Calgary has some attractive girls all around. If you have a chance to meet one I highly recommend it. 14 St Studio is a nice clean massage parlor, but a little pricey for me. Similar places like these are MT Royal Massage, Marlborough and CEO Massage. If you’re looking a little more for your buck then you could try Typical Oriental Massage. FS is usually around 150, but not all girls will offer it. If you open up your yellow pages you will see lots of escorts that charge about 100 for hh or 150-200 for h. This is nice, easy and discreet and they’re usually classy enough. On Calgary Sun and other newspapers you have ads that are 300 and up (expensive) and you may have a terrific time but I haven’t tried any of that.
Although this is not typically my cup of tea, I have to say Calgary has some incredibly attractive street girls, usually younger than 30. Rates are 100-300 and you can probably negotiate to as much as half that. They usually hang out after hours around Au Clair Market. That is in the area of 2nd and 3rd street and 1st and 5th Avenue.
And of course, when it’s winter and -40 degrees outside you can always check the web sites online. You might be able to find a bargain online. Indies usually have more affordable rates and so there might be more bang for your buck. Check Calgary craigslist escorts, online directories and Calgary Escorts at this web site here.
Amsterdam may seem like a big city, but it’s not that big. As a tourist you will be able to cover most city attractions in a few days. The tram transit is very efficient. Get one of those 15 box tickets; it might be all that you’ll need if you’re just staying for few days. Transportation is pretty inexpensive in Amsterdam. From airport you’ll get to Centraal Station which is the main station where all trams go. It’s a good starting point when trying to get somewhere. If you would like to spend some time with the city, and if you’re not messing around too much in coffee shops, get a bike. Once you start learning the city, if you’re walking to get to places you’re probably going too slow.
How to: Adult Entertainment in Amsterdam
Two words for our fans: Red Light District. Wait… that’s three words. Right, my mind is all messed up
Not only will you see adult entertainment everywhere around this district, but you will see far more than that. Sex shops, live sex shows, window girls, coffee shops, and crowds of tourist gazing with amazement. If you’re a fan of adult entertainment in general and sex tourism, Amsterdam is probably one of the great highlights. Why is that, I will explain shortly.
Prostitution is legal in Netherlands. Soft drugs are also legal in Holland. There are other laws that are very flexible in Netherlands; it’s one of the first countries that allowed euthanasia. These laws have made Amsterdam the center of universe when it comes to party, girls and pot. Not surprisingly, these are pretty common topics among partyers and we all know there are a LOT of them. You will see that there are people from all around the globe in Amsterdam. Some are visiting and others are local Amsterdamers who live here or have come to work here temporarily. English is spoken by almost everyone; Dutch people speak great English too. Fun.
If you’re visiting Red Light District make sure you go around the evening, sometime after 7pm. If you go earlier you won’t really see anything. I think evening to midnight is probably the best time to go here. Although it’s generally safe in this area, I feel more comfortable roaming around in a new city when there are more people out. And there will be lots, pooners and tourists! I read in guide books that police doesn’t go in random side roads so keep that in mind, especially if you’ve decided that you want to have some fun in ‘coffee shops’ or drink and then hit the red neon-lit streets.
I am not sure if you’re a fan of 411 and the “any type of adult fun”, but I think it’s a spectacular experience. If you haven’t tried it before, I highly recommend it. The best part of all is that you won’t need to feel paranoid about anything.
Finding Escorts in Amsterdam
This is probably going to be the easiest thing ever. Once you enter red light district you will see window girls everywhere. Where you find escorts is really going to be a matter of preference and budget.
I don’t overspend on accommodation and whenever I go to Amsterdam I stick to B&B or a nice hostel. They are usually good enough. The fun happens outside, either in Red Light District or other venues. Usually, its all in RLD. So that is me: tight budget, some exploring during the day and RLD at night. However, others with deeper pockets can get a hotel, find a girl online and all that. I’m sure there are plenty of options.
Red Light District in Amsterdam: Field Report
Red Light District is pretty big for what it is, in my opinion. You might find it confusing how the canals work, but once you figure it out it’s actually quite easy. Once you think that it’s over, you’ll see more red neon, more fun.
This part of town is also the oldest part of town, which makes it kind of cool to walk around.
There used to be this corner which kind of looked like a bottleneck where pooners were waiting to get in. Once you got in there what to see… More neon; a fancy walkway about half a meter wide with amazing window girls in both sides. You’ll get good glances here…
The girls in busier streets were as impressive for me, although there are exceptions. Girls in busier streets usually seem to be the more experienced types who have been around for a little while. No need to disrespect, of course; I do have a pretty specific taste, and I have a story for this. “I visited red light district two nights in a row and after few hours of roaming around, I picked the same girl during both nights. This might be a coincidence since I wouldn’t have chosen to do this, but it may also have to do with my very specific taste”.
I found that the younger girls are usually in smaller and less busier streets. By less busier I don’t mean that there will be less pooners. Oh no… pooners will be everywhere where red neon is. I’m not sure why this is, perhaps cheaper space to rent and more affordable for younger SP’s with less experience. Once you learn these little streets and corners, you’ll find it pretty rewarding. There are girls from all around the world including those blonde girls, possibly with russian or eastern europian descent, that are so pretty that you just won’t believe your eyes. Quite humorous how I could hear wow’s of other people who were just stunned by the girls that they were looking at. Mine was the hungarian girl who was in her early 20’s, absolutely georgeus, 50 euro. I was expecting to pay more for this little expensive city. As I’ve mentioned I ended up meeting the same girl again by accident; another 50 euro and another terrific experience. Will go back and post another report!
Vancouver is not a very big city. Transportation is okay around the city. Buses run every 5-10 minutes in most stops around downtown. Skytrain is also very good way to get around. Most of Vancouver escorts are located around Vancouver downtown or around skytrain stations. If you are new to Vancouver, downtown would probably be the best area to stay in. It can get pretty expensive if you’re staying in hotels, but there are more affordable options as well a little farther from downtown Vancouver. The best time to visit Vancouver is during the summer around June to September. Vancouver is very multi-cultural. You will find a bit of everything: restaurants from all countries around the world, lots of sushi or your favorite Starbucks, nice scenery and a pretty diverse and open minded culture.
Finding Escorts in Vancouver
Vancouver Escorts Ads
Prostitution is illegal in Canada, however, it is said that many agencies are left alone if they pay some pretty hefty fees as businesses. I haven’t personally used any of these agencies, but I have heard of them and know that they offer some services; typical places are Swedish Touch in Vancouver or many of the agencies advertised in your local newspaper. Some of these places are pretty expensive so be prepared if you’re visiting them. I would suggest calling beforehand. Yellow pages is another source where lots of escort ads are available.
Escorts and agencies do not advertise openly in Vancouver, but a good way to find these places is to look in one of your local newspapers. Georgia Straight or Westender can be found anywhere around downtown Vancouver and is probably a good source with plenty of ads. There is a pretty wide gay culture in Vancouver and is concentrated around Davie street. There are plenty of gay bars and pubs in this area and of course the gay paper which is also a source of escort ads if you’re interested in them.
If you are looking for something more affordable you should be able to check ads in Craigslist or use internet to find Vancouver independent escorts. Check perb.ca; they have some details and hints on the agencies, girls and how to find them. Check some of our partners. Also, check our page for Vancouver Independent Escorts; there are many spinner indies in our page.
It is a good idea to avoid street workers in sketchy places and you might want to be somewhat cautious if you’re using some online ads. Chances of caught with the whole illegality thing are higher on the street than discreet places. Street workers around Seymour and Richards street can be pretty good. Some of these girls are pretty attractive and often about 20 or early 20’s. Try to avoid downtown eastside if possible. Downtown eastside is not recommended for anyone; there are a lot of drug users, homelessness and sketchyness around that area and yes prostitution as a result as well. I have heard of high risk of infections going on in this area so it is up to you. You may be able to find cheaper services and possibly young attractive girls, but it is likely that they are under some kind of influence… Not my thing. Read more below on how to have a great experience without disappointment
I think if everything is done professionally, it will be a good time. Remember, you always pay for SP’s time and everything else that happens is between two consenting adults. Give them a gift and you will be fine.
Quick terminology guide
Here a quick overview on terms that you’ll get to see often. Here is what these letters mean:
SW – service worker, SP – service provider, FS – Full service, Incall – you go to visit service worker, Outcall – service worker comes to visit you, BJ – oral, BBBJ – stands for bare back BJ or w/o protection, HH- half and half which is BJ followed by the rest, Greek – stands for anal, MSOG – stands for multiple orgasms, GFE – girlfriend experience involving a more personal and emotionally intimate experience, MPOS – multiple positions.
How to get that great experience with a Vancouver Escort
Vancouver is not a cheap city in general and the same goes for Vancouver escorts’ rates. So, you want to make sure you get a good bang for your buck. The experience that I had in Vancouver can vary quite a bit. You will have a lot of selection, very hot girls, many different nationalities and lots of girls. What you want to do though is have a great experience. Sometimes the great experience comes with a price, and other times with the right pick. When you’ve decided about the girl that you like, ask her questions, politely. Some prefer to not discuss too much detail, but you can ask to see if they are willing to give details you need. If something particular is important to you, it’s better to ask; Chances are that they won’t offer it voluntarily and especially after you’ve agreed on the terms.
Here is little checklist that has helped me with SP’s in Vancouver:
- Non-rushed is better: if you are paying for SP’s time then talk about what are you going to do during that time. It is a great experience to be in a relaxed and non-rushed atmosphere. Ask about it and listen to what you hear. They will always say it’s not rushed, but you should be able to tell if they want to be in a hurry. Before giving the gift, bring this up a few times to let them know that you’ll really want ALL that time the time you’re agreeing on.
- GFE is more intimate: does your SP offer a girlfriend experience? GFE often comes with a higher price, but some SP’s offer this at the same rate, and some will let you know that they don’t offer it. It doesn’t hurt to ask if this is something you would like. When you’ve both taken a shower, GFE can be funner and more intimate. It’s definitely nicer when all the fun is not fake and just to get it over with. Some SP’s will not like to do this because kissing, cuddling and whatever is involved, is more emotional than they want it to be.
- Rates are negotiable: Escort rates in Vancouver range from around CAD $80 (on the street and perhaps in more remote areas like Surrey, Coquitlam, New Westminster…) to CAD $120-$180 per HH or 45 minutes (decent incall locations often featuring asian hotties) to CAD $200-$300 per hour (standard hour rates for top girls) Most escorts, not just Vancouver escorts, don’t like to be low-balled, of course. I noticed, however, that rates are often negotiable. It often depends how you meet the escorts and when. Rates are more negotiable with independent escorts and on the street than if it’s an agency. Rates are not as relaxed as in Bangkok where they tell you to pay what you want and avoid talking money; What I usually do is offer what you think they deserve, keeping in consideration the standard rates that you see during your shopping. To make sure that you have a better time, possibly, you can remind them that you may tip depending on performance. Most will ignore this promise, but some will actually provide a better service.
- Special services discussed beforehand: an absolute must ask. If you need to have GFE ask if it’s included; if you want MPOS or MSOG ask again. I don’t want to say that SP’s will avoid giving more than you ask; some actually want to have repeat customers and offer terrific service for this reason. However, chances are that once the agreement is made, any additional request may cost you extra. To give you a better picture, here is a list of these potentially additional services: MSOG, MPOS, Greek, GFE, taking your time, BBBJ, travel time to your location (even if you’re driving). In general, if you talk to your SP about what you want your expectations are during the time together, everything will usually be fine.
- Check pulse for possible ripoff: I hate to warn anyone about this, but yes there are SP’s who do not take pride in what they do, and yes there are ripoffs. If your SP seems like she’s agreeing with all odd requests that you have then there might be something wrong. Do not hand them the gift until you feel comfortable enough to do so. I heard stories where SP took the gift, stepped out of the hotel room saying she will be back and she never returned. Another type of ripoff is a random time waster type who may avoid fulfilling your requests or will make things difficult for you. This is a risk that you take in every city not just Vancouver and my best advice is go with your gut feel. If you find her suspicious then just pass.
General etiquette with Vancouver Escorts
Usually gift is expected upfront. This is common in Western cities in North America and even Europe, Amsterdam; its different from Asia, escorts in Bangkok, Pattaya. Probably the reason is because… there is more value being exchanged. There may be a few cases where gift is not expected upfront. This is good news for pooners; it means you’re going to have a great time.
Discretion and privacy is just common sense for both parties involved. You don’t want to be a part of any trouble. If any of it escalates into anything legal, my advice is just don’t.
After the meet and greet you or your SP may get a little physical. This seems like a gesture to ensure that both parties are real and actually offering a server or seeking a service. Again, this must have to with the fact that whatever happens is between two consenting adults. Apparently busts are not going to happen if you get a bit physical prior to agreeing on anything? Who knew… Useful tip, however.
Escort locations in Vancouver
Downtown Vancouver is generally more expensive. Kingsway, Richmond, and New West and other more remote areas are a bit cheaper, possibly for similar quality of service.
From my experience in Vancouver, there are plenty of underground-like agencies that offer deals ranging from $120-$180 for a 45 minutes. Craigslist has many of these ads, often with attractive slim girls, many of them Asian but not necessarily, providing great services. I went to a few of these places and I was offered a shower with the girl, GFE, MSOG if it works, for a 45 min special. I think this is a great deal and the experience was pretty memorable. You may want to try one of these.
As I said before, avoid Hastings street. You’re likely to find drug users, possibly underage, and the place is filled with cops; last thing you want is to get in some kind of legal trouble.
Seymour and Richard are known streets in Vancouver for better looking girls; check these streets crossing Helmcken or Nelson. This area is where they usually hangout. Prices range from $100 to $200. I’m not a street person so I never picked any of them, but some seem pretty hot. If you walk around you’ll get a nice close look at them and you can chit chat if you like. Guys, I hear, are around Davie and Drake; by the way Davie is definitely a gay street with many gay pubs and clubs. You may have to get a room somewhere which is another $35-$40 if you’re not in a nearby hotel.
Pattaya is a smaller city, about a couple of hours drive from Bangkok on the coast side. If you are flying to Bangkok and you like gogo’s I would recommend spending some time here. See our Bangkok escorts blog if you haven’t already. There is an easy way to get a ride from Bangkok if you’re staying at Dynasty Inn. They have a free transfer van ride from this hotel to Dynasty Inn in Pattaya. I think the catch is that you have to stay in this hotel and have to pay if you’re coming back to Bangkok. It works out perfectly, because Dynasty Inn is a a lot better in Pattaya. Also, I decided to go budget, coach bus, on the way back and I think it cost me around 30 Baht .
Transportation on Pattaya is a little different than in Bangkok. There are not many legit cabs in Pattaya, especially around the coast in South Pattaya. There are lots of one way streets, so there are these pickup taxis that charge you about 20-30 Baht to go 7 or 8 blocks. If you’re around walking street area, you’ll have plenty of bars to see and everything is in close proximity. Not very far from Pattaya is Koh Samet, a really beautiful island with spectacular beaches. I’d recommend visiting this place, especially if you want to get away from the city and enjoy some privacy and amazing beaches.
Pattaya and Sex Tourism
Walking Street in Pattaya
Pattaya is smaller than Bangkok and sex tourism, in my opinion, is a bigger deal here than in Bangkok. There are escort girls in Pattaya and there are lots of them. A lot of the girls come from rural regions of Thailand like Isaan.
If you are new to Pattaya, the beach side should probably be where everything happens. Starting from Soi 1st and all the way to Walking Street you will find a variety of bars, hotels, and restaurants.
Walking Street is where it all happens when it comes to adult entertainment venues. There is neon and hot girls everywhere. It is a stunning party atmosphere, tatooes, lust for flesh and tourists gazing with amazement. Not all girls you see around are “on the job”, but a big portion of them are. I guess when the time comes, you will already know. Walking street also has the majority of the Gogo’s, beer bars, live show venues and anything adult you can think of. It becomes really nice to walk around around 9-10 pm. You don’t need to get in a gogo right away. I’d recommend just walking around first, maybe grabbing a drink at a random patio where there is no pushy and buy me a lady-drink vibe. Depending on where you go, you will have this experience and although it’s usually not expensive, it is a great way to waste cash. I liked Pattaya and wanted to stay here, and for this reason I would prefer to not waste money unless I’m getting some real value for it. All in all, Pattaya is cheap, much cheaper than Bangkok.
About escorts in Pattaya
I think the gift for the girl would be around 1000 Baht for the night. Bar fines are also much cheaper than Bangkok, perhaps up to 500 Baht. What about the girls?
Pattaya girls
There are a lot of them, so I could find some of the best. You won’t be disappointed. However, in my opinion, the places around walking street are a great time and have beautiful girls. But, I found this small tiny place around Soi 7th, where a real cutie waitress was sitting there. Her cousin mentions that she just came to the city and is trying this new thing. Yes, yes, that’s what they all say, but this was real.
The little tip is that if you try to find something that hasn’t been ‘out there’ very long, then you might want to try walking around a a bit farther from Walking Street and you might find a gem. Just be careful not to get ripped off. If a place looks suspicious just walk past it; there are lots of other places. Another good thing about checking Soi’s is that you could be doing that during the day, before the evening. By the time the party starts you will have your bar fine payed and the girl with you as your companion. I’m sure everyone has a different selection style. I prefer to have the girl with me all day, have someone to go dinning with and have someone go to club with me.
Not to leave a bitter taste, but I must say this: Safe sex only. Girls in bars are said to be checked regularly and are generally safer than those not working in bars. However, Pattaya has a higher number of HIV infections and most of the time it is because of unsafe sex. If you don’t want to spoil your vacation or your life, stick to safe sex! This advice should, of course, not be for tourists only, but everyone involved.
Bars and Clubs in Pattaya
Pattaya has really good bars and clubs if you know where to find them. I was in a few discos and clubs here that were so nice, very likely nicer than many clubs in the West. If you’re a fan of exotic girls, tatoos and a lot of skin, you will love the clubs here. For a detailed list go check the official list at pattayacity.com
Some of the places that I really liked were Lucipher and Tony’s. I’m sure there are more. I will keep you updated once I’m back to Pattaya.
Bangkok is probably one of the most popular places when it comes to adult entertainment. It is cheap compared to western cities, entertainment venues are endless and nightlife is incredibly vibrant. The number of places is too great for one person to catalogue. However, there are districts that are a bit bigger. For a brand new tourist I would recommend a few of these places. Perhaps it’s a good idea to start with something smaller. You get to learn a few hints. You want to make sure that you are not broke after just a few days; this is not to scare you, but there are places that I consider a rip-off. Especially if you’re new, you’re likely to over-pay or not get the right bargain right away. For this reason I would start with a low-key district that is not very popular with tourists.
Our online lists for Bangkok are not big and there are too many girls in Bangkok, but there are a few spinners there too, with ‘western rates’; I’m sure you’ll figure something out in that regard. Check RateYourEscort’s Bangkok escorts online page for these listings.
New to Bangkok…
Beautiful Thailand
If you haven’t been to Bangkok before, make sure that you have the hotel name written in Thai as well as English. You want to avoid having your cab driver send you to a different hotel. This happens a lot. The story is simple: the cab driver sends you to a hotel and gets a commission for it, but that may not be your hotel at all. I already knew this drill, and I was still sent to the neighbor hotel, which was about 3 times nicer. I even tipped the cab driver well. Who knew! Nothing is scary here, just get the hotel right.
If you’re looking for escorts, bar-girls, adult entertainment, and you’re a first timer, there are a few more things you need to know. I’ll start with the positive news first. The girls are much nicer than the girls in the West. I have read stories where people got robbed in their hotel room got mugged or simply had a bad time with a girl. However, most of the time, this is not the case. If you’ve been looking for a girlfriend experience, this will be it. Let’s put it this way: I was able to get a girl for the whole day and night for $40. Not only will they be your girl, girlfriend, escort, but they will also be your best city guide, friend, attractive companion, money saver, and literally your butt saver. I went out to a great nightclub in Bangkok, had my face stuffed with cheap Thai whiski, got drunk and was brought to the hotel by my companion. I can’t say I wasn’t paranoid, nervous about expense surprises, or worried of being ditched and lost somewhere random in Bangkok. It is a good precaution to be careful and pay attention, but I got away with visiting a bunch of places with no map, nothing on me other than my hotel keys, cash, and a hotel card. My point is, no matter what you think about these people that you meet, please be respectful to them. If you can afford to tip them, because they were so great, do it. Have a nice dinner with them. They know some of the best Thai food places since they have more income than an average Thai person. So what is going to cost you, $20 for the two of you for a full course meal? Big deal! You will also have a better anyway.
Red light districts Bangkok in general
If this is the first time you’ve been in Bangkok, there are many things that you want to watch for. Common sense precautions that every traveler takes are a necessity. Although I never find Bangkok to be a very dangerous city, it is smart to not be a “target”. There are a lot of tourists and you’re not that noticeable. Just don’t look lost, confused and new. People are more likely to take advantage of you if you play the new guy. So if you find that cool, then you will just end up paying more J. Blending in and enjoying will probably be the best thing for you.
Another thing that I would recommend is to try and stay away from lady-boys / katooeys. They are usually pushy, wear lots of make up, fake and accented breasts. Some of them can look like girls so just keep an open eye for that. They usually start roaming around later at night. I have heard of incidents where they get too pushy and even violent, although luckily I never had to deal with this. If you’re already with a girl, you’re less likely to have any incidents, because they are your butt saver right?
One more last thing, please avoid dark or not properly lit places. You want to at least be able to read the name of the place. I heard about scams and you don’t want those.
Soi Cowboy red light district, Bangkok
This is a good place to start. This place is more laid back and doesn’t have a pushy atmosphere. Service and prices are cheaper than some other places. You may not be able to find top spinners here, but I would definitely recommend this place if you are new to this thing in Bangkok. You can start learning the “ways” here:negotiating, bar fines, ST, LT and finding your top bang for the buck. I don’t think this place will be a disappointment at all. It’s always a good warm-up, even for experienced tourists.
There are about 50 places here, so quite a bit of selection. Beer is about 150 Baht. Bar fines are from 500 Baht. I wouldn’t pay more than 1000 for BF, but you might find something irresistible with higher BF. I wouldn’t advise getting drunk. Have a drink or two max, see what you have to see and move on to the next great place. The more of these places you see the better.
Soi Cowboy red light district
Nana Plaza, Bangkok
This is also a good place at night, also laid back. Prices can be a little higher, but there are lots of places that you might want to check here. I wasn’t quite impressed with the selection here. Also, I noticed a lot of older men with really young girls. That sight was a bit unattractive, no offense if you’re into that. The girls in the disco were too young and yes that’s great, but being in my 30’s I wasn’t very much into it. There is a hotel nana which is a terrible place. Maybe I got a bad room, but I would just not go there again. Having a smoking room was enough, let alone shape of that place and no locker. If you want to stay around this place for cheap you could try Dynasty Inn. This place is okay. By the way, there is another Dynasty Inn in Pattaya. Dynasty in Bangkok has some kind of free transfer to Pattaya Dynasty. I have no idea if there was a catch, but I do remember that Dynasty in Pattaya is about 5 times better, and Pattaya’s nightlife strikes me as amazing. Read my new blog on Pattaya. It is worth knowing about this amazing place.
Nana Entertainment Plaza
Patpong red light district
Patpong
This is where the experience crowd should go. There is too much to absorb and there are stunning hot girls. It is located between Silom and Surawong. It is probably the most uncontrolled place in Southeast and possible the whole world when it comes to adult industry. It is the most visited place in Bangkok. It is an amazing place not only for those involved in this industry, but also for tourists who come to gaze on shiny neon and experience one of the most unique places in the world. It is a must see for everyone, maybe a bit overwhelming for fresh tourists. As I said earlier, try to get familiar with your surroundings and culture by visiting a couple of beer bars. Prices in Patpong are going to be significantly higher, but girls are miraculous and it’s something you’ve probably never seen before.
Phuket
Patong Beach
If you are looking for a party and night life, the biggest scene is probably around Patong Beach in Phuket. This is not a very long walking street, but it is packed with bars, nightclubs and girls everywhere. There are plenty of aussie bars if you like to watch a game. Visit Tiger and Hollywood nightclubs. They are open until very late and if you’re tired of looking around the bars, do not worry — there are plenty of girls in all nightclubs and many of them are freelancers. Some of them prefer to not be working in a bar. That could be a good thing, however, you have to be careful like with all the girls. My experience was actually a lot better with a freelancer than with one of the bar girls.
Many of our favorite sex toys are made with decidedly unhealthy chemicals.
Is it time to kick the toxins out of the sack?
So you’re an Enlightened Green Consumer. You buy organic food and carry it home from the local market in string bags. Your coffee is shade-grown and fair-trade, your water’s solar-heated, and your car is a hybrid. But what about the playthings you’re using for grown-up fun between those organic cotton sheets — how healthy and environmentally sensitive are they?
Few eco-conscious shoppers consider the chemicals used to create their intimate devices. Yes, those things –from vibrators resembling long-eared bunny rabbits to sleeves and rings in shapes ranging from faux female to flower power. If these seem like unmentionables, that’s part of the problem: while some are made with unsafe materials, it’s tough to talk about that like, well, adults.
But it’s necessary. Unlike other plastic items that humans put to biologically intimate use — like medical devices or chew-friendly children’s toys — sex toys go largely unregulated and untested. And some in the industry say it’s time for that to change.
Love Stinks
Many popular erotic toys are made of polyvinyl chlorides (PVC) — plastics long decried by eco-activists for the toxins released during their manufacture and disposal — and softened with phthalates, a controversial family of chemicals. These include invitingly soft “jelly” or “cyberskin” items, which have grown popular in the last decade or so, says Carol Queen, Ph.D., “staff sexologist” for the San Francisco-based adult toy boutique Good Vibrations. “It’s actually difficult for a store today to carry plenty of items and yet avoid PVC,” Queen says. “Its use has gotten pretty ubiquitous among the large purveyors, because it’s cheap and easy to work with.”
In recent years, testing has revealed the potentially serious health impacts of phthalates. Studies on rats and mice suggest that exposure could cause cancer and damage the reproductive system. Minute levels of some phthalates have been linked to sperm damage in men, and this year, two published studies linked phthalate exposure in the womb and through breast milk to male reproductive issues.
A study in 2000 by German chemist Hans Ulrich Krieg found that 10 dangerous chemicals gassed out of some sex toys available in Europe, including diethylhexyl phthalates. Some had phthalate concentrations as high as 243,000 parts per million — a number characterized as “off the charts” by Davis Baltz of the health advocacy group Commonweal. “We were really shocked,” Krieg told the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation’s Marketplace in a 2001 report on the sex-toy industry. “I have been doing this analysis of consumer goods for more than 10 years, and I’ve never seen such high results.”
The danger, says Baltz, is that heat, agitation, and extended shelf life can accelerate the leaching of phthalates. “In addition, [phthalates are] lipophilic, meaning they are drawn to fat,” he says. “If they come into contact with solutions or substances that have lipid content, the fat could actually help draw the phthalates out of the plastic.” Janice Cripe, a former buyer for Blowfish — a Bay Area-based online company whose motto is “Good Products for Great Sex” –confirms the instability of jelly toys: “They would leak,” she says. “They’d leach this sort of oily stuff. They would turn milky” and had a “kind of plasticky, rubbery odor.” She stopped ordering many jelly toys during her time at Blowfish, even though their lower prices made them popular.
So what’s being done to protect consumers? Well, nothing. While the U.S., Japan, Canada, and the European Union have undertaken various restrictions regarding phthalates in children’s toys, no such rules exist for adult toys. In order to be regulated in the U.S. under current law, sex toys would have to present what the federal government’s Consumer Product Safety Commission calls a “substantial product hazard” –essentially, a danger from materials or design that, in the course of using the product as it’s made to be used, could cause major injury or death. But if you look at the packaging of your average mock penis or ersatz vagina, it’s probably been labeled as a “novelty,” a gag gift not intended for actual use. That’s an important semantic dodge that allows less scrupulous manufacturers to elude responsibility for potentially harmful materials, and to evade government regulation. If you stick it somewhere it wasn’t meant to go, well — caveat emptor, baby!
It’s a striking lack of oversight for a major globalized industry. The Guardian recently estimated that 70 percent of the world’s sex toys are manufactured in China, and the CBC’s 2001 report suggested the North American market might be worth $400 million to $500 million.
More detailed figures can be hard to come by. “In the U.S., all of the companies that manufacture adult novelties, whether they’re mom-and-pop or large corporations, are privately held,” explains Philip Pearl, publisher and editor in chief of AVN Adult Novelty Business, a trade magazine. “None are required to publish financial information, and none do.”
Queen thinks the lack of agreed-upon standards is a major problem. She and the staff at Good Vibrations have often had to fall back on marginally relevant regulations. “I remember trying in the early ’90s to track down information on an oil used on beautiful hand-carved wooden dildos — was it safe to put into the body?” she says. “The closest comparison we could find was the regulation governing wooden salad utensils!”
Taking Things Into Their Own Hands
Metis Black, president of U.S.-based erotic-toy manufacturer Tantus Silicone, has written on the health risks of materials for Adult Novelty Business. “Self-regulation — eventually we’ve got to do it,” says Black, who adds that creating safe toys is what got her into the business about seven years ago. “Just like children’s teething toys, we’re going to have to start doing the dialogue” within the industry, Black says, to “discuss what’s in toys and how it affects customers.” Otherwise, she feels, government regulators will step in.
While the industry wrestles with such issues, some manufacturers and suppliers aren’t waiting for regulations. Tony Levine, founder of Big Teaze Toys, says he’s made his products — including the cutely discreet, soft-plastic vibrator I Rub My Duckie –phthalate-free from the start. “While working at Mattel as a toy designer, I was made very aware of the concerns of using only safe materials for children’s products,” he says. “This training has stuck with me… We take great pride in using only the materials which meet strict toxicity safety standards for both the U.S. and the E.U.”
Meanwhile, if customers select jelly playthings at Babeland, a retailer with stores in Los Angeles, New York City, and Seattle, the staff gives them a tip sheet on phthalates, and recommends using a condom with the toy. “Our goal is to help people make an educated choice, and give out as much information as we can find — without alarming people,” says Abby Weintraub, an associate manager at the company’s Soho store.
Babeland staff also steer willing customers toward phthalate-free alternatives, such as hard plastic, or the silicone substitute VixSkin. Some manufacturers are also using thermoplastic elastomers instead of PVC. Vibratex recently reformulated the popular Rabbit Habit dual-action vibrator — made famous on Sex and the City — with this material. Vibratex co-owner Daniel Martin says the company has always used “superior grade,” stable PVC formulations, and still considers the products safe, but acknowledges that customers are eager for phthalate-free tools. While alternative materials can be more expensive, Weintraub says when people have the option of choosing them, many do.
The owners of the Smitten Kitten, a Minneapolis-based retailer, opted not to carry jellies, cyberskins, or other potentially toxic toys at all when they opened about two years ago. “They’re dangerous to human health, to the environment,” says co-owner Jennifer Pritchett. “It’s part of our philosophy to put good things in the world, and it’s counter to that to sell things that are toxic.”
No Sex Please, We’re Skittish
So what are the other alternatives for eco-conscious pleasure-seekers? The most ecologically correct choices may be metal or hardened glass dildos — which, with their elegant, streamlined shapes (and sometimes hefty price tags) can double as modernist sculptures if you grow weary of their sensual charms. “The glass is going to be more lasting, possibly safer, and less toxic than something that’s plastic,” confirms Babeland marketing manager Rebecca Suzanne.
And the eco-choices don’t stop there. If you want to do your part for conservation while getting a buzz, go for the Solar Vibe, a bullet vibrator that comes wired to a small solar panel. Some vibrators come with rechargeable power packs, says Suzanne, “which is a little bit better alternative to the typical battery-run toy, where you just toss the batteries … into the landfill.”
What about accessories? The Smitten Kitten takes pride in its “animal-friendly” inventory of bondage and fetish gear. “We have some floggers that are made of nylon rope … natural rope, and rubber,” says Pritchett. “The same with the paddles, collars, cuffs, and whatnot. Totally leather-free, animal-product-free.”
A few manufacturers are bringing green values directly to the adult-toy market via products that might not be out of place in the cosmetics aisle of a natural-foods mega-retailer. Offerings include Body Wax’s candles made from soy and essential oils, and Sensua Organic’s fruit-flavored or unflavored lubes — one of a few lubricant lines touting either organic or all-natural formulations. “People enjoy having the option,” says Weintraub. “It’s like, ‘I use organic face wash. Maybe I want to use organic lube, too.’”
Pritchett feels health and eco-conscious retailers are a shopper’s best ally for staying safe and healthy. “So many of us are used to shopping for organic food, or ecologically safe building products, or cosmetics,” she says. When people realize it’s possible to shop for sex toys the same way, “you can see a light bulb go off –they realize it’s a consumer relationship and they can and should demand better products.”
Choosing the most eco-correct erotic toy can seem fraught with compromises — more akin to picking the most fuel-efficient automobile than buying a bunch of organic kale. With no government assessment or regulation on the immediate horizon, it’s up to you, the consumer, to shop carefully and select a tool that’s health-safe, fits your budget, and gets your rocks off. Meanwhile, pack up that old mystery-material toy and send it back to the manufacturer with a note that they can stick it where the sun don’t shine.
The twin-peaks of a good bum are a signal for possible sex. The sight of female breasts are simply a substitute for bouncing buttocks, he’s sure.
“Firmness, pertness and the ability to defy gravity indicated a potential mate that was healthy, fertile and good at childbearing and caring,” he’s written in his theory.
Down through time, the perfect female butt has varied — oscillating between a “pear” and the more rounded offering.
And while cultures may quibble — Western society sides with small bums, while some African tribes give cat-calls to a large triangular affair — the basic math still largely works.
“The perfect male rear has varied far less from the days of Michelangelo’s David to the celluloid outings of Brad Pitt,” the doctor of derrieres said.
He noted, the offset nature of the male bum runs counter to the normal aesthetic assumption that nature has to have perfect symmetry to be beautiful.
There is a slight difference in the way men and women judge the perfect bottom. Women put J.Lo’s caboose at the front of the train, while most men would say singer Kylie Minogue’s bottom is tops, Holmes concludes.
“The perfect female derriere has firmness to the touch and a resilience that prevents undue wobble or bounce, yet looks soft with flawless skin,” Dr. Holmes wrote in his conclusions, which I’ve kept reading, over and over again.
High marks go to bums that are dimple-free, slightly larger at their upper third, rather than their lower half. If you’re backing up to a mirror now, yours should be longer than it is wide.
Holmes also outlined a long and involved theory on the male butt — something about Jean Claude Van Damme and how it has to be hairless and in proportion to the rest of the body. But I wasn’t listening to that part, and as he talked, instead kept leafing through his research to find more of his descriptions of Kylie Minogue’s bottom.
In his “Bum factor” calculation, the perfect specimen would rate a tally of 80 points (though my interpretation of his math has a top score pegged at 81).
Holmes is not married, but has a girlfriend. He’s told her he’s calculated her at 78 or higher.
“She seems happy with that,” he said, noting she’s never asked him to flesh-out his reasoning on the high marks.
While the 56-year-old scientist has never been to Canada, he imagined our collective Bum Factor may be quite high.
“At least higher than those found in the U.S.,” he assumed.
We are a country, I boasted, full of many perfect asses.
Now, after putting form in formula, Holmes said he’s not finished with his ground shaking work. He’s investigating the mathematical equivalent of the ultimate kiss — though male researchers now urge him to uncover perfect breasts.
It’s all fine work. But given the figures he’s put in our minds, I would think he would be content to sit on his laurels.
And the formula is …
(S+C) x (B + F) ————— (T-V)
The factors are: S = overall shape; C = circularity or spherical buttocks; B = bounce factor; F = touch firmness; V = vertical ratio: Aim towards being slightly “pert.” (Reverse scale); T = skin texture. (Reverse scale)
Scoring the factors
OVERALL SHAPE: Which best decribes your bum? A trodden-on doughnut – 1 A pear dropped from a great height – 2 Rounded but dimpled, making it look square – 3 Big but more narrow than high – 4 A small peach shape – 5
CIRCULARITY: Which of these represents your bum? Square as a cheese slice – 1 Like an egg is round – 2 More pear shaped – 3 Pair of pink grapefruits – 4
BOUNCE: How resilient is your bum? Nothing can stop this badly contained jelly – 1 Wobbles for 30 seconds after one flick – 2 Cheeks don’t meet when I walk – 3 Only bounce during sex – 4 During aerobics, doesn’t even quiver – 5
TOUCH FIRMNESS: Which best describes your bum firmness to the touch? Could lose a hand in here – 1 Makes a dimple if pressed – 2 Can’t press in a centimetre – 3 Latex-coated cricket ball – 4
VERTICAL RATIO: Select nearest to your ratio. Like a traffic cone – 4 Bigger at the bottom – 3 Symmetrical both ways – 2 Like a pert pair of breasts – 1
SKIN TEXTURE: How is you bum complexion? Cellulite, spots, orange peel — you name it! – 4 Dimpling on underside – 3 Spotty but no dimpling – 2 Like a baby’s – 1
HOW DID MY BUM SCORE? Perfection! – 80 Reach for the beach! – 60 Exercise! Diet! Hope! – 40 Keep your clothes on! – 20 Stay indoors! – 0
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So, let me understand this – some university prof was paid to study women’s tushies? Not only that, but to study them long and hard, and to come up with a ranking system?And he did so with the blessings of his girlfriend?
I feel very sorry for Dr. Holmes right now. Know why? Because for the next week, all of his married male friends are going to drive by his house to throw rocks at his windows; and at work, his colleagues are going to key his car in the parking lot.
And then the week after that, all the women who don’t have “the perfect derriere” are going to come around to throw rocks at his car.
Your favorite color is the key to your sexual life! For entertainment purposes only.
The clothes you wear, your home furnishings and the car you drive all give clues to your sexual personality. The key is the colors you select for your possessions. Most people claim they haven’t got a favorite color. But look around you, and you’ll notice a pattern, especially in your clothing and home furnishings. The predominant color for you is the one that appears most frequently, it’s the one that mirrors the sexual you. A panel of psychologists explained the association between color and sexual patterns.
RED: People who like red tend to be tigers in the sack. They are easily aroused and enjoy sex in every way imaginable. Once the sexual spark is ignited, it may take hours to extinguish. When two reds get together, the ensuing erotica could make Lady Chatterly blush. Lovers of red tend to be aggressors and weaker colors should be aware.
YELLOW: If you tend to favor yellow, your sexual drives are complex and turn toward the adaptable. The favorite color of homosexuals is yellow. But don’t panic, not everyone who wears yellow is queer. In most cases the person will consent to the stronger partner’s desires in a passive manner. You will never enjoy sex to the fullest, but you will never turn down an invitation from somebody you enjoy or admire.
PINK: Persons who like pink show a reluctance to mature in sexual matters: women tend to tease, to promise more than they intend to deliver. In some cases they flaunt their femininity, but because they secretly hate men. A great percentage of prostitutes boast entire wardrobes in pink. Men who like pink are the philanderers and flirts. They are the type who will make three dates for the same evening and not keep one, preferring to pick up a dish in some bar instead. Women whose husbands like pink should keep a secret nest egg.
PURPLE: Lovers of purple frequently consider themselves to be too sophisticated for a fun romp in the sack. Women sometimes are the type who hate to mess their hair. Men are business-like in their approach to lovemaking. In both sexes purple partners are more concerned with their own fulfillment than with anyone else’s gratification.
BLACK: Black color preferences point to black sex (not necessarily meaning black partners). These people are the misfits of the sex world and seek out each other in kinship. They tend to prefer perverted sex and are usually masochistic or sadistic in nature. They are moody people and often perform at their peak when under stress or during unhappy times. Police psychiatrists claim that sex offenders prefer the color black. And it is no coincidence that the uniform of mosters and teenage gangs is black attire.
GREEN: Those who prefer green are fresh and innocent in their approach to sex. Women who love green will always make love like virgins all their life. And a man may always be a trifle clumsy and awkward but in a charming and endearing sort of way. Green lovers are gentle, but not passionate. If chosen as a mate, one will never need worry about infidelity.
ORANGE: Lovers of the color orange lean toward sexual fantasies. The sex act is regarded as a dramatic one-act play in which they are the star. Foreplay is as important as the act of love. They whisper sweet nothings, meaningless dialogue; they feel it is their image. Orange people often do not experience orgasm, but they put on a damn good act. Men tend to pull their partner’s hair, and women leave red welts on the sex partner’s back.
BROWN: If you love brown, you’re a real treasure for the right mate. Brown lovers tend to be warm and deep, sensitive to the needs and desires of their partners. Sex is a 24 hour a day thing. Where you can’t say “I love you” often enough. Snuggling by the fire, walking in the rain or catching snowflakes on their tongue is a turn-on to a lover of brown. They need lots of time and privacy to make love, but their emotions are such that one harsh word could end the affair.
GREY: The color grey a preferred by people who are indecisive. They can’t get excited about anything, including color, so they choose a noncommittal shade. Men who prefer grey look at sex as a way of relieving tension- nothing more, nothing less. It’s wham, bam, thank you ma’am. Women don’t make love, they have intercourse and for one of two reasons only: to accommodate their mate, or to become pregnant. They count the cracks in the bedroom plaster until the sex act is over with and done. When teamed with another color, the grey spouse considers the other’s infidelity a blessing. When a grey marries another grey, the marriage is made in heaven.
BLUE: Lovers of blue are wonderful sex partners. They are sinners, affectionate and sensitive to their partner’s needs. They consider love making a fine art and their approach is elegant. Men who love blue are like concert pianists, delicately ravaging their partner like they would play a baby grand. Women in the blue category enjoy sex to the fullest. They are exciting partners but their passion may be compared to a tidal wave rather than firery aggression. Both women and men enjoy foreplay and the aftermath of lovemaking, as much as the sex act itself. In marriage a blue person is a wonderful mate, never seeking outside interests.
WHITE: If a person is infatuated with white, sex often seems filthy. These people are puritanical in nature. French kissing is obscene and to make love in the daylight in unheard of. Women who love white will undress beneath the covers. Men will shower before and after the sex act. These people still use pet names for their genitals.”
MOMBASA, Kenya (Reuters) – Bethan, 56, lives in southern England on the same street as best friend Allie, 64.
They are on their first holiday to Kenya, a country they say is “just full of big young boys who like us older girls.”
Hard figures are difficult to come by, but local people on the coast estimate that as many as one in five single women visiting from rich countries are in search of sex.
Allie and Bethan — who both declined to give their full names — said they planned to spend a whole month touring Kenya’s palm-fringed beaches. They would do well to avoid the country’s tourism officials.
“It’s not evil,” said Jake Grieves-Cook, chairman of the Kenya Tourist Board, when asked about the practice of older rich women traveling for sex with young Kenyan men.
“But it’s certainly something we frown upon.”
Also, the health risks are stark in a country with an AIDS prevalence of 6.9 percent. Although condom use can only be guessed at, Julia Davidson, an academic at Nottingham University who writes on sex tourism, said that in the course of her research she had met women who shunned condoms — finding them too “businesslike” for their exotic fantasies.
The white beaches of the Indian Ocean coast stretched before the friends as they both walked arm-in-arm with young African men, Allie resting her white haired-head on the shoulder of her companion, a six- foot-four 23-year-old from the Maasai tribe.
He wore new sunglasses he said were a gift from her.
“We both get something we want — where’s the negative?” Allie asked in a bar later, nursing a strong, golden cocktail.
She was still wearing her bikini top, having just pulled on a pair of jeans and a necklace of traditional African beads.
Bethan sipped the same local drink: a powerful mix of honey, fresh limes and vodka known locally as “Dawa,” or “medicine.”
She kept one eye on her date — a 20-year-old playing pool, a red bandana tying back dreadlocks and new-looking sports shoes on his feet.
He looked up and came to join her at the table, kissing her, then collecting more coins for the pool game.
“JUST UNWHOLESOME”
Grieves-Cook and many hotel managers say they are doing all they can to discourage the practice of older women picking up local boys, arguing it is far from the type of tourism they want to encourage in the east African nation.
“The head of a local hoteliers’ association told me they have begun taking measures — like refusing guests who want to change from a single to a double room,” Grieves-Cook said.
“It’s about trying to make those guests feel as uncomfortable as possible … But it’s a fine line. We are 100 percent against anything illegal, such as prostitution. But it’s different with something like this — it’s just unwholesome.”
These same beaches have long been notorious for attracting another type of sex tourists — those who abuse children.
As many as 15,000 girls in four coastal districts — about a third of all 12-18 year-olds girls there — are involved in casual sex for cash, a joint study by Kenya’s government and U.N. children’s charity UNICEF reported late last year.
Up to 3,000 more girls and boys are in full-time sex work, it said, some paid for the “most horrific and abnormal acts.”
“PREYING ON POVERTY?”
Emerging alongside this black market trade — and obvious in the bars and on the sand once the sun goes down — are thousands of elderly white women hoping for romantic, and legal, encounters with much younger Kenyan men.
They go dining at fine restaurants, then dancing, and back to expensive hotel rooms overlooking the coast.
“One type of sex tourist attracted the other,” said one manager at a shorefront bar on Mombasa’s Bamburi beach.
“Old white guys have always come for the younger girls and boys, preying on their poverty … But these old women followed … they never push the legal age limits, they seem happy just doing what is sneered at in their countries.”
Experts say some thrive on the social status and financial power that comes from taking much poorer, younger lovers.
“This is what is sold to tourists by tourism companies — a kind of return to a colonial past, where white women are served, serviced, and pampered by black minions,” said Nottinghan University’s Davidson.
“LIVE LIKE THE RICH”
Many of the visitors are on the lookout for men like Joseph.
Flashing a dazzling smile and built like an Olympic basketball star, the 22-year-old said he has slept with more than 100 white women, most of them 30 years his senior.
“When I go into the clubs, those are the only women I look for now,” he told Reuters. “I get to live like the rich mzungus (white people) who come here from rich countries, staying in the best hotels and just having my fun.”
At one club, a group of about 25 dancing men — most of them Joseph look-alikes — edge closer and closer to a crowd of more than a dozen white women, all in their autumn years.
“It’s not love, obviously. I didn’t come here looking for a husband,” Bethan said over a pounding beat from the speakers.
“It’s a social arrangement. I buy him a nice shirt and we go out for dinner. For as long as he stays with me he doesn’t pay for anything, and I get what I want — a good time. How is that different from a man buying a young girl dinner?”
Federal drug regulators have agreed to consider allowing a Pennsylvania company to sell the first rapid, at-home AIDS test that would make testing for the virus about as easy and accessible as a pregnancy screen. The move could put to rest 18 years of controversy.
Officials at the Food and Drug Administration and AIDS advocates long worried that people who got an AIDS diagnosis would panic and even consider suicide. So for years, the federal drug officials have insisted that counseling and professional support accompany AIDS tests. This requirement has complicated proposals for at-home tests.
But improved medicines now mean that AIDS is a chronic disease that can often be managed for years, so the fear that a diagnosis might lead to thoughts of suicide have subsided. Just as important, 40,000 people each year continue to be infected by HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. This rate has remained stubbornly high for years. Having tried many other strategies, federal health officials are now increasingly open to the idea that an at-home AIDS test could finally lead thousands to change their behaviors and stop infecting others.
“If we’re going to win the war against AIDS, we need to make HIV testing as easy as pregnancy testing,” said Dr. Freya Spielberg, a researcher in the Center for AIDS Research at the University of Washington.
A federal advisory board will discuss the proposal for an at-home AIDS test on Nov. 3. After that, the test’s maker, OraSure Techologies, based in Bethlehem, Pa., said that it would likely apply formally to sell the device over-the-counter.
The test, called OraQuick Advance Rapid HIV-? Antibody Test, is presently sold only to doctors and clinics. It has already proven to be effective, safe and easy to use. So the remaining hurdles are decisions by the F.D.A. about whether approving such a device is a good idea and whether people can understand the product’s label well enough to administer it to themselves.
A 1987 application for an at-home AIDS test kit led to years of controversy. At the time, AIDS advocates and public health officials predicted that such a test would cause widespread suicides, panic and a rush to public health clinics.
At hearings, AIDS advocates handed out copies of an obituary of a San Francisco man who jumped off the Golden Gate Bridge after discovering that he was infected with HIV. An official for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention told the F.D.A. that such tests could lead to “a sudden increase in referrals to already overburdened health clinics,” according to an F.D.A. document.
Federal regulators stalled the application for nine years, and at-home AIDS testing never caught on.
Some AIDS advocates are now warily supportive of at-home testing.
“For people who don’t have access to a clinic or make a decision not to go to a clinic, this is better than nothing,” said Gregg Gonsalves of Gay Men’s Health Crisis in New York City, which opposed at-home AIDS testing 18 years ago and offers testing and counseling itself. “But it’s not a magic bullet.”
The switch by advocates is important. Politics have long played a crucial role in many F.D.A. decisions, according to longtime agency observers and previous agency officials. Recently, the agency decided to delay a decision on whether to allow over-the-counter sales of an emergency contraceptive. The decision was seen by some inside and outside of the agency as politically driven, and it led a top agency official to resign in protest.
Dr. Spielberg said that about a quarter of the nearly million people in the United States who have the HIV virus in their blood do not know that they are infected. And somewhere between 40 percent and 45 percent of those who test positive for HIV do so less than a year before they are diagnosed with AIDS.
Since an HIV infection often takes a decade to develop into full-blown AIDS, “this suggests that people are living with HIV, and spreading HIV for many years before they are aware of their infection,” she said.
Many of these people avoid getting tested in clinics for a variety of reasons, including fear of discovery and convenience, studies show. And many hate having to wait more than a week for a lab result, surveys show.
Dr. Spielberg said that she surveyed 240 people infected with HIV and found that more than half said that they would have preferred to have found out about their infection with a rapid at-home test.
Having a rapid, over-the-counter test widely available, Dr. Spielberg said, “is the most powerful strategy we have to bring down HIV infections.” People who find out that they are infected with HIV often change their sexual behavior to reduce further infections, she said.
By contrast, OraQuick requires a person to simply swab their gums and then place the swab in a holder. Twenty minutes later, a strip displays one line for a negative result and two lines for a positive one.
The argument against at-home tests has long been that they failed to ensure that patients would get adequate counseling. Activists now acknowledge that many people who get HIV tests in doctors’ offices get little or no counseling anyway.
“The counseling that now occurs is very short or abrupt in many settings,” said Gene Copello, executive director of The AIDS Institute, a Washington-based policy group.
Doug Michels, president and chief executive of OraSure, said he plans to include advice about counseling on OraQuick’s label. “It could be a hotline number, a 24-hour manned counseling center, Web support or printed material that is included in the product,” he said.
The company said it would include whatever the advisory committee and the F.D.A. deems is necessary, he said. The company now sells the device for between $12 and $17, although the price of an over-the-counter version has yet to be decided, Mr. Michels said.
