SE-COND OPINION:

Contact several physicians to see if minimally inva­ sive hip surgery is for you.

hip procedure, experience counts

lave been reading inimally invasive 1cement surgery. lOpedic surgeon

~eded a hip 1, .nd I wonder dbe a candidate procedure. My ays he doesn't do Ition that way.

or mini-incision urgery is becom­ ~ procedure was ush Presbyterian

Hospital in Chicago.

The smaller incision surgery allows initially for less postoperative pain, a shorter hospitalization, and, initially, a less painful rehabilitation program. Stud­ ies, however, have not shown that the ultimate results of the minimally inva­ sive surgery are superior to the more tra­ ditional total hip replacement surgery at the six-months mark.

Also, experience is very important with the minimally invasive surgery as complications from the surgeon not see­ ing as well can be a downside. The most important thing is that, by either method,

the hip be properly positioned to have the optimal result in terms of pain relief and longevity of the hip replacement' prosthesis.

There are numerous orthopedic hip specialists in the South Florida area and you may want to contact a couple of these physicians to get a second opinion and see if you are potentially a candidate for the less invasive surgery.

Dr. Harlan Selesnick is the Miami Heat physician. E-mail: jock doc69@aol.com or c/o Desonta Holder, 1 Herald Plaza, Miami PI 33132.

fooled: Not all condoms created equally

1e of my friends t when it comes to )n, a condom is a

is a condom. Is Le, or do some {fer better protec-

tincoats come in , designs, flavors, ; and options for :ion or spermi­ ~e more choices p~rs on draft

~ ·two purposes.

pregnancy and :ing a nasty sexu­ ase. Here's the :finitely a differ­ . condoms, their ~egnancy and the

possibility of breakage.

Latex condoms are slightly more reli­ able than polyurethane condoms. Always choose a well-known name brand if pos­ sible. In the United States, condoms should be FDA approved. Be careful with "no-name" special flavor of the week or edible, boutique type of items. Thinner condoms are designed to increase sensi­ tivity, but they may be more fragile and susceptible to breakage. They generally come with added spermicidal agents in case of an accidental tear or rip.

Be aware that the use of oil-based lubricants like petroleum jelly break down the latex condoms and therefore place you at risk for invisible breaks that can increase your risk for pregnancy and STDs. Use only water-based lubricants like K-Y jelly or Astroglide .

In the heat of the moment, it's imp or-

tant to remember a few obvious basics. Condoms work better when they actu­ ally are worn, not when they're in your wallet or back pocket. They won't pro­ tect other parts of your body from infec­ tion that are exposed to sexual secretions i.e. oral sex.

The stakes are high with regards to protecting yourself from a,1. environment that could potentially harbor infectious diseases like chlamydia, HPV, syphilis, herpes, genital warts and HIV. So, whether you are a woman or man, keep your head on straight in the heat of the moment and always remember the motto "no glove, no love."

Dr. Marc Gittelman is a board certified urologiSt. Write to him at DrMarc Gdelman@yahoo.com or c/o Desonta Holder, 1 Herald Plaza, Miami PL 33132.

Don't dodge' spousal issues

Q: I have been separated from my husband of 72 years for months. Although I , made the. decision to separate, when/ see him Ihave mixed feelings inside. Wi/I this ever stop? Or, should' st6p seeing him? We have a son together know one day it would be best for oar SOA'if' could face him. c6rnpsyd@bellsouth.net