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The Behrend Beacon
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When using condoms consistently and correctly, they are the best prevention against S'FDs, HIV, and pregnancy. The
condom failure rate is only between 2 percent and 5 percent. Why then do people choose not to use condoms?
"It feels better without a condom" is the most famous excuse. If your partner tries to get you to have sex without a
condom, keep this in mind they have most likely had 10 or more sexual partners.
When having sex for the first time, some people may not know how to put on a condom. Instead of feeling embarrassed,
they choose to have sex without a condom.
While it is usually the men who wear the condom, women are the "condom negotiators." When debating over whether
or not to use a condom, women are more successful than men in persuading their partner not to use one.
No matter what the excuse, don't listen to it. Even if sex feels better without a condom, think about the consequences. In
exchange for one amazing night, you could become a parent or infected with an STD. Is it really worth it?
Because condoms can prevent STDs, HIV, and pregnancy, men and women need to be well educated on them. The
following steps will allow you to become a condom pro.
The first decision that needs to be made is choosing what the condom is made of Make sure it is made of polyurethane
or latex (which is way more reliable than animal tissue condoms). Then make sure that the condom will fit snugly they
do come in different lengths, widths, and thicknesses.
Before using the condom, make sure to inspect it. If the package is damaged or the expiration date has passed, do not use
the condom. Once you have opened the package, then inspect the condom itself. If the condom looks dry, brittle, stiff, or
sticky, do not use it.
To prevent breakage or leakage, condoms should always be stored in a cool, dry place. When opening the package, tear
gently on the side. Do not use your teeth or scissors when opening the package! Also, you should keep a few spare
condoms on hand just in case one gets ripped in the opening process.
Lubricants are a great thing to use to keep the condom from ripping. Whether you buy pre-lubricated condoms or apply
your own, make sure it is the right kind. Water-based lubricant, such as K-Y jelly or Astroglide, is the best to use. Oil
based lubricants, like Vaseline or other petroleum jellies, body lotions, mineral or vegetable oils, are not good to use
because they can cause condoms to dissolve.
Now that you are ready to use the condom, make sure it is put on correctly. After the penis is hard and erect, the rolled
condom should be placed over the head. Roll the condom downward leaving a half-inch space at the tip for semen. Make
sure there are no air bubbles left in the condom. If you accidentally put the condom on inside out, throw it away.
Remove the condom immediately after intercourse. Wrap it in tissue and throw it away.
Remember, the best way to prevent diseases and pregnancy is abstinence. Condoms are not foolproof but are the best
protection during sexual intercourse.
Scary facts
about SIDS
by Courtney Straub
healthy living editor
A sexually transmitted disease
(STD) is most commonly spread by
having sex with another person
who is infected. More than 65
million people living in the United
States have an incurable STD.
Every year, there
approximately 15 million new
cases and few of these cases are
curable
Another scary statistic is that
two-thirds of all STDs occur in
people ages 25 and younger. This
means that the most likely cause of
STDs is from college-age students.
Everyone knows that college is a
time when people experiment.
While experimenting is a good
thing, don't let it get out of hand.
STDs can ruin your life.
Did you know you can have an
STD and not even know it'?
Symptoms may not show up for
weeks or months and even then
they are hard to detect. Most STDs
are permanent and incurable.
So why do college students
SEX
a condom pro
engage in sexual behavior? The
most common response is because
it's fun. So don't turn something
fun into something terrible.
By using the following tips, you
can decrease your risk of
contracting an STD.
• The best way to prevent yourself
from STD's is to avoid sexual
intercourse!
• By only having one partner, you
greatly reduce your risk of
contracting an STD.
• Talk to your partner about STDs
before you begin having sex with
him/her. Make sure to ask if your
partner has ever been exposed to
an STD.
• Have an STD check up after
having sex with a new partner.
• Carefully examine your partner's
body. If you notice any unusual
discharge, sores, bumps, or redness
do not attempt sexual intercourse.
• Use a dental dam or cut condom.
• Use only latex condoms.
• Use spermicidally lubricated
condoms during sexual
intercourse.
ow to be
by Courtney Straub
healthy living editor
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Friday, April 11, 2003
Is it worth it?
These websites can give
you more information:
oursexlife.co
www. its
WWW
www.thebod
www.iwannaknow.or
www.sexetc.or
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WW'W.VV
College and sex
Sex seems to be everywhere these
days. If it's not on TV. then someone
in your dorm is certainly having it
and you might even have a "sex
contract" with your roommate. The
"contract" normally consists of the
roommate who's having sex leaving
something on the door to the let the
other roommate know that coming
into the room at that moment will
only lead to some pretty
uncomfortable moments
Even the morning after a party it's
quite a game to remember who
hooked up with whom the night
before. Sex certainly isn't a taboo
subject in college, whereas in health
class in high school sex was taboo
and abstinence was literally shoved
down students' throats.
le.com
An even worse statistic
is that 1 in 4 sexually
active teens will contract
an STD this year. So, for
example, let's say you
live in the apartments.
One of you in that
apartment will contract
some sort of STD before
this year is over. Right
now the most common
lice.c
Courtney Straub, Healthy Living Editor
44ATER611TV
by Erika Jarvis
staff writer
What happened since going to
college? What changed everyone's
outlook on sex? Could it be the fact
that now that on your own, you feel
that you can make your own
decisions based on the facts you
learned in high school?
According to statistics, 85% of 19
year old males have already had sex,
and 77% of 19 year old females have
had sex, all voluntarily. That
basically means that a majority of
the students at Behrend are having
sex, whether you know it
or not
STD among the younger
generations is chlamydia.
The one thing really pushed in all
those health classes that students
laughed and joked about in high
school was the fact that condoms
aren't 100 percent successful.
While condoms are the best thing
out there other than abstinence
against STDs, there is still a chance
you can contract a disease of some
sort.
What's worse than contracting an
STD is plain and simple...getting
pregnant, or getting someone else
pregnant. Bringing a crying child
to class is never cool, and it pretty
much limits your social calendar to
spending all your time with your
child. Six out of 10 teen
pregnancies occur among teens 18-
19 years old, and 76 percent of these
pregnancies are unplanned.
Most college students choose to
have sex for multiple reasons: they
like it, it feels good, they're in love
or they just have crazy hormones.
Still, it's most important that these
statistics are known about sex.
Hollywood tends to glorify sex, and
you rarely (if ever) see anyone
contract an STD on television.
Hollywood also leaves out the
emotional side of sex. Many times
the woman constantly worries
about her next menstrual period and
if she's pregnant or not. Most times
people wonder after their first time
if they made the right decision and
sometimes relationships can go
downhill after sex has been brought
into the picture.
While these facts and statistics
could be painted on the side of the
Reed Union Building everyday,
people will still choose to have sex
for their own reasons, and sex
contracts will still be made. Yet, as
long as that information is out
there, no one can ever be upset that
they just didn't know the possible
consequences.