John: Probably just getting people to realize that there is more than one method, and getting people to use them. I'm mostly involved in HIV-prevention activities. Getting people to realize that condoms are a good idea, and that there are other barrier methods out there as well.

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

John: [laughs] I'm not sure if you could make it more exciting. I think it's something that everyone is skittish about. I think you just have to become more comfortable in talking about it. I have some material on my site that encourages parents to talk about it. First just to repeat the words over and over, just to get used to saying them. In real life I am a chemist, and in the middle of lab, I can now stand up and start talking about condoms, and lubricant, and things like that. Before, I would have been absolutely mortified to. It just comes with familiarity. At least we can say "condom" now on television.

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

John: I think you just have to be straightforward, and ask what kind of contraceptives they are using, and what kind of contraceptives they would like to use. People should know that with contraception, you also have to worry about disease prevention. Right now sexually transmitted diseases -- aside from AIDS -- are epidemic. So just being on the pill doesn't cut it.

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?

John: No, I certainly would not. The thing is, there are so many other things you can do, so many other ways you can have sex that don't involve penetration, that don't involve penis-and-vagina sex. I think our culture is very focused on the act of intercourse itself, and it doesn't have to be. You've got a whole body there.

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

John: I think that's a great idea. I walk down the street in San Francisco, and there are billboards trying to eroticize safer sex. Advertising only goes so far. A lot of it comes from your peer group, the attitudes you had growing up. Different role playing is great. The World Wide Web is great, because it lets people see other people dealing with the situation.

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

John: There are still things that offend me. Child pornography and things like that. After having looked around -- it used to be known as "Ugol's Law" -- he said something about, you can be sure that if you are into anything, there's always somebody else who's also into something like that. You're never alone in whatever your kink is. I think the rule on the Internet is a good rule to follow. It's not acceptable to say, "Your kink is not OK." All sorts of different things that don't necessarily turn me on, turn other people on.

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.

John: Oh, absolutely. Nonoxynol Nine is the standard use. In fact for HIV protection, Monoxal Nine has never been shown to help. Also, many people are allergic to it, and it's not great for oral sex -- it makes your tongue numb. People should be aware that there are non-spermicidal lubricants they can use. But anyway, using spermicide, or any other sort of lubricant, is a great way of starting you along the whole process. Pulling up the condom, or having your partner put it on you, or putting it on together -- it's a great way.

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

John: It's a big controversy, and depending on who you talk to, you'll hear completely different things. From what I've read, I think it would be a good idea, especially for receptive fellatio. But, there are anecdotal cases for woman-to-woman transmission as well. Now other people you'll talk to will say that it's certainly safer than other forms of penetrative sex. If you require people to be too perfect, telling them that everything they do is bad, it just discourages them. For me personally, I do. But if you talk to European health agencies, they say that oral sex is safe; if you talk to Americans, oral sex is considered unsafe. Of course, many people also argue that the CDC is being homophobic, because it's primarily a homosexual sex recommendation.

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

John: There are two modes of thought. There is the ultra-thins, many of which are made in Japan, which many people like. But they have a tendency to break more often. There's another way of getting sensitivity, which is the wider condom, the Pleasure-plus condom, which I think is just coming back into production again. That has a pouch at the head, so it has extra latex which slides back and forth across the head of the penis. In fact I know one person who says, "I won't put anything else on my dick." Also the Avanti -- the polyurethane condom -- has better heat transmission qualities, so some people like that better. It's also cut a little bit looser, if you like a loose condom -- and some people like that, because again, it slides back and forth.

Tripod: What do you think of the female condom?

John: I think it's a great idea. The funny thing is, when people look at it, they say, "That looks so strange, I could never use that." But the people who actually use it, really enjoy it. So it's something that everybody should at least try. They're rather expensive, much like the polyurethane condom. But it would be nice if people could get over that initial reaction.