Greetings, loved ones. If you haven’t noticed, fall is approaching. Cuffing season is upon us, and it’s time to find yourself a boo/formal date/person to go get you Cookout. For many people, relationships involve sex. If you know me personally, then you know that I have given this talk to my sorority once before and plan on doing so in the coming semester. If not, get ready for an honest, open talk about sex that will smack you with some truth.

I know that you’ve heard the statistics. I know that you know that 1 in 4 sexually active college students has some form of sexually transmitted infection. (Also! Other than initially for familiarity, I try to not call them sexually transmitted diseases. I will explain this later.) Yeah, Gracie, you say sort of passive-aggressively to me in your head, I know all about that. But guess what, I don’t have one. Literally every single person I talk to adamantly thinks that they do not have an STI, which would be all well and good if it were true, but 25 percent of college students have an STI. These numbers do not lie, and I don’t like those odds if you haven’t been tested.

Let’s break down what these STIs are and what they can do. The most common ones among college students are HPV (Human Papilloma Virus), chlamydia and genital herpes. HPV is a virus so common that, according to the CDC, almost every sexually active male or female will get it, even if you only have sex with one person. Granted, many of these cases go away on their own, but the ones that don’t can lead to genital warts and cervical cancer in women — not a chance I think you’re willing to take. Not to mention the fact that symptoms of the cancer generally only show up when the cancer is fairly advanced. Chlamydia is not a viral infection and is far more common and less serious than the bulk of the other potential STIs. This can be easily cured, but if left untreated, pregnancy can become difficult later for women.

Herpes, on the other hand, is the big one that most everyone thinks they know about. Lots of people think that if you have the bumps and lesions, then you have herpes. While that is true, many people do not have visible symptoms. The same is true for all three of the STIs mentioned: Most people do not have noticeable symptoms. So, even if you don’t think you have anything, always, always, always get tested and be careful.

Now, I am not saying any of this to frighten you or to guilt-trip you if you had unprotected sex or even if you do have (or have had) an STI. I simply want to make you aware and encourage you to be proactive now rather than finding out later that you have pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) due to untreated chlamydia and now have fertility difficulties. The reason I call them STIs and not STDs is because disease sounds way too awful and scary than most of them are. They should be avoided by any and every means necessary, but if you do contract one, your value as a human being is not affected. Your like or lovability is not affected. Your faith is not affected. YOU, as a person, are not affected. Also, if someone you know or love comes to you and tells you they have contracted an STI, be kind and loving. Do not alienate them or be a freakin' baby and say things like "OMG slut" or "eww!" STIs can happen to anyone and it only takes one time.

If you get anything from this, read these last minute tips!

1. The only way to 100 percent never, ever get an STI is to not have vaginal, anal or oral sex. Many people believe that, because they didn’t have vaginal sex, they cannot get STIs. Let me scream this through a megaphone: You can get any of the infections listed above and more from anal and oral sex.

2. If you are sexually active and are completely monogamous, get tested initially and use two forms of birth control. You can barely pick up your room at West 22, so you don’t need a baby right now.

3. If you are sexually active and not in a relationship, make sure you are tested regularly. ALWAYS ask a new partner if they have been tested. Whatever response they give you, USE. PROTECTION. ALWAYS.

4. BIRTH CONTROL PILLS DON’T PROTECT AGAINST STIs.

5. NEITHER DOES THE MORNING AFTER PILL.

6. Latex condoms MUST be used consistently and correctly in order to be effective. If you or your partner are allergic to condoms, use latex-free condoms because, yes, they make those.

7. If someone makes you feel bad or makes fun of you for wanting to use protection (or not wanting to have sex at all), they suck and you need to never talk to them again.

And remember, your sex life is no one’s business but yours and your physician’s. If you do not want to have sex, don’t. If you do want to have sex, be safe. BOTH of these choices are your own, and don’t let anyone make you feel bad about either one!