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Posts Tagged ‘STD Testing’

Survey shows many Vermont teens are not using protection

Wednesday, February 22nd, 2012

In an effort to understand more about how kids are behaving, the state of Vermont issued a risk assessment survey that details the number of teens who have drank, taken drugs or practiced unprotected sex. This can help both parents and educators determine the need for awareness programs regarding the dangers of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), drunk driving, drug overdose and many other concerns.
The Addison County Independent reports that while the survey found that there has been a decline in substance abuse since 1999, there has been an increase in teens having sex and not using a condom. Only 60 percent of students who reported having sex said they used protection.

“I think the way [this survey] is most helpful is getting the students engaged in the community and looking at what would improve the school,” said Sharon Koller, student assistance program counselor at Mount Abraham Middle School in Vermont, quoted by the news source. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that, in Vermont, there are three times more women reporting cases of chlamydia than men. This statistic, partnered with the survey findings, suggest that there is a need for more education regarding the importance of practicing safer sex.

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Hook ups…do they happen as often as you think?

Monday, October 17th, 2011

by Stephanie Brooks, Health Writer

College students talk a big game ⎼ but do they actually have as many hook-ups as they say? A new study in the August 2011 edition of Health Communication says no, they don’t.

In the study, researchers looked at the way college students talk about sex ⎼ especially casual sex or hooking up ⎼ and what that means for the way their classmates think about sex.

So, what did the researchers find?

While college students talk the talk, it seems that they don’t walk the walk…at least as much as they say. According to the study, students tended to have fewer casual sex encounters than their discussions indicated.

But there’s an extra note of caution here, too. The types of sex college students were most likely to talk about were high-risk situations, like having unplanned and drunken sex with someone they didn’t know. And talking about that kind of sex made their friends more likely to perceive high-risk sex as normal.

That’s a problem.

When people think high-risk sex is normal, they’re more likely to go for it. And, unfortunately, people who have drunken sex with strangers are more likely to catch an STD or have an unintended pregnancy.

To prevent STDs and unintended pregnancy, it’s important to use condoms. And it also helps to know the STD status of your sexual partner. Better yet, couples can get tested for STDs together before they have sex (including oral and anal sex, too). Remember, STDs don’t always caused obvious symptoms…testing is the only way to know if you or a potential sex partner has an STD.

So the next time you hear about a hook-up…take it with a grain of salt. And if you’re sexually active, take control of your sexual health by using protection and getting tested for STDs.

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Safer Sex: something to talk about

Monday, May 9th, 2011

by Courtney Jones, Care Advisor

Sex is a constant influence in media, in politics and in our personal lives. Unfortunately, good information about STDs and sexual health isn’t as prevalent.

No matter who you are, if you don’t know the facts about STDs and STD risk factors, you’re probably living with a lot of unnecessary stress and anxiety. Even actor Matthew Morrison – better known as Mr. Schu in the TV show “Glee” – said recently that he avoided sex when he was younger because of an irrational fear that any kind of sexual activity would result in an STD. Singer and songwriter Katy Perry also stated in an interview that her religious upbringing left her clueless about sex and STDs.

Being uninformed or misinformed about STDs leads to fear. So here are the basics of what you need to know to protect yourself and others from getting infected or spreading an infection:

1. Know your partner & communicate. With every new relationship, get tested for STDs. Give yourselves the peace of mind of knowing each other’s STD status. And don’t be afraid to share your concerns with each other…your sexual health is worth talking about!

Do you trust your sexual partner? Do you know if your partner has a history of STDs? Are you worried about whether your partner is having sex with other people? Ask away…you deserve to know.

2.  Use condoms & practice safer sex. You’ve seen the ads on buses and billboards: “No condom, no way.” Those ads are for real. Using latex condoms or dental dams every time you have vaginal, anal or oral sex greatly lowers your risk of getting HIV or other STDs from someone who might be infected…or from spreading a sexually transmitted infection to others.

And use common sense: avoid contact with open cuts or sores.

Being smart about your sexual health also means understanding how STDs can’t be spread. For example, you can’t get HIV through everyday contact with people who are infected with the virus…or through contact with their urine, sweat, tears, coughs or sneezes. And you can’t get HIV by “dry” kissing an infected person…or from toilet seats or eating utensils.

STDs aren’t taboo like they used to be…so if you have questions, ask us and put your fears to rest. Our knowledgeable, STD-certified Care Advisors are just a call away: 866.660.2593 (toll-free).

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Infidelity…STD Testing…

Tuesday, September 14th, 2010

DR. LISA OLDSON

Ah love… It turns out that money influences love in ways we never imagined. According to a recent survey of 17 – 27 year olds, infidelity is higher in relationships where the woman makes significantly more money than the man. Both the higher income woman and the lower income man are more likely to cheat on their partners in this situation.

One survey showed that 7% of men are unfaithful compared to 3% of women. Some speculate that men earning significantly less money than their partners feel powerless and this may lead to an affair. Reaching a higher educational level and attending regular religious services lowered the risk of cheating for both men and women. Hypotheses abound regarding reasons why we cheat, but in general the more money a person has, the more opportunity there is for cheating (and to hide cheating) whether the person is male or female. Those who travel often for work may have increased opportunities to meet others.

What should YOU do if your partner cheated on you? Get STD tested and don’t have sex with your partner until you’ve both checked your STD status!

Remember if you’re out there having sex with a new partner, use a condom each and every time and limit your number of sexual partners to limit your STD risk.

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