Sexual Health

Here are some important things to think about when it comes to having sex…

Sexuality on College Campuses:

  • 86.1% of college students nationwide have had sexual intercourse, of those 34.5% had 6+ partners and 29.6% had not used a condom with their last sexual encounter.1
  • 18.9 million new cases of Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) are documented every year in the US, 48% of those people are ages 15-24. The three most common STIs among college students are Chlamydia, HPV (genital warts), and HSV (Herpes).1
  • One in 4 college-aged women report experiences that meet the legal definitions of rape or attempted rape.1
  • In a survey of students at 171 institutions of higher education, alcohol was involved in 74% of all sexual assaults.1
  • In a survey of 1700 students, faculty and administrators in 14 colleges and universities throughout the country 51% of the respondents concealed their sexual orientation or gender identity to avoid intimidation, and 61% felt that gay men and lesbians were likely to be harassed. 2

Safer Sex:

  • STIs are infections from having sex with an infected partner. 
    • If you have sex you are at risk for getting an STI.
    • STIs can be passed from partner to partner through vaginal intercourse, anal sex, oral sex, or skin-to-skin contact.
    • For more information about specific STIs: The Kinsey Institute  
  • Abstinence—Many people who decide to be abstinent think that they are not at risk of STIs.  This is not true! Some activities that you might think are abstinent still can put you at risk.  For example:
    • If you participate in unprotected oral or anal sex
    • Herpes can be spread from lips to genitals, skin-to-skin contact (genital rubbing) and through touching an open sore
    • Genital rubbing, mutual masturbation, and any activity that involves genital or bodily fluid contact puts you at risk
    • Sharing sex toys can also put you at risk
  • Protection—there are many ways to protect yourself from STIs and pregnancy:
    • Barrier methods for men—made of latex, polyurethane, or natural skin condoms
    • Barrier methods for women—the diaphragm, cervical cap, and the female condom
    • Condoms are available at Student Health Services in the waiting area. The waiting room condoms are free… help yourself to a handful!
    • Hormonal methods—contraceptives (the Pill), progestin-only pills (the mini-pill or POPs), Depo-Provera or Lunelle (the Shot), Implanon (implants), contraceptive patches, vaginal rings, some types of IUDs, and Emergency Contraceptive Pills (ECP or Morning-After Pills)-These can reduce your risk of pregnancy but Do Not protect you from STIs!
  • Get Tested-- Boston University Student Health Services offers testing for all sexually transmitted infections, including HIV

Anatomy of Sex: 

Victims of Sexual Assault or Rape:

Student Health Services’ Crisis Intervention Counselors can be reached 24/7 during the academic year and summer by calling 617-353-3569 (3-3569 on campus).  Crisis intervention counselors are available to provide confidential services, free of charge, to any BU student.

For more information check out these helpful resources:

 

WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT SEXUAL HEALTH? WANT TO HELP YOUR FRIENDS DEAL WITH ISSUES REGARDING THEIR SEXUAL HEALTH? WANT TO SPREAD AWARENESS REGARDING SEXUALITY?

Check out Sexual Health Quick Facts

FEEL FREE TO USE AND SPREAD THIS INFORMATION ON CAMPUS!




1CDC.gov/mmwr/PDF/ss/ss4606.pdf


2CommonDreams.org/news2003/0506-05