Safe Sex & Your Future!

What is safe sex? How does safe sex affect you, your self esteem and your feeling of well-being? Practicing safe sex is a choice that affects every aspect of your life for the rest of your life. It is important to practice safe sex every time you have sex.

Make your choice and do not back down;

Abstinence is the best policy for people not having sex.
(Be honest with yourself; skin to skin contact and or the exchange of fluids is sex.)

For individuals that choose to have sex, the following apply:

• Plan ahead. Pledge to practice safe sex every time. Commit to yourself to make choices for a healthy future.

• Do not rely on your partner for protection. Take the initiative and buy condoms online.

• Be prepared. To help you follow through with your choice to practice safe sex every time, purchase condoms and lubricant before you need them. Don’t rely on others to protect your most valuable asset (your health).

• So much of the time we are in the heat of the moment feeling the passion and the excitement not thinking about the consequences. Pregnancy, STD’s & HIV/AIDS can significantly impact your future, they can be unthinkable consequences. Planning ahead reduces the temptation of having risking sex.

• Communicate with your partner about practicing safe sex. Be clear on the choices you have made, it’s o.k. to take a stand on the decisions that will affect the rest of your life. Communication can take the fear out of the unknown possibly allowing you to move forward with peace of mind.

• Feel good about thinking ahead and wanting a positive future for yourself and any relationships you may have in the future. Having unprotected sex to prove your love to someone puts you and your partner at risk. Practicing safe sex shows caring and mutual respect; building a stronger relationship for the future.

What is Safe Sex?
Safe sex, also known as "safer sex," involves protecting yourself and your partner from sexually transmitted diseases and infections (STD’s). Use a barrier on any part of your body that might come into contact with your partner's bodily fluids. First and foremost, this means using a latex condom whenever you have vaginal, oral or anal intercourse. Condoms are the best way to avoid contracting and spreading most STDs. It's important to always use a condom and to use it correctly each time. Don't use the same condom twice--ever.

Articles & Resources:
Sexual Health Center
Safer Sex

Maxpro promotes a healthy tomorrow by providing educational information allowing people to make informed choices. Always use a condom every time you have sex, if not a male condom then use a female condom to prevent unwanted pregnancy and the transmission of STD's and HIV/AIDS. Pleasurable safe sex is an effective lifestyle choice used by many to bring about a happy and healthy future.

The best place to buy the best condoms. Buy Condoms online from the #1 provider of premium condoms designed for pleasure and safety.

Buy Condoms Online

Latex Sensitivity and Safe Sex!

Allergic reactions to latex condoms are rare, however, if you have a sensitivity to latex the use of latex condoms can leave you uncomfortable or very sick. There are several acceptable alternatives to latex condoms. Two of the more popular latex free condoms are made from Polyisoprene and Polyurethane. Also available but not recommended for general use are the lambskin condoms.

1. Polyisoprene condoms offer the latex sensitive person the ability to practice safe sex without discomfort.

• Polyisoprene is a synthetic material that is strong and therefore has a low breakage risk.
• Polyisoprene condoms are stretchy allowing for a snug fit that can heighten sensual pleasure.
• They are considered an effective method of preventing pregnancy and the transmission of STD's.

2. Polyurethane condoms are another choice for people who are sensitive to latex and they are available in both male and female condoms.

• Polyurethane condoms are thin and conduct heat better than most latex condoms.
• Odor free, polyurethane condoms can be used with any lubricant. (oil-based, water based or silicone-based.)
• Slippage and breakage can be a problem. Users must be careful to adhere to product guidleines.

3. Natural skin or lamb skin condoms are yet another choice for the latex sensitive individual. This natural animal membrane is the oldest material known to be used for condoms.

• While providing a "natural feel", lamb skin condoms only protect against pregnancy.
• Natural skin condoms have a unique odor.
• Natural skin and lamb skin condoms are generally not effective in the prevention of transmitting STDs or HIV/AIDS.

The good news! There are a several brands of latex free condoms available on the market today. All offer viable protection and comfort for individuals sensitive to latex, allowing them to make healthy choices for a happier future. Maxpro now offers fc Female condoms and Skyn male condoms for sale in their web store. Just one more way that Maxpro is helping people to make healthy decisions.

MAXPRO promotes pleasurable safe sex as an effective lifestyle choice to bring about a happier and healthier tomorrow. Always use a condom every time you have sex, if not a male condom then use a female condom to prevent unwanted pregnancy and the transmission of STD's and HIV/AIDS.

Try Maxpro Condoms the most comfortable condoms on the market: strength for dependability and safety, sensitivity for pleasure and satisfaction.

Buy Condoms Online: http://www.maxprocondom.com/
Articles & Resources:

Latex Versus Non-Latex Condoms
Latex Condoms and Latex Allergies

Happy Halloween - Condom Costumes

Happy Halloween!

We hope that you stay safe, have lots of fun, and practice / promote safe sex! Halloween brings out the most incredible people! Not just kids but adults as well, Halloween allows people the fantasy of being someone or something they are not! So relax, attend one of the many adult parties and enjoy a break from being you. Masquerade & costume parties are popular campus events.

Many organizations have these events to help raise money for their causes or in appreciation of their members. The Exotic Erotic Ball and the Black and White Ball are just two of many such events.

Halloween falls on a Saturday this year. You have no excuse not to dress up and go out. There are so many costumes to choose from these days. Here are a few examples from the 2009 Condom Fashion Show. Using these as examples we are sure that you could come up with a few of your own ideas! Condomella, the condom fairy, you could even become a green condom tree!

Condom Fashion Show 2009

A wonderful method of promoting safe sex this Halloween is fashionable condom wear. Imagine the really fun costumes you could create on your own. Many of them serving a double purpose; great costume and awesome education tool / reminder to practice safe sex. Just don't be giving out your condoms before the end of the night.

What ever your choice may be, have a Happy Halloween!

Try MAXPRO Original Condoms the most comfortable condom on the market: strength for dependability and safety, sensitivity for pleasure, satisfaction and a great fashion statement.

Buy Condoms Online: http://store.maxprocondom.com

Articles & Resources
Condom Fashion Show in Beijing
Condom dress one size fits all

Love won't protect you...

Love won’t protect you…

Just ask the women who dated Philippe Padieu, purchased cars for him and showered him with gifts. Only later to find out that he had intentionally infected each of them with HIV/AIDS. More often than not disease gets passed on unintentionally because the individual doesn’t know they are infected.

How different the results would have been if they had practiced safe sex, not given in to his lies and requests for sex without a condom.

Love is blind…

Love often prevents you from seeing what is very apparent to others and many times feelings of love allow you to miss little clues that would normally let you know that something is up. The state of being in love means that your emotional barriers are down. This is often not the right time to be making choices that could affect the rest of your life.

Make a commitment to yourself: Use a condom every time you have sex, make it part of your routine to keep your body healthy. Keep the commitment!

What you see may not be what you get, play safe. Knowledge is power! Educate yourself. Understand the practical and the emotional side to condom use.

• Practical side is that condoms are far cheaper than having a baby, getting an STD or HIV/AIDS.


• Emotionally a condom allows you to feel secure, protected against the prior events of your partner’s life experiences.

You ask, How to play safe?

Always use a condom. Use it correctly and keep up on the information regarding what is considered safe sex. Use a condom when you have oral sex, anal sex, or vaginal intercourse. Use lubricants that are condom approved to help make the condom more comfortable and prevent failure.

Educating yourself about condoms, safe sex and the risks involved when you do not practice safe sex will help you to feel more comfortable and less stressed about the discussion of condom use. You might even learn enough to make condom usage fun!

Your knowledge and self confidence will lead to making better choices that in the long run will effect and bring about positive change in your life and create a healthy today.

Taking personal responsibility for your choices ensures a brighter future.

Live safe and healthy - wear a condom!

Articles & Resources

How Women United to Stop HIV-Positive Man
Ten Reasons Why Condoms Are The Best Contraceptive
Why Condom Size Matters
How To Use A Condom

The writers of the Maxpro Blog want you to understand that they are in no way experts. They are simply presenting their take on subject thats are currently being discussed or presented in the News. We welcome others to write in and let us know what they think; both on the subject matter and the point of views.

Let's Talk Condoms... Condoms are Sexy!

Are you ready to learn something new about condoms and safe sex? Condoms can be sexy! They can be fun! And, they can add to your pleasure!

Many people do not like condoms and have numerous excuses not to use them. With STD's and HIV/AIDS infiltrating the general public, more people are finding out that it's not a good idea to have unprotected sex outside of long term monogamous relationships.

STD's are curable but many of them go undetected, can leave you scared and unable to have children. Others are treatable but you will be dealing with them for the rest of your life. HIV/AIDS are not curable they will eventually kill you.

Tired of feeling scared to have sex? Learn to protect your health and still enjoy yourself. While condoms are not 100% full proof, used correctly they are much better than using no protection.

So you think you know everything about condoms? Do you know condoms can be sexy, fun & pleasurable? Read on and find out how. Write back with your own ideas and you may very likely receive a free 12 pack of Maxpro Condoms.

Silky Smooth Encounter!
For a silky smooth experience that adds to your enjoyment use a water-based lubricant. Lubricants are the quickest, easiest, and most effective solution to problems like dryness during foreplay and lovemaking. Not using lubricant can lead to condom failure.

Sensual Pleasurable Spin!
Put a pleasurable oral spin on safe sex, when lovemaking can be sexy and fun. To spice up the moment, arouse your partner and put a condom on with your mouth. Do not use your teeth. This takes some practice but I promise you he won't complain. Use of a flavored lubricant or flavored condom makes this more pleasant for both of you.

Fun Sensual Experience!
Experience something that's sexy fun and sensual... The MAXPRO Vibrating Ring is a revolutionary gadget that makes him the vibrator. Its compact design fits comfortably around the base of the condom and emits strong vibrations that'll be sure to please the both of you. The vibrating ring can also be used during foreplay to excite both partners.

Fun Performance Enhancers!
If you're looking for a long-lasting, exhilarating sexual experience, Rock Hard Extreme is a 100% all natural male enhancement product. Taken shortly beforehand this product provides a boost in sexual desire & performance, at the same time increasing intensity of orgasm and heightened sexual arousal. Men will also experience, firmer, harder erections & enhanced the libido.

Fun Anticipation!
Instead doing a grab and run at the nearest drugstore. Take some time together and browse for different types of condoms online. Enjoy the moment of anticipation of knowing that you're going to have sex soon.

Textured Condoms!
Ribbed, studded or combination textured condoms can provide extra sensation and intensity.

This is a short list of the methods you can use to make condoms more fun, exciting and pleasurable. We would like to hear from you to know what you have found that works. Please write us at customerservice@maxprocondom.com.

If I write or blog about your idea, I will send you a free 12pack of condoms. Meanwhile keep enjoying yourselves.

Just In!

From AD in OH, "Hi! My husband and I have a winderful sense of humor in the bedroom, and are always looking at ways to make things more fun.

For condom usage, we have two things we like:

1. Play "The Stripper" music, for a reverse "strip tease" when putting on the condom.
2. Let the condom follow my tongue all the way down.

We have other ways, but these are our fav two."

Thanks AD! I will be sending your 12 pack sampler and toy covers out real soon!

State Lawmakers to Receive Condoms

News Excerpt from: FOX 40 News
February 10, 2009

SACRAMENTO - Today, Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California will give condoms to lawmakers to honor National Condom Day. The presents are also the organization's way of calling attention to the importance of funding preventative health care statewide.

"With these Valentine's 'Condom Grams' we are saying to state lawmakers 'Don't break our hearts. Join together to maintain funding for vital preventive services'," said Kathy Kneer, PPAC President and CEO, "A healthy budget equals a healthy California."

The 'Condom Grams' include an assortment of condoms, information about the savings associated with family planning services, and a message asking the State Legislature to maintain funding for preventative services.

♥♥♥♥♥

With the recent pass on funding for condoms in the stimulus, it looks like Planned Parenthood has taken the situation further into their own hands and moved onto the lawmakers! Legislatures might not receive the exact "Condy gram" in the picture, but in any case, hopefully these actions will show how important contraception is beneficial to the state's, as well as nation's, health.

In addition, hopefully it will show how public family planning and preventative services are important to the economy -- as they have helped significantly reduce the number of unintended pregnancies and abortions that occur.

Hopefully the package of "goodies" will make an impact on the legislatures!

Helpful Resources & Links:
- Provision To Increase Access To Medicaid Family Planning Services Cut From Stimulus Package (MAXPRO Blog)
- National Condom Awareness Month? Week? Day? (MAXPRO Blog)
- Condom Week (The Cauldron)
- Alternative uses in honor of national condom month (The Examiner)
- Hey Valentine, how about a condom? (The Examiner)
- Roses are red, condoms are clear (Daily Princetonian)
- Feature: Being Prepared (MAXPRO Blog)
- Ten Reasons Why Condoms Are The Best Contraceptive (MAXPRO Blog)

MAXPRO Valentine's Day Specials

Make Valentine's Day night a special and safe night!

National Condom Awareness Month? Week? Day?

As I've mentioned before, I've found different variations on this month's awareness on condoms: National Condom Awareness Month (February), National Condom Awareness Week (February 14-21), and National Condom Awareness Day; appropriately celebrated on Valentine's Day (February 14). Again, whenever it is, it's probably best to celebrate safe sex all year!

While it's not hard to associate Valentine's Day with sex, not everyone practices safe, protected sex on the night of. It's said that many unplanned pregnancies can be pinpointed to Valentine's Day; which shouldn't really be a surprise because it's a day to celebrate and make love! Yet if you and your partner aren't ready to make the commitment of children, then condoms are a good alternative!

Another important concept to grasp on is that condoms help prevent the spread or transmission of Sexually Transmitted Diseases/Infections (STDs/STIs). It's important to get tested for such cases and protect yourself during sex. While some STIs show no major signs, avoiding to use protection can cause serious health risks later on.

In any case, safe sex is probably the best sex! ..so celebrate it!

Articles & Resources
- Condom Week (The Cauldron)
- Alternative uses in honor of national condom month (The Examiner)
- Hey Valentine, how about a condom? (The Examiner)
- Roses are red, condoms are clear (Daily Princetonian)
- Feature: Being Prepared (MAXPRO Blog)
- Ten Reasons Why Condoms Are The Best Contraceptive (MAXPRO Blog)

For fine condom products for all your National Condom Month needs, please visit our website & store:
MAXPRO Condoms
MAXPRO Store

Valentine's Day still rich in romance, sex

News Excerpt from: USA Today
By Nanci Hellmich
February 10, 2009

The sluggish economy might make sweethearts a little stingier when buying Valentine's Day gifts, but it hasn't slowed down their sex lives.

About 50% of people with partners say they'll spend less money on Valentine's Day, but 78% say the economy hasn't affected the amount of time they have for sex or the frequency this past year, a national Consumer Reports poll shows.

Q&A: What kills sex in a marriage?

"People are certainly cutting back on expenditures, and that may mean less lavish dinners out and more stay-at-home dates that lead to a romantic evening," says Orly Avitzur, a neurologist and medical adviser for the magazine. "Sex can provide pleasure and boost mood while serving needs for intimacy and providing a calming effect."

In January, the magazine's National Research Center surveyed about 600 adults who reported being sexually active in 2008. The findings, reported on www.consumerreportshealth.org:

• 81% avoided or delayed having sex this past year. The most common reasons they gave: too tired, weren't feeling well, weren't in the mood.

• 45% said they had to plan a time for sex with their partner, and 7% said they used a printed or electronic calendar, PDA or smart phone to keep track.

• 20% said they had missed work to keep a planned time for sex; 21% said they had missed an outing with friends, and 15% said they had skipped an important event or appointment.

• 60% of men said they thought about sex at least once a day, compared with 19% of women.

• 66% of men and 58% of women said they were satisfied with their sex lives.

♥♥♥♥♥
While jobs are down and money continually becomes an issue, staying home is becoming more of an option.. yet this necessarily isn't a bad thing!

Staying home and having private evenings with your partner, rather than going out, will not only save you some extra cash in the bank, but can most likely lead to a MAXPRO night.. and if you can somehow ease in creativity and romance, you can probably score extra points too!

While going out occasionally can be fun, it could also be tiring. Those "lavish dinners" can tire a person out if you have too much to eat. Even the crowds of people can get frustrating.. and who knows? With the flu going around, do you really want to be around that?

At least at home you can control the situation. Instead of having to go through the hassle of getting ready, you and your partner can dress casually or comfortably.. or not at all? Hmm? You can even control how much you eat! Making dinner and preparing just enough portions for the two of you will allow you to "make room for dessert later." Finally, there's no reason to say "I'm tired" or "I'm not feeling well" because you haven't really done anything! ..except stay home, live comfortably, and avoid everything on the outside world.

So with all that said, have fun at home! Forget the economy! Forget that you've been rejected by hundreds of employers! You can't get rejected now! ♥

With the slumping economy, it's good to know that other things are recession proof.


If you're planning on having a MAXPRO night, check out our store for all your MAXPRO needs:
MAXPRO Condoms
MAXPRO Store


Helpful Resources:
- Feature: Sex Around the House (MAXPRO Blog)
- Feature: Foods to Get in the Mood (MAXPRO Blog)

No Glove, No Love. No Test, No Sex

News Excerpt from: LA Singles Examiner
February 5, 12:03 AM
by Niki Payne

With Valentine's Day approaching, you can bet that plenty of couples (or non-couples, for that matter) will probably be knocking boots a lot this month.

Maybe it's love, maybe it's lust. Or maybe it's loneliness and self-esteem issues that get your legs to open wider than the Grand Canyon. Whatever the case, it's important to note that February happens to be National Condom Month. Kind of ironic, don't ya think?

What's even more ironic is that I recently overheard a friend tell another friend that a girl he was dating (for about a week or so) asked him to get checked out before she would agree to sleep with him.

Now, my mom always preached to me to do the same, but I'd always laugh at her thinking, "What person my age would actually do that?" So when I heard the topic come up, of course my ears perked up naturally.

How does someone typically respond to a request like that? After all, it's not an unreasonable request considering how promiscuous people can be these days. But what it you're in the heat of the moment and you really, really, really want to put it inside her or really, really, really want him to put it inside you already?

Most people "know" the risks and yet do it anyway figuring it's just a "one-time exception." Only it's not, and once is one time too many if you're not in a committed relationship.

Among some of the most common sexually transmitted infections ("disease" seems to imply a slow death) are chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphillis. Of course, when someone does contract one of these sexually transmitted bacterial infections, no one really talks about it. That's because STD's are a totally taboo topic. Don't believe me? Play a game of "Ten Fingers" with a group of friends and see how much slower fingers go down when you say, "Never have I ever has an STD."

People keep that ish on the DL as well as their sexual history, probably because they've never been checked out or are afraid to get checked out.

I was in complete awe when I discovered that some of the people I know have never taken an STD test before. Are you kidding me? Maybe it's because I'm a woman and have grown accustomed to getting tested every year along with my annual pap smear, but I think it's so incredibly important to get yourself tested frequently if you are sexually active.

I recommend getting checked out every 3-6 months because that's about how long it takes sometimes for the infection or disease to manifest. And if you do find yourself in the unsettling scenario of having contracted an STD from one of your partners (and you care enough to inform them), know that you have the option of letting him or her know via an e-card through an Internet Notification Service created specifically to notify past partners of possible infections.

We grow up learning that abstinence is the key to practicing safe sex. F that ish! We all know that none of us are going to start abstaining from sex any time soon. So if you really want to practice safe sex, ask your partner to get checked out and always use a condom.

The way I see it, if a girl doesn't hear back from a guy after making such a request, you know he was only interested in an easy lay and wasn't planning on sticking around long. On the other hand, if he does agree, he might actually have plans to keep you around a little. Either that, or he hasn't been laid in a really long time.

♥♥♥♥♥

There really shouldn't be a fear in getting tested. If it's about embarrassment, why be embarrassed? Lots of people get tested! ..that's why the wait at the Planned Parenthood clinic is always so long! ..or at least I heard.

Maybe it's the fear of getting bad news? Even if "bad news" were the case, it's better to find out sooner than allowing it worsen. Ignoring it won't only make it worse, but you have the chance of "spreading the bad news" to other people! Boooo.. don't be that person!

In addition, not all birth control methods will protect you from the risk of STDs. If used properly, condoms will help in the preventing of contracting STDs. If you read the fine print, the pill can't do any of that. :(

I also looked into the whole National Condom Month. After Googling it, I found that there are different variations on the celebration. There's the aforementioned (February), along with National Condom Week (February 14-21), and National Condom Day (celebrated on February 14/Valentine's Day). Whatever it is, celebrate it throughout the year!

Have fun & be safe ♥


For fine condom products for all your National Condom Month needs, please visit our website & store:
MAXPRO Condoms
MAXPRO Store


Helpful Resources:
- Feature: Being Prepared (MAXPRO Blog)
- Ten Reasons Why Condoms Are The Best Contraceptive (MAXPRO Blog)

Condom Display At Mall Raises Eyebrows

Update:
News Excerpt from: WWJ Newsradio 950
Posted: Thursday, 05 February 2009 8:54AM

AIDS Group Claims Mall Banned Condom Display

Troy (WWJ) -- The Michigan AIDS Coalition said Thursday that an HIV/AIDS Awareness display has been pulled from a Somerset Collection storefront in Troy.

The display, at Armani Exchange, featured hundreds of red condoms forming a giant heart as part of the National AIDS Fund's "Give Love, Get Love" effort ahead of Valentine's Day.

The group said more than 70 malls nationwide have allowed a similar display--and Somerset was the only one that banned it.

WWJ has a call in to Somerset spokesman Thursday morning for comment.




Original Post: February 4, 2009

News Excerpt from: KSBW-TV
January 31, 2009

With Valentine’s Day approaching, you wouldn’t think a heart-shaped window display would cause much controversy.

But this one is made out of red condoms.

It’s right on the front window of the Armani Exchange store at Arden Fair Mall in Sacramento, California.

The display reads, “give love, get love…and practice safe love.“

It’s part of a promotional campaign for the National AIDS Fund.

A mall spokesperson says they’ve received a few calls from concerned shoppers with questions. The mall has no comment about the display because it’s in a space leased by the store.

♥♥♥♥♥

Another Valentine's Day related post! ..expect a lot of them in the next few days! ♥

I just thought this article was interesting. There's nothing really harmful in promoting safe sex and I think A|X found a creative, innovating, and cute way to promote it!

What do you think?


Helpful Resources:
- Feature: Being Prepared (MAXPRO Blog)
- Ten Reasons Why Condoms Are The Best Contraceptive (MAXPRO Blog)

Chocolatier Creates Candy to Stimulate Male Sex Drive

News Excerpt from: FOXNews.com
Wednesday, February 04, 2009

Just in time for Valentine's Day a New Zealand chocolatier says she created a new candy that acts as a male aphrodisiac, the Australian Associated Press reported.

Former food scientist and owner of Mamor Chocolates, Hanna Frederick, has made headlines for her crazy candy concoctions including beer-flavored and deer antler chocolate.

Now, the Auckland, Australia businesswoman is hoping to capitalize on Valentine's Day with her Tongkat Ali-infused chocolates.

Tongkat Ali is an herb that comes from a tree found in Southeast Asia. It is believed to stimulate testosterone production in men, giving a boost to the sex drive. It has been nicknamed the "Asian Viagra," but, like most herbal remedies, there are very few scientific studies backing its benefits.

The chocolates, which can be ordered online, deliver a "small but noticeable" aphrodisiac effect, Frederick claims.

♥♥♥♥♥

Just another reminder of what's to come in the next week! Valentine's Day! ♥

A chocolatier who seems to know the way to a man's heart -- concocting morsels like whiskey and beer-flavored chocolates -- has made a chocolate to act as a male aphrodisiac. While chocolate has already been known to act as an aphrodisiac by itself, Hanna Frederick has created a candy using the finest Belgian chocolate with a high cocoa mass and pure flavors.. with an extra ingredient of course!

Eurycoma Longifolia Jack (also known as Tongkat Ali) is a South Asian herb that "has been used by men for centuries to increase sexual desire, libido, and enhance overall performance. It has been traditionally taken for energy, strenuous labor and athletics."¹

As if chocolate couldn't get any better! ..it does :)


Helpful Resources & References:
¹ Mamor ~ The Spirit of Passion
- Kiwi men get aphrodisiac chocolates for Valentine's Day (www.news.com.au)
- Feature: Foods to Get in the Mood (MAXPRO blog)

Pubs Offer Condoms Over Valentine's Day

News Excerpt from: Illawarra Mercury
BY ANGELA THOMPSON
2/02/2009 3:52:00 PM

Beer, wine, spirits, and condoms.

Wollongong watering holes will stock more in their bars this month as part of a campaign to promote safe Valentine's Day loving.

Pub-goers at four pubs will receive free condoms with their pints in the lead-up to the day, very deliberately included in the sexual health campaign, The Big Gamble.

The campaign targets members of the heterosexual population who have recently changed partners and comes after a dramatic spike in chlamydia notifications in the region.

"When people start a new relationship they might not know the sexual background of the person they're having a relationship with and lots of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) have no symptoms," Healthy Cities Illawarra sexual health promotion officer Naomi Cox said.

"We thought Valentine's Day was an appropriate time to get that message out there and get people thinking about their sexual health.

"Along with the presents and love that comes with Valentine's Day, we also encourage people to use condoms and be aware of sexually transmitted infections."

Chlamydia notifications to South Eastern Sydney Illawarra Area Health Service tripled between 2000 and 2006, with a particularly large spike recorded between 2004 and 2005.

Condom packs, together with coasters and posters bearing the safe sex message, will be distributed to the University of Wollongong Unibar, the Beach Bar, North Gong Hotel and the Harp Hotel.

Healthy Cities recommends people beginning a new relationship have a sexual health check-up, particularly if they don't plan to use condoms. Those who recently ended a relationship, had unsafe sex or whose partner had an STI should also have a check-up.

♥♥♥♥♥

Valentine's Day isn't just a commercial day celebrated around little cards and heart-shaped boxes of chocolates, but it's a day to celebrate love! ..and what's another way to show love by "making" it? ♥

Although Valentine's Day is a special day, it shouldn't be a day to forget about safe sex! ..and despite the spike in chlamydia outbreaks in the South Eastern Sydney Illawarra Area, it's still a good idea to promote safe sex everywhere; especially on a day where copious amounts of people will be "doing it."

I understand that it might not be appropriate to just give patrons condoms in some locations, but having them readily available may be convenient and serve as a reminder to people who might have just "forgotten." Creatively distributing them (i.e. packaged discreetly, gift boxes) could even be an option for inconspicuously nudging safe sex.

Overall, it can't hurt to be safe.. literally :)

If you want to be prepared beforehand, MAXPRO condoms can provide for your Valentine's Day needs! Visit our store at http://store.maxprocondoms.com


Helpful Resources:
- Feature: Being Prepared (MAXPRO Blog)
- Ten Reasons Why Condoms Are The Best Contraceptive (MAXPRO Blog)

Weasels vs. AIDS Relief

News Excerpt from: Washington Post
By Michael Gerson
Wednesday, January 28, 2009; Page A15

[...]During Obama's transition, Dr. Mark Dybul was initially asked to stay on as the coordinator of the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) for several months until a replacement could be found and confirmed. Because Dybul was the main architect of the program and one of its guiding visionaries, few were surprised by the offer. With Ambassador Randall Tobias, Dybul organized the most staggeringly successful foreign assistance effort since the Marshall Plan -- eventually helping support lifesaving AIDS therapy for more than 2 million people.

While I worked at the White House -- from 2001 to 2006 -- I saw Dybul combine the ability to build bipartisan consensus for PEPFAR on Capitol Hill with exceptional compassion for the victims of a cruel and wasting sickness. It mattered little to the Bush administration that Dybul was openly gay or that he had contributed to Democratic candidates in the past. He was recognized as a great humanitarian physician -- a man of faith and conscience -- almost universally respected among legislators, AIDS activists, foreign leaders and health experts. Almost.

A few radical "reproductive rights" groups -- the fringe of a fringe -- accused Dybul of advocating "abstinence only" programs in AIDS prevention. It was always a lie. Dybul consistently supported comprehensive prevention efforts that include abstinence, faithfulness and condom use -- the approach that African governments themselves developed. In fact, Dybul was sometimes attacked from the right for defending a broad definition of AIDS prevention, including programs to address prostitution and transgenerational sex. Over the years, PEPFAR distributed 2.2 billion condoms -- hardly an "abstinence only" approach.

By encouraging Dybul to stay until his successor was in place, the Obama administration displayed a generous spirit, as well as a practical concern for continuity in a vital program.

Then, the day after the inauguration, Dybul received a call asking him to submit his resignation and to leave by the end of the day. There was no chance to reassure demoralized staffers, or PEPFAR teams abroad, or the confused health ministers of other nations. The only people who seemed pleased were a few blogging extremists, one declaring, "Dybul Out: Thank you, Hillary!!!"

As in most political hit-and-run attacks, the perpetrator was not anxious to take credit. It seems unlikely to be Hillary Clinton herself -- Dybul's ultimate boss at the State Department -- who had not even been confirmed when Dybul received his call. But someone at State or the White House determined that sacrificing Dybul would appease a few vocal, liberal interest groups. One high-ranking Obama official admitted that the decision was "political." Yet the AIDS coordinator is not a typical political job, distributed as spoils, like some deputy assistant position at the Commerce Department. It involves directing a massive emergency operation to provide lifesaving drugs, through complex logistics, to some of the most distant places on Earth. And now that operation may be months without effective leadership -- undermining morale, complicating inter-agency cooperation, delaying new prevention initiatives and postponing budget decisions.

It is difficult to imagine what vision of public service could cause any Obama official to celebrate a victory by sabotaging a good man and a good cause. And it is difficult to conceive what political gain Obama has achieved. This type of captivity to extreme interests is precisely what has discredited Democrats so often in the past. It is a kind of politics with all the "newness" of a purge, all the "freshness" of a mugging.

Governing, admittedly, is not badminton. But it costs little to be graceful. And pettiness, in this case, may impose a cost on the world's most vulnerable people.

"We, who seven years ago," wrote William Butler Yeats, "Talked of honour and of truth,/Shriek with pleasure if we show/The weasel's twist, the weasel's tooth." For some in the Obama administration, the baring of the weasel's tooth took merely a day.

But none of this should bother Mark Dybul, who sleeps well in the knowledge that he helped save millions of lives -- an experience his critics will never share.

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Personally, the firing of Dybul makes me wonder what is in store for the program; what does Obama's administration have in mind for the future of the program?

With having worked as an AIDS doctor for several years in San Francisco and saving millions of people's lives, Dybul's resume is fairly reputable! He even won over George W. Bush; all the while being openly gay. So, why the sudden change in mind?

It was noted to be a "political" reason. "Political?" Details, please?

Per the article, Dybul were to stay with the program until a replacement were to be found. Now that he has been dismissed, I'm wondering who the new replacement is. I understand that Obama is all about change.. and hey, maybe the administration is just Spring cleaning for something new, exciting, and wonderful! I guess we can't really judge what's going on until we find out who the new replacement is.


Helpful References and Resources
- PC trumps HIV: The scandal behind the Dybul firing (bloggernews)
- Mark R. Dybul (Wikipedia)

Ten Reasons Why Condoms Are The Best Contraceptive

News Excerpt from: Finding the Best Cure

Wednesday, January 21, 2009

There are numerous contraceptive methods that you and your partner can use. Popular approaches include everything from pills to injections to implants. Perhaps the best known contraception method is the use of condoms. When used correctly all of these techniques can be very effective methods of preventing unwanted pregnancy.

But the well known fact is that using condoms is considered by most experts to be the easiest, least expensive, and least intrusive method of contraception. The use of condoms can have important health and safety benefits as well.

Here are 10 reasons to use condoms rather than alternative contraceptive methods:

1. Condoms make sex less messy. They are neat and tidy.

2. Condoms are widely available in pharmacies, supermarkets, drug stores, shopping malls and convenience centers. They can also be ordered online from many well established websites.

3. Condoms are a virtual necessity for busy people in modern society because they are ready to go at any time.

4. Condoms are easy to use. The intervention of a health care professional, or the use of drugs is not required.

5. When used properly condoms are a highly reliable method of birth control. On average they are up to 98% effective.

6. There is no need to “take” a pill that has a dramatic effect on your entire body and alters natural processes. Condoms are only required when you are having sex.

7. Condoms can actually enhance the sexual experience because they are available in many sizes, shapes, textures, and flavors.

8. There are no medical side effects as with virtually all other birth control methods.

9. Condoms are the most effective way to protect women from infections and the development of cancer of the cervix.

10. Condoms are the only contraceptive that helps to prevent the spread of sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV.

The benefits of condoms are so important and so compelling that many people who have tried alternatives are returning to condoms. They have decided the unwelcome side-effects of other methods that rely on drugs or intrusive implants are not acceptable. An increasing number of people are simply unwilling to tamper with the natural cycles of their body.

Perhaps even more important, experts around the world have come to realize that condoms are the only way to create a significant barrier to infection and sexually transmitted diseases. As a result, the distribution and use of condoms has become one of the most important weapons in the battle against the spread of HIV aids and other sexually transmitted diseases [...]

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As exhibited in the article, there are many reasons to consider (or reconsider) condoms — and I'm sure there are more reasons than just the 10 presented!

With sex becoming more and more prominent in today's society, it's definitely important to make sure you, as well as your partner, are safe when engaging in "intimate moments." Risks of STD's, HIV, and HPV are heightened when unprotected sex is practiced. As stated by the American Cancer Society (ACS), "Condoms (rubbers) may protect against HPV when they are used correctly, and it is important to use them because they do protect against AIDS and other sexual diseases."^[1]

In addition, when used correctly, condoms are 98% effective in protecting you from pregnancy. While the common Birth Control Pill (BCP) can be as effective, it's also a pill you have to remember to take every day. Granted you often forget to take the pill, it lessens the effectiveness. BCP can also alter a woman's natural cycle, and while there might be advantages to this, there are definitely some disadvantages. First of all, it doesn't protect you from sexually transmitted infections so it is still advised to use a condom in addition to BCP. Per Planned Parenthood, other disadvantages include: breast tenderness, change in sexual desire, nausea, vomiting, etc.^[2]

Okay, let's re-evaluate the Pill.. So it has the possible chance to change sexual desire? ..and it doesn't protect from STIs? This isn't some kind of ploy to sway you away from BCP, but if you haven't really given much thought to your safe sex method, these may be reasons to re-access what is important to you and your partner, as well as your body.

Another reason to consider condoms is their shelf life! "When stored in a cool, dry place condoms without spermicide are generally good for around five years from the time they are manufactured."^[3] So if sex is an occasional thing for you (i.e., monthly, semi-annually, etc), at least you can have some condoms on reserve and feel safe knowing that you can be protected. Again, just be sure to check the expiration date after you blow off the dust!

If the embarrassment of having to buy condoms is something that's swaying you away from this form of protection, then there is no real reason to fear any longer! As stated in the article, with modern technology, you can buy condoms online in the privacy of your own home. MAXPRO condoms has just that solution: MAXPRO Store

With all that said, don't you think it's time to buy some condoms? :)

For fine condom products, please visit our website & store:
MAXPRO Condoms
MAXPRO Store


Helpful Resources & References:
¹ What Cause Cancer of the Cervix (American Cancer Society)
² Planned Parenthood: Birth Control Pill (Planned Parenthood)
³ Condom Expiration Dates (Go Ask Alice!)
- Using A Condom Properly (guardian.co.uk)
- Birth Control A Friendly But Risky Alternative to Condoms (TigerWeekly)
- Feature: Being Prepared (MAXPRO Blog)
- Embarassing Moments Buying Condoms (MAXPRO Blog)

Some Women Need Vibrators to Get Off. Get Over It, Men.

News Excerpt from: Village Voice

By Dan Savage
Tuesday, January 20th 2009 at 3:06pm

Dear Dan:

I love the wife I married two years ago, but she absolutely can't come unless she uses a vibrator on herself. She's asked me to let her use it during sex or for me to use it on her, but I've refused. It's bad enough knowing I can't compete with that thing without having to look at it.

Let's Insert My Prick

Yeah, yeah, LIMP, you can't compete. Like a lot of other men, you've fallen in love with a woman who needs intense, focused stimulation in order to come, the kind of sensation that hands, fingers, tongues, and cocks just can't provide—a woman who requires a vibrator. Now let's take a little time to grieve, shall we?

Time's up.

Now, stop being such a douchebag about this, LIMP, and go ask the wife to show you just how to hold the vibrator and just where to apply pressure so that you—YOU!—can start giving her orgasms during sex. See the vibrator as a tool, moron, not a threat. Because if being with you means going without orgasms during sex for the rest of her life—all because she was foolish enough to marry an insecure bag of slop who refuses to do what needs to be done to get her off—then your wife just might decide to be with someone else.

And now an important message for all straight guys everywhere: Some women need vibrators to get off. Why? Well, perhaps it has something to do with the fact that most of a woman's clitoral tissues are inside her body; the exposed part of her clitoris is just the tip, comparable to the head of your penis. Now imagine if the shaft of your penis was buried inside your body, guys. You might need the help of a vibrator to get off then, too; you might need a tool that could stimulate your shaft through layers of skin and muscle and fat. We've been over and over this since the early 1990s, fellas, and there's no excuse anymore for freaking out about your wife/girlfriend/mom needing a vibrator, OK? [...]

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So, guys.. just reiterating, there's no reason to be intimidated by the *gasp* VIBRATOR. It's the 2000's!! ..or 00's? Hmm.. Well, whichever it is, don't you think women deserve to release their sexual tension too? Why should you be the only one to get all the pleasure? Chh!

As Dan Savage explained, the female anatomy is waaaay more complicated than it looks (Obviously because God spent more time on us) ..aaaaand just when you thought we couldn't get more complex, all women are unique and usually require different kinds of stimulation. While penetration, alone, might be fine for one woman, another might need "an extra something" in addition to what you're already equipped with.

Intimidation aside, try to use this "problem" as an advantage... or even an opportunity to experiment and have fun with your partner. It can't always be about you!

You can start off by showing her chivalry isn't dead by catering to her needs. It's likely that some women might have some extreme needs that might scare the bejeezus out of you, but try to have an open mind. Try talking to your partner & go over what she likes, what you like, and what both of you can do to make it all the more pleasurable. Do some research on your own (or together) and surprise her! Truth: Girls like surprises (However, they do have to be good) Also, putting in that extra effort shows that you're sensitive to what your partner wants.. and with her knowing that you're going the extra mile, you can earn extra brownie points!

So instead of looking at the vibrator as the enemy, think of it as a part of yourself (especially with vibrating rings). You have the opportunity to control & decide how much intensity and pleasure you want to give your partner. Again, just have fun with it! You, yourself, might even experience a little more pleasure than you would have expected!

If you want to take things slow and not go to super extreme measures, the MAXPRO 3 + 1 pack is a great starter! It has everything in one convenient package (3 condoms & 1 vibrating O-ring) — equating to pleasurable, safe sex! You can purchase it at select MAXPRO retailers.

For more fine MAXPRO products, like the MAXPRO Extreme Pleasure Packs (1 condom & 1 vibrating O-ring), visit our store at MAXPRO store


Helpful Resources:
- Feature: Why She Fakes It (MAXPRO Blog)
- Feature: Sex Around the House (MAXPRO Blog)

To Teach, or Not to Teach: That is the Question

One side says that teaching abstinence is the only way, the other says we need to teach our youth about safe sex... but which way is the correct way??? I do know that a report I read this morning cannot be ignored.

TEENAGERS in the United States who pledge to remain virgins until marriage are just as likely to have premarital sex as those who do not promise abstinence and significantly less likely to use condoms and other forms of birth control, a study published yesterday says.

The new analysis of data from a large US survey found that more than half of youths became sexually active before marriage regardless of whether they had taken a "virginity pledge", but that the percentage who took precautions against pregnancy or sexually transmitted diseases was 10 points lower for pledgers than for non-pledgers.

"Taking a pledge doesn't seem to make any difference at all in any sexual behaviour," said Janet Rosenbaum of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, whose report appears in the journal Pediatrics. "But it does seem to make a difference in condom use and other forms of birth control that is quite striking."

Condom use was about 10 percentage points lower for people who broke the pledge. They were six points less likely to use any contraception.

The study is the latest in a series raising questions about programs that focus on encouraging abstinence until marriage. The new analysis goes further by focusing on teens who had similar values about sex and other issues before they took a virginity pledge.

The findings come as Congress and the incoming Obama administration are about to reconsider the provision of more than $US176 million ($258 million) in annual funding for abstinence-based programs.

The Sydney Morning Herald

I'll be honest in saying that I was raised a catholic - 12 years of private/catholic school should be enough to prove that. I was never really taught anything about "safe sex" until I reached the college ranks and oftentimes wonder why.

Some might think my opinion is biased because I work for a latex company which manufactures condoms, but the truth of the matter is this job really opened my eyes to the flaws in the educational system (in regards to this subject).

Everyday we are forced to make important decision that can have a huge impact on our lives. People always say "would life have been different if I had done this instead of that"... the whole I should have gone left instead of right scenario. The issue of teens and sex is no different - if we don't teach them the rights and wrongs then how will they ever be able to make the proper decisions.

I'm not saying which way is right and which way is wrong. I truly believe that abstinence is the best way for the younger generation, but I also know that teenagers will be teenagers and their hormones or peer pressure oftentimes get the best of them. I feel it is ignorant to not take notice of these facts and at least give our kids the education to make intelligent decisions. I was in college when I got my first taste of this knowledge - long after my first, second... girlfriend.

My parents were great at giving me "the talk" and they didn't hold anything back when it came to the subject. All I wish is that the school systems would also take some initiative and give kids/teens/young adults the proper knowledge to fight this battle.

To Teach, or Not to Teach... I say we teach!

Feature: Foods to Get in the Mood

We all know the fastest way to someone’s heart is through their stomach, right? Instead of slaving away in the kitchen, try cuddling up with your sweetie and enjoying some of the tasty treats below to really set the love making mood....

Chocolate Body Tattoos - Have fun painting a chocolate design on your man’s sexy body and get excited licking it off.

Oysters - Oysters are not only a natural aphrodisiac but they contain a hormone called dopamine, which gets your libido rising. Pair the oysters with some tequila shots and you are in for a wild ride!

Berries & Whipped Cream - Weather you prefer strawberries or raspberries you cannot go wrong with any sweet & juicy berry. Accent the berries with whipped cream making a sexy combination. For sensual foreplay, use a berry to spread whipped cream on his lips, down his chest making a happy trail to the “on” switch for his love machine. Be sure to have a Maxpro within arms reach - it will be needed!