Should I get breast implants

Q Doctor, will I be more attractive to men if I make my breasts larger? I am 28 and single. I have had a few boyfriends. But it has been three months since I have had a date.

Everyone tells me that I am very good-looking, and I suppose I don't look too bad. So I am sure that the problem is my flat chest. I get depressed about it sometimes.

Other women seem to have big 'oranges' on their chests. But my breasts look like someone has cut a lime in two, and put the two pieces on my chest. There is no doubt that this turn men off.

The other night, a man started hitting on me in a bar. But when I took off my coat, he just glanced at my chest and told me 'good night'.

I have a sister in Miami, and she has business contacts with a great plastic surgeon. I could afford to go there, and have breast implants.

But I have one final concern. Recently, I have heard that breast implants can burst, or even cause breast cancer. Is this true?

A Well, let's deal first with the effect that breasts have on men. There can be no doubt that most men are 'programmed' to like large breasts. Admittedly, a lot of men are very happy with small breasts.

But if you really are accurate in saying that your breasts are like 'half-limes', then I must agree that this puts you at a slight disadvantage in the 'dating game'. Some men do not mind at all. But it is a regrettable fact that others would rule you out.

However, I suspect that an additional problem may be a certain amount of lack of self-esteem on your part. In other words, you don't seem to have much confidence in your appearance. Men can sometimes detect this, and it may put them off.

So I certainly think it would be worth your while having a few sessions with a counsellor who could help you work on your self-esteem, and generally feel better about yourself.

To the question of cosmetic surgery, I suspect that whatever I say, you are going to go for a 'breast augmentation' operation. If you do choose to have it done in Miami, I urge you to make sure that this surgeon of whom you speak is what Americans call 'board-certified'. Also, try to find women who have had the operation done by him, and ask them if they are satisfied with the results.

Finally, these implants are little bags filled with silicone that feels like breast tissue. And they do sometimes burst. This is said to be particularly likely to happen on airline flights when the cabin air pressure is low.

Such occurrences are rare. But at the end of 2011, a particular type of breast implant made headlines around the world as it seems to have a very high rate of bursting. These implants were made by the French company PIP. There have also been claims that this particular type might be associated with cancer.

So whatever you do, make sure that the surgeon you choose does not give you PIP implants.

Q Doctor, my wife is now in the habit of reading slightly blue romantic stories when she is in bed. Now she wants me to read them to her because she believes this would help her to orgasm as she thinks I have a sexy voice. Is there any harm in this, Doctor? Should I go ahead?

A That type of thing is very common. There are now literally millions of erotic short stories on the Internet. They are often accessed by women.

I see no harm at all in reading a little of this type of material to your wife, particularly if it helps her to have an orgasm.

Q I am 27 years old and I have a curious little rough spot on my male organ. Could this be cancer?

A That is very unlikely at your age. Cancer of the penis is rare, and mainly occurs in much older men who have neglected to wash themselves for years.

This 'curious rough place' could be due to a skin disorder, but it could also be a symptom of a sexually transmitted infection (STI). Please ask a doctor to check it out right away.

Q My husband has been abroad on business and comes back next week. I am embarrassed to tell you that while he was away, I slept with a young college student twice. Will my husband be able to detect this when he gets back?

A There is no way that he could be able to detect this. But have you considered the possibility that you might have picked up an infection from this young man? It would be a good idea to have a check-up before you resume sex with your husband.

Also, please think about why you cheated. Are you unhappy in your marriage? Maybe you should have a few sessions with a marital counsellor.

Q Without meaning to, I sat down on a toilet seat in Ocho Rios yesterday. Could that give me VD, as I have heard?

A Although many persons have a fear of catching infections from toilet seats, I have never known of this to actually happen.

Q My wife saw some of those 'female condoms' in a pharmacy in Port Antonio, and she likes the idea of using them.

But are they safe, Doctor?

A Yes, the female condom, sold under the brand name 'Femidom', is safe and effective. It is like a little bag, which the woman places inside her vagina before intercourse.

The main danger is that when her partner enters her, he may miss the bag and put his organ outside it. So make sure that at the moment of entry, you actually point yourself into the female condom, and not down the outside of it.

Q Doctor, do you think that a woman's 'wifely duties' should include giving her man oral sex?

I am due to get married in three months, and my fiancé has made it very clear to me that he will expect me to do this for him.

A I do not think that anyone should be coerced into any kind of sexual activity which they find distasteful. Certainly, a wife has no legal obligation to provide oral sex.

If you and your fiancé differ so radically on this matter, maybe you should reconsider getting married.

Q I am a 34-year-old male and a virgin. If I go with a girl, will she be able to detect this?

A There are no outward signs of virginity in males. But why not just tell her? She may actually be pleased that you are a 'first-timer'.

Send questions to editor@gleanerjm.com and read more doctor's advice in the Saturday Gleaner.