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Saturday, December 10, 2016

Why Arkansas same-sex parents won't be listed on a child's birth certificate

Arkansas same-sex parents will not be listed on their children’s birth certificates, the state’s highest court ruled on Thursday. The decision has raised questions about equal protection, and the state may still change its approach.

The ruling by a four-member majority of the Arkansas Supreme Court determined that only biological parents can be listed on a child’s birth certificate. It overturns last year’s decision by a lower court that married same-sex couples could automatically have both spouses listed as parents. 

For the state Supreme Court, it’s simply a question of biology. At the same time, marriage allows different-sex couples to be listed as parents, and the US Supreme Court’s ruling on gay marriage may mean that now applies to same-sex couples too. And the debate is complicated by state laws that require parentage to be tracked.

“It is clear that including both married spouses’ names â€" regardless of whether they are same-sex or opposite sex â€" on a child’s birth certificate is exactly the kind of benefit of marriage that the U.S. Supreme Court ruled should be extended to same-sex couples,” Kate Oakley, senior legislative counsel for the Human Rights Campaign, said in a press release.

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That was the approach taken by Little Rock Circuit Judge Tim Fox in December 2015. Three same-sex couples brought a case arguing that the legalization of same-sex marriage gave same-sex parents the same rights to be identified as parents on their children’s birth certificates that different-sex parents already enjoyed. 

For parents, being named on a child’s birth certificate is important for all kinds of reasons, as LGBT news source The Advocate described. Without this legitimization, parents may struggle to put children on their health insurance or even pick them up from school.

When they won their suit, the three couples were granted the right to list the names of both partners on the birth certificates. But the state appealed the decision on the grounds that it was causing legal and logistical problems. Several days after the initial ruling, the Arkansas Supreme Court stayed the decision, preventing it from being extended to other couples.

One possible reason for the issues: birth certificates are woven into legislation and Health Board protocol in the state of Arkansas. Identifying biological parents is an “important governmental objective,” wrote Arkansas Supreme Court Associate Justice Josephine Linker Hart in the majority opinion, explaining that knowing who parents are allows the state to track public health trends and give children genetic information that they might need for medical reasons later on.

But different-sex Arkansas parents aren’t required to prove that they are the biological parents of the child, perhaps limiting the value of state tracking â€" and raising questions about unequal treatment of same-sex parents.

"There's no requirement that DNA be given or that there be a biological relationship to a child to get on a birth certificate for a father, for the non-birth parent," said Cheryl Maples, who sued on behalf of the three couples, the Associated Press reported.

“The inclusion of a parent's name on a child's birth certificate is a benefit associated with and flowing from marriage," wrote Arkansas Associate Justice Paul Danielson in the dissenting opinion.

The decision may have provided an impetus for the state to make some changes to the law.

“It is time to heed the call” to make changes heralded by decisions like Obergefell v. Hodges, which established the right to same-sex marriage, said Arkansas Chief Justice Howard Brill, according to NBC.

And though some state officials pronounced the state “gratified” that the court had chosen to uphold state law, they suggested that lawmakers might be willing to consider changes. Arkansas has so far been reluctant to amend its laws.

“If any changes are appropriate, it is the job of legislators to do so, not the circuit court,” said Judd Deere, a spokesman for Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge, AP reported.

As it stands, the ruling would require same-sex parents to obtain a court order if they want both spouses to be listed on a child’s birth certificate. Ms. Maples told AP that she has not yet decided whether to appeal to the US Supreme Court.

"

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Thursday, December 8, 2016

Why a woman's sex drive can be determined by the type of contraceptive pill she using

The type of birth control pill women take can affect how often they want sex, a study has found.

One of the main types of oral contraceptive boosted the sex drive of women who were in committed relationships.

But this effect, seen in women taking pills high in the hormone progestogen, only occurred if they felt highly committed to her partner.

The other main type of pill, high in the hormone oestrogen, had the opposite effect.

Scroll down for video 

A study found that differing levels of synthetic hormones in the pill worked in tandem with how committed a woman feels to her partner to determine how often they had sex 

A study found that differing levels of synthetic hormones in the pill worked in tandem with how committed a woman feels to her partner to determine how often they had sex 

THE PILL, DEVOTION AND SEX FREQUENCY

The study consisted of two trials, in almost 400 people.

In the first trial, researchers followed 112 women over a 12-week period, asking when they had sex in their cycle and how often.

A second trial quizzed 275 women on their hormonal contraceptive and how often they had sex in the previous week.

Taken together, the findings revealed that the more oestrogen a contraceptive contained, the more sexually active a woman was in a less committed relationship.

But women taking contraceptives with more progesterone were most sexually active when they were more committed to their partner.

The findings add weight to the idea that outside of ovulation, rather than just for pleasure, sex actually helps to strengthen the bond between couples. 

Researchers from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) and the University of New Mexico looked at women in committed relationships taking the pill.

As might be expected, they found that those women who were more committed to their relationship had more sex with their partner.

But the researchers also found a link between the concentrations of hormones in their oral contraception.

‘This association was especially true when the contraceptive that women used had potent levels of synthetic hormones that mimic the effects of the natural hormone progesterone, and lower levels of the hormone oestrogen,’ explained Professor Stephen Gangestad, from the University of New Mexico.

Oral contraceptives deliver differing levels of synthetic hormones based on oestrogen and progesterone to alter a woman’s cycle.

While some types of oral contraceptive will mimic the hormone levels characteristic of ovulation, others will more closely mimic the extended sexual phase ­â€" when a woman is least likely to conceive.

Taken together, the findings revealed that the more oestrogen, the more sexually active a woman was in a less committed relationship. But women taking contraceptives with more progesterone were most sexually active when they were more committed to their partner

Taken together, the findings revealed that the more oestrogen, the more sexually active a woman was in a less committed relationship. But women taking contraceptives with more progesterone were most sexually active when they were more committed to their partner

HOW MUCH PROGESTOGEN AND OESTROGEN IS IN THE MOST COMMON CONTRACEPTIVE PILLS IN THE UK AND US? 
Pill brand Progestogen Oestrogen
Microgynon 150 mcg levonorgestrel 30 mcg ethinylostradiol
Rigevidon 150 mcg levonorgestrel 30 mcg ethinylestradiol
Yasmin 3 mg drospirenone 30 mcg ethinylestradiol
Loestrin 20 1 mcg norethisterone acetate 20 mcg ethinylestradiol
Cerazette 75 mcg desogestrel Progestogen-only pill
Microgestin 1mg norethindrone acetate 20 mcg ethinylestradiol
Aviane 0.10 mg levonogestrel 20 mcg ethinylestradiol
Loestrin 1.5 mcg norethisterone acetate 20 mcg ethinylestradiol
Mircette 0.15 mg desogestrel 20 mcg ethinylestradiol
Yaz 3 mg drospirenone 20 mcg ethinylestradiol

In one of the trials, researchers followed more than 100 women over a 12-week period, asked when they had sex in their cycle and how often.

A second trial quizzed 275 women on their hormonal contraceptive and how often they had sex in the previous week.

Taken together, the findings revealed that the more oestrogen a contraceptive contained, the more sexually active a woman was in a less committed relationship.

But women taking contraceptives with more progesterone were most sexually active when they were more committed to their partner.

While some types of oral contraceptive will mimic the hormone levels characteristic of ovulation, others will more closely mimic the extended sexual phase ­â€

While some types of oral contraceptive will mimic the hormone levels characteristic of ovulation, others will more closely mimic the extended sexual phase ­â€" when a woman is least likely to conceive

‘This strengthens the idea that sex outside the ovulation phase has a function besides just pleasure,’ added Trond Viggo Grøntvedt from NTNU.

He added: ‘Before we did this study, we didn't know how much difference there was between the two types of hormonal contraceptives.’

The results suggest that how often women have sex is linked to how committed they are to their partner.

But the type of hormone most prominent plays a key role, whether produced naturally or synthetically in the form of oral contraceptive.

The findings are published in the journal Evolution and Human Behavior. 

"

| womans | drive | determined | type | contraceptive | pill | using | birth | control | women | take | affect | often | they | want | study | found | p> One | main | types | oral | boosted | were | committed | relationships | p> But | this | effect | seen | taking | pills | high | hormone | progestogen | only | occurred | felt | highly | partner | p> The | other | oestrogen | opposite | p> Scroll | down | video < | span>< | p> < | p> < | noscript>< | div> A | that | differing | levels | synthetic | hormones | worked | tandem | with | woman | feels | determine | sex < | div> THE | PILL | DEVOTION | FREQUENCY< | h3> The | consisted | trials | almost | people | p> In | first | trial | researchers | followed | over | week | period | asking | when | their | cycle | p> A | second | quizzed | hormonal | previous | p> Taken | together | findings | revealed | more | contained | sexually | active | less | relationship | contraceptives | progesterone | most | div> < | div> The | weight | idea | outside | ovulation | rather | than | just | pleasure | actually | helps | strengthen | bond | between | couples | p> Researchers | from | Norwegian | University | Science | Technology | (NTNU) | Mexico | looked | p> As | might | expected | those | also | link | concentrations | contraception | p> ‘This | association | especially | true | used | potent | mimic | effects | natural | lower | explained | Professor | Stephen | Gangestad | p> Oral | deliver | based | alter | woman’s | p> While | some | will | characteristic | others | closely | extended | sexual | phase | ­â€" | least | likely | conceive | div> < | div> Taken | partner< | div> HOW | MUCH | PROGESTOGEN | OESTROGEN | MOST | COMMON | CONTRACEPTIVE | PILLS | caption> Pill | brand< | th> Progestogen< | th> Oestrogen< | th> < | tr>Microgynon< | td> 150 | levonorgestrel< | td> 30 | ethinylostradiol< | td> < | tr>Rigevidon< | ethinylestradiol< | tr>Yasmin< | td> 3 | drospirenone< | tr>Loestrin | td> 1 | norethisterone | acetate< | td> 20 | tr>Cerazette< | td> 75 | desogestrel< | td> Progestogen | pill< | tr>Microgestin< | td> 1mg | norethindrone | tr>Aviane< | td> 0 | levonogestrel< | tr>Loestrin< | tr>Mircette< | tr>Yaz< | tr>< | tbody>< | table>< | div> In | asked | p> < | div> While | conceive< | div> ‘This | strengthens | function | besides | added | Trond | Viggo | Grøntvedt | NTNU | p> He | added: | ‘Before | didnt | know | much | difference | there | ’< | results | suggest | have | linked | prominent | plays | role | whether | produced | naturally | synthetically | form | published | journal | Evolution | Human | Behavior< | p> |

Thank Very Very Much for Read this Article

Why a woman's sex drive can be determined by the type of contraceptive pill she using

The type of birth control pill women take can affect how often they want sex, a study has found.

One of the main types of oral contraceptive boosted the sex drive of women who were in committed relationships.

But this effect, seen in women taking pills high in the hormone progestogen, only occurred if they felt highly committed to her partner.

The other main type of pill, high in the hormone oestrogen, had the opposite effect.

Scroll down for video 

A study found that differing levels of synthetic hormones in the pill worked in tandem with how committed a woman feels to her partner to determine how often they had sex 

A study found that differing levels of synthetic hormones in the pill worked in tandem with how committed a woman feels to her partner to determine how often they had sex 

THE PILL, DEVOTION AND SEX FREQUENCY

The study consisted of two trials, in almost 400 people.

In the first trial, researchers followed 112 women over a 12-week period, asking when they had sex in their cycle and how often.

A second trial quizzed 275 women on their hormonal contraceptive and how often they had sex in the previous week.

Taken together, the findings revealed that the more oestrogen a contraceptive contained, the more sexually active a woman was in a less committed relationship.

But women taking contraceptives with more progesterone were most sexually active when they were more committed to their partner.

The findings add weight to the idea that outside of ovulation, rather than just for pleasure, sex actually helps to strengthen the bond between couples. 

Researchers from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) and the University of New Mexico looked at women in committed relationships taking the pill.

As might be expected, they found that those women who were more committed to their relationship had more sex with their partner.

But the researchers also found a link between the concentrations of hormones in their oral contraception.

‘This association was especially true when the contraceptive that women used had potent levels of synthetic hormones that mimic the effects of the natural hormone progesterone, and lower levels of the hormone oestrogen,’ explained Professor Stephen Gangestad, from the University of New Mexico.

Oral contraceptives deliver differing levels of synthetic hormones based on oestrogen and progesterone to alter a woman’s cycle.

While some types of oral contraceptive will mimic the hormone levels characteristic of ovulation, others will more closely mimic the extended sexual phase ­â€" when a woman is least likely to conceive.

Taken together, the findings revealed that the more oestrogen, the more sexually active a woman was in a less committed relationship. But women taking contraceptives with more progesterone were most sexually active when they were more committed to their partner

Taken together, the findings revealed that the more oestrogen, the more sexually active a woman was in a less committed relationship. But women taking contraceptives with more progesterone were most sexually active when they were more committed to their partner

HOW MUCH PROGESTOGEN AND OESTROGEN IS IN THE MOST COMMON CONTRACEPTIVE PILLS IN THE UK AND US? 
Pill brand Progestogen Oestrogen
Microgynon 150 mcg levonorgestrel 30 mcg ethinylostradiol
Rigevidon 150 mcg levonorgestrel 30 mcg ethinylestradiol
Yasmin 3 mg drospirenone 30 mcg ethinylestradiol
Loestrin 20 1 mcg norethisterone acetate 20 mcg ethinylestradiol
Cerazette 75 mcg desogestrel Progestogen-only pill
Microgestin 1mg norethindrone acetate 20 mcg ethinylestradiol
Aviane 0.10 mg levonogestrel 20 mcg ethinylestradiol
Loestrin 1.5 mcg norethisterone acetate 20 mcg ethinylestradiol
Mircette 0.15 mg desogestrel 20 mcg ethinylestradiol
Yaz 3 mg drospirenone 20 mcg ethinylestradiol

In one of the trials, researchers followed more than 100 women over a 12-week period, asked when they had sex in their cycle and how often.

A second trial quizzed 275 women on their hormonal contraceptive and how often they had sex in the previous week.

Taken together, the findings revealed that the more oestrogen a contraceptive contained, the more sexually active a woman was in a less committed relationship.

But women taking contraceptives with more progesterone were most sexually active when they were more committed to their partner.

While some types of oral contraceptive will mimic the hormone levels characteristic of ovulation, others will more closely mimic the extended sexual phase ­â€

While some types of oral contraceptive will mimic the hormone levels characteristic of ovulation, others will more closely mimic the extended sexual phase ­â€" when a woman is least likely to conceive

‘This strengthens the idea that sex outside the ovulation phase has a function besides just pleasure,’ added Trond Viggo Grøntvedt from NTNU.

He added: ‘Before we did this study, we didn't know how much difference there was between the two types of hormonal contraceptives.’

The results suggest that how often women have sex is linked to how committed they are to their partner.

But the type of hormone most prominent plays a key role, whether produced naturally or synthetically in the form of oral contraceptive.

The findings are published in the journal Evolution and Human Behavior. 

"

| womans | drive | determined | type | contraceptive | pill | using | birth | control | women | take | affect | often | they | want | study | found | p> One | main | types | oral | boosted | were | committed | relationships | p> But | this | effect | seen | taking | pills | high | hormone | progestogen | only | occurred | felt | highly | partner | p> The | other | oestrogen | opposite | p> Scroll | down | video < | span>< | p> < | p> < | noscript>< | div> A | that | differing | levels | synthetic | hormones | worked | tandem | with | woman | feels | determine | sex < | div> THE | PILL | DEVOTION | FREQUENCY< | h3> The | consisted | trials | almost | people | p> In | first | trial | researchers | followed | over | week | period | asking | when | their | cycle | p> A | second | quizzed | hormonal | previous | p> Taken | together | findings | revealed | more | contained | sexually | active | less | relationship | contraceptives | progesterone | most | div> < | div> The | weight | idea | outside | ovulation | rather | than | just | pleasure | actually | helps | strengthen | bond | between | couples | p> Researchers | from | Norwegian | University | Science | Technology | (NTNU) | Mexico | looked | p> As | might | expected | those | also | link | concentrations | contraception | p> ‘This | association | especially | true | used | potent | mimic | effects | natural | lower | explained | Professor | Stephen | Gangestad | p> Oral | deliver | based | alter | woman’s | p> While | some | will | characteristic | others | closely | extended | sexual | phase | ­â€" | least | likely | conceive | div> < | div> Taken | partner< | div> HOW | MUCH | PROGESTOGEN | OESTROGEN | MOST | COMMON | CONTRACEPTIVE | PILLS | caption> Pill | brand< | th> Progestogen< | th> Oestrogen< | th> < | tr>Microgynon< | td> 150 | levonorgestrel< | td> 30 | ethinylostradiol< | td> < | tr>Rigevidon< | ethinylestradiol< | tr>Yasmin< | td> 3 | drospirenone< | tr>Loestrin | td> 1 | norethisterone | acetate< | td> 20 | tr>Cerazette< | td> 75 | desogestrel< | td> Progestogen | pill< | tr>Microgestin< | td> 1mg | norethindrone | tr>Aviane< | td> 0 | levonogestrel< | tr>Loestrin< | tr>Mircette< | tr>Yaz< | tr>< | tbody>< | table>< | div> In | asked | p> < | div> While | conceive< | div> ‘This | strengthens | function | besides | added | Trond | Viggo | Grøntvedt | NTNU | p> He | added: | ‘Before | didnt | know | much | difference | there | ’< | results | suggest | have | linked | prominent | plays | role | whether | produced | naturally | synthetically | form | published | journal | Evolution | Human | Behavior< | p> |

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Friday, December 9, 2016

Zika fears not changing South Floridians' sex habits

You delay having kids. You take a cold shower for months after you've traveled to Brazil. Or you use condoms, even if you're already pregnant.

Such is life with Zika, if you play by the rules.

Safe sex practices have been part of the official Zika prevention guidelines since early this year, when researchers confirmed the virus that can cause severe birth defects could be transmitted by sexual contact as well as mosquito bites.

The current federal Centers for Disease Control precautions advise anywhere from eight weeks up to six months of abstinence or condom use, depending on where you live, where you travel, and if you are pregnant or want to be. While expectant couples are the main target, the guidelines apply to anyone who doesn't want to get Zika.

So are people actually going to live like this?

Some public health experts are doubtful.

"I have talked with quite a few physicians, as well as sexually active patients. And I have not encountered anyone who has changed their sexual behavior. It's the hardest thing in the world is to get people to do," said Dr. Sonjia Kenya, an HIV researcher and sexologist at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine.

What's the problem? Kenya thinks, in part, the consequences of Zika just aren't scary enough, unless you are a pregnant woman worried about becoming infected.

Most everyone else "has become pretty immune to the Zika media hype," said Kenya, author of "Sex in South Beach," who has been called a multicultural Dr. Ruth. "There is something about the sun and the beach and alcohol that invites people to be more relaxed."

The Sunshine State already is a hotbed for sexually transmitted disease -- and yes, the CDC considers Zika an STD, like gonorrhea and syphillis and HIV.

The CDC's annual HIV Surveillance Report, released this week , found the rate of new infections in South Florida's cities over the past year shot up more than three times the national average.

"If getting HIV doesn't scare you into changing your behavior, I don't think Zika will," Kenya said.

True, being bitten by a Zika-infected mosquito remains by far the most common way humans get the virus. As of Dec. 7, the CDC has confirmed 38 sexually transmitted Zika cases out of 4,575 in the U.S.

That's why the CDC continues to tell people the best prevention practice is to slather on bug spray containing DEET -- even if they are clubbing on South Beach or walking the dog. CDC officials say the products are safe for pregnant women and should be used by those expecting.

Since Aug. 1, there have been three sections of Miami-Dade County that at some point were classified as active transmission zones, placing them under the strict CDC "red" advisory that suggested pregnant women not travel there. The zones included the Wynwood area near downtown Miami, portions of South and North Miami Beach, and Little River.

People who did go there, or were residents, were advised to abstain from sex or "consistently" use condoms if they were pregnant, considering pregnancy or did not want to pass the virus. Women were told to follow these guidelines for eight weeks -- but men needed to do so for six months, as researchers believe Zika can live in seminal fluid for at least that long.

On Friday, Gov. Rick Scott declared the last of those areas, a 1.5-square mile tract in South Miami Beach, free of active transmission, lifting the CDC's no-travel recommendation for pregnant women. But the four former transmission zones, along with all of Miami-Dade County, remain under a "yellow" CDC advisory that includes condom use, abstinence and other precautions for expectant couples or people considering conceiving.

Sexual precautions also are suggested for anyone who has traveled to Zika outbreak countries such as portions of Mexico and Brazil, all of Puerto Rico, and many other countries. For a full list of travel advisories, go to: cdc.gov/travel or call 800-232-4636.

The CDC has drafted guidance for physicians and public health workers regarding Zika and sexual transmission. Officials with the Florida Department of Health said they discuss Zika sex guidelines with their patients and put condoms in the Zika prevention kits distributed to pregnant women.

The AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), a global patient care and education organization, has three three large billboard advertisements -- including one with a giant three-dimensional mosquito -- in Miami-Dade County promoting condom use for Zika prevention.

Michael Kahane, AHF's southern bureau chief, said the organization has been distributing condoms along with Zika fact sheets in South Florida and Jamaica, as well as in Puerto Rico, where public health officials predict one in four residents may become Zika postive.

In the Caribbean countries, "people assume everyone already has it or is going to get it. So getting infected is no big deal unless you're pregnant," Kahane said.

While Kahane said that while there has been public health education about Zika, "a lot of people in the U.S. have told me they had no idea it could be sexually transmitted," Kahane said. "I think the general public just isn't aware."

A stroll though Fort Lauderdale's Himmarshee Village entertainment district on an early December night, where diners and drinkers filled outdoor tables, suggested Kahane might be right.

"SIX MONTHS?" cried Adrienne Airhart, 32, when asked how long she thought Zika might live in semen. Airhart, a Los Angeles visitor who had just finished a guided bike trip of the area's bars with pals, had guessed 22 months.

"That's really terrifying," said Airhart, who used to live in Coral Springs. "I am totally not going to Miami."

Her also surprised boyfriend, Aristotle Georgeson, 28, said he didn't know having sex could spread Zika. "So I would definitely let my partner know if I felt sick," he said.

But did he know that there was only a 20 percent chance he would even know he had a Zika infection? That's a problem, he agreed. "And it's not like I can look at a mosquito and know it had Zika," he said.

Dr. Aaron Elkin, a Hollywood obstetrician-gynecologist and past president of the Broward County Medical Association, said the majority of his patients "absolutely" are changing their health and sexual practices due to Zika.

"We are seeing more and more people living in our area afraid of becoming pregnant," said Elkin, who has been involved with federal Zika policy as a John McCain Fellow with the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. "A lot of them are asking me, 'What should I do?' They are very receptive when we talk about steps they can take."

Elkin now does Zika counseling during every prenatal visit, as recommended by the CDC, and patients can pick up free condoms at the office's front desk. His practice is one of the few that, at this point, can run and process Zika tests, cutting wait times for results. So far, Elkin has screened over 200 patients for the virus and predicts, in the future, Zika testing will become a prenatal care standard, as it has for HIV.

Some couples are opting to hold off conception until a Zika vaccine is available, Elkin said, which could be within two years. If the biological clock is ticking, others are willing to move out of the area until their baby arrives.

The majority of South Floridians determined to conceive, however, stay here and wrestle with Zika.

"You can't stop mosquitoes, you can't stop travel and you can't stop sex," Elkin said. "We need to think about how we deal with patients who live here. We can't just say nobody who lives in Miami-Dade can get pregnant until there's a vaccine."

The number of in-vitro fertilizations performed at the Fertility & IVF Center of Miami has been slightly lower this year over last, said medical director Dr. Michael Jacobs, although he is not sure that is due to Zika. A few couples, before Miami-Dade County came under the CDC advisory, earlier this year froze sperm because the male partner was traveling repeatedly to Zika hot zone countries, Jacobs said.

He suspects that some people, including pregnant couples, aren't following all of the CDC Zika prevention recommendations, from applying bug repellent to using condoms. Jacobs said when Miami Beach still had active transmission zones, he spotted a very pregnant woman picnicking outdoors.

"It's all over the news, you are about to give birth, and you are standing next to water with a bunch of mosquitoes in it. I don't understand it," Jacobs said.

dlade@sunsentinel.com and 954-356-4295

SEX AND ZIKA

The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suggest expectant couples or those considering conceiving in the near future take these sexual precautions. Pregnant women are those most at risk, as the Zika virus can cause severe fetal abnormalities, but anyone can get Zika through sex. Common Zika symptoms include: fever, rash, joint pain and red eyes.

Women who live in Miami-Dade County or frequently travel there should wait eight weeks before trying to become pregnant. They should abstain from sex or consistently use condoms during this time.

Men who live in Miami-Dade County or frequently travel there should wait six months before trying to get their partner pregnant. They should abstain from sex or consistently use condoms during this time.

Expectant couples where one or both partners either live or have traveled to Miami-Dade County should consistently use condoms, or abstain from sex, until after delivery.

The above guidelines also apply to couples in which one partner has traveled to a country with active Zika transmision.

For more information on Zika prevention: cdc.gov or 800-232-4636√.

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| Zika | fears | changing | South | Floridians | habits | You | delay | having | kids | take | cold | shower | months | after | youve | traveled | Brazil | condoms | even | youre | already | pregnant | p> Such | life | with | Zika< | play | rules | p> Safe | practices | have | been | part | official | prevention | guidelines | since | early | this | year | when | researchers | confirmed | virus | that | cause | severe | birth | defects | could | transmitted | sexual | contact | well | mosquito | bites | p> The | current | federal | Centers | Disease | Control< | precautions | advise | anywhere | from | eight | weeks | abstinence | condom | depending | where | live | travel | want | While | expectant | couples | main | target | apply | anyone | doesnt | p> So | people | actually | going | like | p> Some | public | health | experts | doubtful | p> I | talked | quite | physicians | sexually | active | patients | encountered | changed | their | behavior | hardest | thing | world | said | Sonjia | Kenya | HIV< | researcher | sexologist | University | Miami | Miller | School | Medicine | p> Whats | problem | thinks | consequences | just | arent | scary | enough | unless | woman | worried | about | becoming | infected | p> Most | everyone | else | become | pretty | immune | media | hype | author | Beach | called | multicultural | Ruth | There | something | beach | alcohol | invites | more | relaxed | Sunshine | State | hotbed | disease< | considers | gonorrhea | syphillis | CDCs | annual | Surveillance | Report | released | week | found | rate | infections | Floridas | cities | over | past | shot | than | three | times | national | average | p> If | getting | scare | into | your | dont | think | will | p> True | being | bitten | remains | most | common | humans | cases | p> Thats | continues | tell | best | practice | slather | spray | containing | DEET | they | clubbing | walking | officials | products | safe | women | should | used | those | expecting | p> Since | there | sections | Dade | County | some | point | were | classified | transmission | zones | placing | them | under | strict | advisory | suggested | included | Wynwood | area | near | downtown | portions | North | Little | River | p> People | residents | advised | abstain | consistently | considering | pregnancy | pass | Women | told | follow | these | needed | believe | seminal | fluid | least | long | p> On | Friday | Rick | Scott | declared | last | areas | square | mile | tract | free | lifting | recommendation | four | former | along | remain | yellow | includes | other | conceiving | p> Sexual | also | outbreak | countries | such | Mexico | Puerto | Rico | many | full | list | advisories | call | 4636 | drafted | guidance | workers | regarding | Officials | Florida | Department | Health | discuss | kits | distributed | AIDS | Healthcare | Foundation | (AHF) | global | patient | care | education | organization | large | billboard | advertisements | including | giant | dimensional | promoting | p> Michael | Kahane | AHFs | southern | bureau | chief | distributing | fact | sheets | Jamaica | predict | postive | p> In | Caribbean | assume | deal | p> While | while | idea | general | isnt | aware | p> A | stroll | though | Fort | Lauderdales | Himmarshee | Village | entertainment | district | December | night | diners | drinkers | filled | outdoor | tables | might | right | p> SIX | MONTHS | cried | Adrienne | Airhart | asked | thought | semen | Angeles | visitor | finished | guided | bike | trip | bars | pals | guessed | really | terrifying | Coral | Springs | totally | p> Her | surprised | boyfriend | Aristotle | Georgeson | didnt | know | spread | would | definitely | partner | felt | sick | p> But | only | percent | chance | infection | Thats | agreed | look | p> < | div> Dr | Aaron | Elkin | Hollywood | obstetrician | gynecologist | president | Broward | County< | Medical | Association | majority | absolutely | p> We | seeing | living | afraid | involved | policy | John | McCain | Fellow | American | College | Obstetricians | Gynecologists | asking | What | They | very | receptive | talk | steps | p> Elkin | does | counseling | during | every | prenatal | visit | recommended | pick | offices | front | desk | process | tests | cutting | wait | results | screened | predicts | future | testing | standard | opting | hold | conception | until | vaccine | available | which | within | years | biological | clock | ticking | others | willing | move | baby | arrives | determined | conceive | however | stay | here | wrestle | p> You | cant | stop | mosquitoes | need | nobody | lives | theres | number | vitro | fertilizations | performed | Fertility | & | Center | slightly | lower | medical | director | Michael | Jacobs | although | sure | before | came | earlier | froze | sperm | because | male | traveling | repeatedly | zone | p> He | suspects | following | recommendations | applying | repellent | using | still | spotted | picnicking | outdoors | p> Its | news | give | standing | next | water | bunch | understand | p> dlade@sunsentinel | com< | 4295< | p> SEX | ZIKA< | Control | Prevention | suggest | Pregnant | risk | fetal | abnormalities | through | Common | symptoms | include: | fever | rash | joint | pain | eyes | p> Women | frequently | trying | time | p> Men | p> Expectant | both | partners | either | delivery | above | country | transmision | p> For | information | prevention: | 4636√ | div> |

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