sofa, or in bed”

A study found that when an individual is sitting or lying down for extended periods of time Preadipocyte cells, the prototype of fat cells, are stretched and produce more fat. Moving around during the commercial breaks may help a little to stop you from packing on extra pounds.

Choking Your Penis

“To postpone ejaculation and extend lovemaking, engage “the choke.” This technique involves firmly squeezing the tip of the penis just behind the head prior to orgasm.”

This simple technique, contrary to popular belief, does not harm your penis and it can be used as training for sexual activity. This technique teaches your body to achieve control, which allows for longer sessions or even multiple orgasms.

Is Eczema Preventing Your Erection?

“Researchers found that the men with ED were 60 percent more likely to have a history of eczema than those without.”

Research speculate that the reason for this correlation might be that the blood vessels may be affected due to the inflammation of the skin caused by eczema. Find out what the difference is between eczema and dry skin, the causes of this skin condition, and ways to treat it. Treatment of eczema may reduce your chance of developing erectile dysfunction (ED).

Work-out Your Penis

Just like your heart needs cardiovascular activity to keep strong, your penis also needs a workout for the same reasons. A five-year study done in Finland with 989 men between the ages of 55 and 75 showed that frequent sexual intercourse may decrease the likelihood of developing erectile dysfunction (ED). “The tissue down there is just like any other tissue: Oxygen is good for it. Persistently low oxygen levels in the erectile tissue can reduce flexibility and gradually transform it into scar tissue that won’t respond well to sexual arousal.” However, masturbation alone does not decrease your chances of acquiring ED unless it is done for a prolonged period of time.

Understanding Gender Identity & Expression

What is the difference between sex and gender? Sex is assigned at birth, refers to one’s biological status as either male or female, and is associated primarily with physical attributes such as chromosomes, hormone prevalence, and external and internal anatomy. Gender refers to the socially constructed roles, behaviors, activities, and attributes that a given society considers appropriate for boys and men or girls and women. ”

Our population has unfortunately been socialized to think that there are only two genders: male and female. However, there are people that do not fit into these two categories. People that cross these gender lines have been oppressed and persecuted. People that don’t fit into these created categories a lot of times have grown up feeling “different” and without people that understand what they go through on a daily basis. This is a good article to begin to understand the complexities of sexuality and gender, but a look at history from the perspective of a transgender person may serve to understand the behaviors and attitudes of our present society: Transgender Warriors : Making History from Joan of Arc to Dennis Rodman. Why can’t men wear a dress or a skirt without being judged? Why do men get ridiculed when they perform “womanly” tasks?

Becoming a Parent

“If you’re a gay man or a lesbian, it doesn’t mean you have to go through life without having a family of your own”

Many people in the GLBT community are becoming parents and there are a few options to add another member to the family:

surrogacy
adoption
donor insemination
co-parenting

This article describes the different ways people in same-sex relationships can have children and the implications for each method.

Belly Fat: More Likely Among Men

“People who gain belly fat are at greater risk of serious health problems, even death, than are people who accumulate fat in other areas — and men are more likely than women to gain weight around the waist.”

In order to figure out how much belly fat is too much belly fat, it is important to know how to properly measure your waist. The size of your waist can determine whether you are at risk for diseases such as diabetes, sleep apnea, stroke, etc.Read More>>
Belly Fat in Men: Why Weight Loss Matters

Testicular Cancer: More Prevalent Among White Males

“Testicular cancer is diagnosed in about 8,000 men a year in the US 390 men a year die of testicular cancer.”

There are higher rates of testicular cancer among men of Scandinavian decent and in men who are 18-39 years old. It is important to know the symptoms and signs of testicular cancer to receive diagnosis and begin treatment. Some of the symptoms include enlargement of one or both testicles or a painless lump around the testicles.

Intimate Partner Violence in Same-Sex Relationships

“The most recent significant study, released in 2002, indicated that gay and bisexual men experience abuse in intimate partner relationships at a rate of 2 in 5, one comparable to that of DV experienced by heterosexual women (see notes 1&2). Island and Letellier describe it as “the third most severe health problem facing gay men today,” behind HIV/AIDS and substance abuse.”

The National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs defines domestic violence or intimate partner violence as, “a pattern of behaviors utilized by one partner (the abuser or batterer) to exert and maintain control over another person (the survivor or victim) where there exists an intimate, loving and dependent relationship”. Even though there has been increased awareness about intimate partner violence in LGBT communities, most of the abuse prevention programs have been geared toward heterosexual relationships. In the early 1980s the Duluth Model was developed to decrease domestic violence in heterosexual relationships based on the assumption that DV occurs as a result of patriarchal societal norms where men use their power to control women. Since this is the model that has been use to prevent DV for the past few decades, advocacy organizations, the criminal justice system, and medical personnel have not been equipped to address same-sex partner violence properly especially in intimate relationships between men. Since men are usually seen as the batterers and women as the victims, men have not had the necessary resources available to them. Although aspects of abuse are similar in both heterosexual and LGBT relationships there are specific differences that stem from community dynamics and identity. Some of the tactics used by the abuser is threatening to “out” the other person to their family, friends, police, employer, religious institutions, etc., telling the other person that their behavior does not fall under the terminology of “domestic violence” because they are in a LGBT relationship, or portraying the abuse as mutual. Although resources are limited for same-sex relationships, especially for men, they still exist. Here is a list of some websites that might be helpful:

Gay Men’s Domestic Violence Project

Lambda GLBT Community Services

Stop Abuse For Everyone (SAFE)

Domestic Violence – Another Prospective

Domestic Abuse Helpline for Men and Women

Yahoo Group for Battered and Abused Men

Coming Out Bisexual

“Many people feel guilty about already being in a relationship (same or other sex) where the loved partner does not know about their attractions and experiences. These aren’t always easy situations, and people work it out in different ways.”

Coming out is not an easy thing to do. People not only have to come out to themselves, but also to friends, family, co-workers, health care providers, etc. Coming out as bisexual could be very difficult for people who had previously identified as straight as well as for people who had identified as gay. Sometimes people who identify as bisexual feel a lot of shame especially if they are already in a relationship because their partner does not know the feelings or attractions that one is having. However, it is not always necessary to come out to everyone or anyone at all. It is important to come out at your own pace, at the time that you choose, at a time when you feel comfortable, and to the people that you trust and feel comfortable with. The following article also cites resources that one can use to aid in the coming out process if one chooses to come out.

Read More>> Coming Out as Bi

Clare Midtown Was A Hit!

On Friday May 25 and Saturday May 26, 2012 Among Men held the very first event in partnership with Clare Housing.

The event was attended by 17 individuals and was a big success. This was the first time that Clare Housing, a housing provider for people living with HIV and AIDS, worked collaboratively with Among Men to stage an event on site at their Midtown location. The partnership came along with the re-design of what was formerly known as the Man2Man program. Man2Man was an HIV prevention program housed at the University of Minnesota, School of Public Health, Division of Epidemiology. Man2Man had been funded by the Minnesota Department of Health and was in continuous operation for the past 19 years. Late in 2011, after a 20 month period of modernizing and re-crafting the curriculum, the program re-branded as Among Men. Among Men has little in common with Man2Man outside of the main aim being to educate and support individuals examine areas (including sexual health) of their lives for which they self-determine goals.

Judging on the success of the attendance and the positive comments, the event was a hit!

Thanks to all who participated, led and helped to plan this inaugural event!

Going Bald: Male Pattern Baldness

“Adults lose about 10,000 scalp hairs each and every day. Hair normally lives for around five years. With male pattern baldness these hairs do not always get replaced and gradually bald areas appear.”

Male pattern baldness usually follows a certain pattern, as the name suggests. This means that loss of hair begins in certain areas of the head and usually affects men between the ages of 20-45. The most common hair loss pattern starts at the temples and/or the crown of the head. Some men may lose all hair while other lose hair just at the top of the head. Male pattern baldness should be gradual, so if hair falls out suddenly you may need to consult a physician to provide a diagnosis.

Read More>> Male Pattern Baldness

Preventing HIV With a Daily Pill

“Stanford University researchers created an economic model to analyze the use of the combination drug tenofovir-emtricitabine (brand name Truvada). A clinical trial found that the drug reduced a person’s risk of HIV infection by an average of 44 percent when taken daily. In some people, the drug reduced the risk by 73 percent.”

The study showed that it was more cost effective to give the daily pill to only males that are at high risk of acquiring HIV; this would cost 85$ billion over the course of 20 years. To give the pill to women who have sex with men who have sex with men would be more expensive; about $495 billion within the same time frame. Further exploration is needed to see if the pill remains as effective if taken less often.

Sin a Little and Still Protect Your Heart

“America’s blood pressure is way too high. In fact, nearly one in four men between the ages of 35 and 44 have hypertension, as well as 12 percent of men between 20 and 34, according to the American Heart Association. ”

The experts always tell us, don’t eat salt, don’t drink excessively, don’t smoke, don’t eat too much Mickey D’s, don’t do this, don’t do that., which is true, but protecting your heart doesn’t have to be all about restrictions. If you want to protect your heart here are some sinful little things that you can partake in that will actually help to protect your heart from illness:

Dark chocolate – contains more antioxidants and less sugar and the darker the better. A study with people who had pre-diabetes and a high blood pressure showed that when they ate 3.5 ounces of dark chocolate per day for 15 days they were able to reduce their blood pressure.
Sexual Activity – the exercise can keep cardiovascular illness at bay
Music – relax your blood vessels by listening to slow, steady music
Video Games – the kind that makes your body move (more than just your fingers)
Have Some Booze! – don’t go overboard, just two drinks per day though
Laugh a Little – at least 15 minutes per day to be effective and rolling-on-the-floor kind of laughs
Track it – tracking your blood pressure can help to keep you in line, but don’t obsess.

Images from the 2012 MN AIDS Walk

This year marks the thirtieth year we have been dealing with HIV in Minnesota (first MN cases diagnosed in 1982). This year a small team from the University of Minnesota | School of Public Health | Division of Epidemiology | HIPS section joined others in the rain for another opportunity to gather in solidarity and support.

Slideshow from the 2012 MN AIDS Walk

“Pronto” Condoms

Technology has given us the ability to perform many daily activities faster and easier.

Now, technology has given us condoms that allow us to get to the “deed” quicker and easier. The idea behind the invention was to create a condom that would not “ruin the mood”. Some people feel anxious about putting on a condom or they may get frustrated when the process does not go smoothly. This leads some people to leave the condom behind without thinking about the possible consequences. The condom’s package acts as an applicator; you snap the package, pull it apart, and slide the condom on.

According to the inventor, these condoms could reduce HIV rates by providing people with a quick and easy way to put on the condom. However, these condoms are only on the market in South Africa. Would this technology be used if it was available worldwide? Is it actually easier to put on? Decide for yourself, watch the promotional video.

Coming Out: Older Men

“This booklet provides information about sexual identity and coming out as an older gay man as well as important information about health and safe sex. It is not a ‘how to’ guide, nor does it cover every detail that is likely to affect men who are considering coming out as gay. It does, however, explore a range of topics that many men in this situation have experienced. Some of the language is explicit.”

A previous AmongMen blog posted an article on coming out, but this article was a bit broad and did not include concerns that older men who have sex with men (MSM) may have. ACON, the largest community-based organization for LGBT health in Australia, created a piece of literature about coming specifically for older men. The literature includes information about the factors involved when coming out, what it is like to live in our current society as MSM, sexuality and health, meeting other men, and other resources that may help in the coming out process.

Condoms: Test Your Knowledge

Some people may think that the basics about condoms is common knowledge. Web MD offers a True and False quiz on condom information. Check to see how much you know…

Take Quiz Here >> Condom Quiz

Gesundheit!

“The reason for your sniffling is simple: Your immune system encounters a foreign substance (pollen, say), registers it as a threat (it’s not), and launches a counterattack. Cue the runny nose and itchy eyes.”

Allergens can enter your system via different mediums such as the skin, an injection, inhalation, or ingestion. Some of the most common allergens are animal dander, pollen, poisonous plants, dust, mold or mildew, nuts, and shellfish. Luckily, allergens do not cause a reaction on first exposure if it is a true allergic reaction. An anaphylactoid reaction (a “false” reaction) is a hypersensitivity response that results from exposure to agents such as contrast dyes, anesthetics, or latex and it does cause a reaction on first exposure. However, it is usually treated the same way as a true allergic reaction because the symptoms are the same. On second exposure your body releases histamine which is the responsible agent for causing the symptoms (runny nose, difficulty breathing, increase in mucous production, etc.)

A professor at the University of Tulsa, theorizes that allergies began to increase as humans made the transition from living mostly on farms to living in urban areas and the increase has continued due to humans’ obsession with being clean and taking antibiotics. Since we are exposed to fewer agents our bodies tend to over react when we encounter a molecule that is a bit foreign. Things that you can do that may help the prevention of allergies: eating fermented foods (e.g. kefir, sauerkraut), vacuum to get rid of dust, and/or invest on mite-proof bedding.
Read More>> Clearing The Air on Allergies

Living with HIV: Nutrition

“An individual can do a lot to support themselves in addition to their medical treatment.”

The man considered the fathered of medicine, Hippocrates, once said, “let food be thy medicine, and medicine be thy food”. While living with HIV is important to follow the instructions of your doctors and take your medicine as instructed. At the same time, it is important to live a healthy lifestyle (whether you are living with HIV or not) in order for your body to be able to fight off infections, to have energy, to function at your highest mental capacity, and for your body to work properly overall. Part of living a healthy lifestyle is giving your body the necessary nutrients to function. While living with HIV it is helpful to eat foods that give a boost to your immune system. This article includes foods that support your liver, protein shakes for your muscles, eliminating sugar, and probiotics.

Could Donating Blood be in The Future for MSM in the U.S.?

“All men who have had sex with another man since 1977 have been barred for life from donating blood or plasma in the United States, a policy enacted at the height of the AIDS crisis in 1985.”

In June of 2010 The Department of Health and Human Services Advisory Committee voted to keep the ban in place. In their opinion, there is not enough data available that would prove the ban to be obsolete. Nonetheless, the advisory committee did support further research to be done on the matter. Recently, the HHS Committee began to search for information for a study on whether the safety of the blood supply can be maintained if the donor criteria changed. However, there are many challenges present in designing a study of this sort. A number of countries have revised their restrictions on MSM donating blood while others (Spian, Poland, and Italy) do not mention MSM at all when screening.

BECAUSE Conference: Polyamory

At the BECAUSE Conference, hosted by the Bisexual Organizing Project (BOP), many interesting workshops were offered. A workshop on polyamory was offered, but it was cancelled at the last minute. However, there were handouts on polyamory and luckily I found the same article online.

Some of the terms found in this article:

Poly: Short for polyamorous, usually used as an adjective. A poly relationship is a nonmonogamous relationship. A poly person is someone in, or at least interested in, a poly relationship. See polyamory.
Polyamory: Literally, “many loves.” A generic term for non-monogamy.
Polyandry: Having more than one husband.
Polyfidelity: Closed relationship involving more than two people. The members of a group marriage, for example, may limit their sexual/romantic involvement to members of the group.
Polygamy: Having more than one spouse.
Polygyny: Having more than one wife.

In our society, it is often thought that once one is in a relationship, that relationship is supposed to be monogamous. However people from all backgrounds and sexual orientations have found that poly relationships can also be very fulfilling. The article includes terms, resources, and tips on negotiating a poly relationship.

LGBTQ Communities of Color

“Although only 5 percent to 7 percent of all youth are gay or transgender, they comprise nearly 40 percent of all homeless youth. Of this population, 44 percent of homeless gay youth were black and 26 percent were Hispanic; among homeless transgender youth 62 percent were black and 22 percent were Hispanic.”

Even though the economy has shown some recovery and the job market is growing, LGBTQ communities of color are still being affected by the recession. This article explores education attainment, employment, and health disparities in LGBTQ communities of color.

Bisexual Identity

“I believe sexuality, as a continuum with no easy boxes to fit into, is the most logical explanation for the variations we see in human sexuality. Labels are vile and unrealistic to me, an attempt to satisfy others’ need for simplicity when life just isn’t so.”

People who identify as bisexual describe their bisexuality differently depending on the person. Some people describe their bisexuality as being attracted to both women and men. There are also people who prefer mostly one gender, but are open to other genders. Others see their sexuality as fluid and that it is possible for it to change over time. Even within the bi population there are differences and these differences exists because not every person is the same and each individual person describes their sexual identity in their own way. Sometimes trying to find a label to describe the sexuality of a group of people is problematic. The author explains that there is a lot of anxiety that bisexual people feel because they do not feel like a legitimate member of the LGBTQ community. Some people see bi individuals as greedy, confused, promiscuous, etc. The author describes that when she is dating a male she feels like a traitor, but refuses to hide her male partners. She states that currently she is in love with a man and she shouldn’t have to feel ashamed about it because the fight for gay rights is a fight “for the freedom to love and the freedom to express our desire without shame”.

3rd Annual Txuj Ci Showcase

“Txuj Ci Showcase is a night where queer Asian Americans/Pacific Islanders and their allies come together to showcase their talents and to build community and space together. Please join us for a night of amazing art, performances, and delicious food!”

On May 2nd the LGBTA Programs Office at the University of Minnesota will be hosting a talent showcase for queer people who identify as Asian Americans/Pacific Islanders along with their allies. The event is FREE and will take place at the Coffman Union Whole Music Club on Wednesday May 2nd from 6:00pm to 9:00

For More Info>> U of M Events

2011 HIV Survellance Data Released

: 2011 MN HIV surveillance data released

In anticipation of today’s release of the 2011 HIV and Hepatitis surveillance data we caught up with Peter Carr, STI and HIV Division Director for the state of Minnesota. We asked Carr what his thoughts were about the information contained in the report and the state of HIV transmission in the state. Specifically, what is the biggest take away he wants to communicate.

Carr shared the following:

“The reminder that HIV is not going away.

Although the levels fluctuate from year to year, (HIV transmission) it is an ongoing concern in Minnesota and the populations HIV has had the greatest impact on are gay and bisexual men and communities of color. Within communities of color, African American and African born have been most impacted. In the African American community there are more men than women affected by HIV and this is also due to the transmission among gay and bisexual men of all races

Within the African born there is about a fifty-fifty split between males and females and it is mostly heterosexual infection – this mirrors the infectious profile in Africa.

Of the women affected in Minnesota, approximately two-thirds of the cases are African born and African American women. These cases are split equally between the two populations and they make up approximately five to six percent of the cases in Minnesota.

Overall, women still represent a relatively small percentage of overall cases of new infection.

The most important take away message is that people with HIV, once tested and treated, are able to live relatively normal and healthy lives. The call to action is to know your status!“

Read the full report >>>

HPV is Not Just a Woman’s Disease

“First-of-its-kind research from Ohio State University indicates oral HPV, a little-understood type of the sexually transmitted human papillomavirus, is widespread and could be especially dangerous for men”

The Human Papillomavirus (HPV) is a very common sexually transmitted disease and there are many different types of HPV. HPV is transmitted through sexual contact, infecting areas in contact with the virus such as the mouth, throat, anus, and the genital area. This disease is so common that most people who are sexually active will acquire the disease at least once in their lifetime. Usually when the media reports on HPV they report on the link between HPV and cervical cancer. However, as seen in a previous post, A Fact Sheet on HPV, HPV also affects men. Oral HPV is one of the types of HPV that affects men more than women and is also linked to cancers of the head, neck, and throat. This article reports that it is estimated that by 2020, cancers of the head, neck, and throat are going to beat cervical cancer as the top HPV-associated illness.

Can an Erection Make You Deaf?

A natural (not induced) erection does not cause deafness, but according to a study done in the United Kingdom a drug induced erection may cause either immediate or gradual hearing loss. According to the report, “among 60,000 patients across four clinical trials for the class of drugs that includes Viagra, there were 17 cases of sudden hearing loss. Since 2007, there have been 23 cases that the FDA says are attributable to the drugs”. This is a very important issue since there are about 60 million men in the world that have used Viagra. There are also healthier alternatives to prevent erectile dysfunction (ED). For instance, eating dark chocolate and pistachios has been shown to correlate with stronger erections and having sex at least once a week can help prevent ED.

No New News! | Perinatal Transmission of HIV is Avoidable

I just received an update from the Minnesota Department of Health stating:

“It has come to the attention of the STD and HIV Section that there have been a few cases in the recent past of women in Minnesota who are HIV positive and upon becoming pregnant did not know, nor received education informing them that with HAART treatment and prenatal care they can have a healthy baby and are at low risk of transmitting HIV to their newborn (less than 1% transmission rate with adequate perinatal HIV care). These women selected to terminate their pregnancies thinking that they would undoubtedly pass their HIV to their baby.

These cases prompt us to encourage you to be sure that your HIV prevention and educational messages both to men and women, but especially to girls or women of childbearing age, include the clear message that an HIV positive woman who receives HAART, reduces her viral load and receives adequate prenatal care is at VERY low risk of transmitting HIV to her infant. You can learn more about HIV perinatal transmission at:http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/idepc/diseases/hiv/hivperinatal.html

and One Test, Two Lives at: http://www.actagainstaids.org/provider/ottl/index.html”

HIV prevention is everyone’s business and accurate information is essential in stopping the transmission of the virus. Minnesota has been incredibly effective in driving down and keeping down the rates of perinatal (mother to child) transmission for many years. The aforementioned concern comes, in part, from the fading community discussion about how HIV is transmitted. Please join Among Men in creating a stronger community dialog about HIV and how to:

Educate yourself and others
Support people living with HIV and AIDS
Raise awareness (and much needed funding for programs and services) through community involvement in activities like the MN AIDS Walk
Engaging in lowering the risks of new transmission.

Diet Soda: It Might Save Your Love Handles, But Not Your Heart

“Drinking a single can of diet soda each day can increase your risk of having a heart attack or stroke, reports a recent study published in the Journal of General Internal Medicine.”

The study monitored 2,500 people’s diet soda drinking habits. They found that 43% of people who drank multiple diet sodas every day were more likely to experience a stroke or heart attack while others who drank 6 sodas per week or 1 soda per month had the same risk as people who abstain from diet soda. Oddly enough, the study did not find the same correlations between regular soda and experiences of stroke or heart attack. Unfortunately, the study did not measure weight gain in the subjects, which could be the reasons for the vascular events since diet soda also causes weight gain. However, there is still more research to be done on the matter.

Aging MSM

“Gay and sexual minority older men have lived a very different life than their much younger counterparts. When gay men in their fifties and sixties were in their youth, being openly gay was frowned upon, HIV was rampant and taboo, and sexual discrimination was commonplace.”

A study done at the University of Californina in the School of Public Health found that aging men who have sex with men (MSM) worried about the same things as heterosexual males, but aging MSM were more likely to suffer from depression. Aging men, aside from physical health and financial stressors, also worry about the stigma that comes from being sexually attracted to the same sex. However, the study also showed that the risk of depression decreased when aging MSM were in a committed relationship and/or had other forms of social support.

2011 Minnesota STI Data Released

2011 MN STD surveillance data released

The surveillance data for the number of newly reported STDs in Minnesota was released earlier this morning. Peter Carr, Minnesota STI/HIV Division Director of the Department of Health stated:

“The 2012 surveillance data on sexually transmitted infections (STI) indicates that STIs continue to be a major health problem, especially among adolescents, young adults and communities of color.

Every year we see increasing rates of new infection. In the past year we have seen a rise in Chlamydia in all areas of the state. This is of concern because chlamydia often times has no symptoms and one way to stop the spread of new infections is to test and treat. Consistent condom use is also effective in preventing STIs.

Some counties such as Beltrami have shown higher rates of new STI infection.

We don’t think this is due to higher rates of new infection as much as our belief that these counties are doing a better job of screening and testing.”

Taken from the MDH website:

The 2011 Sexually Transmitted Disease (STD) Statistics includes summary of surveillance data for Minnesota’s reportable STDs: chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, and chancroid. In Minnesota, STDs are the most commonly reported communicable diseases and account for nearly 70% of all notifiable diseases reported to the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH). In 2011 the number of reported bacterial STDs increased to 19,547 cases, representing an overall increase of 8% from the previous year. The change in incidence rates varied by disease, with chlamydia increasing by 9%, gonorrhea increasing by 5%, and primary/secondary syphilis decreasing by 8%.

A webinar presentation will be held this afternoon from 2-3PM CST to review the data.

Read the full report>>

Pink, Blue, or Purple

“Infants born with a micropenis were, until quite recently, gender assigned as female. The very small penis was amputated and the infant brought up as a girl.”

Just like a lot of biological processes, fetal development sometimes deviates from what our society calls, the “norm”. In western cultures people have been socialized to think that there are only two genders; male and female. Still, intersexed people or people who have been born with “abnormal” or “ambiguous” genitalia have existed throughout history, in various cultures around the world, and were seen as a third sex or intersex rather than abnormal. Due to our current societal beliefs, the medical community has been in charge of assigning a gender to infants who do not look strictly female or strictly male. However, this can cause serious psychological harm as it did in the case of David Reimer when his penis was accidentally amputated during a circumcision procedure and as a result his parents tried to raise him as a female as advised by his doctor.

BECAUSE

Bisexual Empowerment Conference: A Uniting Supportive Experience

April 20-April 22, 2012

“This year marks the 20 year anniversary since the start of the conference, making BECAUSE the largest and longest running conference dedicated to bisexuality in the United States.”

The conference will be hosted by the Bisexual Organizing Project and the Metropolitan State University (MSU) and held at MSU. The theme for the conference this year will be “Empowerment Through Community” and the keynote speakers are: Robyn Ochs, Lisa Diamond, Amy Andre, Elise Mattheson, Ron Fox, Cecilia Tan, and Carol Queen.

30$ for students

40$ online registration

50$ on-site registration

Registration>> http://www.becauseconference.org/REGISTRATION-2012.html

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We hope you will be able to join us!

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