There's plenty of information about women's physical and health-care needs. Unfortunately, some of it is incomplete, or based on opinion and conjecture, or it's just plain bad information, says registered nurse Iyalode Edwards.

"Women tend to be more vigilant about their bodies than men, and there is a huge marketplace of literature, products, studies, politics and other opinions on women's health," says Edwards, author of "Multiple Orgasms Made Simple: 'How to Do It' Sex Secrets All Women Should Know!" (www.multipleOmadesimple.com).

"Not all of it makes sense."

It's only natural that women are more focused on their bodies than men because women have the more complex anatomy, she says. But old ideas from a society based in patriarchy, along with today's health market issues, can create confusion. Edwards, who has more than 35 years experience as a registered nurse, clarifies three points about which she sees the most misunderstanding among her patients:

• Untested therapies: Several years ago hormone replacement therapy was all the rage, used almost as a cure-all for post-menopausal women suffering a variety of symptoms. After a few decades, however, a large percentage of those women started suffering ovarian and breast cancer, in addition to other complications. More recently, vaccines for the human papillomavirus have been touted to girls and young women as the new preventative measure against cervical cancer. But thousands of girls have experienced a wide range of side effects, including seizures, strokes, dizziness, fatigue, weakness, headaches, vomiting, weakness, joint pain, auto-immune problems, chest pains, hair loss, appetite loss, personality changes, insomnia, tremors and menstrual cycle changes. Be wary of new cure-alls. Adverse effects are sometimes not revealed until they've been in use for a significant amount of time.

• Health through pleasure: A 2011 survey by Jane Magazine found that, while more than 87 percent of men aged 18 to 26 years old experienced orgasm "most or all of the time" during sex, only 46.8 percent of women could say the same thing. Not only could that percentage be much higher for women, it could be more meaningful, too. "The truth is, if you have all your sex organs intact and can achieve the first level of climax, then you can achieve it multiple times during the same encounter," Edwards says. "You just need information, and there has been too much misinformation disseminated." Sexual satisfaction comes with several health benefits, including improved cardiovascular functioning, sounder sleep and a deeper bond with a partner.

• The politics of women's health: As imperative as it is to know more and listen closely to one's body, it is also important to stay connected to current events since women's health care has become a political football, she says. Comments from multiple elected officials seem to be narrowing the definition of rape, and there are many who support limiting women's care in insurance plans, to name a few public debates. "I want women to be more aware of their bodies," Edwards says. "Unfortunately, the rhetoric of many politicians seems to be pointing backward regarding our health."

About Iyalode Edwards, R.N.

Iyalode Edwards is the author of "Multiple Orgasms Made Simple," a straightforward, step-by-step how-to guide that includes physiological explanations for sensations women experience. Edwards is a registered nurse with more than 35 years of experience. She informally interviewed a number of women and physicians as part of her research.

November 11th is Veterans Day, a time to celebrate and thank those who have served in The United States Armed Forces - some 22.6 million veterans around the country, more than 240,000 of whom are Iowans.   As a veteran and member of American Legion Post 562 in Cumming, I know the profound love a veteran has for this country.  All veterans showed their patriotism by defending this country when their service was needed.  Honoring that sacrifice is something we all have a stake in.

To that end, my office is working to ensure veterans have access to education benefits, health care, and other services to ensure they are successful both on and off the battlefield.

As a member of the Veterans Jobs Caucus, I supported the Veterans' Jobs Bill, which would have provided $1 billion over five years to help veterans find work in their communities.  Passage of this legislation is critical not only to the economic security of our veterans, but also to the communities across Iowa and the country that stand to benefit from their contributions to the economy.

As a recipient of the original GI Bill benefits, I understand how critical this assistance is for returning veterans' success.  For that reason, I am working to protect these benefits against low-quality for-profit colleges that overpromise, overcharge, and under-deliver to our veterans, using slick marketing campaigns to recruit them in order to profit off their education benefits.  In fact, data collected by the Senate HELP Committee shows that these benefits may be aiding some schools that otherwise would struggle to meet federal rules.

Legislation I have introduced will ensure that taxpayers' investment in federal assistance for college students is used to educate and support students, rather than being wasted on advertising, marketing, and recruitment.  The Protecting Financial Aid for Students and Taxpayers Act will maximize federal student aid by prohibiting the use of Pell Grants, federal student loans, the Post-9/11 G.I. Bill, and other federal education funds for such practices, similar to a current law that bans the use of federal higher education dollars for lobbying.  In addition, I have worked on a bipartisan basis on legislation aimed at providing every veteran who receives educational assistance from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) with the counseling services needed to make informed decisions about their education.

I also continue to hear from veterans about service medals that have not been awarded.  My office has helped countless veterans and their families obtain medals.  Please contact any of my offices in Iowa or Washington, D.C. to inquire about this service.  My staff is happy to assist any constituent to receive the recognition they have rightly earned.

We only accomplish our mission by working together.  This lesson is as applicable now as it was during my years of service.  And I join my fellow Americans in honoring the brave men and woman who have served our country and in pledging to do all that I can to ensure their success both on the battlefield, but also in their civilian life.

For more information, please visit http://www.harkin.senate.gov/.

A PDF version of the column is available by clicking here.

(DES MOINES) - Gov. Terry E. Branstad today released the following statement regarding last night's election results:

"Iowa voters once again chose divided government, and their message was unmistakable: They want us to work together in moving this state forward. Just as President Obama and Gov. Romney pledged to work together nationally, I see great opportunities for cooperation here in Iowa. I look forward to working with the Senate and House to improve our schools, make our tax climate more competitive and to continue balancing the state budget. We must continue to make state government more efficient, transparent and responsive to Iowans.

"The election is behind us, and the time to work together lies in front of us. I will work with both parties to ensure we don't squander this great responsibility Iowans have placed upon us."

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