Hi Erica,
I love your column, and I read it every week. Thank you. I never thought I'd send in a question, but now I have been thinking about something for a little while. I was with a new
partner a couple of weeks ago. I stayed the night, and she said she had to sleep naked or
she would get a UTI. I didn't mind that she was sleeping naked or anything, but I was
just interested in if that was something that prevented UTIs and, if so, why? Thanks for
your time.
J.K.
Hey J.K.,
Glad you decided to send in your question—it's a good one. While urinary tract
infections (UTIs) aren't technically sexually transmitted (i.e. they do not pass directly
from one person to another), they can be triggered by sexual activity, especially in
women. Women's urethras are shorter than men's, so it's easier for bacteria to get pushed
into the bladder, where they shouldn't be. Growth of these bacteria can cause itchy-
burny-scratchy symptoms similar to some STIs. A hallmark of a UTI is feeling like you
have to pee all the time, even if you are still sitting on the toilet because you just went.
They're bacterial, so they're treated with a simple course of antibiotics.
It is possible sleeping without underwear can help avert a potential UTI. Bacteria like to grow in warm, moist environments. Snug-fi tting panties, especially ones made of synthetic fabrics, can trap both heat and moisture, helping create a prime bacteria habitat. Some more tried-and-true options for reducing the likelihood of a UTI include drinking plenty of fluids, using barriers and urinating before and after sex. But a fresh, aired-out vag certainly never hurt anybody.
I was just wondering where is a good place to get sex toys other than A Woman's Touch? I've been there a few times, and I can't seem to find a vibrator that has all the things I want that is also in my price range. Are there any other stores or websites you can recommend? Thank you.
P.M.
Hi P.M.,
A quick Google will turn up about a bazillion websites where you can get sex toys, so the good news is you have lots of options. However, like most online businesses, there are certainly some places that have better quality items and service than others.
Before I get to websites though, I'd urge you to take a second (or eighth) look
at AWT. AWT is a rather famous woman-owned shop at 600 Williamson St., which
carries a variety of items (books, toys, lingerie, safer sex supplies) to help customers
improve their sexual health. I strongly advocate buying toys in person if possible; it gives
us a chance to see, touch, hear, etc. the toys before dropping what can be a pretty penny
on them. AWT's selection does change periodically; if you can't fi nd what you want on
your fi rst trip, perhaps your second trip two weeks later will turn up the perfect vibe.
You may also consider trying multiple toys—instead of holding out to fi nd the one toy that has it all, mix and match different toys to get the exact combo you need. The most inexpensive vibes cost less than 10 dollars. Depending on the gadgets you're looking for, a combo of toys may be just the (less-expensive) ticket.
However, though I do love my trips out to AWT, they certainly are not the end-all be-all of sex shops. Red Letter News is another Madison option over on East Wash, and they also have a fair number of toys, DVDs, and other items to choose. Selective Video is one more local place, just off the beltline near Todd Drive. Despite their name, they do have more than just videos, so they may be worth a shot, too.
And, of course, there are websites. Generally, a website that has a storefront location will be a little more reputable, because you have to have friendly, knowledgeable people on your staff to run a physical location. Three super options are babeland.com (New York & Seattle), good-vibes.com (San Francisco), and smittenkittenonline.com (Minneapolis). These sites are well-organized and full of information to help you choose a toy even if you can't see it in person, e.g. customer reviews and ""noise ratings"" that describe how loud the toy is. Some places also have return policies, so you can feel good about making your purchase even if the toy ends up not being quite what you had in mind.
However, just because a website doesn't have a companion storefront location shouldn't automatically disqualify them, and one such site I'd defi nitely like to mention is adameve.com. Adam & Eve has a website which is a wee bit more explicit—whether you find it awesome or off-putting, it's just something to note. In addition to the good organization and helpful customer reviews, Adam & Eve also has a ton of promotions, which are great if you're on a toy budget. Currently, you can ""Rub Bree's Spot"" to see if you will get a discount on your purchase, and they'll also throw in a free gift at checkout.
These are some sites I happen to be familiar with—just because I didn't mention your
favorite doesn't mean it's not a great one.
Thanks to J.K. and P.M. for doubling our pleasure this week, and if you have a question or would like to help me expand my online sex toy resource list, shoot me an e-mail at sex@dailycardinal.com.
