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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (Oct. 14, 2002)
Make it Happen! Let’s Talk About Sex. By banantra Kali aby. Let’s talk about you and me. Let’s talk about all the good things and the bad things that maybe. Let’s talk about sex. Ahhhh, and so the song goes. It’s in the ads, it’s in the movies, it’s talked about all the time but what exactly is good sex? Communication is definitely a key to unlock ing the hot ‘n heavy. Sure we all see those gor geous hard bodies fall into bed night after night from the power of one sexy stare. What TV does n’t often show us, however, is realistic commu nication or the consequences of these behaviors. There are currently non-profit research groups working with daytime and primetime television executives to create stories that are a little more reality based. But until then you’ll be wise to do your fact finding elsewhere. The American Social Health Association re ports 2/3 of all Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) occur in people under 25 years of age (www.ashastd.org) so it is important to learn ac tions you can take right now to keep you and your partner healthy. Let’s take a look at some common sexual health misconceptions. After that...well, your fantasy life is up to you! To obtain some accurate information I went to a veteran in the field. The UO Health Center’s own Jolene Siemsen has been in nursing for 23 years and a Nurse Practitioner for 10. She has counseled patients about contraception, STIs, and has conducted presentations on lesbian health. Here she answers some of the most com mon question about sexual health. A friend told me to double up on condoms for extra protection. Is that the best way to in crease safety? No, they are not meant to he used on top of one another. This increases the likeli hood of breakage. It is better to limit your sexual partners and know your partner’s history. The two most important things are to use condoms all the time and have those discussions of sexual history. Of course, it is easier to say and much harder to do. What is the most common STI among college students? Herpes and HPV (Human Papillo ma Virus - genital warts) are the most commonly diagnosed (by exam and culture). There are oc casional Chlamydia cases. Rarely do we see Gon orrhea or HIV here although recent Lance Coun ty Public Health information indicates increasing gonorrhea and syphillis among men who have sex with men. My doctor gave me a clean bill of health but my partner contracted an STI. How is that possible? A lot of people have this misconception. It is difficult to tell if someone has an STI because of as ymptotic infection and transmis sion. Specifically, Herpes (HSV) and warts do not have good screening tests. Approxi mately 20-30% of genital HSV are HSV 1 and are often caused by oral genital contact. My partner has cold sores from time to time, do I nave to be concerned.'' Yes, unfortunately. More people are aware of the risk these days but some people still do not realize Herpes can he passed by oral to genital contact. It is important to avoid oral sex and kissing during a cold sore outbreak. Also, taking an antiviral medication like acyclovir and usingbamer protection (i.e. condoms and dental dams), reduces the risk of viral shedding. Any last words of wisdom? It is important for people to come in with their partner and talk about these things with a health care provider. Everybody has a life story that effects his or her situation. You just can’t generalize. Another important thing to keep in mind is that alcohol and other drug use has a negative relationship in terms of risky sex ual behavior. Other Resources The University of Oregon Health Center is an excellent resource. As a student, you can receive services for $6 per visit. Currently a federal grant program, FPEP, allows you to receive free contra ceptive counseling and supplies as well as STI testing. This is a great deal! Many Health Center staff focus on sexual and reproductive health and several have worked on gay and lesbian issues. Jolene Semsen, Colleen Jones, and Benjamin Douglas are available for general and sexual health appointments. There are also a number of websites, which of fer clear and current information on these topics. While you are surfing the net check out the Centers for Disease Control (www.cdc.gov) and The Na tional Herpes Association (www.herpes.org) If you favor old fashioned book learning check out the Physician’s Reference Book at the Health Education Office along with other hooks sporting inspiring titles such as: “How to get your Partner to Wear a Condom”, “Heterosexuality”, “Lesbian Passion”, An Intimate Geography” and “And the Band Played On”. Come stop by for free dental dams, condoms, and check out all we have to offer. The office is located by Area B on the first floor of the Health Center. A friend told me to double up on condoms for extra protection. Is that the best way to increase safety? a Book Review.___ Woman: An Intimate Geography by Jessica Houyen atalie Angier’sbook Woman: An Intimate Geography is a beauti I fully written biology les son. The subject of this lesson is the female body. A wonder fully challenging book, Angier dis cusses topics ranging from breast milk to hormone replacement thera py, anatomy to anthropology. If you, like me, are not so experienced with science, this proclamation might make you run screaming from this book. However, Angier is a Pulitzer Prize winning science author, yet she writes with such poetic flair that you hardly notice that you are read ing about chromosomes, hormones, and synapses. Angier uses this book as a basis to speculate on a number of subjects, all having to do with the female body. Through this specula tion, she tears down ideas from old stereotypes and myths of women, and simply bowls over a lot of ques tionable science. The range of topics in this book is astounding. Some of her chapter headings include Unscrambling the Egg: It Begins With One Perfect So lar Cell, The Well-Tempered Clavier: On the Evolution of the Cli toris, Holy Water: Breast Milk, and Wolf Whistles & Hyena Smiles: Testosterone and Women. As you can imagine, this barrage of infor mation can be a little overwhelm ing, but the book is organized so that one could read a chapter, then not pick it up for months, then read an other chapter. Angier’s style also makes this book so accessible. She writes as if conversing with the reader, and throws in a lot of humor. She writes from a thoroughly feminist point of view, without crossing the line into complaining or male-bashing. As you read this hook, you can all but hear her discussing these topics with friends, laughing over their opinions, and the opinions of so called “experts.” The book describes female biolo gy almost independent of male biol ogy. As opposed to the standard texts that up-hold the male biology as the norm, or the example to which female biology should be measured, she treats female as a sep arate entity from that of males. In short, Natalie Angier has written a fabulous book on the hows and whys of the female body. In a time when our society seems to wor ship girls with eating disorders, it is refreshing to finally read a book that explains why women get fat de posits how we do, what it means to have large breasts, and includes the reasons why these things are good. She is calling for an all-out celebra tion and acceptance of the female form in all of its shapes and sizes, and I say she has arrived just in the nick of time. Angier herself calls her book “...a celebration of the female body-it’s anatomy, it’s chemistry, it’s evolution, and it’s laughter...it is a book about rapture, a rapture firm ly grounded in the flesh, the beau ties of the body.” This is a great de scription of what will be a staple on my bookshelf from now on. This is the sort of book that, once read, should be shared with friends and relatives with abandon. This would be the perfect gift for any girl or woman, from pre-pubertal to post menopausal. For everyone wanting to learn more about the female body, I highly recommend this book. It is available to check out in the re source room at the Health Center, along with many other great books. WELL NOW Cflfl \AfaliMnifti nnlirtn See wellNow online at. http://healthed.uoregon.edu in this issue The Health Center offers a variety of services to aid stu dents with their reproductive health. Ephedra is found in many common over the counter diet aids and energy boost ers... but is it perfectly safe? Some helpful hints for deal ing with the stressors in your life and how doing so can af fect your overall health. Do something good for your self today and reap the long term benefits of Yoga. Feel better. Learn how breathing more effectively can increase your overall well-being. UNIVERSITY OF OREGON How to recognize the symp toms of and avoid diabetes. Are you interested in becom ing a nurse. Health Center professionals answer ques tions about nursing. Learn how to diagnose and cope with anxiety. Hours: Mon., and Wed.-Fri.: 8am to 6pm Tuesday: 9am to 6pm, Saturday & Sunday: 10am to 2pm Phone: Appointments: 346-2770 Dental: 3404432 Pharmacy: 3464454 Physical Therapy: 3404401 Insurance: 3403702 Urgent Care: 3402770 Peer Health Education: 3404456 General: 3404441 On-line: http://healthcenter.uoregon.edu UNIVERSITY OF OREGON
