Sexual Health & Safety

Closeness, touching, and intimacy are good for health. Sex is an act that is best done in a caring, loving and monogamous relationship and there are many reasons to recommend that sexual intercourse be reserved for a marital relationship. The Catholic faith maintains that sexual intercourse is to be simultaneously an act of the deepest intimacy and an act open to the conception of new life. Because of this twofold purpose, intercourse is to be engaged in only by marriage partners. Muslims and Jews share similar moral positions. The following information should be used within the context of one's own religious, moral, and ethical values about human sexuality. If you choose to be sexually active, consider your health and peace of mind by playing it safe.

Safer Sex

Safer sex means being intimate but using measures that minimize the risk of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). Not having sex, including intercourse, oral sex, anal sex, and genital to genital contact is the only sure way to eliminate the risk for STDs. Caressing, hugging, dry kissing, and masturbation are no risk or extremely low-risk practices. So is limiting your sexual contact to one person your entire life if your partner is also monogamous and does not have an STD.

Follow these measures to reduce the risk for contracting an STD:

	Use latex or polyurethane barriers, such as condoms (male or female ones), dental dams, latex gloves, etc. These reduce the spread of STDs when used properly and carefully and for every sex act. They do not eliminate the risk entirely. Barriers made of natural membranes, such as lamb skin do not offer effective protection against STDs. Unless they are in a monogamous relationship in which neither partner has an STD, both females and males should carry latex or polyurethane barriers and insist that they be used every time they have genital contact and/or oral sex. Use polyurethane condoms if either partner is allergic to latex.
	For oral-vaginal sex and oral-anal sex, use latex dams ("doilies"). These are latex squares.
	For additional protection, use spermicidal foams, jellies, or creams (especially with Nonoxynol-9 if you are not allergic to this), and a diaphragm. Use these with (not instead of) a condom. Use water-based lubricants, such as K-Y Brand Jelly. Don't use oil-based or "petroleum" ones, such as Vaseline. They can damage latex barriers.
	Don't have sex while under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
	Limit sexual partners. Sexual contact with many persons increases the risk for STDs, especially if no protection is used.
	Discuss a new partner's sexual history with him or her before beginning a sexual relationship. (Be aware, though, that persons are not always honest about their sexual history.)
	Avoid sexual contact with persons whose health status and health practices are not known.
	Avoid sex if either partner has signs and symptoms of a genital infection, such as sores or a discharge.
	Wash the genitals with soap and water before and after sexual intercourse.
	After manual, sexual contact in another person's genital area, wash your hands with hot water and an antibacterial soap, especially before you touch your eyes or anyone else's genitals.
	Talk to your health care provider about getting vaccinated for hepatitis B.

If you have multiple sex partners, ask your health care provider to check for STDs every 6 months (or as he or she advises), even if you don’t have any symptoms.

Seek treatment for a sexually transmitted disease if you know your sex partner is infected.

For Information, Contact:

Your school’s Student Health Center, your health care provider, or your local health department

The National STD Hotline
1-800- 227-8922

American Social Health Association (ASHA)
www.ashastd.org

Sexual Assault

Sexual assault is an unlawful act that may involve the touching of intimate body parts, sexual intimidation, or forced sexual penetration. This includes sexual intercourse, oral sex, and digital penetration.

Rape is forced sexual intercourse. Force may be by verbal threats, physical restraint, or violence.

Rape is one of the most underreported, violent crimes in the United States. Only about 16% of rapes are reported. Acquaintance or date rape is forced or coerced sexual intercourse by a friend or acquaintance, usually in a dating situation. About 80% of sexual assault victims knew their assailant. Most acquaintance rape is sexually motivated with violence or coercion as factors. Almost all sexual assaults on college campuses are acquaintance rapes, and in most cases at least one of the persons involved is under the influence of alcohol or another drug.

Safety Tips to Reduce the Chances for Sexual Assault

Be aware of the risks of date rape with drinking alcohol. About 75% of male students who take part in acquaintance rape had been drinking; about 55% of female students had.

	The best defense is to not drink. If you drink, limit alcohol intake.
	Don’t drink anything you have not brought or opened yourself. Don’t drink from another person’s container, from a punch bowl, beer bong, etc. When at a bar or club, accept drinks only from a bartender or waiter.
	Keep your drink in your hand and under your watch at all times. If needed, have a friend watch your drink. Do the same for your friend(s).
	Don’t drink alcohol in a high-risk setting for sexual assault (e.g., frat house or team parties or with persons you don’t know and/or trust).

Be aware of these “date-rape” drugs, which have no odor or color when mixed with drinks:

	Rophypnol. See the Drug Chart under "Drugs & Drug Safety" for the effects of this drug, which can last 6 to 8 hours. This drug is added to drinks and punches at parties, raves, etc., usually to lower sexual inhibitions in females. When mixed with alcohol or other drugs, Rohypnol can cause death.
	GHB and GLB. See the Drug Chart under "Drugs & Drug Safety" for the effects of this drug, which last about 8 hours. If you have had this drug, you may wake up partially clothed with no recollection of a sexual assault. GHB is often made in homes with recipes and ingredients found and purchased on the Internet. GHB can cause death.

Consider using a coaster or test strip made to detect date rape drugs in drinks before you take a sip. An example is Drink Safe Coaster^TM by Drink Safe Technology. For information, contact www.drinksafetech.com.

If you suspect you have been drugged keep a sample of your drink. Get help immediately. Have a friend help you get medical care. Call EMS, if necessary. Get tested for the drug within 12 hours of the suspected incident at a hospital emergency department.

Do not have sex with a person who is under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs, which compromise consent. Also, look out for the safety of your friends and yourself and don’t put yourself in vulnerable situations.

	Alert your female friends (and the authorities) to rumors of guys using date- rape drugs.
	Don't assume that anyone under the influence is "too nice a guy" to commit sexual assault. Intervene on a friend's behalf (e.g., walk her out of a party, take her to a safe place, etc.).
	Know your sexual limitations and communicate them both verbally and nonverbally. If you sense you are being pressured to have sex and don't want to, state your position clearly. Say "NO" emphatically when you mean "NO!" Be aware, too, that a female/partner does not need to say the word, "NO" to mean "NO." Listen for words like, "I'm just not ready," "We're going too fast," etc. The female/partner may be afraid to say "NO."
	Attend your school’s classes, etc., on preventing acquaintance rape, sexual assault, etc. Take a class in self-defense.
	Carry a cell phone with you to call for help, if needed.
	Avoid being alone, especially in unsafe situations and with strangers and persons you don’t know well or feel safe with.
	Keep the doors to your home and car locked. Don’t open doors to strangers. Don’t tell strangers that you are alone.

If Rape Occurs

	Do not shower, clean or wash up in any way, or change clothing before you go to the hospital emergency department. Doing so could destroy evidence (e.g., blood type, hair samples, etc.), which may not be legally acceptable if collected later than 72 hours after the rape. If you have removed clothes worn at the time of the rape, put them in a plastic bag and take them with you to the ER.
	Get medical or police help right away. (Date-rape drugs may not be detectable after 12 hours.) Go to the ER. Recall and write down as much detail as you can. Report the rapist's age, height, weight, race, hair color, clothing worn, noticeable body marks, tattoos, etc. If a vehicle was involved, report its type, color, licence plate, etc. Take a friend with you for comfort and support. At the ER, you will get information about health care providers in your area who can help you after the ER visit. You will likely use it at some point.
	Talk to the emergency care provider about emergency contraception and tests for STDs.
	Contact your campus Sexual Assault Crisis Center or call the Rape Crisis Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673).

Table of Contents

July 19, 2002