I’m going to be that friend that is an absolute buzzkill and bore everyone with some scary facts because I know no boundaries and because this is an important subject for college students.
It is important to be vocal in life, especially sexually. By preaching safe sex (but not elaborating on what that means) or by teaching abstinence-only education, we are doing a grave disservice to our youth and our society.
Sex is beautiful and absolutely mind-blowing. Sex is perfectly natural, so when people treat it as taboo when discussing how to be safe, I find it a little bizarre. We can’t be expected to learn anything about sexual safety if we’re too afraid to say penis and vagina in the same sentence.
Ten million people ages 15-24 test positive for at least one sexually transmitted disease every year. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also goes on to say that one in four of those in the 13-24 age demographic account for all new HIV cases. And four out of five who test positive are male.
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And men should be using condoms, but even condoms aren’t perfect. Condoms fail 12 percent of the time, according to CDC. Maybe that doesn’t seem high, but even a 1 failure rate is too high when the failure rate results in having a child. Personally, however, having a child does not bother me as much as the thought of getting some infectious and potentially non-curable disease lurking in my body.
We can turn the television on, see random strangers on a TV show jump into bed with one another, but we almost never see the other side of what happens when you are irresponsible. And of course in the real world people don’t usually broadcast their sexual setbacks. Seeing an ‘I have herpes’ shirt or sign every now and then would sure help in the selection process, though.
It’s nice to live in this fantasy world of thinking “that will never happen to me,” but it’s completely impractical. I have known married men and women who went to the doctor for a check-up and were diagnosed with a sexually transmitted disease.
It’s a messed up world, and, as cynical as it sounds, we can’t trust people, especially not with our health, but we can start to change that by getting tested and by being honest with each other.
Just because you can’t see, feel or smell a disease doesn’t mean you’re clean. This is especially important for women who can become infertile due to an untreated STD. And often, the excuse is, “I didn’t think I had anything.”
People don’t think they’ll win the lottery either, but they still purchase tickets.
In no way, does getting tested make you promiscuous or less than human. It makes you a responsible, sexually-active human being.
Person on the street
Students around the Midwestern State University were asked about the importance of sexual health and what advice they gave about having sex.
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Alexa Harmon, freshman in biology, said, "You need to be educated about the dangers. Students need responsibility and need to be aware of their actions. I think they would rather do what is easy as opposed to what is best. Advice I would gave is be safe and wear protection. If you are dating someone and you know they've been other people and you feel that something is wrong you should get tested."
Alexa Harmon, freshman in biology, said, "You need to be educated about the dangers. Students need responsibility and need to be aware of their actions. I think they would rather do what is easy as opposed to what is best. Advice I would gave is be safe and wear protection. If you are dating someone and you know they've been other people and you feel that something is wrong you should get tested."
Alexa Harmon, freshman in biology, said, "You need to be educated about the dangers. Students need responsibility and need to be aware of their actions. I think they would rather do what is easy as opposed to what is best. Advice I would gave is be safe and wear protection. If you are dating someone and you know they've been other people and you feel that something is wrong you should get tested."
Allyson Green, freshman in music performance and education, said, "You need to use condoms and be clean. You should know who your partner is. If you feel you need to be tested do it. Have your partner get tested too."
Allyson Green, freshman in music performance and education, said, "You need to use condoms and be clean. You should know who your partner is. If you feel you need to be tested do it. Have your partner get tested too."
Allyson Green, freshman in music performance and education, said, "You need to use condoms and be clean. You should know who your partner is. If you feel you need to be tested do it. Have your partner get tested too."
Ashante Hopkins, freshman in criminal justice, said, "To me now that everyone is getting pregent you need to use a condom. It's like a diease that is going around. You can't tell people not to have sex but be safe and wrap it up if you do."
Ashante Hopkins, freshman in criminal justice, said, "To me now that everyone is getting pregent you need to use a condom. It's like a diease that is going around. You can't tell people not to have sex but be safe and wrap it up if you do."
Ashante Hopkins, freshman in criminal justice, said, "To me now that everyone is getting pregent you need to use a condom. It's like a diease that is going around. You can't tell people not to have sex but be safe and wrap it up if you do."
Bradley Warrington, junior in management information systems, said, "Use a condom everytime. Almost everyone is active now. Even women should wear those internal condoms. Its a hassle but I'm to young. I don't want to die yet."
Bradley Warrington, junior in management information systems, said, "Use a condom everytime. Almost everyone is active now. Even women should wear those internal condoms. Its a hassle but I'm to young. I don't want to die yet."
Bradley Warrington, junior in management information systems, said, "Use a condom everytime. Almost everyone is active now. Even women should wear those internal condoms. Its a hassle but I'm to young. I don't want to die yet."
Carpenter Wyatt, freshman in exercise physiolgy, said, "It's always best to use a condom and birth control. Think before you have sex and know the person."
Carpenter Wyatt, freshman in exercise physiolgy, said, "It's always best to use a condom and birth control. Think before you have sex and know the person."
Carpenter Wyatt, freshman in exercise physiolgy, said, "It's always best to use a condom and birth control. Think before you have sex and know the person."
Donte Jerry, freshman in nursing, said, "You need to know who you are doing. Wrap it up and don't go to a party and do it with the first person you see. When I have sex within the first week I go and get myself checked. I ask all my partners up front in the least arkward way if they have something."
Donte Jerry, freshman in nursing, said, "You need to know who you are doing. Wrap it up and don't go to a party and do it with the first person you see. When I have sex within the first week I go and get myself checked. I ask all my partners up front in the least arkward way if they have something."
Donte Jerry, freshman in nursing, said, "You need to know who you are doing. Wrap it up and don't go to a party and do it with the first person you see. When I have sex within the first week I go and get myself checked. I ask all my partners up front in the least arkward way if they have something."
Kristin Lanier, sophomore in theater, said, "If you can't talk about it don't do it. Make sure you are comfortable with the person first. You would also want to make sure you are emotionally stable before you are with that person. Having someone that respects you is the most important part."
Kristin Lanier, sophomore in theater, said, "If you can't talk about it don't do it. Make sure you are comfortable with the person first. You would also want to make sure you are emotionally stable before you are with that person. Having someone that respects you is the most important part."
Kristin Lanier, sophomore in theater, said, "If you can't talk about it don't do it. Make sure you are comfortable with the person first. You would also want to make sure you are emotionally stable before you are with that person. Having someone that respects you is the most important part."
Luis Lopez, senior in international studies, said, "Personally I try me hardest to try abstinence. It's been a year and a half and I've been successful. I understand it's not every college students choice. Guys my age just want to go for it. I would tell my frineds to be safe and if there's any doubt to get tested. I would tell a girl if I had anything wrong with me and I would expect the same."
Luis Lopez, senior in international studies, said, "Personally I try me hardest to try abstinence. It's been a year and a half and I've been successful. I understand it's not every college students choice. Guys my age just want to go for it. I would tell my frineds to be safe and if there's any doubt to get tested. I would tell a girl if I had anything wrong with me and I would expect the same."
Luis Lopez, senior in international studies, said, "Personally I try me hardest to try abstinence. It's been a year and a half and I've been successful. I understand it's not every college students choice. Guys my age just want to go for it. I would tell my frineds to be safe and if there's any doubt to get tested. I would tell a girl if I had anything wrong with me and I would expect the same."
Travis Bales, freshman in physics, said, "There is no such thing as safe when you weigh the risks and reward. Women won't always show signs of having something for years sometimes. You won't know for sure without a doctors note. Condoms will help. Its good to practice safe sex as long as it's healthy."
Travis Bales, freshman in physics, said, "There is no such thing as safe when you weigh the risks and reward. Women won't always show signs of having something for years sometimes. You won't know for sure without a doctors note. Condoms will help. Its good to practice safe sex as long as it's healthy."
Travis Bales, freshman in physics, said, "There is no such thing as safe when you weigh the risks and reward. Women won't always show signs of having something for years sometimes. You won't know for sure without a doctors note. Condoms will help. Its good to practice safe sex as long as it's healthy."
Jeanne@ Medical Center for Gynecology in Athens Greece • Apr 7, 2014 at 4:12 AM
April marks the annual observance of STD Awareness Month, which is the perfect month to break the silence and raise education about the impact of this disease on our lives as well as in an effort to combat the nation’s high rates of sexually transmitted infections. Public awareness and knowledge remain critically low around the country and US currently has the highest rates of STDs of any other nation in the developed world. That’s why it’s very important to make a move in promoting general knowledge about STD’s to both young and old people.
We can turn the television on, see random strangers on a TV show jump into bed with one another, but we almost never see the other side of what happens when you are irresponsible. And of course in the real world people don’t usually broadcast their sexual setbacks. Seeing an ‘I have herpes’ shirt or sign every now and then would sure help in the selection process, though.
Jeanne@ Medical Center for Gynecology in Athens Greece • Apr 7, 2014 at 4:12 AM
April marks the annual observance of STD Awareness Month, which is the perfect month to break the silence and raise education about the impact of this disease on our lives as well as in an effort to combat the nation’s high rates of sexually transmitted infections. Public awareness and knowledge remain critically low around the country and US currently has the highest rates of STDs of any other nation in the developed world. That’s why it’s very important to make a move in promoting general knowledge about STD’s to both young and old people.