To kick off STD Awareness Month, student interns at the University Health Center attempted to stop the spread of myths and rumors about sex, sexually transmitted diseases and contraceptives by hosting a casual discussion yesterday.
Forum organizers also aimed to give students the tools they need to broach the sensitive subject with lovers, family and friends by educating them on the various dangers they face in their everyday sex lives.
“A health course isn’t a requirement on campus even though they give out accurate information on [sexually transmitted infections] and contraceptives,” presenter and senior community health major Maria Fix said. “It is really important to make sure that the information that students give out is unbiased and accurate, and it is usually not.”
To name just one cause for worry that prompted the forum, public and community health professor Robin Sawyer said students tend to minimize the dangers of oral sex, even though it’s a huge public health issue.
“Sex is a big deal, but oral sex is treated like a metaphorical handshake that you can’t get an STI from,” Sawyer said. “Students believe that the only way to get an STI is through vaginal sex and say just do oral because it is safer, but it is not.”
Another area of concern is the misuse of condoms, Fix said. The health center interns told the gathering of fewer than a dozen students that a lack of proper lubricant is the main reason condoms break and showed a step-by-step video guide from Planned Parenthood’s website on the correct way to use them in order to clear up any misconceptions — which includes not opening the wrapper with one’s teeth.
Students praised the organizers’ ability to cover a wide range of sexual health issues, from alcohol’s effect on sexual promiscuity to statistics on the high number of students practicing unsafe sex. But some wished there was a longer discussion on the communication tools that can be used to address sexual topics with family and friends.
“I was surprised that they were able to cover such a wide range of material in such a short period of time while still highlighting the important parts,” said junior women’s studies major Sarah Manasevit. “However, I do wish they spent more time on tools of effective communication.”
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