TITLE    : What's In It?
STORYID  : whats-in-it
SUMMARY  : Secret ingredients of body fluids and "personal" products.
AUTHOR   : Cal Y. Pygia@lit
DATE     : 2007-08-23
CATEGORY : reviews-and-essays
FLAGS    : 
TAGS     : |anal lube|urine|vagina|ky jelly|birth-control pills|oral contraceptives|breast milk|douche|semen|spermicide|


ANAL LUBE: Competing anal lubricants contain similar ingredients.



One lists its key ingredients as petrolatum, octyldodecanol, and nonoxynol-15.



Essentially, petrolatum is petroleum jelly, a semi-solid mixture of hydrocarbons. CAUTION: Petroleum jelly breaks down condoms. Prophylactics should be used only with a water-based, never an oil-based, sexual lubricant.



Octyldodecanol is an emulsifier and opacifying agent. An emulsifier is a substance that creates an emulsion (a suspension of small globules of one liquid in a second liquid). Due to its lubricating and emollient properties, it's used primarily as a thickening agent in moisturizers. Emollients are supple, wax-like substances that prevent water loss and have a soothing effect upon the skin. To opacify is to make something opaque, or impenetrable by light and, therefore, neither transparent nor translucent.



Nonoxynol-15 is a non-ionic nonoxynol surfactant (or tensides). A surfactant lowers the surface tension of a liquid. Surface tension is an effect inside the surface layer of a liquid that causes the layer to act as an elastic sheet. This effect enables some insects, such as the water strider, to walk on water. A surfactant allows liquid to spread more easily. It also lowers the interfacial tension between liquids. Interfacial tension results from the same effect as that which causes surface tension, allowing one liquid, such as oil, to float upon another liquid, such as water. Nonoxynol-15 is also a spermicidal (see below). CAUTION: It was once believed to protect against sexually transmitted diseases, including AIDS, but research has shown that it actually may increase the chances of the transmission of such diseases because it damages the physical barriers of the rectum and the vagina, causing tiny abrasions to their tissues. Any lubricant or condom that contains nonoxynol-15 should NOT be used if either partner has a sexually transmitted disease.



Another's anal lubricant's label includes propylparaben, methylparaben, and sodium carboxy methyl cellulose among its contents.



Propylparaben and methyparaben are preservatives. Like other parabens, they cause less irritation than some alternative preservatives. Laboratory research on animals and in vitro studies indicate that parabens may have a mildly estrogenic, or feminizing, effect. Their use has caused cancer in mice, although whether humans' exposure to these chemicals cause the same result is unknown, and, it should be pointed out that many other substances to which people are routinely exposed, including coffee, has estrogenic effects.



Sodium carboxy methyl cellulose is Sodium carboxy methyl cellulose is a cellulose ether gum and being anionic, it is a water-soluble polymer. It is supplied as granules or as a coarse powder of white to cream color and is available in varied grades and viscosity. An odorless, tasteless, and non-toxic powder, it's highly soluble in hot or cold water but stable towards hard water, alkalis, acids, and certain electrolytes. However, multi-valued metal ions and certain complex cations tend to precipitate sodium carboxy methyl cellulose from solution. The solution of sodium carboxy methyl cellulose has better resistance to microbiological attack as compared to many natural products. It is used as an additional thickening agent.



BIRTH-CONTROL PILLS: Birth-control pills, or oral contraceptives, contain various chemicals.



One type, taken once a day, contains both estrogen and a progestogen. 



Estrogen is a group of steroid compounds. Hormones, they diffuse across the cell membrane, inside the cell, acting upon estrogen receptors. In women, three natural estrogens exist: estradiol, estriol, and estrone. Enzymes acting upon androgens in the body produce these hormones. Estradiol is manufactured from the androgen testosterone, and estrone, which is weaker than estradiol, from the androgen andostenedione. A range of synthetic estrogens, or xenoestrogens, and natural estrogens, or phytoestrogens, made by plants, also exist.



Progesterone are steroid hormones similar to estrogens. Synthetic versions are known as progestins.



Another type or birth-control pill contains only a progestogen, and is also taken once daily.



An anti-progesterone, mifepristone has shown potential as an estrogen-free, daily oral contraceptive. Mifepristone is a synthetic steroid compound. It is used as a drug to induce abortion (an abortifacient) or, in reduced dosage, as an emergency contraceptive. It is also used to treat obstetric bleeding. In the United States, it is sold by Danco Laboratories under the trade name Mifeprex. The drug is still commonly referred to as RU-486.



Ormeloxifene (Centchroman) is a selective estrogen receptor modulator. It is taken one to two times per week. Ormeloxifene (also known as Centchroman) is one of the selective estrogen receptor modulators, or SERMs, a class of medication which acts on the estrogen receptor. It is best known as a non-hormonal, non-steroidal oral contraceptive which is taken once per week. In some parts of the body, its action is estrogenic (e.g., bones), in other parts of the body, its action is anti-estrogenic (e.g., uterus, breasts). It causes an asynchrony in the menstrual cycle between ovulation and the development of the uterine lining, preventing the implantation of the fertilized egg.



BREAST MILK: Breast milk, which has been proven to be superior to all commercial formulae, contains carbohydrates, protein, fat, vitamins, minerals, digestive enzymes, and hormones, and antibodies. The exact composition of the milk changes slightly from day to day, depending on the woman's diet and environment. CAUTION: Through breast milk, viruses, including AIDS or HIV-1, medications, and alcohol can be passed to the nursing infant.



Given the presence of appropriate hormonal stimulus, men can lactate, just as women do, since both boys and men, in addition to having nipples, also have mammary glands; however, the volume of the milk will be less than that of women's milk. Male-to-female transsexuals sometimes lactate due to the female hormones they take during their sexual transition. Men (and women) can also induce lactation by continual, long-term massaging of the nipples and simulated sucking of the nipples for months on end. Extreme stress over a long period of time can also cause men to lactate.



DOUCHE: A douche may consist of nothing more than water. It may also be composed of a water-and-vinegar mixture or a mixture of antiseptic chemicals. Lysol was advertised as a disinfectant douche and a spermicidal in the 1920's. An advertisement for another brand of douche warned women that "germs and bacteria take lodgment more easily in delicate membranes." Fortunately for them, the douche could "reach and dislodge bacterial life. . . by a whirling liquid action," rather like that of a drain-opener, and its "spray dilutes or smoothes out the membranes and flushes them clean." The ad assured women that "medication is thorough and complete," and the douche could be employed "without injury to bulb or tube." CAUTION: Today, douching is not usually recommended, as it is believed to be more harmful than beneficial in most cases, and only American women regularly perform the procedure.



A popular brand of douche contains purified water, octoxynol-9, citric acid, sodium benzoate, disodium EDTA, and fragrance.



Octoxynol-9 is a non-ionic surfactant containing a hydrophilic polyethylene oxide group and a hydrocarbon lipophilic or hydrophobic group. Viscous at room temperature, the part formed from ethylene oxide is best used when slightly warmed. Otoxynol-9, which is known by many synonyms, is a common detergent.



Citric acid is a weak organic acid found in fruit. It is a natural preservative and adds a slightly tart, or sour, taste to foods and soft drinks. It is also a cleaning agent and an antioxidant. It has a slightly astringent odor, imparting the "fresh scent" that advertisers often claim for the clients' products.



Sodium benzoate is a preservative. It hampers the growth of bacteria (having a bacteriostatic effect), but does not kill them (as a bactericide does).



Disodium EDTA (the "EDTA" is an acronym for "ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid") is a stabilizer (chelating agent) that prevents ingredients in the formula from binding with trace elements, especially minerals, that would cause unwanted changes to the product's texture, odor, or consistency. 



KY JELLY: KY Jelly is a sexual lubricant. It contains chlorhexidine gluconate, glucono delta lactone, glycerin, hydroxyethylcellulose, methylparaben, purified water, and sodium hydroxide. Several of these ingredients have been considered previously, so we'll concentrate on those that haven't been discussed.



Chlorhexidine gluconate is a topical antiseptic that can cause irritation. It is both bacteriostatic and bactericidal. It is believed to disrupt the bacterium's membrane. CAUTION: Do not apply chlorhexidine gluconate in or near the eyes or ears. In small amounts, its use in the rectum or the vagina is safe, and it is often employed as an active ingredient in mouthwashes.



Glucono delta lactone is a naturally-occurring food additive used as a sequestrant (food stabilizer), an acidifier, or a curing, pickling, or leavening agent. 



Glycerin is a chemical compound (sugar alcohol) with three hydrophilic alcoholic hydroxyl groups that are responsible for its solubility in water and its hygroscopic nature. Glycerine is used in medical and pharmaceutical preparations, mainly as a means of improving smoothness, providing lubrication and as a humectant (a chemical that attracts water molecules).



Hydroxyethylcellulose is a liquid thickener. It is used in another product as well--Mr. Bubble, a brand of bath foam popular among children.



SEMEN: Semen contains a wide range of nutrients and other chemicals which are delivered by various internal organs, sexual and otherwise, in the male. Among the ingredients of semen are sugars (fructose, sorbitol, inositol), proteins and amino acids (glutathione, deoxyribonucleic acid, creatin), minerals (phosphorus, zinc, magnesium, calcium, potassium), vitamins (ascorbic acid, vitamin B12, choline), hormones (testosterone, prostaglandins), and body byproducts (lactic acid, urea, uric acid, nitrogen). Semen often contains sperm, too, as a result of ejaculation.



As long as the man is healthy and disease free, his semen may be consumed without reservation, for it is harmless, even nutritious, and non-fattening, with only approximately 15 calories per ejaculate (the average ejaculate being equal to approximately one tablespoon, or three teaspoons) and minimal carbohydrates. CAUTION: Infected semen can transit venereal diseases, including HIV and AIDS.



SPERMICIDE: A spermicide is a foam, cream, jelly, suppository or film, which contains active ingredients to kill sperm on contact. A spermicidal also acts as a barrier, preventing sperm from entering the vagina (or rectum). The most common spermicidal ingredient is nonoxynol-9 (a synonym for nonoxybol-15, described above). The typical failure rate for spermicidal is 15 percent; the lowest expected failure rate is three percent. CAUTION: A small number of people are allergic to the ingredients in spermicidal.



URINE: Urine can be a healthy drink. Mahatma Gandhi drank his own urine, and many others attest to its health benefits. (Drinking urine is known as urophagia; it is a popular pastime among BDSM enthusiasts as well as practitioners of urine therapy.) Urea therapy is based upon the premise that the daily drinking of one's own urine can cure and prevent a wide variety of diseases, both minor and potentially lethal. CAUTION: Infected urine can transit venereal diseases, including HIV and AIDS.



Urine contains urea, dissolved salts and organic materials (allantoin, DHEA hormone, antibodies, melatonin, testosterone, androgens, estrogen, and many others, depending on the body's daily needs and discards.) 

