I'm writing this article not to offend anyone because I know sex can be a very touchy subject, but this is my personal opinion. It is important to know that can happen if you aren't having safe sex. You can become a parent at a young age, or you can contract a disease you have to live with forever. Be safe; your older self will thank you.
In my experience, talking about sexual acts and the anatomy of the human body was almost seen as a taboo subject. But in reality it is really so important to be properly informed, especially as a college student. For most people, college is the first time they are on their own, experimenting with different people and new things, including sex. In the United States alone there are millions of people suffering from sexually transmitted infections (STIs), with chlamydia being the one most commonly reported, according to the CDC. Chlamydia happens to be an infection that can be treated with a course of antibiotics but not every disease is the same. If you contract herpes from another sexual partner, you will have it forever. It may lay dormant for a long period of time but the disease will always run through the blood stream and at some point cause an outbreak.
Sex ed should start before high school and for most people, I think it does -- but it comes in two forms. Comprehensive sex education, which focuses on what to do if you decide to have sex or abstinence-based education, which is where students are taught to not have sex until they are with the person they are going to marry. For me personally, my school taught semi-comprehensive sex education. I knew the basics but have learned so much more from other resources and getting to know other people in college. The following things are topics relating to sex that I don't think are talked about enough.
1. Birth control (both male and female)
Birth control is often the most common means taken when preventing pregnancy and getting STIs. For men typically a condom is used, which collects semen and prevents it from entering into the vagina. There are also some forms of male birth control pills, however they're still in an experimental stage and much less common. The last rather common form of birth control men use is the "pull-out" method. This occurs when the male pulls his penis out of the vagina right before he orgasms, in which case semen doesn't enter the female.
For women, there are many more options. The birth control pill is a daily medication taken to regulate ovulation and prevent pregnancy. There are patches and shots you can receive that do the same sort of thing. Some women opt for a vaginal ring or IUD -- intrauterine device -- both can prevent pregnancy for up to five years if used properly. Women also have the option to use female condoms but they are much less common compared to male condoms.
Abstinence for both men and women is also a form of birth control, where you don't have sex until you are a certain age or are married. While some people do choose this path, I think more and more people are having sex younger and this practice has become somewhat dated.
2. The importance of knowing the history of a sexual partner
Another extremely important thing to think about before having sex with someone is their past history. In a situation like college, some people will be virgins and others will have had many sexual partners. Either is totally fine, but the chances of contracting a STI increases with each sexual experience you encounter. Have a conversation before you have sex, it may be uncomfortable at first but it's better to be safe than sorry.
3. Common myths
i. You'll know if your partner is "clean."
False. Unless you have that conversation before sex, you can't look at a person and automatically know whether they have an STI or not. Often times, someone with an STI doesn't even know they have one. Symptoms can present themselves several weeks or months after the actual infection was contracted. The only real way to know is to get tested.
ii.You can't get a STI from oral sex.
False. While it is a less common way to contract a disease it is still possible. Things like gonorrhea and hepatitis B can all be spread through oral sex. The best way to protect against STIs during oral sex is to use condoms.
iii. You can't get pregnant the first time you have sex.
False. If you have unprotected sex at anytime, there is a chance you could become pregnant If you're going to have sex, be safe.
4. When will I be ready for sex?
For everyone, this will happen at different times. On average people start having sex at 17, if you are doing it before then or wait until marriage it doesn't matter. You'll know when you are ready.
Sex isn't something to be unsafe about, it could bring about serious consequences. Again, I'm not staying don't have sex, just be smart about it. It's better to be informed than infected.
