AUBURN - Dr. Ruth Westheimer is an old-fashioned woman. Or at least that is what the famous sex therapist told a group of public health workers and counselors in Auburn last week.
Jill Connor / The Citizen
Dr. Ruth Westheimer signs a copy of “Sex for Dummies” for Yvelisse Rochez, who works for the In-Control Program in Rochester, following Westheimer's speech at a sexual health conference at the Holiday Inn in Auburn on Wednesday. Assisting her is Chris Sopran, a community health educator with East Hill Family Medical Center .
Dr. Ruth Westheimer signs a copy of “Sex for Dummies” for Yvelisse Rochez, who works for the In-Control Program in Rochester, following Westheimer's speech at a sexual health conference at the Holiday Inn in Auburn on Wednesday. Assisting her is Chris Sopran, a community health educator with East Hill Family Medical Center .
During a portion of a lunchtime discussion where Westheimer took questions from the audience, she was asked to give her “craziest” sex story.
“I don't have a crazy story,” she told the audience. “I'm old fashioned. I'm a square.”
Westheimer was the keynote speaker Wednesday during a sexual education conference at the Holiday Inn. During her hour-long talk, she covered issues like health and education as well as some more blush-inducing topics.
Westheimer also answered questions - some on racy topics one might hear listening to late-night radio - from the audience.
She talked in a frank manner when discussing teenage pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases and relationships, though her distinct humor was present throughout.
“How many spermatozoa does it take to get you pregnant?” Westheimer asked. “Just one fast one.”
Throughout the lecture, Westheimer stressed the importance of communication when it comes to health and sexuality. Communicate with children and teenagers to help them make informed decisions. Communicate with your partner to build a strong, satisfying relationship. Communicate with yourself to be in tune with your body. And communicate with the public to dispel myths and discourage “sexual illiteracy,” she said.
During her talk, Westheimer said many medical doctors have missed opportunities to encourage such communication with the rise of medications like Viagra. It should be the couple who comes to the doctor's office together, not just the man showing up for a prescription, she said.
“Then he just comes home and hops into bed,” Westheimer said. “He didn't bring her flowers, and he hasn't done the dishes for her. If there is a sporting event on television, maybe he hasn't talked to her in three days.”
The lecture capped off a morning conference on sexual education hosted by Auburn-based East Hill Family Medical, Inc. The participants were mostly public health workers, educators and counselors, and they attended workshops on sexual counseling, training, public education and more.
Westheimer told the audience their jobs are some of the most important, as they offer vital information for both teens and parents.
“You are called in Sociology significant others. It is very important," she said.
Perhaps most famous for her radio and television appearances, Westheimer is also a therapist and a researcher. Short in stature but large in personality, the 80-year-old has been a recognizable pop culture figure since the 1980s.
In the 1940s, before she studied psychology in France, she was a sharpshooter and scout for a Jewish militia group.
Westheimer talked little on her own experiences, maintaining throughout that she did not have exciting experiences to share.
She did tell one story of her late husband and an interview with Diane Sawyer. Westheimer never allowed her husband to sit in on her interviews and talks, as she wanted to be as blunt as possible, she said. However, because he was such a fan of the television journalist, he attended an interview Sawyer conducted with Westheimer.
"She asked (my husband), 'How's your sex life?' " Westheimer said. "He said 'The shoe maker's children don't ever have shoes.' "
Staff writer Christopher Caskey can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 282 or christopher.caskey@lee.net.
“I don't have a crazy story,” she told the audience. “I'm old fashioned. I'm a square.”
Westheimer was the keynote speaker Wednesday during a sexual education conference at the Holiday Inn. During her hour-long talk, she covered issues like health and education as well as some more blush-inducing topics.
Westheimer also answered questions - some on racy topics one might hear listening to late-night radio - from the audience.
She talked in a frank manner when discussing teenage pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases and relationships, though her distinct humor was present throughout.
“How many spermatozoa does it take to get you pregnant?” Westheimer asked. “Just one fast one.”
Throughout the lecture, Westheimer stressed the importance of communication when it comes to health and sexuality. Communicate with children and teenagers to help them make informed decisions. Communicate with your partner to build a strong, satisfying relationship. Communicate with yourself to be in tune with your body. And communicate with the public to dispel myths and discourage “sexual illiteracy,” she said.
During her talk, Westheimer said many medical doctors have missed opportunities to encourage such communication with the rise of medications like Viagra. It should be the couple who comes to the doctor's office together, not just the man showing up for a prescription, she said.
“Then he just comes home and hops into bed,” Westheimer said. “He didn't bring her flowers, and he hasn't done the dishes for her. If there is a sporting event on television, maybe he hasn't talked to her in three days.”
The lecture capped off a morning conference on sexual education hosted by Auburn-based East Hill Family Medical, Inc. The participants were mostly public health workers, educators and counselors, and they attended workshops on sexual counseling, training, public education and more.
Westheimer told the audience their jobs are some of the most important, as they offer vital information for both teens and parents.
“You are called in Sociology significant others. It is very important," she said.
Perhaps most famous for her radio and television appearances, Westheimer is also a therapist and a researcher. Short in stature but large in personality, the 80-year-old has been a recognizable pop culture figure since the 1980s.
In the 1940s, before she studied psychology in France, she was a sharpshooter and scout for a Jewish militia group.
Westheimer talked little on her own experiences, maintaining throughout that she did not have exciting experiences to share.
She did tell one story of her late husband and an interview with Diane Sawyer. Westheimer never allowed her husband to sit in on her interviews and talks, as she wanted to be as blunt as possible, she said. However, because he was such a fan of the television journalist, he attended an interview Sawyer conducted with Westheimer.
"She asked (my husband), 'How's your sex life?' " Westheimer said. "He said 'The shoe maker's children don't ever have shoes.' "
Staff writer Christopher Caskey can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 282 or christopher.caskey@lee.net.
