Wearing Protection
The CDC recommended DO's & DON'Ts of Protection
Condoms
-
DO use a condom every time you have sex.
-
DO put on a condom before having sex.
-
DO read the package and check the expiration date.
-
DO make sure there are no tears or defects.
-
DO store condoms in a cool, dry place.
-
DO use latex or polyurethane condoms.
-
DO use water-based or silicone-based lubricant to prevent breakage.
​
-
DON’T store condoms in your wallet as heat and friction can damage them.
-
DON’T use nonoxynol-9 (a spermicide), as this can cause irritation.
-
DON’T use oil-based products like baby oil, lotion, petroleum jelly, or cooking oil because they will cause the condom to break.
-
DON’T use more than one condom at a time.
-
DON’T reuse a condom.
Female Condoms
-
DO use a female (internal) condom from start to finish, every time you have vaginal sex.*
-
DO read the condom package insert and check the expiration date.
-
DO make sure there are no tears or defects.
-
DO use lubricant to help prevent the condom from slipping and tearing.
-
DO store condoms in a cool, dry place.
​
-
DON’T use a male (external) condom with an female (internal) condom, as this can cause tearing.
-
DON’T reuse a condom.
-
DON’T flush condoms as they may clog the toilet.
Dental Dams
-
DO use a new latex or polyurethane dental dam every time you have oral sex.
-
DO read the package and check the expiration date.
-
DO make sure there are no tears or defects.
-
DO put on before starting oral sex and keep it on until finished.
-
DO use water-based or silicone-based lubricant to prevent breakage.
-
DO store dental dams in a cool, dry place.
​
-
DON’T reuse a dental dam.
-
DON’T stretch a dental dam, as this can cause it to tear.
-
DON’T use nonoxynol-9 (a spermicide), which can cause irritation.
-
DON’T use oil-based products like baby oil, lotion, petroleum jelly, or cooking oil because they will cause the dental dam to break.
-
DON’T flush dental dams down the toilet as they may clog it.
Getting Tested
Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are the spread of bacteria, and viruses through unprotected sexual contact. Additionally, some STIs can be transmitted through pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, and through infected blood. When STIs are left untreated, they can have an impactful effect on your health such as neurological and cardiovascular disease, infertility, ectopic pregnancy, and stillbirths. STIs are also associated with stigma. The majority of STIs do not have noticeable symptoms. When they are present, these can be some symptoms:
-
Sores or bumps on and or around your genitals, thighs, butt cheeks
-
Viginal or urethral discharge
-
It burns when you pee, or you are having to pee a lot
-
Itching, pain, irritation, and/or swelling in your genitals
According to Sex Health, annually, there is an estimated 333 million new cases of curable Sexual transmitted illnesses around the globe, with the highest rates among college age students. In the United States, the Center of Disease Control estimates that of the 26 million new sexually transmitted infections, ages 15-24 account for about half in 2018.
​
Getting yourself tested is one of the most important things you can do to protect your health when you are sexually active. It is important to be open with your primary care physician on whether or not you should get tested or not.
However, according Global Health Action, some clinicians will avoid talking about sexual health with individuals of the LGBTQIA+ community due to a lack of experience, comfort, and or a different identity. This can discourage individuals of the LGBTQIA+ community to talk about their sexual health or leave the individual unknowing what to do next.
Who should get tested? According to the Center of Disease Control -
-
All adults and adolescents from the age of 13 to 64 should be tested for HIV at least once
-
All secually active women younger than the age of 25
-
All pregnant individuals
-
All sexually active gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men
-
Anyone who engages in sexual behaviors that puts them at risk
-
Individuals who have oral or anal sex
Common STIs include:
-
Bacterial Vaginosis
-
Chlamydia
-
Herpes
-
Hepatitis
-
Gonorrhea
-
Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)
-
Human Papillomavirus Infection (HPV)
-
Syphilis
-
Trichomoniasis
Where to get tested?
-
At your Primary Care Doctor's Office
-
University Health Center
-
Urgent Care
-
Local Planned Parenthood
-
Local Health Department
-
Local Health Clinic
-
Visit gettested.cdc.gov to find more locations
Consent
Respecting Boundaries
Consent is an agreement between individuals to engage in sexual activity, and it should be clearly and freely communicated. Through a verbal and affirmative expression of consent, this allows both you and your partner to understand and respect each other's boundaries.
​
Consent cannot be given by individuals who are
-
Underage
-
Intoxicated
-
Incapacitated by drugs or alcohol
-
Asleep or unconscious
-
Agreeing to an activity under pressure of intimidation or threat
-
Agreeing to an activity when there is an unequal power dynamic
​
The important thing about consent is that you can withdrawal your consent to an activity at anytime you are feeling uncomfortable or you don't want to engage anymore.
What does consent look like?
-
Asking permission before you change the type or degree of sexual activity with phrases like “Is this OK?”
-
Confirming that there is reciprocal interest before initiating any physical touch.
-
Letting your partner know that you can stop at any time.
-
Periodically checking in with your partner, such as asking “Is this still okay?”
-
Providing positive feedback when you’re comfortable with an activity.
-
Explicitly agreeing to certain activities, either by saying “yes” or another affirmative statement, like “I’m open to trying.”
-
Using physical cues to let the other person know you’re comfortable taking things to the next level (see note below).
What consent does not look like?
-
Refusing to acknowledge “no”
-
A partner who is disengaged, nonresponsive, or visibly upset
-
Assuming that wearing certain clothes, flirting, or kissing is an invitation for anything more
-
Someone being under the legal age of consent, as defined by the state
-
Someone being incapacitated because of drugs or alcohol Pressuring someone into sexual activity by using fear or intimidation
-
Assuming you have permission to engage in a sexual act because you’ve done it in the past
Identify Rewards & Costs
Knowing what you like
According to a study done in the International Journal of Sexual Health, there are sexual rewards and sexual costs. Sexual rewards are exchanges between people which are pleasurable and gratifying while sexual costs are exchanges between people which demand effort or causes pain, embarrassment, and or anxiety. ​With same-sex partners, they tended to rely on more idiocy-cratic arrangements, expectations, and goals for their relationships due to our society does not provide a lot of explicit or clear models for same-sex relationships. In the medium of television and movies, LGBTQIA+ couples are rarely explicated denoted, and given healthy relationships.
Frequently Identified Rewards from the Study
-
Physical & emotional intimacy
-
Feeling accepted & supported
-
Healthy communication
-
Positive view of oneself
-
Sexual compability
Frequently Identified Costs from the Study
-
Feeling vulnerable to rejection & loss
-
How the LGBTQIA+ relationship is regarded by family, and friends
-
Loss of independence, and personal freedom
-
Lack of cultural recognition of the LGBTQIA+ relationships
-
Concern about physical appearance & sexual performance