My first marriage was a BIG disaster. My ex-husband was violent and I was happy to be rid of him. Now I have met a new man, who is a little younger at 34. We get along very well, but there is one problem in the bedroom.

He is absolutely convinced that women should be able to climax from just having sexual intercourse. He does not think that we need any of that 'love play'. He claims he knows this from his previous relationships. He says that whenever he had intercourse, the women have simultaneous orgasm with no difficulty at all, so he thinks I'm abnormal.

Now Doc, this is making me feel a bit inadequate! The fact is that all my life I've needed 'clitoral stimulation' in order to have an orgasm.

I do not think that I have ever climaxed just from having intercourse. So, is my fiancé right in telling me that I am abnormal? Should I be able to have an orgasm from just sexual intercourse?

A. I am not sure that you should be getting married to a man who tells you that you are 'abnormal', and who knows so little about sex.

I think you should acquaint him with one simple fact. In the 1970s, the famous American sex researcher Ms Shere Hite, conducted an enormous survey of females. She found that over 70 per cent of women simply could NOT orgasm as a result of intercourse alone.

In other words, most females need clitoral stimulation in order to climax. Subsequent research has shown that most women obtain most of their orgasms through 'petting' rather than intercourse.

But in practice, it is usually quite easy for a skilled man to make a lady climax during sexual intercourse itself, by using the simple trick of reaching down with his fingertips and rubbing her clitoral area. Incidentally, this is sometimes a little easier if he is having sex with her from behind.

Unfortunately, a lot of men do not like the idea that a woman might not be able to climax as a result of intercourse alone. Shere Hite's research exposed her to a lot of hostility, and even death threats! As a result, she had to leave the United States and migrate to Germany.

Nevertheless, she did a great job of enlightening people about female orgasm, and about the fact that most women cannot discharge without some stimulation of the clitoris. You can read more about this remarkable person and her work at: www.hite-research.com

A. There are various kinds of fat in our foods. The ones which are called 'saturated' have a particular chemical composition which makes them likely to increase the cholesterol level, and to block the coronary arteries over the years. Therefore, they are not good for the heart.

Saturated fats are mainly found in foods of animal origin, such as butter, cheese and fatty meats. So my advice to you is to keep your consumption of those animal-derived foods at a moderate level.

But saturated fats are also contained in two vegetable oils: coconut oil and palm oil. Over the years, there has been much argument about whether those two products are harmful to the health or not. Personally, I do not have any problems with using them.

However, if you have high cholesterol, then you should check with your own doc for detailed advice on your diet.

A. It is quite common for sharp jewellery to injure the penis. Incidentally, sharp rings can also damage condoms!

It sounds like you have a cut in the foreskin, or possibly in the 'frenulum', which is the vulnerable little string-like structure, just below the head of the organ.

So you really should let a doctor have a look at it. He will probably apply a special dressing, though there is just a chance that he will want you to see a surgeon-specialist. But all will be well, and your organ will continue to function.

A. As I have said in this column before, the combination of the Pill and smoking is NOT a good one - because it increases the risk of serious problems, like heart attacks and strokes.

Why not try to give up cigarettes? Then you could take the Pill without having to fret.

A. Chlamydia is a little germ which causes one of the commonest of all sexual infections. It may produce no symptoms at all (particularly in women), but in the long term it can cause pain, fever and infertility.

So clearly, you must go to a doctor and get yourself treated with antibiotics. Also, it is quite likely that you have infected your other two girlfriends, so you should contact them and advise them to seek medical advice. You seem to be living rather dangerously, so maybe you should try to 'calm down' your sex life a little?

A. No. When women have sex for the first time, some bleed while some do not. That is caused by the breaking of the hymen (the 'virgin's veil').

A loss of 5 ml or 10 ml of blood, is quite harmless. However, if a woman loses a cup or more, she should consult a doctor. The same is true if bleeding persists for more than a couple of days.