CONDOMS! CONDOMS! CONDOMS!

The latex condom is pretty amazing! It’s one of the only forms of birth control that can protect you from both pregnancy and STDs. And when used properly each and every time, condoms are up to 98 percent effective at keeping you safe! Check out this video to see how condoms are made and tested:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u22BbGNzLWo

Did you see how big a condom can get when inflated? Some guys will give excuses for not wanting to wear a condom like they’re too tight or I don’t fit into condoms. But guys complaining about condoms are full of hot air! Any guy, no matter the size, can fit into that condom! And since condoms come in different sizes there’s no excuse for not wearing one during sex.

Condoms are thoroughly tested for strength and checked for any leaks. Even the tiniest hole will be detected during the testing process! So if a condom breaks during sex, more often than not, it’s because of human error. Here are a few common mistakes people make when using condoms:

• The condom was expired. Condoms deteriorate over time, so never use an expired condom.
• The wrapper was opened improperly. Never use your teeth to open a condom wrapper, since that could tear the condom.
• The condom wasn’t put on properly. Make sure to follow the directions, since condoms will only be effective when put on properly.
• The wrong lubrication was used. Always use a water-based lubricant, since other kinds of lubricants can break down latex.
  

Do you know how to properly put on a condom? Test your knowledge and play The Condom Game!

The Murder of Dr. Tiller

On May 31, 2009, Dr. George R. Tiller, a late-term abortion provider in Kansas, was murdered while attending church services. For years, Dr. Tiller had been threatened and harassed by anti-abortion supporters: He was shot in both arms and his clinic was bombed and vandalized.

Dr. Tiller’s murder comes a few weeks after President Obama called on Americans to have an open and honest debate on abortion. Obama said he was “shocked and outraged” by the murder. “However profound our differences as Americans over difficult issues such as abortion, they cannot be resolved by heinous acts of violence,” he said.

We often forget about the power of words. Dr. Tiller was called a “murderer” and “baby killer,” and his murder is a tragic example of how words can incite violence. While Tiller was physically and verbally attacked, not all people who are anti-choice condone violence. In fact, Operation Rescue, an anti-choice organization, has spoken out strongly against the murder of Dr. Tiller. And while people on both sides of the abortion issue feel very strongly, we can all agree that violence is never the answer.

It would be great if we—whether we’re pro- or anti-choice—could come together in support of preventing unplanned pregnancies and addressing those hard ethical questions that come up when a woman’s life is endangered by a pregnancy.

MTV's new series on Teen Pregnancy

Have you ever wondered what it’s like to walk in the shoes of a pregnant teen? MTV’s new documentary series 16 and Pregnant takes a deeper look at the everyday lives of teens handling the ups and downs of growing up all while dealing with pregnancy. Take a look at the trailer:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BLiXS02Mj7U

16 and Pregnant looks like it could be an eye-opening TV series on teen pregnancy. If you plan on watching the show, let us know what you think about it!

HPV Transmission

It is estimated that 80% of women will get HPV at some point in their lifetime.

HPV is easily spread. Any type of genital contact with someone who has human papillomavirus (HPV) can put you at risk — intercourse isn’t necessary. And since there are often no signs or symptoms, many people don’t even know they have HPV. That means HPV transmission can happen without anyone knowing it.

There are about 6 million new cases of genital HPV in the United States each year.*

*Number represents more than 30 genital HPV types, not just HPV Types 6, 11, 16, and 18.

For more information about how you can prevent HPV transmission:
http://www.gardasil.com/hpv/pap-test/HPV-protection/index.html

The link between HPV and Cervical Cancer

Cervical cancer is cancer of the cervix (the lower part of the uterus that connects to the vagina). Unlike other cancers, cervical cancer is not passed down through family genes. It’s caused by certain types of a virus, human papillomavirus (HPV).

When a woman becomes infected with certain types of HPV, and the virus doesn’t go away on its own, abnormal cells can develop in the lining of the cervix. If these cells are not found early and treated, precancers and then cancer can develop.

While half of all women diagnosed with cervical cancer are between 35 and 55 years old, many of these women were probably exposed to cancer-causing HPV types in their teens or 20s.

For more information about Cervical Cancer:
http://www.gardasil.com/hpv/human-papillomavirus/cervical-cancer/

Learn more about Gardasil, the HPV vaccine:
http://www.gardasil.com/

Date Rape Myths & Facts

Myth: Rape is only committed by strangers in dark alleys and parking lots.

Fact: As many as 84 percent of women are raped by someone they know, such as friends, family or an acquaintance.

Myth: If a woman is raped, then she must have deserved it, especially if she agreed to go to the man's room or wore sexy clothing.

Fact: No one deserves to be raped. Being in a man's room or wearing revealing clothing does not mean a woman has agreed to have sex.

Myth: Women who don't physically fight back haven't been raped.

Fact: If a woman did not or could not consent to having sex, it is considered rape. Forcing a woman to have sex against her will, whether she physically fights back or not, is rape, plain and simple.

Myth: If there isn't a weapon involved, you haven't been raped.

Fact: Whether the man uses a weapon, his fists, the weight of his body, verbal threats, drugs, alcohol, or takes advantage of a woman's diminished physical or mental state to force her to have sex, it is rape.

Myth: It's not rape if the man is her boyfriend or husband or if they have had sex before.

Fact: A woman has the right to decide what she does with her body at all times - if she does not want to have sex, it is her decision, even if she willingly had sex with the man before.

Myth: If a woman lets a man buy her dinner or pay for a movie or drinks, she owes him sex.

Fact: No one owes sex as a payment to anyone else, no matter how expensive the date.

Myth: When a woman agrees to "make out" with a man, she is implying that will have intercourse with him, too.

Fact: Everyone has the right to say "no" to sexual activity, regardless of what has preceded it, and to have that "no" respected.

Myth: Women lie about being raped, especially when they accuse men they date or other acquaintances.

Fact: Rape really happens -- to people you know, by people you know.

Myth: When men are sexually aroused, they need to have sex or they will get "blue balls." Also, once they get turned on, men can't stop themselves from forcing sex on a woman.

Fact: Men don't physically need to have sex after becoming aroused any more than women do. Moreover, men are still able to control themselves even after becoming sexually excited.

Myth: Only women are raped.

Fact: Ten percent of rape cases involve men as a victim.

Myth: If both people are drunk at the time of the incident, no one can be accused of rape.

Fact: Being drunk does not mean someone cannot be accused of and convicted of rape.

Recovering from Sexual Assault

Being assaulted is not your fault. If you have been assaulted, get help from someone who you trust, whether it is the police, a friend, a rape crisis center or a relative. Don't isolate yourself because you have no reason to feel guilty, and, most importantly, don't try to ignore it. Rape, even by someone you know, is a crime and a violation of your body and your trust. Counseling and support groups can be helpful to deal with the emotional trauma caused by rape.

How to be supportive in the wake of an assault

"My sister was raped by a family friend, but I am not sure whether I should believe her…"
Whether it's you or someone you know, the effects of rape can be widespread and have the ability to affect groups of people, not only the victim. If someone you know is raped…

• Believe the person.
• Offer comfort and support. Go with him or her to the hospital, police station, or counseling center.
• Let him or her know they are not to blame and they are not alone.
• Encourage him or her to report the crime.

"I am strong, I am a survivor…how do I fight back to make sure this doesn't happen again?"
Taking a stand against rape can be one of the best things you can do to help yourself or anyone else you know that could possibly become a victim of this crime.

• Ask your student government or a parent group to sponsor a workshop on date rape and sexual stereotyping for students. Work with a hotline or crisis center to persuade rape survivors to join the workshop.
• Volunteer at a rape crisis center or hotline.
• Monitor the media for programs or videos that reinforce sexual stereotypes. Write or call to protest. On the other side, publicly commend the media when they highlight the realities of date rape.
• Ask college or professional athletes or other role models to talk to high school students about sexual stereotyping and responsible behavior.
  

What to do if you are Sexually Assaulted

If you are a victim of a sexual crime…

• Do not shower, wash, douche, or change your clothes because valuable evidence could be destroyed.
• Report the crime to a counseling center, police department, campus officials or professors - just tell someone that you have been violated.
• Get medical attention as soon as possible.
• Follow medical advice given, including advice about return medical visits, counseling and medication.
• Females should ask medical workers for emergency contraception.
• Ask medical workers to test for STIs. HIV tests can be conducted six weeks after the assault.
• Don't urinate before seeking help, if possible. If you suspect that you may have been drugged, the first urine that leaves your body is the most likely to contain evidence of drugs.
  

What is RAPE?

Rape is defined as forced sexual intercourse; force may involve psychological coercion (being "talked into it") as well as physical violence. This includes situations where the victim may be drunk, drugged, asleep, unconscious, or for any reason unable to say yes or no. It doesn't matter if a girl dresses sexy or a guy is really "bombed," sex without proper consent is RAPE. Period.

Sex Under the Influence

Alcohol abuse and using drugs can:

• Inhibit clear thinking and decision-making skills.
• Make talking and listening more difficult.
• Make it harder to assess potentially dangerous situations.
• Increase aggression.
• Decrease motor function so that it may be difficult to use a condom or another barrier method correctly.
  

Think Getting Drunk Is Sexy? Think Again…Too Much Alcohol Actually:

• Numbs the nerve endings in both male and female genitalia.
• Decreases female lubrication and can lead to painful sex.
• Affects the rational processes of the brain.
• Can increase one's expectations for the sexual experience, yet decrease desire, arousal and satisfaction.

Sex Myths and Mysteries

Every campus has them…some sort of myth or mystery floating around about sex or improving your chances of scoring. Below is a sampling of amusing - and sometimes frightening - myths that have been handed down from generation to generation on campuses around the country.

You can't get pregnant when you're menstruating.
MYTH (Yes, you can!) Sometimes ovulation can actually occur before the bleeding from a woman's period has stopped. Or it may occur within a few days after her period has finished. In both of these cases, having sex before the period has finished or just after it has finished, can result in pregnancy.

Losing weight will make your penis bigger.
MYTH If you lose weight all over your body, there's a pad of fat that is located at the base of your penis that will also shrink - this pad of fat is where part of your penis hides when it's erect, and where even more hides when it's not erect. Losing this pad of fat may make the appearance of the penis larger, but it will not actually grow.

Unsightly dark bags under the eyes, hair growing thicker in unattractive places, and decreased ability to get and maintain an erection are all symptoms of excessive masturbating.
MYTH Symptoms of excessive masturbation may include chafed and sore genitalia, but there's no evidence your appearance will change. What's excessive to one person may not be enough to another.

Masturbation causes gas.
MYTH (Well, this would certainly explain a lot about some people we know, but, there isn't any scientific evidence that supports this.) Masturbation will also not cause hair loss, acne or loss of eyesight!

Virgins can't experience orgasms.
MYTH As any virgin who has ever masturbated can tell you, this is not true. Both male and female virgins who have technically never had intercourse can have orgasms.

Condoms will protect you from all STIs.
MYTH Condoms protect you from STIs transmitted via bodily fluids, including HIV, but may not protect you from STIs transmitted via skin contact, such as HPV.

You can get STIs from oral sex, but you'll be safer if you brush your teeth right after.
It's a MYSTERY why more people don't know that you can get STIs like gonorrhea or herpes from giving or receiving oral sex. It's a MYTH that brushing your teeth has any protective benefit when it comes to oral sex. In fact, brushing can cause microscopic tears in your mouth that make bacteria transmission easier!

Sexual Health Resources

http://www.smartersex.org/stis/sex_health_resources.asp

STI Statistics

One in five people in the United States has an STI

Two-thirds of all STIs occur in people 25 years of age or younger

Cervical cancer in women is linked to Human Papillomavirus (HPV)

Hepatitis B is 100 times more infectious than HIV

STIs, other than HIV, cost about $8 billion each year to diagnose and treat

One in five Americans have genital herpes, yet at least 80 percent of those with herpes are unaware they have it
At least one in four Americans will contract an STI at some point in their lives

Human Papillomavirus is the most common STI in the United States

More than 5 million people are infected with HPV each year

Less than half of adults ages 18 to 44 have ever been tested for an STI other than HIV/AIDS

At least 15 percent of all infertile American women are infertile because of tubal damage caused by pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), the result of an untreated STI

Two-thirds of Hepatitis B (HBV) infections are transmitted sexually and are linked to chronic liver disease, including cirrhosis and liver cancer