Freedom Baird's chat with a sex education advisor on 4/8/96.
Sex
The Computer Says:
TIPS Version 1.01 19 December 1994
Copyright 1994
Government of Canada
All Rights Reserved
Ask the Sexpert
by T. E. Whalen, Ph.D.
Copyright 1994
Government of Canada
All Rights Reserved
This is an information system for sex education.
This information system answers questions about sex that are typed as
normal English sentences.
This program won the 1994 Loebner Prize for the most human-like natural
language program.
What question would you like to ask?
You say:
How great is the risk of getting pregnant during sex without birth control?
Sexpert says:
There are many different types of birth control, including the rhythm
method, foams and gels, cervical caps and diaphrams, condoms, interuterine
devices, birth control pills, vasectomies, and tubal ligations. You should
consult a doctor to get advice on the relative risks of pregnancy, health
risks, convenience, and permanance. However, the person who is taking the risk
(the woman except in the case of a vasectomy) should always make the final
decision.
You say:
Yes, but what is the rate of pregnancy from unprotected sex?
Sexpert says:
Once you decide to have sex with a new partner, you must use condoms, and
continue to use them until you are certain that they are free of sexually
transmitted diseases. Someone who refuses to use a condom with you has
probably refused to use a condom with other partners as well and should be
avoided. Even at best, condoms are not perfect. For example, some researchers
have estimated that they only reduce the transmission of AIDS by about 90 per
cent. This is certainly enough to make them worthwhile, but not enough to
guarentee that you will be safe.
You say:
I'm less concerened about aids, and more concerned about unwanted pregnancy.
Sexpert says:
I only know a little bit about AIDS.
I do know that AIDS is a frightening sexually-transmitted disease because
we do not have any way to cure it, it can be infectous for years without any
symptoms, and eventually it is always fatal. The virus, HIV, attacks and
destroys the immune system, often over a period of years, leaving a person with
AIDS without any defence against common diseases like pneumonia. It is spread
through the exchange of bodily fluids during intercourse, but is not spread by
casual, non-sexual contact.
You say:
I'm worried about getting pregnant.
Sexpert says:
There are many different types of birth control, including the rhythm
method, foams and gels, cervical caps and diaphrams, condoms, interuterine
devices, birth control pills, vasectomies, and tubal ligations. You should
consult a doctor to get advice on the relative risks of pregnancy, health
risks, convenience, and permanance. However, the person who is taking the risk
(the woman except in the case of a vasectomy) should always make the final
decision.
You say:
I've heard that the rhythm methond doesn't work. Is that true?
Sexpert says:
I can not answer that.
You say:
Does the rhythm method work?
Sexpert says:
It is possible, in theory, to avoid becoming pregnant by only consenting
to sexual intercourse during the period in the menstrual cycle when the woman
is not ovulating. This is difficult in practice because women's menstrual
cycles are often irregular and the sperm can remain viable for as long as eight
days after intercourse. There have been cases of women with particularly
short, irregular menstrual cycles who have been impregnated even though they
only had sex during their menstrual period.
You say:
Do cervical caps work?
Sexpert says:
A diaphram is a rubber disk with a spring embedded in the perimiter. It
should be inserted deep into the vagina to cover the opening to the uterous,
called the cervix. As this prevents pregnancy by blocking passage of the sperm
into the uterous, it should be left in place for at least six hours after
intercourse (but not longer than 12 hours). Diaphrams are much more effective
if they are used in conjunction with a spermicidal foam or gel. A cervical cap
is a small rubber cup which is used in the same way as a diaphram, but can be
left in place for up to 48 hours.
You say:
Will a diaphram give me a yeast infection?
Sexpert says:
Yeast, an organism called "candida albicans", is found in every woman's
vagina. It only becomes an infection when it grows out of control. This can
happen, for instance, when a woman takes antibiotics for some other reason and
kills the bacteria in her vagina that naturally keep the yeast under control.
Yeast infections may cause itching, redness, inflamation, and a cheesy
discharge from the vagina. There is some debate about whether enough yeast can
be transmitted sexually to upset this balance. Because sexual activity is not
essential to the development of a yeast infection, it is not properly
considered a sexually-transmitted disease.
You say:
How do you treat a yeast infection?
Sexpert says:
Drug stores sell a number of products which can be used to treat yeast
infections. If the infection persists or if it comes back repeatedly, you
should consult a medical doctor.
You say:
Is ist dangerous to have sex during pregnancy?
Sexpert says:
Overall, sex is a healthy human activity. Apart from sexually transmitted
diseases, there are few health risks that arise from frequent sexual activity.
Some people have had heart attacks while making love, but this is relatively
rare compared to other types of exercise because sex is not nearly as
physically strenuous as it feels. If you require exercise for a specific
purpose, such as to lose weight, recover from a heart attack, or counteract
arthritis, you should see advice about exercises which are designed
specifically for that purpose.
You say:
Should I have a midwife diliver my baby?
Sexpert says:
Because sex is a fundumental biological process, it incurs fundumental
biological risks. Sex often results in pregnancy. If a woman is not prepared
for the physical, emotional, and financial costs of raising a child, she risks
losing a large part of her youth. Sex may result in disease. A number of
sexually transmitted diseases are incurable. If left untreated, many STDs may
produce sterility, permananent damage, or death. A number of STDs do not
produce symptoms, particularly in women. As a result of these primary risks,
sexual promiscuity incurs secondary social and legal risks. Many societies
ostracize people, particularly women, who appear overtly sexually active.
Cases in which legal action is brought against people as a direct or indirect
result of their sexual behaviour are unfortunately common.
You say:
How safe is a delivery by midwife?
Sexpert says:
Because sex is a fundumental biological process, it incurs fundumental
biological risks. Sex often results in pregnancy. If a woman is not prepared
for the physical, emotional, and financial costs of raising a child, she risks
losing a large part of her youth. Sex may result in disease. A number of
sexually transmitted diseases are incurable. If left untreated, many STDs may
produce sterility, permananent damage, or death. A number of STDs do not
produce symptoms, particularly in women. As a result of these primary risks,
sexual promiscuity incurs secondary social and legal risks. Many societies
ostracize people, particularly women, who appear overtly sexually active.
Cases in which legal action is brought against people as a direct or indirect
result of their sexual behaviour are unfortunately common.
You say:
Tell me about pregnancy.
Sexpert says:
In order to become pregnant, a sperm from the man's semen must come in
contact with a human egg cell. This normally happens shortly after sexual
intercourse when an egg is present in the womb. On average, ovulation occurs
about fourteen days after menstruation, but this can vary from one woman to the
next, and from one month to the next. Pregancy can also result from artificial
insemination, or even from ejaculate which has seeped through clothing during
heavy petting.
You say:
I'm pregnant. Where should I get pre-natal care?
Sexpert says:
In order to become pregnant, a sperm from the man's semen must come in
contact with a human egg cell. This normally happens shortly after sexual
intercourse when an egg is present in the womb. On average, ovulation occurs
about fourteen days after menstruation, but this can vary from one woman to the
next, and from one month to the next. Pregancy can also result from artificial
insemination, or even from ejaculate which has seeped through clothing during
heavy petting.
You say:
What about abortions?
Sexpert says:
A pregnancy can be terminated by removing the embryonic tissue from a
woman's uterus through a medical procedure commmonly called an "abortion".
Most modern abortions are performed by dilating the cervix, then inserting a
tube into the uterus and sucking out the contents with a gental vacuum. This
procedure is simpler than the older method called "dilation and curettage"
which scraped out the uterous with a sharp blade.
You say:
What are the possible complications of childbirth?
Sexpert says:
I can not answer that.
You say:
What are the risks of childbirth?
Sexpert says:
Because sex is a fundumental biological process, it incurs fundumental
biological risks. Sex often results in pregnancy. If a woman is not prepared
for the physical, emotional, and financial costs of raising a child, she risks
losing a large part of her youth. Sex may result in disease. A number of
sexually transmitted diseases are incurable. If left untreated, many STDs may
produce sterility, permananent damage, or death. A number of STDs do not
produce symptoms, particularly in women. As a result of these primary risks,
sexual promiscuity incurs secondary social and legal risks. Many societies
ostracize people, particularly women, who appear overtly sexually active.
Cases in which legal action is brought against people as a direct or indirect
result of their sexual behaviour are unfortunately common.
You say:
what are the risks of abortion?
Sexpert says:
Abortions are an exceptionally safe medical procedure. The death rate
from legal abortions performed during the first twelve weeks of pregancy is
less than 1 per 100,000, compared to more than 9 maternal deaths per 100,000
live births. Abortions later in the pregnancy are somewhat more dangerous.
Illegal abortions are much more dangerous. The danger of infertility caused by
an abortion is no higher than the danger of infertility caused by a live birth.
You say:
I have bad menstrual crapmps, what should I do?
Sexpert says:
Once a woman reaches puberty, she begins her menstrual cycles. At the
beginning of the cycle, an egg is relesed from the ovaries and travels down the
fallopian tube to the uterus. It stays in the uterus for several days, waiting
for a sperm from a man to fertilize it. If it is fertilized, it embeds itself
in the wall of the uterus and begins to develop into a fetus. If it is not
fertilized, it is flushed out of the uterus and the cycle begins again.
Menstruation is the monthly flow of blood from the vagina which accompanies the
rejected egg. In some women menstruation is accompanied by cramps and a
congested feeling.
You say:
What should I do about menstrual cramps?
Sexpert says:
Once a woman reaches puberty, she begins her menstrual cycles. At the
beginning of the cycle, an egg is relesed from the ovaries and travels down the
fallopian tube to the uterus. It stays in the uterus for several days, waiting
for a sperm from a man to fertilize it. If it is fertilized, it embeds itself
in the wall of the uterus and begins to develop into a fetus. If it is not
fertilized, it is flushed out of the uterus and the cycle begins again.
Menstruation is the monthly flow of blood from the vagina which accompanies the
rejected egg. In some women menstruation is accompanied by cramps and a
congested feeling.
You say:
Thanks for your help.
Sexpert says:
You are welcome.
Are you ready to quit?
You say:
yes
Sexpert says:
Goodbye.
End of Conversation
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