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