Carolin Klein

Routes of Recruitment : Pimps' Techniques and Other Circumstances That Lead to Street Prostitution

ABSTRACT Much of the research on prostitution to date has focused on the risks of working on the streets. However, no research has described the recruitment process for street prostitution. This exploratory study describes some of the main techniques that pimps use to recruit children and women into the trade, including the pretense of love, threats of indebtedness, drug addiction, manipulation, and violence. In addition, social situations that leave women feeling that they have few alternatives to working on the streets are described.

Continuing Medical Education: Sexual Functioning in Transsexuals Following Hormone Therapy and Genital Surgery: A Review (CME)

INTRODUCTION Sexual function following genital sexual reassignment surgery (SRS) is an important outcome for many transsexuals, affecting the choice of surgical technique, satisfaction with surgery, and quality of life. However, compared to other outcome measures, little clinical and research attention has been given to sexual functioning following SRS. AIM To discuss the potential impact of cross-sex hormone therapy and SRS on sexual function and to summarize the published empirical research on postsurgical sexual functioning in male-to-female (MtF) and female-to-male (FtM) transsexuals. METHODS Cross-sex hormone therapy and SRS techniques are outlined, the potential roles of cross-sex hormone therapy and SRS on sexual function are discussed, and peer-reviewed literature published in English on postoperative sexual functioning in MtF and FtM transsexuals is reviewed. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Sexual desire, sexual arousal, and ability to achieve orgasm following SRS. RESULTS Contrary to early views, transsexualism does not appear to be associated with a hyposexual condition. In MtF transsexuals, rates of hypoactive sexual desire disorder (HSDD) are similar to those found in the general female population. In FtM transsexuals, sexual desire appears unequivocally to increase following SRS. Studies with MtF transsexuals have revealed not only vasocongestion, but also the secretion of fluid during sexual arousal. Research on sexual arousal in FtM transsexuals is sorely lacking, but at least one study indicates increased arousal following SRS. The most substantial literature on sexual functioning in postoperative transsexuals pertains to orgasm, with most reports indicating moderate to high rates of orgasmic functioning in both MtF and FtM transsexuals. CONCLUSIONS Based on the available literature, transsexuals appear to have adequate sexual functioning and/or high rates of sexual satisfaction following SRS. Further research is required to understand fully the effects of varying types and dosages of cross-sex hormone therapies and particular SRS techniques on sexual functioning.Introduction Sexual function following genital sexual reassignment surgery (SRS) is an important outcome for many transsexuals, affecting the choice of surgical technique, satisfaction with surgery, and quality of life. However, compared to other outcome measures, little clinical and research attention has been given to sexual functioning following SRS.

JSM HIGHLIGHTSContinuing Medical Education: Sexual Functioning in Transsexuals Following Hormone Therapy and Genital Surgery: A Review (CME)

INTRODUCTION Sexual function following genital sexual reassignment surgery (SRS) is an important outcome for many transsexuals, affecting the choice of surgical technique, satisfaction with surgery, and quality of life. However, compared to other outcome measures, little clinical and research attention has been given to sexual functioning following SRS. AIM To discuss the potential impact of cross-sex hormone therapy and SRS on sexual function and to summarize the published empirical research on postsurgical sexual functioning in male-to-female (MtF) and female-to-male (FtM) transsexuals. METHODS Cross-sex hormone therapy and SRS techniques are outlined, the potential roles of cross-sex hormone therapy and SRS on sexual function are discussed, and peer-reviewed literature published in English on postoperative sexual functioning in MtF and FtM transsexuals is reviewed. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Sexual desire, sexual arousal, and ability to achieve orgasm following SRS. RESULTS Contrary to early views, transsexualism does not appear to be associated with a hyposexual condition. In MtF transsexuals, rates of hypoactive sexual desire disorder (HSDD) are similar to those found in the general female population. In FtM transsexuals, sexual desire appears unequivocally to increase following SRS. Studies with MtF transsexuals have revealed not only vasocongestion, but also the secretion of fluid during sexual arousal. Research on sexual arousal in FtM transsexuals is sorely lacking, but at least one study indicates increased arousal following SRS. The most substantial literature on sexual functioning in postoperative transsexuals pertains to orgasm, with most reports indicating moderate to high rates of orgasmic functioning in both MtF and FtM transsexuals. CONCLUSIONS Based on the available literature, transsexuals appear to have adequate sexual functioning and/or high rates of sexual satisfaction following SRS. Further research is required to understand fully the effects of varying types and dosages of cross-sex hormone therapies and particular SRS techniques on sexual functioning.Introduction Sexual function following genital sexual reassignment surgery (SRS) is an important outcome for many transsexuals, affecting the choice of surgical technique, satisfaction with surgery, and quality of life. However, compared to other outcome measures, little clinical and research attention has been given to sexual functioning following SRS.

Circulating Endocannabinoid Concentrations and Sexual Arousal in Women

INTRODUCTION Several lines of evidence point to the potential role of the endocannabinoid system in female sexual functioning. These include results from studies describing the subjective effects of exogenous cannabinoids on sexual functioning in humans and the observable effects of exogenous cannabinoids on sexual functioning in other species, as well as results from studies investigating the location of cannabinoid receptors in the brain and periphery, and the effects of cannabinoid receptor activation on neurotransmitters implicated in sexual functioning. While these lines of research suggest a role for the endocannabinoid system in female sexual functioning, no studies investigating the relationship between concentrations of endogenous cannabinoids (i.e., arachidonoylethanolamide [AEA] and 2-arachidonoylglycerol [2-AG]) and sexual functioning have been conducted in any species. AIM To measure circulating endocannabinoid concentrations in relation to subjective and physiological indices of sexual arousal in women (N = 21). METHODS Serum endocannabinoid (AEA and 2-AG) concentrations were measured immediately prior to, and immediately following, viewing of neutral (control) and erotic (experimental) film stimuli in a repeated measures design. Physiological sexual arousal was measured via vaginal photoplethysmography. Subjective sexual arousal was measured both continuously and noncontinuously. Pearsons correlations were used to investigate the relationships between endocannabinoid concentrations and sexual arousal. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Changes in AEA and 2-AG concentrations from pre- to post-film and in relation to physiological and subjective indices of sexual arousal. RESULTS Results revealed a significant relationship between endocannabinoid concentrations and female sexual arousal, whereby increases in both physiological and subjective indices of sexual arousal were significantly associated with decreases in AEA, and increases in subjective indices of sexual arousal were significantly associated with decreases in 2-AG. CONCLUSIONS These findings support the hypothesis that the endocannabinoid system is involved in female sexual functioning, with implications for furthering understanding of the biological mechanisms underlying female sexual functioning.

Rape myth acceptance in men who completed the prostitution offender program of British Columbia.

In an effort to characterize the attitudes and characteristics of men who solicit sex, this study investigated rape myth acceptance as assessed by a modification of Burts Rape Myth Acceptance Scale. The participants were all men who took part in the Prostitution Offender Program of British Columbia after being arrested for attempting to solicit sex from an undercover police officer. Relationships between endorsement of rape myths, other attitudes, sexual behavior, and demographic variables were examined. Results reveal that age, education, use of pornography, ideal frequency of intercourse, and believing that purchasing sex is a problem are all negatively correlated with rape myth acceptance. Positive correlations were found between rape myth acceptance and sexual conservatism, sexual violence/coercion, and social desirability. Results are discussed in terms of the association between rape myth acceptance and the violence frequently perpetrated against those working in the sex trade.

Perceived Prevalence and Definitions of Sexual Dysfunction as Predictors of Sexual Function and Satisfaction

Evidence for the influence of sexual beliefs on sexual functioning and satisfaction has mainly emanated from clinical lore. Empirical investigations on this topic remain sparse. This study investigated whether beliefs regarding prevalence and definitions of male and female sexual dysfunctions predicted sexual function and satisfaction in a sample of 131 undergraduate students. Results indicated that higher perceived prevalence of male and female sexual dysfunctions was predictive of lower sexual functioning and poorer sexual satisfaction in women. For the male participants, none of the examined sexual beliefs emerged as significant predictors of their sexual functioning or satisfaction. Surprisingly, it was also found that participants estimated the prevalence of female sexual dysfunctions to be higher than male sexual dysfunctions, while defining male sexual dysfunctions more broadly than female sexual dysfunctions. Possible mechanisms for the findings are provided.

Psychophysiological and subjective sexual arousal to visual sexual stimuli in new women

Conflicting data exist regarding the sexual arousal patterns of post-operative male-to-female (MTF) women with Gender Identity Disorder. The purpose of this study was to examine objective and subjective aspects of the sexual arousal response using a vaginal photoplethysmograph. Fifteen MTF women viewed neutral and erotic audiovisual film segments while their blood flow patterns were monitored. Subjective measures of affect and sexual arousal were taken before and immediately after the films. There was a significant increase in self-reported subjective arousal, perceived genital arousal, perceived autonomic arousal, and positive affect; however, movement artefacts interfered with our assessment of the genital arousal response. MTF women reported both low levels of pain and low levels of awareness of the vaginal probe during testing. These data are discussed in the context of differences in pelvic musculature between natal and new women and have implications for future studies that aim to measure sexual arousal objectively in MTF women.