In last week’s column, I discussed hook-ups in college, and there seems to have been a misunderstanding about my intent. I do not encourage consistent promiscuity, but I recognize it occurs regularly in college, so it should be discussed.
Through the editing process, the word “sex” was edited in. In my first draft, I never referred to hooking up as having sex, but everyone has a different definition of what hooking up means. To me, hooking up means kissing, while to others, it means having sex, which caused discrepancies in the article.
Several comments were made on my article online that sexually transmitted infections (STI’s) should have received more attention, so this column is devoted to safe sex tips.
1. Discuss safe sex and sexually histories with your partner, whether you’re dating or not. You may trust the person you’re having sex with, but it’s important to know who he or she has been with before you. Your partner may have different ideas about how to practice safe sex and what the two of you should do if the female gets pregnant. Even if you aren’t dating your sexual partner, having a conscious conversation about sexual pasts is definitely preferable for a healthy sexual relationship.
2. Always use a condom. No ifs, ands or buts about it — using a condom is an extremely important thing you can do to have safe sex and prevent pregnancy. It doesn’t matter how long you’ve been dating or how much you love each other. Condoms are absolutely essential.
3. Females: Investigate other means of birth control. Although you should always use a condom, there’s no harm in doubling up on your birth control methods. It’s possible for condoms to come off or break, and in those cases, you’ll breathe a sigh of relief that you’re taking a birth control pill, using a Nuva Ring or so forth. There are many different birth control methods for you to explore, and not every method is a perfect fit for each woman.
4. Females: Visit a gynecologist at least once a year. Whether or not you’re sexually active, visiting a gynecologist after the age of 18 is imperative. It is possible for you to have gynecological issues, like cists, without ever having sex. If you feel uncomfortable discussing gynecologist visits with your parents, there is a Planned Parenthood on campus, and you can inquire about checkups and birth control.
5. Get tested for STI’s regularly. There’s no excuse to not get tested. There are frequently free HIV tests on campus. It doesn’t matter how many people you’ve had sexual encounters with. It’s still possible to have an STI. Again, it is likely you trusted your past sexual partners, but it’s reassuring for you and your new partner to both get tested before you start having sex.
6. Practice safe oral sex, too. College students tend to regard oral sex as safer than intercourse because the possibility of pregnancy is eliminated. Unfortunately, oral sex leaves you more susceptible to STI’s, and there are measures to take to protect yourself and your partner. Flavored condoms and dental dams are made to promote safe oral sex, so utilize them.
7. Be monogamous. By being in a serious relationship, you have a contract with your partner that you will only have sex with each other. Although it is still important for you to take all the precautionary measures mentioned above, there is a lower chance of contracting STI’s.
For story ideas, e-mail Lauren at gurry2@tcnj.edu.
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Please, for the love of god, no more of this article. It’s always so bad.
“It doesn’t matter how long you’ve been dating or how much you love each other. Condoms are absolutely essential.”
This is one of the most ridiculous pieces of advice I’ve seen in your column thus far. I get it. After last week’s column you need to cover your back. But seriously, this is absurd. If you are early in the relationship, just having fun, etc., sure, wear a condom, what’s the harm? But years into your relationship you’re going to want to throw caution to the wind and just stick to anon-barrier method like hormonal birth control. This advice is the kind of scare tactic adults use to frighten their kids away from sex: everyone you meet has an STI, will try to bed you on the first date and will always lie to you about their sexual history.
I’m pointing out only one of the many, many flaws with your columns each week. This particular column brings no new information or perspective to the table.
“If you are early in the relationship, just having fun, etc., sure, wear a condom, what’s the harm?”
THIS is one of the most ridiculous pieces of advice I’ve seen. Perhaps you failed sex-ed in the fourth grade, or maybe you were dropped on your head as an infant, either way, your IQ competes with a lab rat. And then by saying that years into a relationship you “can throw caution to the wind” and just not use condoms. Condoms are a proven form of birth control, so why would you not use a condom, unless you are trying to have a baby. This isn’t any kind of scare tactic, this is called playing it safe. If you want to throw your condoms out, go ahead, and I’ll be the one saying “I told you so” when you contract chlamydia or get pregnant.
“Condoms are a proven form of birth control, so why would you not use a condom, unless you are trying to have a baby. This isn’t any kind of scare tactic, this is called playing it safe.”
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Condom#In_preventing_pregnancy
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hormonal_birth_control
Note the 2 percent failure rate per year for perfect use of condoms. Perfect use pregnancy rates for hormonal birth control is about .05 percent per year.
Clearly hormonal birth control doesn’t protect against STDs, but the case the original poster is speaking about is committed relationships – in which case I hope you’re not contracting STDs from someone who’s in an honest monogamous relationship with you.
That having been said, you are statistically less likely to get pregnant while using hormonal birth control than you are while using condoms.
The only 100% birth control method is abstinence, like it or not. That having been said, given the assumption that STDs are not a consideration, telling Rachel she’s dumb for not using condoms (a statistically inferior option) over hormonal contraceptives is foolish.
tl;dr: be better at math and learn some science.
“by saying that years into a relationship you “can throw caution to the wind” and just not use condoms. Condoms are a proven form of birth control, so why would you not use a condom, unless you are trying to have a baby.”
Rachel I feel sorry for your significant other… I’m a proud fiancee, bf for over 3 sexually active years. We’ve used the pill for all those years and guess what, no pregnancies and no std’s…
For a truly long term relationship condoms are not cost effective nor are they a superior means of birth control. If you aren’t worried about std’s then the pill or an iud are both options that make condoms largely unnecessary.
I can say this from experience rather than out of my ass…
We have sex usually around once a day… I say again, no pregnancies… it’s called a birth control pill
maybe you’re the dumb one…
-Alex
I mean lauren not rachel lol
i mean lauren not rachel lol durrr