Jezebel: Syphilis

Columbus Totally Gave Everyone Syphilis

Anna North — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 17:35:00 EST

Researchers initially doubted the theory that Columbus and his crew brought syphilis back to Europe from the New World, because 50 European skeletons allegedly dating back to before Columbus's first voyage showed signs of the disease. But now biologist George Armelagos and his team have reexamined the skeletons, and found that most don't actually meet all the criteria for diagnosing the disease. And those that do are contaminated by carbon from seafood intake, which gets into bones and can make them look older than they really are. Result: there's currently no compelling evidence of syphilis in Europe before 1492, and Columbus might well be the culprit after all. More »

How To Save A Quarter Of A Million Babies

Irin Carmon — Thu, 16 Jun 2011 15:12:11 EDT

Every year, there are five hundred thousand stillbirths or newborn deaths because of undetected syphilis passed from mothers' wombs. Public health researchers say that number could be more than halved with cheap testing. More »

Good News For 18% Of Those Diagnosed With Syphilis

Margaret Hartmann — Fri, 11 Feb 2011 09:28:00 EST

After studying five labs, the CDC concluded 18% of people who tested positive for syphilis since the '80s don't actually have the disease. Congratulations! (Though now doctors are back to square one on explaining your sores and hair loss.) More »

Gonorrhea Rates At All-Time Low, Other STDs On The Rise

Margaret Hartmann — Tue, 23 Nov 2010 11:56:00 EST

According to the CDC, the number of reported gonorrhea cases dropped last year to 301,000, the lowest rate since 1941. But don't start the celebratory fornicating just yet: chlamydia and syphilis infections are still on the rise. More »

Divorce Fair Helps Couples Move On • Syphilis On The Rise In China

Katy Kelleher — Thu, 06 May 2010 17:40:00 EDT

• Italy has decided to jump on the bandwagon (pioneered by U.S. and British organizers) and host a "divorce fair." The event aims to help divorcing people start a new life. Services include anti-stalking help — and makeover tips! • More »

Spreading The Love

Katy Kelleher — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 10:20:00 EST

Researchers report that STD rates in the U.S. are through the roof. "We have among the highest rates of STDs of any developed country in the world," said John Douglas from the CDC, who suggests abstinence-only is to blame. [Reuters] More »

Red Alert

Sadie Stein — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 15:30:00 EST

The GOP's opposition to putting $330 million stimulus dollars towards STD prevention funding could hurt their own constituents: Gonorrhea, Chlamydia and Syphilis, the most prevalent non-AIDS STDs are unusually high in Red States. [Politico] More »

"Is It Normal For Straight Girls To Only Like Girl-On-Girl Porn?"

Tracie Egan Morrissey — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 16:20:00 EDT

It's time for another installment of Pot Psychology, the "advice column" in which everyone's problems are solved with an "herbal" remedy. (Remember, kids: Don't do drugs!) In this episode, Rich and I got help from our pal Sasha Frere-Jones again, to tackle problems like leaky vaginas, syphilis, and boyfriends who drool during oral sex. Got a burning question? Send it to potpsych@jezebel.com. (Please keep them short; they're verrrry hard to read when stoned.) More »

Walt Disney's Educational Cartoon On STDs

Tracie Egan Morrissey — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 11:30:00 EDT

We thought we were lucky when we found Disney's 1946 educational cartoon about menstruation. But then we happened upon Disney's 1972 cartoon educational cartoon about venereal disease! It's so weird how progressive the company used to be back in the day. In VD Attack Plan, STD "germs" — syphilis and gonorrhea — pose as troops and meet up to learn all the ways that they can infiltrate and infect humans, and the ways that humans can put up a defense. Check out the picture of the old fashioned condom in the video. Is it sewn together? It "seams" like it (yuk yuk). More »

"Is It True That You Should Sleep Without Panties On To Air Out?"

Tracie Egan Morrissey — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 16:20:00 EDT

It's time for another installment of Pot Psychology, the advice column in which everyone's problems are solved with an "herbal" remedy. (As always: Don't do drugs!) It was my pleasure to get baked with my brother of another mother, Rich, and attempt to tackle issues like "accidental virginity", personal hygiene, and telling your ex you have syphilis. (Note that I said "attempt.") Got a burning question? Send it to tips@jezebel.com with "Pot Psychology" in the subject line. (Please keep them short; they're verrrry hard to read when stoned.) More »

Meet Ashley Alexandra Dupre. She Fucked Eliot Spitzer. She Is The Future Of Music!

Moe — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 19:00:00 EDT

I know what I want, you know what I want, I know what you need, can you handle me? Thus begins the mellifluous "What We Want," the latest track posted on the MySpace page of Ashley Alexandra Dupre, the musician, abuse victim, former drug abuser and self-professed "non moron" who had sex with Eliot Spitzer under the name "Kristen" the night before Valentine's Day. Perhaps some blog will pay her $4,300 to perform it at their annual party in May? [NYT]

The Emperor's Club also offered graphic design and consulting services but I'm thinking they weren't that popular because I could probably design their website myself. [Slate]

Eliot Spitzer is a Gemini. Libras are famously attracted to Geminis so I guess I should consider it a bullet dodged. [More »

Study Shows Sex Ed Works For (Some) Teens

Jessica — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 09:30:00 EST

New evidence suggests that teenage boys who receive sex education are three times more likely to use condoms when they lose their virginity. And that's not the only good news: The same study, conducted by the Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta, showed that all teens who receive some kind of sex education will delay sex until at least age fifteen. The CDC did not differentiate what kid of sex education was taught — it treated abstinence-focused education the same way it studied more progressive forms of sex ed — though research released earlier this year showed that abstinence only programs don't really work. (Interestingly, the only form of sex ed required in Jamie Lynn Spears' home state of Louisiana is abstinence only; Jessica Sierra's home state of Florida also requires abstinence only education but does not impose either sex ed or contraceptive practices on its students.) More »