She also spoke of misconceptions about pregnancy, noting common excuses for not using contraception such as, “the first time does not count,” and, “don’t worry, I have tremendous control.”

“We do have fewer unintended pregnancies [in recent years, but] we still have more education to do,” she said.

Westheimer expressed her personal beliefs on abortion, saying it should remain a legal recourse for when contraception fails.

The statement elicited sustained applause from the audience.

Westheimer addressed the media’s role in both educating about sex and in sexual sensationalism.

“If I pass by a newsstand and see a magazine with sex on the cover I am the first one to buy it,” she said.

But she also warned of the power of the media to create further myth surrounding sex and sexuality and to blur the line between fiction and reality.  

Westheimer ended her talk on the topic of AIDS, condemning sex clubs where she said people participate in indiscriminate sexual activity “as if the disease has been eradicated.”  

She said American society needs to be more open regarding sex.

“She’s a hoot…She’s 70 going on 20,” said Lesley M. Chin ’04, a member of the Ann Radcliffe Student Faculty Advisory Board.

Heather C. Higgins ’05, the speakers committee co-chair of the conference, said that WISHR had worked since last summer to secure Westheimer for the speaking engagement.

Higgins said she was pleased with the lecture as a kickoff to the conference.

The conference continued through Saturday with speakers and workshops on various issues facing women in science.

—Staff writer Lisa M. Puskarcik can be reached at puskarc@fas.harvard.edu.