Guelph Sexuality Conference spans four decades
The University of Guelph has many connections to sexuality. Guest speakers give lectures and panel discussions on various topics regarding sexuality, including an upcoming presentation by writer and sex educator Cory Silverberg. There are also sexual workshops hosted by the Wellness Education Centre and other organizations on campus.
Every year the University of Guelph hosts the Guelph Sexuality Conference, which will have its 41st annual meeting this June.
There are also professors on campus who research sexuality. Dr. Tuuli Kukkonen is the director of the Psychophysiology of Sexual Health (POSH) lab, where thermal imaging technology is used to better understand sexual responses. Thermography is a less invasive technique than many of the others available (such as penile strain gauge and vaginal photoplethysmograph), as it uses heat-detecting cameras to measure arousal; more heat in the genital area equals more arousal.
Dr. Robin Milhausen, an Associate Professor in the Department of Family Relations and Applied Nutrition at U of G, also conducts research in the field of sexuality. In 2018, her publications focused on condom use and pleasure. Three studies conducted by Milhausen and colleagues showed the connections between these variables.
Do Associations Between Pleasure Ratings and Condom Use During Penile–Vaginal Intercourse Vary by Relationship Type?: A Study of Canadian University Students
One of these studies investigates the influence of relationship status on condom use and pleasure; researchers found that condom use is higher for those in less committed relationships (think one-time encounters or friends with benefits) than those in fully committed relationships. However, pleasure increases as relationships become more committed. For example, those in a ‘friends with benefits’ relationship find sex less pleasurable than those who are married. Lastly, this study also showed that within each relationship type, those who use a condom found sex just as pleasurable as those who did not use a condom.
The Protective Value of Discussing Condom Use: A Study of Young Black Men Attending STI Clinics in the Southern United States
Another study found that those who talked with their sexual partner about condom use before engaging in sex had fewer reports of unprotected sex than those who did not discuss condom usage before sex. They also had a lower incidence of STIs and less slippage of the condom. Those who discussed condom use with their partner before sex viewed condoms as being a fun part of sex more than those who did not have the discussion. This may indicate an agreement to the idea that condom use can make sex more pleasurable, as it can be erotic to discuss preferences for condoms and lubricant.
A Pilot Test of a Self-Guided, Home-Based Intervention to Improve Condom-Related Sexual Experiences, Attitudes, and Behaviors Among Young Women
The third study by Milhausen and colleagues was a pilot test of the Kinsey Institute, a non-profit condom research team. This program involved women experimenting with different condoms and lubricants in a go-at-your-own-pace environment to determine what is pleasurable. This pleasure-oriented program was successful in aiding participants to be more comfortable in the negotiation and application of condoms. This positively impacted the more consistent use of condoms and helped participants and their partners enjoy sex with condoms more.
The 2019 Guelph Sexuality Conference is scheduled to take place between June 20 and 21 in Rozanski Hall. The theme for this year is Redefining Relationships & Sexual Health. Below are the speakers for the 2018 Sexuality Conference.
- Markie Twist (opening plenary)
- Nancy Durand (featured speaker)
- Trust is… (closing plenary)
- Pleasure is for everybody: An exploration of sex and disability
- STI Clinical Update
- Genital Herpes: Clinical management and patient education
- And more…