
College Health:
Sexual Health
People make lots of decisions about their sexuality during college, including whether to abstain from sexual intercourse or to become, or to continue being sexually active. Other sexuality issues that decisions are made about are the gender of partners, the type of contraception to use, and the intensity of the relationships. You should never let others pressure you into having sex if you don't want to. It should always be your decision to have sex. This goes for the first time, and every time.
What do I need to know if I'm sexually active, or if I'm thinking about becoming sexually active?
Talk to your partner about birth control
If you are in a heterosexual relationship (you are dating a male), talk about birth control options (condoms, birth control pills, hormone injections) and also talk about what you would do if it failed. If you feel that you can't talk to your partner about these issues, then you should rethink whether or not you should be having a sexual relationship with him!
Go to your college's student health center
Find out about what methods of birth control the health center offers to students and what types of counseling and services are available for young women who have either a planned or unplanned pregnancy. Make sure you receive confidential, non-judgmental services.
Here are some questions to ask at the health center:
Emergency Contraception
If your birth control method fails, (for example; the condom broke, or you didn't use one) you have an option called emergency contraception, also known as the “morning-after pill”, or "EC".
Emergency Contraception (EC):
Sexual Orientation
College can be a time when some people try to figure out their sexual orientation. It's also a time when some people decide to “come out”. Many colleges have support groups for gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender students. There are also counselors available at your student health center if you wish to talk with someone confidentially.
| Next: Sexual Assault/Rape |
Updated: 5/6/2010
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