i he Well Now P.Kc 2 AIDS affects women differently By Darnell* (rf+rffum It «tim now that if wr turn on the 1 V . look n i nuga/tftr. listen io the news, of go to school, there n always someone idling us about AIDS Sometimes ! fed like Hudmti, aget 18 24 years old, should lx* the mem awarc since wc vc come age hearing at* mt All >r> (XcnurK. 41 lire! everyone warned to liehcve AIDS wit no bird in only thotc "high ridt" groupc. hut now moil of ut 41 knowledge that AIDS lui i rowed every cotro-etonomie hound jiv poitible I ven w), I don't feel tli4t there n enough attention on women and the AIDS epidemic I look at women in my age gtoup and wondet if we trally know that there actually n a nvk for ui loo 111 admit that I toed to heheve the than* o wrte doer to noth ing. until thu iiimmct when I opened a Newcwerk magazine to the covet ttory on young people with AIDS and iaw a lace I recognised I actually knew a lemale my age with AIDS It i a fact that women out age can grt HIV' and AIDS Aitotding to the ( enter lot I hccatc ( onttol. I I percent ol te|>oricd AIDS taici lait vcai were women, and VS percent ol thoie women got the vifut through heleroieaual contact Hrt etoictiial contact including any unprotected icciial activuv wliere ImkIiIv lltridc are dialed can provide a meant ol tranimmion for HIV In addition, the t IX otimatei that for every one perwin with AIDS, there are another ten infected with HIV (the virui that cauici AIDS). I he l ilohal AIDS Policy l oalition hat made the projection that by the year 2(XX) the cumulative numl re-occurring vract inlrctionc. genital her pcs tstrak percent effective. In addition to the high effectiveness. Norplant has other advantages. Norplant users do not have to interrupt sexual activ ity nor do they have to think about taking a pill every day. Anoth er Norplant bonus is that it can be removed at any time by a trained practitioner and a woman's ability to become pregnant alter Norplant use is about the same as women who use no con traception. Some draw backs do exist with Norplant. 7S percent of Nor plant users re [sort irregular bleeding in the first year of use. Irreg ular bleeding varies from irregular menstruation to excessive bleeding to no menstruation at all. However, many women return to a regular menstrual cycle a veer after the Norplant inser tion. ( fiber effects common with Norplant, and most any hor mone containing contraceptives include: headaches, acne, weight changes and breast tenderness. Norplant^has also Ix-rn associated with depression, nervous ness, hairiness and nausea, but women base rarely discontinued use of Norplant as a result of these symptoms. Norplant also docs not protect us user from the contraction of S I I)s includ ing the I lt\ situs I be use of a condom in addition to Norplant prevents S I 1) and I ll\' transmission. Norplant is a relatively new form of contraception, so its long tt rm safety has not been established. 1 he use of Norplant is not suggested for women who smoke, have blood-clotting problems, heart disease or other specified health conditions, he sure to discuss any possible safety problems w ith your physi cian before deciding it Norplant is the contraceptive method for you Norplant is available through the Student Health Center. I he cost is S-tlO.lH) tor the five-year contraceptive, for more information about Norplant or other forms of contraception, contact the Women’s l lime at the Student 1 lealth Center or come by the I lealth 1 ducanon ( )fFice and talk w ith a Peer Health ads isor or consult one of our books, Ihr New dur Hodm Our irltfi, the source for this article. ■■■MHIIIIIIIIHHCMMMI Look into Books J l:or more information on AIDS. 111V. preg nancy, birth control and relationships, come by li the I lealth ldiK.ition nxtm across from the I’har- £ macy in the Student Health center. These are |iixt a few of the books available ||J to U of O students IVtrow. Steven, ed. fritting the ///1 F.putemu Community Strategies in I)neu>e Prevention unit tteulth Promotion. Santa Cru/: Network Pub lications. 1900. This collection of scholarly essays discusses various aspects of the 1 11V epidemic using San Francisco as us model lot studying the history and consequences of I 11V' in a community. The last part ot the book is dedicated to an expla- | nation of prevention in and among communi- . tics. I Butler. Pamela. Self-Aaertton for Women. San 1 Francisco: Harper fie Row: 1981. Butler discusses innovative ways lor women to learn to be assertive in relationships, both pro fessional and personal F.isenbcrg, Arlene. I leidi 1 Murkoff and Satulce 1 Hathaway. Whit to Expert When You're Kvpeet trig. New York: Workman Publishing 1984. Fisenherg, Murkoff.»nd Hathaway give a 1 detailed guide to major (and minor) concerns 5 I for women duung all nine months of pregnan I cy. From bodily changes to visits to the doc |J tor. they tell you what to cxjK-ct. SKILLS Jill *o srltt entered' Sell intcrcu 11 a part ol human nature, but see should all lememhet that other people * thought*, feeling* and idea* ate important too Without li* tening there tan he no undmtanding. and this tan only lead to a communi cation htraltdown. Student-educator communication teemt very tine tided on the univet titv Iced. Usually, the professor lecture* and the students take note* in class Moat undents lately speak to the pro lessor* of then iatge Inline cla**r* Sue doesn't permit much two-way com munication in tlav*. Of course, there ate those who do speak up in class and who do ask ques non*. Often these students get labeled a* “brown no*er*.“ Some ol them are trying to get a lew extra brownie points, but some are genuinely try ing to under stand the concept* that the professot is try ing to convey So how do vou communicate with xour professor without coming off as a brown noser' It vthi don't hive j hang up about speaking out in daxx. go ahead ami axk questions, but nuke tliem intd ligent Remember that wording o impor tint in lormulating anv question and being dear and concise it necessary for good communication, for example, it would he mote effective to ask vour I nglidi teachcf, 'OC'hat wax the them xutement ol Smiths nai ■" than to axk. ■\X’lut wax that one guy trying to xav in the alignment lao week*” If vott don't like to axk qttettmnx in tlaxx, ot arc intimidated to speak out. see vour professor after daw or go to lux ot her olliic hourx to axk a question Professors ate requited to hold office hourx for outxide help, to ytxu arc not firing a nuivancr by utxluing this ter vice. It is important in verbal communi cation not only to linen (not |uxt hear but actively listen) to The other person's ConlmurJ from pagr I words, but also to allow yourself to look at things (tom the other perron's |>cr tpeclive Interpreting the (Krson's words should lead to understanding new insights as well. Ms( iregor and White believe that when you look at something from someone else s perspective, it allows you to affirm your sense (the sense you already had) ol the world (realizing. ” I hat's tight"' At the same time, the different perspective throws si Kit under standing into a "new light," so to speak, by producing some tvpe ol creative insight (thinking. “I hadn't thought of it that way"). Communication is the key to every relationship whether it be a patent child, student■ professor relationship, a friendship, a marriage or girllnend and boyfriend relationship It is essential to the functioning world Sharpening communication skills, which involves both speaking and listening, can only enhance out existing relationships. . NEEDS two hours June ssith each other every week bind j babysit ter if necessary and it money is a problem, try to hnd j litem] of fdkiw student who might be willing to exchange child care. During this sjkx itl time togethet. give your tptiuse/pan ne* your undivided attention fry not to think about all the other things you may have to do. since this is an important time lot the two of you alone to enjoy the things alsout each other that brought you togethet in the first place Be cre ative, telax and enjoy yourselves. Coir ( omrijufiua Although this is probable the haidest thing tot many of us to do. it is one of the most important Your spouse/partner and family must realize that your goals are important to you. It is nevrssatv lot them to become ( atttmufti from pagr I aware that if they arc willing; Co help meet your needs, there Mill Ik positive consequences tor everyone and it they are not, then the consequence’- will Ik negative because prevention is always the best medicine, I suneyoshi emphasises that students who anticipate that problems may arise lor them when they return to school should come to the Counseling Center and make an appointment to discuss ways to divert these problems or lust become aware of potential problems betore they arise Counseling IS tree to all students, and couples ot families may receive counseling even if only one tamilv member is a student Appointments may also be made by telephone at X