A 17-year-old patient asked me to give her a prescription to help her sleep.

Dr. Pezzi: Do you know why you're having a problem sleeping?

Patient: Yes, I know. I broke up with my boyfriend and now he is dating my Mom—she's divorced. I went to a party last Saturday with my new boyfriend, and when we got back to my house, they were doing it on the couch. (grimaces in disgust) Oh my God, it's just plain weird! And what a hypocrite! My Mom always lectured me about how I shouldn't have sex until I'm married, and now she's screwing my old boyfriend who is half her age? Isn't that sick?

Dr. Pezzi: I can certainly understand why you would be very upset by that.

Patient: I wish that I could stop them.

Dr. Pezzi: How old is your ex-boyfriend?

Patient: He's 18.

Dr. Pezzi: Then he is an adult, so I can't do anything.

Patient: But it's really upsetting me.

Dr. Pezzi: Have you spoken with your Mom about this?

Patient: Yeah, and she just told me that I am old enough to realize that she has needs, too. But she should date men her own age!

Dr. Pezzi: Why doesn't she?

Patient: I know she likes younger guys, because every time I'd bring a guy home she would always flirt with him. She's real pretty and looks young for her age, and many people think we're sisters, so it's no wonder why some guys I dated were interested in her.

Dr. Pezzi: Do you mean this isn't the first time she has become involved with one of your former boyfriends?

Patient: It sure isn't the first time. Last New Year's Eve my Mom got drunk and ended up in our hot tub with Andy, the guy I was dating.

A nurse walked in the room and said, “Excuse me, Dr. Pezzi, but we're getting an ambulance with an ETA of one minute. Apparently an attempted carjacking. The driver was shot a few blocks away from the hospital. 32-year-old male, stable vitals.”

I explained to the patient that I would return to continue our discussion as soon as I took care of the man who had been shot. When I returned she was sleeping soundly. Sometimes there is nothing like an emotional catharsis.

Return to the story list

Cast away your preconceptions of sex books as being a rehash of things you already know and hence a waste of time. By reading this book, you will learn things that Dr. Ruth and other sexologists have never considered.

Reader comments:

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A fellow MD: “. . . it is vastly superior to anything I have seen on the topic from a medical view.”

Reader in US: “I'm reading the book now . . . fascinating, and extremely well written. At 20 bucks, an incredible bargain!”

Reader in New York: “I am in the midst of reading The Science of Sex which I ordered from you a couple of weeks ago — VERY interesting and very useful stuff. Well done.”

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