DOCTOR'S ADVICE - Vibrators the buzz among frequent fliers

• Q.  I am a female and a frequent traveller. Could you offer me advice about vibrators? I find them extremely useful in my love life, so I usually pack a small one in my luggage. But could I run into any legal difficulties for carrying such a device?

A . These days, a surprising number of women have personal vibrators, and some carry them in their luggage. But if you are ever thinking of going to the Middle East, I suggest that you not take one, because you could run into problems at customs.

Also, in Georgia in the United States, any kind of sex aid is against the law! Otherwise, you should encounter no difficulties. But it is wise to remove the batteries from your vibrator when you pack. There have been rare instances of a 'vibe' going off inside a woman's luggage and causing a bomb scare.

• Q. I am a 32-year-old man, and I have never been very virile. I do not think a lot about sex and I have never found it easy to get an erection. Now I am considering getting married and my prospective wife is clearly very interested in sexual intercourse. Do you think I should get some hormone tests done?

A.  From what you say, I do think that it would be worthwhile asking a doctor to arrange some blood tests for you.

In particular, you should have a measurement of the male sex hormone, testosterone. It would also be useful to check your level of the pituitary gland hormone called prolactin.

When you have the results of these tests, the doctor should be able to tell you whether you have any hormonal problem and if medication could help you.

Please forgive me if I urge you to be cautious about getting married. It is not usually a great idea for a woman who is highly sexualised to marry a man who has little interest in lovemaking.

• Q. I am a 25-year-old woman and I travel to England a lot on business. A friend who lives there has told me that on my next trip, she could get me a very lucrative job in an adult movie. Should I accept? And do you know if they would test the other actors for VD before filming?

A. In England, persons who make pornographic movies advertise openly for women and men who are willing to take part in these films.

I do not wish to condemn other people's sexual activities, but it does not seem to me that it would be very smart for you to participate in such a production, no matter how much money you might make. You would probably be expected to have sex with a number of men and maybe some women too.

Actors in these movies do not routinely get tested for sexually transmitted infections (STIs). But I understand that some film companies do insist that participants produce a certificate to say that they are HIV-negative.

Another factor to bear in mind is that once the film has been completed, pictures of you having sex would perhaps be available on the Internet. This might not be a good idea if you are planning a career in business.

• Q. I am a man who does not know much about sex. At 26, I am still a virgin. I am worried because some of my friends have told me that you can get trapped inside a woman during sex. Is this possible?

A Throughout my professional life I have heard rumours of men who were trapped inside women. This condition has been referred to as penis captivus.

However, I have never seen such a case, and I do not know any doctor who has encountered it. Nor have I ever seen a really reliable account of it in a reputable medical journal.

Therefore, I am inclined to think that these stories of trapped penises are just myths. I think that you should forget about this story, find yourself a nice, loving partner, and get on with your life.

• Q. Some places on my hands itch me a lot. My mother says that it is a bad idea to scratch them. Is she right?

A. As a rule, it is not a good idea to scratch itching areas of skin, even though you may feel a powerful urge to. Often, scratching just makes things worse!

I feel you need to see a doctor to find out why your hands are itching. Often, itchy or raw patches on the hands are caused by exposure to some sort of irritant, perhaps during the course of your work.

• Q. I noted your recent comments about middle-age women needing vaginal lubrication. Well, I am 51 and I most certainly do not require any artificial lubrication, even though I enjoy a very active sex life with my boyfriend.

A. Well, I am happy to hear that everything is OK for you in that department. Nevertheless, vaginal lubricants do sell in enormous quantities worldwide, with huge amounts being bought by women who are in their 50s and 60s.

But there are women like you who do not require any extra lubrication, and that is usually an indication that their bodies are still producing adequate amounts of female hormones.

• Q.  I am 49, and so far my periods have remained absolutely regular, occurring every 28 days and lasting around three days. How long can I expect this to continue?

A. It sounds as though you are in good gynaecological health. You will eventually reach menopause, and statistically the odds are that this will happen during the next three years.

There are three ways in which it may happen:

1.Your period might suddenly stop, and not return.

2. It might gradually get a further and farther apart, until ceasing altogether.

3. It might get less and less in volume until ultimately stop.

However, if you develop any irregular bleeding pattern, you should check with a doctor.

• Q.  I am a 65-year-old man, and I have to admit that last week I was unfaithful to my wife, having met an attractive young woman in Port Maria. Now I notice that I have pain when I urinate, and some urine escapes into my pants. Why?

A,. Sounds like you may have picked up a chlamydia infection from this young woman. Please see a doctor right away for tests and treatment. Do not have sex with your wife until you have been cured. Also, if possible, you should let the woman in Port Maria know that she may have an infection.

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