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Pills, shots, condoms offer sexual protection to students |
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Tuesday, 06 November 2007 |
by BRANDON BROWN
Lifestyles Reporter
Safe sex.
To many physicians and researchers, it’s a misleading phrase.
According to a survey published in the Archives of Sexual Behavior, less than half of U.S. college students always use condoms during sex, and almost one-fourth never use condoms.
“There
is no such thing as safe sex,” said Dr. Virginia T. Martin, professor
of marriage and family relations in the sociology department. “There’s
safer sex, which is with condoms and contraceptives.”
Even with the use of barrier methods, like condoms, those who are
sexually active are still at risk for contracting some sexually
transmitted infections (STIs) – like herpes and human papilloma virus
(HPV) – from skin-to-skin contact.
 A variety of contraceptive options exist to insure safe sexual relations. Photo by Derek DeSha
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However, contraceptives are still an effective combatant to STIs and
unwanted pregnancy, said Sarah E. Summers, a family nurse practitioner
in Student Health Services.
Aside from condoms, which are sold in the Health Services Pharmacy at
12 for $1, hormonal methods, like birth control pills, are the most
prevalent form of contraceptive issued on campus, Summers said.
Summers said birth control pills have been found to be 99 percent effective in preventing pregnancy.
The Depo-Provera injection is another hormonal birth control issued by
health services, and it has shown to be over 99 percent effective. The
injection is administered every three months and, like all
contraceptives, has shown some side effects.
“Contraceptives all have risk(s) associated with them,” Summers said.
“With birth control pills there is an increased risk of blood
clots…IUDs (Intrauterine devices) have an increased risk of puncturing
the uterus…there’s been some research [showing] that Depo-Provera has
been linked to bone-thinning. Even condoms have a risk of irritation.”
Summers said women will often cease to have their menstrual cycle if on the Depo-Provera contraceptive.
However, Summers said under normal circumstances, contraceptives are considered safe.
While no physician would prescribe two simultaneous hormonal
contraceptives, the individual will receive increased protection from
unwanted pregnancy and STIs by combining methods, like hormonal and
barrier or barrier and spermicidal.
Spermicidal contraceptives are designed to kill sperm on contact and include foams, jellies, suppositories and creams.
Students can schedule an appointment to be prescribed to birth control
or Depo-Provera in health services. Students are not required to have
a pap smear to receive contraceptives.
Since it’s inception on the drug market in 1960, the birth control pill
has become more accepted by society and physicians alike.
“I think that there are so many methods available, [people] are less concerned about getting pregnant,” Summers said.
Martin was a senior in high school when “the pill” was made readily available.
“We didn’t talk about sex back then,” said Martin. “It was taboo.
Parents in those days put the pill in their daughters’ orange juice.”
Martin said the decision for a woman to use contraceptives is now “generally accepted and respected.”
“Women still have a hard time talking about condoms with men because
it’s awkward,” said Martin. “I wish men would take the
responsibility. [It would be] a sign of respect if he brought it up.”
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