The Shrinking Penis Panic

In September 2003, news sources documented numerous accounts of mysterious foreigners (origin and description varying with each retelling) in Khartoum, Sudan who were causing penises to disappear by shaking the hands of their victims in public. Details were rarely consistent but media accounts told of victims who reported that their penises began to "melt into their body" either after shaking hands or using a "penis-melting cyborg comb" that had been given to them by a mysterious stranger. One Sudan based columnist went as far as reporting in a foreign-based newspaper that ""Even though what I write today will harm 'tourism' in Sudan, I consider it my duty to warn anyone who wants to come to Sudan to refrain from shaking hands with a dark-skinned man. Since most Sudanese are dark-skinned, he had better avoid shaking hands with anyone he doesn't know...". The mysterious hand-shaker (often referred to as Satan`s Friend) was said to drain men`s virility through a handshake and then extort money from victims to regain their lost manhood. The accusations and recriminations were directed against numerous convenient scapegoats including Zionist agents attempting to exterminate the Sudanese by preventing men from procreating. Despite medical examinations that determined no indication of sexual abnormalities in victims, it took an active intervention on the part of the Sudanese government (including numerous arrests of alleged victims and others accused of practising sorcery) to bring an end to the hysteria. While it was ultimately deemed to have been a hoax that got out of hand, the furor took a while to subside.

Despite being the most widely reported outbreak, what occurred in Khartoum was only part of a epidemic of genital shrinking hysteria reported in six West African nations between January 1997 and October 2003. There appears to be superficial resemblances to the cultural psychosis known as Koro, but with a significant twist given the nature of the accusations that were leveled against mysterious others who were attempted to emasculate African men. Cases of perceived genital shrinkage have been primarily reported in South-east Asian males although similar cases have been reported in non-Oriental cultures and seem to be associated with a fear of losing sexual potency.

What then are we to make of what happened in Khartoum in 2003? It seems likely that the epidemic was fueled by media coverage but the political turmoil resulting from a long and bloody civil war (which has since escalated) probably played a part as well. There seems to be little available information on psychological or demographic factors that may have made the victims more vulnerable to suggestion. While mass hysteria is a convenient label for outbreaks of unusual symptoms, it seems to mask the very legitimate fears that people in a given time or culture may experience and which may emerge in an exaggerated form with the right provocation. For the Sudanese males who were affected, the fear of ethnic cleansing (including the very real ethnic cleansing occurring in Darfur) may well have driven the epidemic with various scapegoats (domestic or foreign) being proposed as targets of potential retribution.

While the idea of penis-shrinking hysteria may make for entertaining reading, the paranoia that can be triggered during mass hysteria outbreaks shouldn't be dismissed so easily. The violence that can erupt as a result of mass hysteria has led to some tragic episodes over the years.

Witch-hunts (sometimes literally so) have claimed countless lives through the centuries and even "civilized" people can form lynch mobs under the right circumstances.

In other words, don't believe everything you hear (especially if it involves penis-melting combs).

Romeo Vitelli received his doctorate in Psychology from York University in Toronto, Ontario in 1987, He spent fifteen years as a staff psychologist in Millbrook Correctional Centre, a maximum-security prison run by the Ontario government. In 2003, he successfully escaped prison and went into full-time private practice. He maintains offices in Toronto and Hamilton, Ontario dealing with forensic and neuropsychology cases. Check out his website at http://www.drvitelli.com and his blog at http://www.drvitelli.typepad.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Romeo_Vitelli

Penile Enhancement - Your Guide to Pills, Pumps, Surgery & Overall Penile Enhancement

There are a number of ways to enhance the size of your penis, however, it's often difficult to ascertain the safest and most effective means with all the poor information scattered around the Internet today. In a means to solve this dilemma, I have composed the following information to help you on your quest to find relevant penile enhancement information.

Pills?

Pills are a quite popular method of penile enhancement, and with due cause. There is a lot of discrepancy as to 'how' effective these pills actually are, but the testimonials and guarantees are endless. Some argue that with the various contaminants that have been found in scientific studies, such as hallucinogens, E. Coli, and yeast, that the placebo effect of the penis enhancement process is the only true result. While others claim to have gained several, measured inches in short periods of time with no side effects.

Pumps?

Pumps are a bit more widely documented than pills in terms of their efficacy. Pumps can work as an effective technique for penile enhancement, but the effects are considered to be temporary from most published scientific sources. And, if not extremely careful, these pumps are often attributed to broken blood vessels and consequently, infections of the penis.

Surgery?

Surgery is well known to be the most effective means of penile enhancement, but also the most dangerous and expensive. Penile enhancement surgery can run upwards of $10,000 and can cause long term damage in the form of impotency, scarring, and total loss of sensation. And, according to St. Peter's Andrology Center almost 70% of penile enhancement participants reported being 'dissatisfied'.

We all know that having a larger penis can be great for your self-confidence and the quality of your sex life, however, use extreme care in selecting any unnatural means of enhancement. Surgery, pills, and pumps can have extreme side effects - including impotence and even death.

For the many inquiries I receive with regard to making your penis larger naturally, here is my personal recommendation: Natural Penis Growth Exercises

Jerry Jones is an Ezine expert author in the fields of sexual function and anatomy and has over 300,000 published article views.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jerry_Jones

Unico Differential Counters

Nowadays, the demand for Unico differential counters is steadily on the rise in the medical industry due to the top, reliable performance they deliver. For treatment of various blood borne diseases like leukemia, anemia and others, differential count of blood cells are taken where differential counters have a very important role to play. Today, they have become handy solutions for carrying out medical researches related to hematology, pathology, microbiology and andrology.

Key Features of Unico Differential-Counters

Unico's popular models of differential counters are mainly available in three different models, L-BC3, L-BC6 and L-BC9. Most of their features are almost the same though their size and weight widely vary. L-BC3 features 2-keys, L-BC6 features 5 keys with totalizer window and L-BC9 model comes with 8 keys with totalizer window.

Unico differential-counters come in rust-proof and acid resistant, heavy duty plastic cases. Full white blood cell maturation strip chart, WBC maturation series Picto-strip, wide base with rubber feet for stable use and dual reset knobs are the added features of these devices. There is a special bell attached to these models to give a signal on counting 100 cells.

Unico Differential-Counters - Best Choices for All Medical Laboratory Settings

Unico differential counters are known for their quality, style, value and reliability. They are durable, and ensure long term performance without any hassles. These products function well even in the most demanding laboratory settings. All models of differential counters from Unico are backed with the industry's best warrantees. Presently, these quality products are made available to customers through different dealers and distributors.

Find the Best Dealers in the Industry for Getting Good Deals

For getting good deals on Unico differential-counters, it is important to find the best dealers in the industry. Most of them provide their customers with easily accessible technical support on purchase of their products. A search online will help you locate the dealer of your choice.

Apart from Unico differential-counters, these dealers offer other lab equipment including microscopes, analyzers, spectrophotometers, colposcopes and more, for all your research needs.

Block Scientific is the affordable source of fine Medical Laboratory Equipments like Centrifuges, Differential-Counters, Chemistry Analyzers, Electrolyte Analyzers, Hematology Analyzers, Blood Gas Analyzers and more.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jeremy_Linder

The Bitter Truth About IVF

The evolution of modern medicine over the last 100 years has been phenomenal. Keyhole surgery and some of the diagnostic tools available today have made it possible to identify and deal with some of the health problems in a quick and easy way.

Post accident and trauma treatments are second to none as well as the replacements of worn joints. Thanks to modern technology and procedures we can now have artificial joints, bypasses, donor organs, pace makers and postpone death for longer. But at what price? And what quality of life can we expect if we are dependent on two fistfuls of prescription drugs, one for our condition and the other to counteract the side effects of the first fistful? And why did we allow our health to deteriorate so far?

Technology can not prevent disease nor enhance ones wellbeing and overall health. Technology can not remove the cause of a disease or a condition. Only you can do that.

Somewhere in the last 100 years we started believing that these amazing advances in medicine will take care of anything that goes wrong in the course of our lives and that we don't have to do anything on our part to stay healthy and well.

Some 20 years ago tables have turned when we got a healthy dose of reality check. Drugs bring in tow an array of side effects and contraindications of which some can be quite debilitating and can significantly reduce the quality of life.

Infertility treatments are no different;

There is a place for assisted reproduction technology and sometimes that is the only viable option. Having said that even if you choose that option without trying the natural methods first, just remember that you can actually do both to double your chances of success with ART.

A study by Foresight, the Association for Pre-conceptual healthcare in the United Kingdom shows that couples going through IVF are up to 47% more successful if they used pre-conceptual health care program first.

The same study demonstrated an astounding success rate of 81% of conceptions among couples previously diagnosed as infertile. Among those who conceived there were no miscarriages, no perinatal deaths, no malformations and no newborn admissions to intensive care. Women who participated in the study were between 25 and 45 years old and Men between 25 and 59 years old. (Pract. Midwife)

Those numbers speak for themselves, not to mention the following figures which illustrate the financial implications.

Financial Costs of ART

In the US an average IVF cycle costs between $10,000 and $15,000. Analysts have reported costs of about $35,000 per delivery in younger women, while medical costs per delivery are over $132,000 for women over 40. (Marc Perloe, Your Total Health)

Additional charges apply if you choose a donor, artificial insemination and freezing, ICSI (intracytoplasmic sperm injection) and PGD (Pre-Implantation Genetic Diagnosis). You health cover may not even cover the newer procedures as they've only been around for a short time and the risk factors as well as generational effects have not yet been established. Besides for women over 40 IVF is up to 4 times less cost effective. (The Medical Journal of Australia)

An Australian study on the costing of ART found that the average health care cost per non-donor ART live birth was $ 32, 903 ($24,809 if under 30 and $97,884 if under 40). The staggering cost of live birth for women aged 42 and over was $182,794! (The Medical Journal of Australia)

Now that is a lot of money, especially if you take the following findings into consideration:

Health Risks of ART

Studies have shown that IVF drugs are dangerous for the health of mothers as well as babies and there is no clear evidence they increase a woman's chance of conceiving. Multiple studies have documented the high risk of birth deformity and severe health problems associated with IVF births. A study from Finland in 2005 showed 43 babies out of every thousand conceived using IVF techniques suffered from a variety of abnormalities including genetic deformities, brain disorders, developmental delays and genital malformations.(Dr. Geeta Nargund).

Dr. Alastair Sutcliffe of the Institute of Child Health at University College London and Dr. Michael Ludwid of the Centre for Reproductive Medicine and Gynaecologic Endocrinology in Hamburg, conducted a study where they examined 3,980 articles in medical and scientific journals published between 1980 and 2005. The study results showed that there are significantly higher risks of long -term medical problems for children conceived via artificial means such as IVF and ICSI. The doctors have advised that the children should be monitored well into the adulthood as there are no long term data available about their health as adults.

The study showed that there is:

· 20%-34% - higher risk of miscarriage

· 55% - increased risk of pre-eclampsia (high blood pressure in pregnancy)

· 155% - increased risk of stillbirth

· 170%-200% - increased risk of very low birth rate

Another study conducted in 2007 showed that children conceived through IVF visit hospitals significantly more times than naturally conceived children.

Dr. Marjo - Riita Jarvelin, professor at Imperial College London reported that certain disease groups such as infections, respiratory and inflammatory diseases and neurological disorders were more common among those born after IVF.

In addition concerns have been raised about the impact of IVF on mental health of the women undergoing the procedures. Such high unnatural doses of artificial hormones play havoc with a woman's body and mind which is only worsening already distressed and depressed state many women find themselves in when they find out that they are infertile.

Researchers have warned that women seeking treatment for infertility have an increased rate of depressive symptoms and possibly major depression. (Hum. Reprod.)

In the light of the numerous concerns that have been raised among scientists about the increased risk of serious undesirable side effects F. Comhaire and A. Mahmoud from the Centre for Medical and Urological Andrology, Ghent University Hospital in Belgium concluded that:

"IVF and ICIS treatments must be reserved as the ultimate option after evidence-based and cause-directed treatment of the male patient with deficient semen has been exhausted".(F. Comhaire and A. Mahmoud from the Centre for Medical and Urological Andrology, Ghent University Hospital in Belgium)

Furthermore Dr. Geeta Nargund, head of reproductive medicine at St. George's Hospital in London, warned about consequences for a woman's reproductive organs later in life, especially uterine cancer. Dr. Nargund pointed out that IVF drugs used by fertility clinics are unregulated, and since the existing guidelines are not binding fertility clinics are free to prescribe dangerously high doses of drugs, even though there is NO SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE to show that it will help the women conceive, nor what the long term consequences are.The bottom line is more research is needed.

Couples are emotionally, physically and financially broke after repeated cycles of IVF. The last thing they need if they do get pregnant, is a miscarriage or a still born baby, not to mention the heartache and continual financial strain in case of a child with malformations and frequent visits to a hospital or a lingering worry about woman's health as she approaches older age where a natural tendency towards declining health already exists.

Taking all of this into account (and that's not even all there is!) it is only fair to say that IVF IS A BAD FIRST CHOICE. Leave it as the last option, after you've exhausted the natural options which will only make you healthier in the long run. And since you can use preconception health care with IVF, by all means make use of that choice to really minimize all the risks to your and your baby's health (and your partner's indirectly) should you still opt for IVF in the end.

And remember if you want a complete guide with step-by-step instructions on how to increase your odds of conceiving naturally and to learn about why ART may not be the best solution for you, see my "Why Popular Methods are Not a Long Term Solution" that's part of my "Natural Fertility Cures Program" only available at http://www.natural-fertility-cures.com

© 2008 Iva Keene and Australian Natural Therapeutics

WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR E-ZINE OR WEB SITE?
You can, as long as you include this complete text with it: Leading Switzerland based internationally recognized naturopathic physician and natural fertility expert Iva Keene publishes the celebrated 'Boost Your Fertility Naturally' ezine with 1,000+ subscribers. If you want to get pregnant naturally, avoid miscarriages, double the success rate of IVF if you must use it and have a healthy baby using natural fertility with exceptional success, get your FREE Natural Fertility advice now at http://www.natural-fertility-cures.com

Iva K. Keene

BHSc. ND. Adv Dip Nat. BBA. MANPA. MRN. NVS. SMGP.

Fertility Specialist

Registered Naturopathic Physician (UK)
SPAK Registered Natural Doctor (Switzerland)
Qualified Naturopath (Australia)

Natural Fertility Cures Program - available only from http://www.natural-fertility-cures.com "The revolutionary new evidence based fertility program derived from complimentary medicine research and practice"

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Iva_Keene

Ways To Make Your Penis Longer Without Enhancement Pills

There is nothing wrong to make your penis larger. You be surprised how many men in the world are insecure about their penis size. In fact, the penis enlargement industry is a multi-million dollar business. You see penis enlargement products everywhere from men's magazine, radio shows and television commercials.

Penis enlargement pills are commonly advertised in email spam. Research performed by reputable universities shows that there is no real evidence that pills work. In fact, they found that a lot of products have a lot of contaminants such as dangerous bacteria, lead, pesticides, mold and yeast. In addition, they concluded most people think it works because of the placebo effect.

There are effective ways in which you can increase your penis size:

• Surgery. Surgery used for enlarging the penis has been performed for many decades. It enlarges the penis size but according to the Institute of Urology in London and St Peter's Andrology Centre, has found that most people weren't happy with the outcome.
• Cosmetic. You can make your penis look bigger by trimming your pubic hair or by reducing your weight.
• Penis Pump. It consists of a cylinder that is applied over the penis. A motorized or manual pump is used to create suction. If too much pressure is applied, it may cause vascular damage to your penis.
• Hanging. Hanging is a technique that has been used for centuries by specific African tribes. Basically, a rope or strap is wrapped around your penis and is pulled down by gravity using a weight. However, it is best to avoid this technique because it can cause excessive trauma.
• Penis Exercises. It is one of the most effective and safest ways to increase your penis size. Exercises are to be performed daily and can be performed for only a few minutes a day.

Discover A Genuine Way To Permanently Enlarge Your Penis [http://sexsecrets911.com] At Home - Using Just Your Hands By Visiting [http://sexsecrets911.com]

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Phil_L_King