WEDNESDAY, July 16 (HealthDay News) -- New research suggests that people of African descent are much more likely to have a genetic trait that makes them more susceptible to infection with the HIV virus.

Scientists estimate that the trait -- which also provides protection against a form of malaria -- might account for 11 percent of the HIV cases in Africa, the continent hardest hit by the AIDS epidemic.

I don't know any women who use them but I know they are around and are supposed to be very effective. Does (or has) anyone use them? Everyone I know uses the Pill, an IUD or male condom.

Does the female condom protect against disease and infection as well as pregnancy and does sex feel the same with them? And where can I get them?

THURSDAY, July 2 (HealthDay News) -- In developing countries where breast-feeding is a necessity, and HIV is rampant, the risk of disease transmission through breast milk might be reduced if infants were first fed a freeze-dried formula full of good bacteria that could capture and potentially destroy the deadly virus.

We have selected several of the best entries from our Gift of Giving contest, which asked women to share their best health advice, and here is one of them. Please share your best health advice with us here. Your advice could be the answer that someone has been waiting for.

We have selected several of the best entries from our Gift of Giving contest, which asked women to share their best health advice, and here is one of them. Please share your best health advice with us here. Your advice could be the answer that someone has been waiting for.

THURSDAY, June 26 (HealthDay News) -- The latest data on HIV infection across 33 states finds new diagnoses jumping by 12 percent annually between 2001 and 2006 among young gay and bisexual men.

Researchers at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) say the rise is "especially concerning" for young black men aged 13 to 24 who have sex with men. For this group, the annual rate of new HIV diagnoses rose by 15 percent annually, compared to a 9 percent and an 8 percent annual rise among their white and Hispanic peers, respectively.

Unsafe sexual behavior continues to be a problem in New York City, says a health department report that found 11 percent of residents (about 610,000 adults) reported having more than one sex partner in the past year.

Men were much more likely than women to report multiple partners (17 percent vs. 6 percent), and young adults were four times more likely than older adults to report multiple partners, United Press International reported.

Thank you for your questions and comments. Let's look more closely at the impending June 10th issue. We can talk about the pros and cons about vaccines all day long and it won't matter because if we don't click on the link and send our letters now, we stand to lose our freedom to have any choice whatsoever.

Part of my job is to provide education (facts) regarding health issues. I don't usually impose my personal belief system on anyone. But since you asked, Tina, the answers to your questions are 'yes' and 'yes'. It's about health issues AND health freedoms. I will detail:

Friends and Colleagues,

We are facing serious health freedom consequences in the US that have not been mentioned during the nightly news.  Please take a moment to look at the attached Health Freedom Alert regarding vaccinations which will, for the first time in US history, make infant and toddler vaccinations MANDATORY.   I have researched the rise in number of infant thru 12 year old vaccinations over recent years.  The numbers are staggering.  

Where can I find more information on STDs?