You may be surprised to hear that I am a woman. I don't know any other females who use pornography, and I wonder if I am the only one in Jamaica!

Let me explain, I remained a virgin until just before I left university. At that time, I was not very interested in sex with guys. And in case you are wondering, no, I am not a lesbian.

About five years later, I met a man from another country, through my business contacts. I fell in love with him and he said he loved me. Unfortunately, he was married.

When I finally slept with him, I found that for the first time in my life I was sexually excited. But I could NOT have an orgasm.

Eventually, he found a way to make me achieve one. He showed me some soft porn videos while he stimulated me. Often, he read me erotic stories.

Eventually, this 'treatment' had the desired effect. But on nearly each occasion, I was dependent on him giving me the added stimulation of pornography.

After a few months, we had to split up, because of trouble from his wife. I have not seen him since then. But, over the years, I have had several satisfying sexual relationships with several married men. However, in each of these 'affairs', I have found that I could not really 'let go' and enjoy myself unless I had some sort of pornographic stimulation.

For instance, I got one guy to show me erotic DVDs while we made love. I persuaded another one to read me sexy short stories.

And, in my most recent relationship, things were the other way round. I used to read highly explicit novels to my lover while he pleasured me. I must say that this turned him on as well.

Well, that relationship is over now, as he went back to his wife. But I am beginning to look around for something more permanent. Maybe at my age (just over 40), I should be thinking of marrying and settling down!

However, what concerns me, Doctor, is, am I addicted to 'porn'? And, have I done myself any medical harm through this habit?

A. You may be surprised to learn that quite a lot of women do use explicit sexual material in order to turn themselves on.

In the United States, 'sexperts' employ pornography in order to help female patients who are lacking sexual desire, or who find it difficult to have an orgasm.

And in Holland, a professor of sexology has done some rather surprising lab experiments, in which he has demonstrated that most women start lubricating vaginally when they are shown explicit sexual material.

Both men and women tend to have very different attitudes towards pornography. Many men (perhaps most) are highly turned on by pictures of beautiful naked females engaging in sexual activity.

In contrast, while this may not affect some women, a lot of them do become sexually excited by erotic stories.

For this reason, there has been a world-wide boom in sexy literature written specifically for women. These novels and short stories often have quite traditional romantic plots, with beautiful heroines and handsome heroes. But there is a great deal of sexual activity as well.

In your particular situation, I don't think you should feel embarrassed that in your 20s, you needed to use erotic material in to have an orgasm.

However, it sounds like that experience has done what psychologists call 'imprinted' you. In other words, you find it difficult to get really turned on UNLESS there is some kind of erotic material around.

I don't feel that this matters all that much, and it has certainly done you no harm medically. But you might find that future relationships are easier if you could somehow become less dependent on 'porno' material.

Therefore, I think you should now go to a good counsellor or therapist, and spend a few sessions talking this over with her. I believe she could direct you to ways in which you could become less dependent on erotic material for your sexual satisfaction.

I realise that you do seem to have a slight tendency picking men who are already married - therefore, not really available. The therapist or counsellor could help you sort out why you have been doing this.

I wish you good luck in finding a long-term, happy relationship.

A. No way! In young men, rectal bleeding is usually due to piles. But at 53, it could possibly be due to cancer. So you must see a doctor this week for a full examination and tests.

A. No. But he does have a common type of sexual deviation called 'urolagnia'. Guys who have urolagnia are unlikely to want to be cured. So I don't think you should consider marriage, or a long-term commitment, unless you are willing to put up with these 'games'.

A. Well, they can. And you clearly are allergic - either to rubber, or to some other ingredient in the condom.

Because there are so many guys who have the same allergy, the manufacturers now make 'Lo-Allergy' brands. You should try some of these.

Alternatively, you could use a type of condom which contains no rubber at all, but is made of lambs' intestines. However, many guys do not like the idea of using such a this product.