Lydia: The most pressing issue is the fact that it's not advertised on TV, prime time TV, not talked about enough, and not given to sexually active teenagers freely in the school system. Which I think it should be. Being a mother myself, I should definitely educate my son -- well, he knows all about condoms now, all about safe sex, and he's 10 years old, and as soon as they ask questions I think they're ready to know. So he shall be educated and provided with condoms when he's sexually active. When he's ready to be.

Tripod: Tell me the best way to make contraception more exciting.

Lydia: Well, I think that's up to the individual. You have to be resourceful. There's lots of ways to make it more exciting. I've made it more exciting in my life. I started using latex 12 or 13 years ago, right from the very beginning, and twelve, thirteen years ago, when AIDS first came into play, first came into the media. And I'm from Europe and it was on prime time TV, and they have the infomercials all the time about it. My mother, who's Irish Catholic, and doesn't even say the word sex, all of a sudden, because of the media hype over there, and how the general public are educated, she'll say, "Have you got your condoms?" It's talked about much more freely in Europe than it is over here and it angers me and frustrates me that it's not over here.

Tripod: Give me your best line to use to bring up contraceptives with a new partner. Make up a motto or saying.

Lydia: Well, you know, I just say, "So, what kind of condoms do you use?" Actually, I don't say anything. If he doesn't pull out the condom, I'm not interested in him. I'm very impressed when a guy carries condoms, and if he doesn't, I'm really not interested. Or if he tries to initiate sex without condoms, then that guy scares me, and it's definitely a no-no.

Tripod: How would you handle a situation where you and your partner are very  ready for sex, but realize that you don't have any contraceptives? Do you take a chance?

Lydia: Well I say, "Who's going to the store?" If it was just a genuine thing where we haven't initiated it and he's not pushed it, and I guess the only time I've been in this situation is where I've been fumbling about for them, and actually had the guy run down to the grocery store! In the middle of the night.

Tripod: What if you or your partner were on the pill? Would you take a chance?

Lydia: I would still use contraception. I would still use prophylactics. If I was on the pill, that's not protection-- that's protection against pregnancy, it's not protection against disease, which is my concern. A pregnancy can be terminated. STDs today are fatal. So my concern is disease, not pregnancy.

Tripod: Is it possible to incorporate contraception into sexual role playing without losing the excitement?

Lydia: Oh, definitely. Definitely. You just have to be resourceful and have an imagination. You can have so much fun  with contraception, with latex and condoms. It's very easy. You have to know how to use them. You know, experiment.

Tripod: Sexually, is there anything that shocks you nowadays?

Lydia: Nothing. I'm very jaded. Nothing shocks me whatsoever. It excites me, maybe...

Tripod: I understand that with many types of contraceptives, it's good to use some type of spermicidal lubricant. Play out a situation for me, where getting out that ugly tube and squeezing out that junk becomes part of the buildup to sex.

Lydia: Personally, I don't use spermicide. Because I'm allergic to it. But I think they're very sensual. If I was going to get the tube out, I would very sensually sit there and go through applying it to myself, in front of my partner, in a very sensual and sexual way, for which he'd be really turned on. I can get dirtier on that one-- but I'm being taped, so I won't!

Tripod: Do you use protection during oral sex? Why or why not?

Lydia: Yes I do. I don't think it's as important, but it depends, I guess, on if it's a casual partner, somebody that I'm not in a relationship with, and I'm having casual sex with someone, I definitely would use prophylactics for oral sex, definitely.

Tripod: From your experience, personal or otherwise, what is the most sensitive brand of condom?

Lydia: There was one that I really loved. It was called Nuda. I can't remember who made it, but they don't make it any more. I think you can have fun, especially for oral sex, with the mint flavored. All the different flavored condoms, they're kind of fun, for oral. I don't really have a particular favorite. I don't   like Trojan. That's one thing I don't like. I can't stand Trojan. There are so many condoms on the market, that you can always find a new one. So it's interesting. I just play around, just, you know, try different ones all the time, so I don't have a favorite.

Tripod: What do you think of the female condom?

Lydia: I've seen it. I saw it when I was in London. I thought, my god, what is that thing? I don't know. I haven't tried it, so I really can't give you my opinion on it.