Let’s Talk About SEX: This is for College Students

When we enter college as freshmen we gain freedom. Freedom from our parents, social freedom, intellectual freedom and sexual freedom. Majority of us come into college with the only knowledge of sex taught to us by our ninth grade physical education teachers. Unless you had the most sexually educated parents in the world, this topic may be uncomfortable or even unfamiliar to you. I am going to write about four important things that I think every college student should know regarding sex.

1. CONSENT

This is probably the most controversial topic in the history of sex. Every, I mean EVERY sexual encounter should involve consent... What is consent? My definition of consent is to VERBALLY permit someone to continue a sexual act with you. This involves kissing, first base, second base, third base, homerun.... all of the above. Anything that is not consent is assault, and we must understand that if someone does not want to have sex with you, they are not obligated to do so. Listen to them.

Consent is Sexy: You can give consent in a sexy way. Floetry put it in the most sexyist way possible... go listen to the song.

Consent is SOBER: The only way someone can give consent is when they are sober and alert. This is the biggest issue when it comes to rape on campus. 1 in 4 women will be sexually assaulted in college. We must understand the importance of knowing the signs, if you see someone going home with a guy or girl knowing that they are not in a great position to give consent, please intervene. What about drunk sex? Well this is a very iffy issue, especially when it comes to the law, I personally say stay away from it. 

Consent is Verbal: BODY LANGUAGE DOES NOT COUNT. BODY LANGUAGE DOES NOT COUNT. BODY LANGUAGE DOES NOT COUNT. No means no and yes means yes. It’s simple.

For more in depth info: https://www.uhs.uga.edu/consent/

2. CONDOM USAGE

This past weekend the CDC released a statement stating that Sexually Transmitted Infections have an increase of incidence rates in the United States. This means that new cases of Syphilis, Chlamydia, and Gonorrhea are on the rise in the United States. I CANNOT express how important it is to wrap up. Use a condom. We have the resources and access to condoms please take advantage of them. We often overlook these diseases, because they are curable by one-dose antibiotics. But what happens if we don’t cure them? They can have a huge impact on our lives and cause infertility, ectopic pregnancies, brain cancer, pelvic inflammatory disease, an increased chance of contracting HIV, and so many more complications. These diseases can be prevented by using condoms and getting tested. There are many options to choose from... flavored condoms, vibrating condoms, dental dams, female condoms... use them.

Here is the website for STI testing centers near you:

https://gettested.cdc.gov/

3. BIRTH CONTROL

Birth control is normal, it is okay to use it as contraceptive and it’s pretty accessible due to the Affordable Care Act. Like condoms, there are so many birth control methods to choose from. Birth control is available at the health center and some insurance companies pay for you to get birth control that requires a procedure in the doctor’s office. Here is a list of the most used birth control methods and their effectiveness:

4.  THE DOUBLE STANDARD

We must get rid of the double standard. It takes two to have sex and a woman’s decision to be sexually liberated does not differ from a man’s decision to be sexually liberated. It’s not fair to judge someone based off their sexual decisions when you make/have made the same choices. Don’t be a hypocrite. Be open-minded....

Other Sexual/Body Myths debunked

1. Plan B is not an abortion pill, it stops ovulation just like any form of birth control

2. Yes, Soap and anything other than water is bad for your vagina. It changes the PH balance in your vagina and makes you more prone to infections. Wash your vagina with water only.

3. Condoms ruin the sexual experience.... Well, it would be best to have safe sex than no sex. Like I said before there are all types of condoms that can better your sexual experience.

4. Every vagina is different, you cannot tell how many sexual partners someone has had by the way their vagina looks. You. Can’t. And there is no such thing as “having no walls”.

5. Her cherry did not pop, she is really not a virgin.... false. That cherry is the hymen and this hymen can be stretched/broken through yoga, exercising and bicycling. 

6. Birth control does not cause infertility later on in life. The implant and deposhot takes a couple of months for your menstrual cycle to return but other than that it does not hurt your chances of getting pregnant. STI's do though.