WELL NOW
spring / yyS
FABULOUS
FACT@ID$
© I in 4—Number of baby
boomers who have prearranged
some details of their own funerals.
© 38—Percentage of sexually active
adults with more than one partner
who say they never use condoms.
© 17 billion—Annual cost in dol
lars of treating patients with AIDS
and other sexually transmitted dis
eases.
© 9—Number of years the average
person spends watching TV by age
65.
© 70—Percentage of women who
think both sexes should feel equally
comfortable asking someone on a
first date. 2—Percentage of women
who prefer to do the asking.
© 445 million—Dollars spent on
herbal supplements in 1991.772 mil
lion—Dollars spend on herbal sup
plements in 1995.
© 6 billion—dollars Americans
spend each year on fraudulent
weight-loss products.
I in 4—number of plastic surg
eries performed on men.
50 billion—dollars spent annual
ly on medical costs related to smok
ing.
10—number of years the average
woman’s life will increase by the year
2020.
© 6—number of years the average
man’s life will increase by the year
2020.
© Diets' Damage—When
researchers asked eight women to
cut their calories in half for IS
weeks, the activity of their natural
killer cells, which repel viruses, fell
20 percent
© Don’t worry, be happy. It may
save your life. Depressed or anxious
adults with normal blood pressure
were more likely than their cheerful
or relaxed counterparts to develop
hypertension years later, found a
study in the Archives of Family
Medicine.
© Reason to take late classes...
A University ofTexas researcher
claims mental performance peaks at
3 pm.
© Sperm are produced at an aver
age rate of 1500 per second per tes
ticle.
© Women who exercise in the
morning are more likely to keep
exercising on a regular basis.
Self Magazine
© A study found that 72% of
women diagnosed with an STI were
intoxicated at the time of infection.
Self Magazine
© Five most popular cosmetic surg
eries among men: Nose reshaping,
eyelid-lift, liposuction, breast reduc
tion, and face-lift
nly you, with the help of your health
f /Vare provider can decide which
/birth control method is right for
— ' you. Before making your decision,
you owe it to yourself to leam as much as you can
about all banner and hormonal contraceptive meth
ods. Your choice in contraceptive method will be
influenced by many factors.The method that works
well for one couple may not work well for others.
Considerations such as risk for sexually transmitted
infections (STI), convenience, cost, effectiveness, pre
vious expenence with a method, and partner
involvement will affect one’s decision.
Barrier methods employ a device to prevent
contact between the sperm and the egg, and are
placed before each act of sexual intercourse.They
have been the most widely used contraceptive tech
nique throughout recorded history. One important
benefit of some barrier methods is protection
against STIs’.
Mole Condom
The most commonly used condoms are made of
latex, although polyurethane and sheepskin ("natur
al") are also available (Note that sheepskin condoms
do not protea against STI’s). Over one hundred
brands of condoms are sold in the U.S. and vary in
length, width, and thickness. Many couples tend to
have a preferred brand. Efficacy rate for condoms is
88-97%, 12 out of every 100 women who use this
method will get pregnant. Condom failure is almost
always due to user failure. Proper use includes prop
er condom storage, maintaining a reservoir tip, never
using oil based lubricants, using a new condom with
each episode of intercourse and holding the condom
at the base of the penis prior to withdrawal.
Female Condom
A relatively new method that is inserted into the
vagina prior to intercourse and is 95% effective. It is
the only female controlled method that provides
excellent proteaion against STIs.
Barrier Methods
Diaphragm
A dome-shaped rubber cup filled with spermi
cide inserted into the vagina up to 2 hours before
intercourse. It must be kept in the vagina for up to
eight hours after intercourse. A diaphragm can be
left in place for up to 24 hours, although a new
application of spermicide is necessary for each act of
intercourse.The diaphragm must be fitted by a med
ical practitioner The effectiveness rate is 86-96%.
Cervical Cap
A rubber cup that is placed on the cervix. It
must be kept in place for eight hours after inter
course, and can be worn for 48 hours. Effectiveness
is 86-96%.
Spermicides
All of the spermicidal agents now used in the US
contain the same active ingredient, nonoxynol-9, but
a variety of bases is available. Spermicides come in a
variety of forms (foam, jelly, cream, film, supposito
riesj.They are inserted into the vagina and are 78
94%.
Hormonal Methods
Generally speaking, hormonal methods offer
higher effectiveness and greater convenience than
barrier methods.They work primanly by inhibiting
ovulation.
Oral contraceptives (0C, BCP, the pill)
Most commonly used hormonal method. It
involves taking a pill around the same time everyday.
The menstrual period occurs every 28 days and is
typically shorter, lighter and less painful. Many differ
ent formulations are available to fit the needs of indi
vidual women.
Most women will find that the OC's will work
for them. Most women do not gain significant weight
with today’s low dose pills.
Depo Proven
An injection to the arm or buttock is given every
three months. Initially, the menstrual period is quite
irregular, but with continued use menstrual periods
stop altogether The absence of menses does do not
appear to be harmful, but may be disconcerting to
some women. Other side effects include possible
mood changes and weight gain.
Norplant
Norplant is a sustained release system using cap
sules that contain a progesterone that is inserted
into the arm. It provides protection from pregnancy
for up to five years. It is initially an expensive
method, but can cost considerably less than other
methods over the five years. Norplant is associated
with bothersome side effects in roughly one third of
women using it, including menstrual irregularity,
mood changes and weight gain.
Emergency Contraceptive- “Morning after Pill"
All heterosexually active couples must be aware
of the availability of emergency contraception! It can
be started within 72 hours of unprotected inter
course and reduces the risk of pregnancy consider
ably. This has been used for over thirty years. Higher
than normal doses of oral contraceptives are taken
in two doses, twelve hours apart. Nausea is the most
common side effect but can be prevented with the
use of a medication.This is a very safe way to reduce
the chance of pregnancy when there is a contracep
tive failure, which includes the failure to use any
other methods.
Intrauterine Device(IUD)
Two types of lUD's are currently available for use
in the U.S.. Like hormonal methods, lUD's don't pro
tect against STI's; it is ideally used only in couples that
have a long term mutually faithful relationship. lUDs
themselves can be a very safe and effective method
of contraception.
It is important to note that all of these methods
of contraception are available through the Health
Center If you are interested for more information on
contraceptive methods, costs, safer sex, or other
health issues, come visit the Health Center's Colleen
Jones RN, MSN, WHCNR or call 346-4449, or the
Health Education office at 346-4456.
—Michelle Grohom
HEPATITIS B SHOT Sr, op and cheap
Hepatitis B is 100 times more infectious than HIV through sexual contact The Health Center recommends that students with two or more sexual partners in
six months be vaccinated. Persons with chronic Hepatitis B infection are at increased risk of chronic liver disease.
Hepatitis B vaccine is available at the Health Center through a state-funded program for students who are 19 years old or younger. Those students can get
the required series of three injections over six months at just $6 per injection, a substantial savings over the usual charge of $31 per injection.
If you turn 20 years old before the series is complete, the remaining doses will be given at the $31 rate.
For more information, call the Health Center at 346-2770.