The Facts:
The TV can’t be turned on, or magazines opened without seeing half naked girls or couples having sex. They make it seem like it’s the normal thing for a teenager to do. But, that is not the case. In fact, 66.1% of teenage guys and girls are currently abstinent according to the CDC.
Recently sex seems to be used often as a reward or a thank you, almost like one person owes the other one something. A question that has been asked often in the classroom is, “My boyfriend/girlfriend and I have been dating six months now and he/she’s starting to get impatient. I don’t want to lose him/her, so what should I do?” The person asking this question feels like they owe the other person sex because of the amount of time they’ve been together.
In Iowa there was a popular billboard that read “Wait for the bling”. At first glance this statement could be confusing. What’s with the bling bling? Does this mean that you should wait to have sex until your boyfriend/girlfriend buys you something nice and expensive? No, it’s saying wait until you have the ultimate bling, a wedding ring.
Abstinence is the only 100% way to guarantee safety from STD’s, pregnancy, and the emotional consequences that come with sex. And you know that’s not a small thing!
So the answer to that teenager’s question above is “Wait for the bling”.
Read the condom label. They tell you how to use a condom. But you need to know the latest facts about condom effectiveness, too. After all if you are going to base your health and life on them, you need to make an informed decision.
When used consistently and correctly, condoms reduce the risk of infection for these STD. Remember, there are more infections and diseases out there with no studies to guide you.
Gonorrhea: 50% (Ahmed S et al. 2001 AIDS, Baeton JM et al. 2001 American J Oby/Gyny, NIH 2001 The Condom Report)
Chlamydia: 50% (Ahmed, Baeton)
Syphilis: 30-50% (Ahmed, Baeton)
Trichomoniasis: No Evidence of risk reduction(Ahmed, NIH)
HPV: 50% (Shew ML et al. 2006. Arch Pediatric Adolesence Med)
HIV: 85% (NIH, Davis KR, Weller SC 1999 Family Planning Perspective)
HSV2: 40%
100% condom use does not reduce the risk of STD infection 100%. Only abstinence from all sexual activity does this.
The percentage of American high school students who have had sex has decreased 13.6% between 1991 and 2005.
Current US Youth Trends:
Youth Surveillance Report, CDC, 2005
Based on data collected through December 2004
Teens ages 15-19 (High School Students)
53.2% of teens have never had sexual intercourse
46.8% of teens have ever had sexual intercourse
12.9% have had sex, but are currently abstinent (3 months)
66.1% of teens are currently abstinent (46.8 + 12.9)
33.9% of teens are currently having sexual intercourse
62.8% of teens who have had sexual intercourse used a condom
6.2% had sexual intercourse before age 13
10% have been pregnant or gotten someone pregnant
23.3% used drugs/alcohol at last sexual encounter
* Most contraception failures result from incorrect or inconsistent use.
* 1 in 5 teens age 12-18 using the pill get pregnant within 6 months (Dinerman LM et al. 1995 Arch Pediatric Adolescent Med).
* 1 in 5 teens under 18 using condoms get pregnant within 1 year. (Grady WR 1986 Family Planning Perspective).
* Teen parents are more likely than other teens to drop out of school, have additional non-marital births, be on welfare, and be depressed.
* About 19 million new STI cases occur each year with half of these in 15-24 year olds.
* Human papilloma virus (HPV), Trich, and Chlamydia are the most common STI’s.
* 1 in 5 Americans age 12 and over has Herpes Simplex Virus 2 (HSV2), and most don’t know it.
* Half million Americans have died from AIDS.
With oral sex, some of the STDs you can get infected with include syphilis, gonorrhea (which can infect your trout), genital herpes (which causes painful blisters), HIV (which can kill you). You may also be able to get HPV (which can cause cancer and warts on your vocal chords) and Chlamydia. Oral sex can also increase a woman’s risk of having multiple yeast infections.
In addition to the physical risks, oral sex can mess with your mind. You may feel serious regret over your loss of innocence, self-control or self-respect. You might get a reputation you don’t want or memories you can’t forget. Oral sex is powerful enough to not only damage existing relationships, but future ones, as well.
To protect yourself, you need to stay in control A recent study found that students who drand alcohol or used recreations drugs were three times more likely than nonusers to try oral sex.
If you’ve already fooled around with oral sex, get checked for STDs an tell your friends about the risks. Refuse to be pressured. You are worth it.
Oral sex is sex. It involves sexual drives and sexual organs. It breads sexually transmitted diseases and infections. Oral sex is sex.
Intercourse makes babies! No surprise, really, but some teens are in shock when a “Little Surprise” come along. Babies are amazing things. They can bring such joy but they deserve a great start in life and to be raised in a mature loving family.
Did you know that babies born to teen mothers are more likely...
* To be born too small or die during the first year of life,
* Have chronic health problems,
* Have learning and school problems,
* Get in trouble with the law, and
* Become teen parents themselves.
Did you know that teens who become parents:
* Are more likely to end up poor or on welfare;
* Have fewer job opportunities;
* Have fewer educational opportunities; and
* Are less likely to marry
Abstinence from all sexual activity outside of marriage is a great plan. Then, all your little surprises are ones you can handle and enjoy!1.Dating violence is rare among college students and other educated people.
FALSE
Dating and domestic violence is common among all people-rich, poor, black, white, Asian, Latino, etc.
2. When someone leaves an abusive relationship, the abuse usually ends.
FALSE
Unfortunately, many victims actually place themselves in greater danger when leaving the relationship as the abuser will retaliate against the victim for leaving. This is often called separation violence.
3. Drugs and/or alcohol abuse is often a factor in dating violence.
TRUE
Although this is true, drug and/or alcohol abuse by the abuser should never be used as an "excuse". Women in violent relationships are much more likely to abuse drugs and/or alcohol than woman who are not in abusive relationships.
4. The best way to get a friend to leave an abusive relationship is to "cut ties" with them.
FALSE
This may actually have the opposite effect. Someone who is being abused in a relationship needs outside support and is very unlikely to leave that relationship unless they have support from friends and family.
5. If violence occurs once in a dating relationship, it is likely to happen again.
TRUE
It is rare for someone to hit or otherwise abuse their partner once and never do it again.
• Every 18 seconds, a woman is beaten. [U.S. Department of Justice]
• In 1995 in Alabama , in 7% of all homicides the victim and offender were girlfriend and boyfriends and 13% were domestic. [Alabama Criminal Justice Information Agency]
• Approximately 95%-98% of domestic violence victims are women. [National Coalition Against Domestic Violence]
• As many as 95% of domestic violence perpetrators are male. [Report of the Violence Against Women Research Strategic Planning Workshop sponsored by the National Institute of Justice in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 1995]
• Much of female violence is committed in self-defense, and inflicts less injury than male violence. [Chalk & King, eds., (1998). Violence in Families: Assessing Prevention and Treatment Programs, National Resource Council and Institute of Medicine , p.42.]
• 78% of college women have experienced some form of sexual aggression. [Muehlenhard & Linton]
“When you have sex with someone, you are having sex with everyone they have had sex with for the last ten years, and everyone they and their partners have had sex with for the last ten years.”
~ C. Everett Koop, MD, Former U.S. Surgeon GeneralTo figure you risk of exposure to Sexually Transmitted Disease, first count the total number of partners with whom you have been sexually active (not just intercourse).
Now, look at the chart to see the number of people you have been exposed to if every person has only the same number of partners as you.
Number of Number of sexual partners people exposed to 1 1 2 3 3 7 4 15 5 31 6 63 7 127 8 255 9 511 10 1023 11 2047 12 4095
What is it?
HPV is a virus that infects the skin and mucous membranes (tissues that line the mouth, cervix, vagina, urethra and anus of humans).
How do ya get HPV?
HPV is primarily spread by skin-to-skin contact with an infected person or by contact with bodily fluids contaminated with the virus. HPV can be transmitted through sexual intercourse, oral sex, anal sex, and genital touching.
How do I know I got it?
Most patients who have HPV have no symptoms. Approximately 1% of all individuals who have been infected with HPV and 7% with a current infection have genital warts. Most HPV is discovered when a woman has abnormalities that are detected on a pap smear. Most asymptomatic men (showing no symptoms) do not know they are infected.
Can it be treated?
HPV is not curable, although many HPV infections resolve spontaneously. Those who have genital warts typically undergo treatment with topical medications applied to the wart in a physician's office or at home. Even if warts do resolve, infection may remain and can still be passed on to a future sexual partner. In additional warts frequently recur in the months following treatment.
So what's the damage?
HPV is the primary cause of over 99% of cervical cancer which occurs in approximately 13,000 women annually, killing over 5000 per year. HPV is also associated with a number of other cancers including oral, vaginal, vulvar, penile and anal cancer.
How do I avoid it?
The best way to avoid HPV infection is to abstain from sexual activity until marriage; marry an uninfected partner, and remain sexually faithful during marriage. Unmarried individuals who are or have previously been sexually active, should be examined for obvious signs of HPV, tested for other STDs and return to a lifestyle of sexual abstinence. Because HPV is so common among sexually active individuals, those who become sexually active outside of marriage are likely to be exposed to the virus even if they use condoms. HPV is spread by skin to skin contact. Condoms do not cover the entire genital area and condoms are ineffective in eliminating the risk of HPV transmission.
What is it?
Neisseria gonorrhea is a bacterium that causes genital infections and other infections in humans.
How do ya get Gonorrhea?
Gonorrhea is primarily spread by sexual contact, including sexual intercourse, oral sex, and anal sex. A newborn baby can also become infected during the childbirth process if his/her mother is infected.
How do I know I got it?
The symptoms of gonorrhea infection vary depending on the part of the body that is infected and usually begins within a week of exposure. A genital infection typically causes discharge from the vagina (or urethra) and may cause pain with urination. In women, abnormal vaginal bleeding (spotting) is common while in men, pain and swelling around the testicles may occur. When a woman has sex with an infected man, the infection usually begins in the woman’s cervix. The infection may remain the area of the cervix for some time or may spread to the uterus and fallopian tubes. Then this occurs the condition is called pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). PID may cause few symptoms and go unrecognized, or PID may be a severe, life threatening infection. Common symptoms of PID include pelvic and abdominal pain, fever and abnormal vaginal bleeding. Oral and rectal infections also occur and produce irritation , pain, discharge and other symptoms in the affected area. Some individuals with oral or rectal infections may not experience symptoms and may not be aware of their infection. 25-80% of women and a smaller percentage of men have no symptoms.
Can it be treated?
Uncomplicated gonorrhea is treated with oral or injectable antibiotics. After treatment, infected individuals should be reexamined and tested to ensure that they have been cured. If a female develops PID, hospitalization and treatment with intravenous (IV) antibiotics may be required.
So what’s the Damage?
PID is the most common complication of gonorrhea in women, occurring in 10-20% of infected females. Among US women who seek medical assistance to become pregnant, one in four are infertile because of scarring caused by PID. Disseminated gonorrheal infection (gonorrheal infection that spreads throughout the entire body occurs in about 1% of patients with untreated gonorrhea. The most severe complications of disseminated infection are endocarditis which can destroy the valves of the heart and meningitis.
How do I avoid it?
Abstinence from sexual activity until marriage is the only 100% way to avoid getting gonorrhea; then marrying an uninfected partner and remaining sexually faithful during marriage. Unmarried individuals who have never been sexually active should avoid becoming sexually active until marriage. Unmarried individuals who are or have previously been sexually active should be tested for gonorrhea and other STD’s and return to a lifestyle of sexual abstinence.
What is it?
Chlamydia trachomatis is the most common bacterial sexually transmitted infection in humans.
How do you get it?
Chlamydia trachomatis is primarily transmitted through sexual activity. It can also be transmitted from pregnant women to their newborn infants during childbirth.
What are the symptoms?
Typical symptoms include a vaginal or urethral discharge, burning with urination, pelvic pain in women, swelling and tenderness of the scrotum in men (epididymitis). When a woman has vaginal intercourse with an infected man, the infection may remain in the area of the cervis for some time, or may spread to the uterus and fallopian tubes. When this occurs, the condition is called Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID). PID may cause few symptoms and go unrecognized or PID may be severe, life threatening infection. Common symptoms of PID include pelvic and abdominal pain, fever and abnormal vaginal bleeding. When abdominal tenderness is present, PID may be confused with other severe abdominal conditions such as acute appendicitis or ectopic pregnancy.
Can it be treated?
Chlamydia infections in both men and women are typically treated with oral antibiotics. Severe pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) may require hospitalization and treatment with intravenous antibiotics. Treatment of infected pregnant women prevents infection of the newborn. IN addition, newborn infants routinely receive antibiotic eye drops/ointment to prevent eye infection.
So what’s the damage?
The most serious complication of chlamydial infection is pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). PID can damage the fallopian tubes and result in tubal scarring and infertilitiy. IN fact, PID causes over 25% of the infertility in woman pursuing in vitro fertilization in the US. Tubal scarring can also increase the risks for developing a subsequent ectopic pregnancy.
How do I avoid it?
The best way to avoid to avoid chlamydial infection is to abstain from sexual activity before marriage, marry an uninfected partner, and remain sexually faithful during marriage. Unmarried individuals who have never had sexual intercourse should avoid becoming sexually active until marriage. Unmarried indivuals who are or who have previously been sexually active should be tested for Chlamydia and other STD’s and return to a lifestyle of abstinence.
What is it?
Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV) is a virus that infects the skin and mucous membranes (mouth, genital areas, etc) of humans. Most genital herbes infections are cause by herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2). Genital herpes is the most common sexually transmitted sexually transmitted viral infection in the US with an estimated 45 million people infected. (1 in 5 over the age of 11 have been infected with genital herpes).
How do you get it?
HSV-2 is a sexually transmitted infection. Although HSV typically causes genital infections, it can also cause oral infections that can then be spread by nonsexual activities like kissing. Similarly, although HSV-1 usually causes oral herpes infections, it can be transmitted to the genitals via oral sex, thereby becoming a sexually transmitted infection. HSV is commonly spread by skin to skin contact. When a person who has HSV present in his/her body comes into contact with someone who is not infected, the virus (and the infection) may spread. In addition to HSV Infection in the oral and genital areas, HSV infection may also occur on the abdomen, thighs, hands and other areas.
What are the symptoms?
The earliest symptoms of an initial genital infection may include fever, headache and muscle ached that being six to seven days after exposure. About eight days after exposure, lesions appear in the are of exposure. These lesions usually blisters, which break down and become ulcers. The ulcers are painful and often burn or itch. Other genital symptoms include burning with urination, vaginal or urethral discharge and tender swollen lymph nodes in the groin area. Symptoms of initial infection typically resolve within two to three weeks. Recurrent outbreaks of herpes skin lesions but are usually not preceded by fever, headache, and muscle ache that generally precede the initial outbreak.
Can it be treated?
There is NO cure for genital herpes. Treatment with anti-viral medications like Acyclovir reduces the duration and intensity of symptoms. Long term treatment with these medications can decrease the frequency of recurrences and asymptomatic viral shedding.
So what’s the damage?
Once a person is infected with HSV-2, (s)he is probably infected for life and can transmit the virus to others even when not experiencing symptoms. Recurrence of symptoms are common and can occur for the remainder of a person’s life. An additional consequence of genital herpes infection is that infected individuals are at increased risk of contracting HIV, the virus causing AIDS. Mothers with genital herpes can transmit the infection to their newborn infants. Infected newborns are quite sick and often die. Genital herpes infection of the mother also increases the risk of spontaneous abortion and premature birth.
How do I avoid it?
The best way to avoid to avoid genital herpes infection is to abstain from sexual activity before marriage, marry an uninfected partner, and remain sexually faithful during marriage. Unmarried individuals who have never had sexual intercourse should avoid becoming sexually active until marriage. Unmarried individuals who are or who have previously been sexually active should be tested for STD’s and return to a lifestyle of abstinence.
What is it?
Trichomonas vaginalis is a protozoan (a single celled organism that is bigger and more complex than a bacterium) that infects the genital tracts of both women and men. As many as 5-10% of American women are infected. Five million new infections occur every year in the US while 200 million ever year are infected worldwide.
How do you get it?
Trichomonas is almost always a sexually transmitted infection.
What are the symptoms?
The majority (50-80) of women and some men infected trichomonas do not know that they are infected. In women, trichomonas vaginitis (inflammation of the vagina) and cervicitis (inflammatory of the cervix) Symptoms of trichomonas vaginitis/cervicitis frequently include vaginal discharge, abnormal vaginal bleeding, typically after intercourse, due to cervical irritation, swelling and irritation of the genitals, itching of the vulva and abdominal pain. IN men, t he urethra is the most common location of infection.
Symptoms in men include discharge from the penis and burning with urination.
Can it be treated?
Most tricomonas infections are treated with metronidazole, a drug that is taken by mouth. The most common side effect of metronidazole is a gastrointestinal reaction some patients have after taking it and then consuming alcohol. Currently there is not a well-accepted alternative to this drug.
So what’s the damage?
Trichomonas infection in pregnant women is associated with premature rupture or membranes (early breakage of the fluid sac surrounding a developing baby) and pre-term labor.
How do I avoid it?
The best way to avoid to avoid trichomonas infection is to abstain from sexual activity before marriage, marry an uninfected partner, and remain sexually faithful during marriage. Unmarried individuals who have never had sexual intercourse should avoid becoming sexually active until marriage. Unmarried individuals who are or who have previously been sexually active should be tested for STD’s and return to a lifestyle of abstinence.
