Ok, so who are we going to believe? Women cheat as much as men do, and it’s actually harder for a woman to stay in a monogamous relationship, says Michelle Langley, author of the new book, Women’s Infidelity: Living in Limbo: What Women Really Mean When They Say, “I’m Not Happy”.
While previous relationship surveys have concluded that women are more “naturally” monogamous than men, Langley, who conducted research over a 10-year period, believes that marriage and fidelity may be more difficult for women than it is for men because men who marry in their mid- to late-20s are moving away from their sexual prime; whereas women of the same age are just beginning to move into theirs.
And in older women, changes in hormonal balance — specifically the unmasking of testosterone — have been drastically minimized, Langley contends. She says that most of the women she studied were not prepared for the dramatic increase in their desire for men outside of their primary relationships.
If you think we’ve been seeing a new trend among older women and younger men, Langley believes this is also quite natural. Older women, she says, are sexually attracted to younger men because younger men have increased desire and stamina.
Society expects men to have more trouble staying faithful. Women, on the other hand, see sexual interest in another man as an indication that something is wrong — with their husband, with their marriage, or with themselves.
Langley’s study shows that many marriages proceed to divorce without the wife ever having explained — or even identified —that sexual restlessness is, in fact, the root of the problem.
New vaccine for rotavirus
A new vaccine has been developed to combat rotavirus — the leading recognized cause of diarrhea-related illness and death among infants and young children.
Results of one of the largest infant vaccine trials ever conducted (over 63,000 infants) was published in late January in the New England Journal of Medicine. Results from a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial demonstrated that two doses of the rotavirus vaccine given two months apart at 2 and 4 months of age, gave 85 percent protection against severe rotavirus disease and 100 percent protection against more severe disease. The study also found no increased risk for intussusception (something which was observed with a previously marketed rotavirus vaccine); intussusception is the most common abdominal emergency in children younger than one year old.
Beatrice De Vos at GlaxoSmithKline, which is manufacturing the vaccine, commented, “Rotavirus is highly contagious regardless of sanitary conditions. Rotavirus can be detected in about one-third of all children hospitalized for diarrhea worldwide and mortality remains highest in the developing world. The now published data give confidence that vaccination at an early age has the potential to provide protection prior to the peak incidence of rotavirus (at 6-24 months of age).”
The vaccine has been approved in 12 Latin American countries, the Philippines and Singapore. It has not yet been approved for use in the U.S.
Paper shredder safety
In this age of privacy intrusion and ID theft, many homes are purchasing paper shredders to dispose of personal papers. But the nation’s pediatricians are alerting parents to the dangers of paper shredders when you have a small child in the house. A recent report highlights the case of a toddler who was severely injured. The American Academy of Pediatrics is calling on manufacturers to make their products safer for prying, tiny fingers; and they are urging their pediatrician members to ask parents if they have a paper shredder in the home and to remind parents to keep such machines unplugged and out-of-reach when not in use — by adults only.
More sun warnings
More research on the damage that can be done by the sun can be found in the latest edition of the journal, Pediatric Dermatology. No surprise to hear that skin cancer is the most rapidly growing cause of cancer death in the U.S., and researchers in the department of dermatology at Wake Forest University reiterate: We receive 50 percent of our total lifetime sun exposure before the age of 18.
And before indoor tanning becomes the latest craze for kids as well as adults, the researchers urge everyone to stay away from them; their report shows strong evidence for the relationship between indoor tanning and melanoma.
Parents must be diligent about educating kids about the dangers of overexposure to the sun. The researchers, in their report, urge pediatricians to talk to parents and their kids about UV protection. Research shows that pediatricians provide skin cancer counseling at less than one percent of office visits.
Clean hands
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the best way to avoid getting sick is to wash your hands frequently — and properly. But as most parents know, kids rarely wash their hands for the recommended 15-20 seconds. SquidSoap, a new liquid soap, marks your hands with a dot of ink when you depress the dispenser, and the only way to remove the safe, FDA-approved ink is to thoroughly wash your hands. The citrus-y smelling soap is not anti-bacterial — because regular hand soap, used for the correct amount of time, is the best way to wash. Each SquidSoap comes with a removable, stretchy squid toy. The ink dispenser lasts a bit longer than the soap in the package, so you can refill the dispenser. SquidSoap is $3.49-$3.99, or $14.99 for a 4-pack at www.squidsoap.com.
No shell game
Egg Creations is a new liquid egg product made from real eggs, with DHA and EPA omega-3 fatty acids and lutein added for heart, brain and eye health. The eggs can be used in baking, or for omelets or scrambled eggs. And if your kids are helping you cook, there will be no more broken eggs on the floor or shells in the cookies. From Burnbrae Farms, $3.49 for a 16oz. package. At Food Emporium, Waldbaum’s and Key Foods.
