Sexual Health
Staying healthy:
- Perform monthly breast or testicular self-exam.
- If you are a woman who is sexually active or over eighteen years of age, obtain an annual Pap smear and pelvic exam.
- Abstinence from intercourse is the best protection against pregnancy or contracting a sexually transmitted infection, including HIV infection.
If you choose to abstain:
- Choices about how, when, and where to express your sexuality are your own.
- Intimacy can include physical closeness, which may or may not include sexual intercourse.
- The choice to have intimacy without intercourse is one that many men and women are making today for well-thought-out reasons.
If you choose to engage in intercourse:
- Communicate with your partner about your sexual concerns.
- Avoid mixing alcohol use with decisions regarding sexual intimacy.
- Use a latex condom or dental dam and spermicidal lubricant to protect against STIs, HIV, and pregnancy.
- Use a condom and other forms of contraception properly.
Symptoms of Sexually Transmitted Infection:
People who have a sexually transmitted infection (STI) may have one or more of the following symptoms:
- Painful urination
- Painful intercourse
- Unusual genital discharge
- Bleeding between menstrual periods
- Genital sores
- Unusual cramping
- Genital itching
If you have any of these symptoms or have been exposed to a STI through a partner, you should be checked by a physician as soon as possible. Some people have no symptoms; if you think you have a STI, come to Student Health Service for an examination and testing. Most forms of contraception are available at Student Health Service including emergency contraception. Birth control pills, condoms, and dental dams are sold at Student Health Service at reduced cost.
Nonoxynol - 9
You may have heard recent reports about the spermicide nonoxynol-9 and its role in HIV infection. As with any contraceptive method, nonoxynol-9 has pros and cons. Here is some information to help you decide if it's the best choice for you.
Pros
Studies have shown that N-9 may reduce the risk for chlamydia, gonorrhea, and herpes. Some individuals may experience irritation from N-9 N-9 effectively kills sperm and provides a back-up method of contraception if a condom breaks or slips.
Cons
A recent study with high-risk sex workers found that those who used nonoxynol-9 had higher HIV infection rates than those who did not. However, the participants used N-9 in very high concentrations and multiple times (up to 20 times) each day. The Student Health Service has elected to offer condoms and lubricant without nonoxynol-9. Remember, using condoms with or without nonoxynol-9 is clearly better than not using a condom at all.