Spring Break
Safe-sex practices result in less sexually transmitted disease
Ashley Robinson
Issue date: 3/11/09 Section: News
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Tuesday, as part of the Association for Student Activities Program's "Sex Week" at CSU, Jo-El Schult, a Planned Parenthood reproductive health educator talked to students about sex in terms of safety, drugs and alcohol, communication, consent and boundaries.
Sixty percent of STDs are contracted by people who have sex either while intoxicated or on drugs, Schult said, adding that both substances severely inhibit a person's ability to use safer sex practices.
She said in general, alcohol decreases overall arousal and satisfaction.
"If you can only have sex while you're drunk or on drugs," said Schult, "you should seriously think about why, and maybe make it a point to not have sex while you're drinking."
Schult also said the high rate of STD contraction among teenagers is linked with the fact that many do not practice safe-sex because condoms are uncomfortable and "unsexy," among other reasons.
According to results from a 2007 nationwide Center for Disease Control study of STDs:
In 2007, 1,108,374 cases of sexually transmitted Chlamydia trachomatis infection were reported to CDC; the largest number of cases ever reported to CDC for any condition. This case count represents an increase of 7.5 percent compared with the rate in 2006.
In 2007, 355,991 cases of gonorrhea were reported in the U.S., the equivalent of a rate of 118.9 cases per a population of100,000. This is little changed from the rate in 2006 of 119.7 cases.
In 2007, 11,466 cases of primary and secondary syphilis were reported to CDC, corresponding to a rate of 3.8 cases per a population of 100,000, a 15 percent increase from 2006. Since 2001, the rate of primary and secondary syphilis has increased 81 percent.
Communication, negotiation, and consent are key when it comes to sex. Too many couples have difficulty communicating when it comes to sex, Schult said, because many are afraid of being considered a bad lover and because discussing sex is a taboo in American culture.
Consenting to sex or other sex acts helps to make both partners more comfortable, she added, saying this process encourages communication between partners as well as setting clear boundaries.
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 2
Carolyn R. Arzac
posted 3/14/09 @ 5:36 PM MST
I am a 62 year young woman and I remember when I was in school that you never heard of people coming down with STD's. It just did not happen. I don't know but back in the 50"s and 60's, standards were different. (Continued…)
Angela Warts
posted 3/18/09 @ 11:38 AM MST
Which type of treatment do you feel works best? I'm looking for something easy and discrete as well but I need it to work.
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