Erectile Dysfunction v. Urinary Incontinence

OK...I need some answers here. Why is it that television ads for erectile dysfunction in older men seem to carry a more attractive and sexy tone while older women ads focus on the problems with wetting our pants at inconvenient moments?

I was on my way to bed when I saw an ad for erectile dysfunction. The older couple looked happy as they were getting ready for a rendezvous. Then what happens. The doorbell rings and company arrives. But never fear! The deep sexy voice of the male announcer tells us that little pill taken by the baby boomer hunk will last up to 36 hours. I don’t know about any other woman but I may not be in the mood in 36 hours so he may have wasted a pill.

Now on the flip side, during one of my favorite soap operas I saw an ad with a woman who looked a little frazzled because she had an "accident" in public and didn't want anyone to know. So day diapers to the rescue for her future. The next time she stepped out of her house she was as happy as a clam and no one had a clue it was because she felt so comfortable with her new thick diaper pads.

There's nothing sexy about having to take a pill to get an erection---and the promotion is that it lasts for hours. And it's even worse to tell the world to be on the lookout because I may have pee peed in my pants if I laugh hysterically.

"This has been a "meno moment" brought to you by the baby boomer drama queen."

OK…I’m off my soap box.

The Vagina Monologues

"Have you ever seen your vagina?" What a question to ask! Personally, I don't think it's anybody's business where this Baby Boomer Diva sticks her nose but apparently some women didn't mind answering the question. That question helped created Eve Ensler's book, "The Vagina Monologues."

This past Saturday night, my girlfriend and I went to see The Vagina Monologues performed onstage at North Carolina Central University. There were these young college girls portraying women who boldly expressed the memories and experiences with sexuality as it was related to Ms. Ensler. I had to blush a little when I heard these young girls, who could've been my daughters, refer to vaginas as "cunts" and "coochie snorchers." How could a vagina be compared to a village? And as someone who is in perimenopause, I am no longer interested in hearing about the flooding of the red sea.

But I sat and listened intently to the messages being delivered and I understood that this was more than just a play about women talking about vaginas. It was more about raising awareness of the sexual violence against women---not just here in the US---but all over the world. It was also a celebration of female sexuality in all its complexity and mystery.

As a result of watching the play, this baby boomer diva will never look at her vagina the same way again.