Sanford Clinic Women's Health

 

Sexual Health Information
Downtown Women's Healthcare
Laurie Kruse, RN
2006

Topics Covered Include:

What are some of the consequences of sexual activity?

Statistics

  • •1 in 4 teens will get a sexually transmitted disease by the time they are 21 (more info)
  • •50% of reported STD's happen in individuals age 14-1
  • American teenagers are contracting HIV at the rate of 2 per hour
  • AIDS is one of the top ten leading causes of death for people 15-24 years old (more info)

Sexually Transmitted Diseases

  • Over 70 varieties of disease
  • Why is it important to learn about them?
    • Some have no symptoms
    • Some can lead to infertility
    • Some can be life threatening
    • How are STD's transmitted
    • Any type of sexual activity where contact occurs between mucous membranes

Back to Topics.

I. Sexually Transmitted Infections (Bacterial)

 


A.Chlamydia & Gonorrhea

  • These STD's are caused by bacteria
    • Transmitted through mucous membrane contact
  • Symptoms
    • 75% of females & 50% of males have no symptoms
    • OR in males: discharge from their penis, a burning sensation with urination, or swelling of the scrotum
    • OR in females: abnormal vaginal discharge, lower abdominal pain, nausea, fever, pain with urination, bleeding between periods
  • Complications
    • Females
      • Pelvic Inflammatory Disease
        • can lead to chronic pelvic pain, infertility, and ectopic pregnancy
    • Males
      • Epididymitis
        • can lead to sterility
    • Newborn baby
      • Blindness

  • Treatment (with a positive test result)
    • Antibiotics
  • Partners must be treated
  • Prevention
    • abstinence
    • condom use
    • monogamous relationship

 

Back to Topics.

II. Sexually Transmitted Infections (Viral)

  Herpes, Human Papilloma Virus & HIV

 

    A. Herpes

  • Caused by Herpes Simplex Virus
    • Type 1 (HSV-1) or Type 2 (HSV-2)
  • Transmitted through mucous membrane contact
    • The virus can be released from the sores that the virus causes, or (between outbreaks) from skin that does not appear to be broken or to have a sore
  • Symptoms
    • First outbreak is usually within two weeks after the virus is transmitted (often the worst)
    • Sores-recurrent, painful small blisters or pimples will develop
      • Male: blisters on penis, scrotum, buttocks, or mouth
      • Females: blisters on vulva, vagina, cervix, buttocks, or mouth
      • Infants: life threatening infection at birth
  • Treatment
    • No cure (antiviral medications can shorten outbreaks)
  • Prevention
    • Condoms only partially effective
    • It is important to remember that even if you do not have any symptoms, you can still infect your sex partner
Back to Topics.

    B. Human PapillomaVirus (HPV; Genital Warts)

  • Transmitted through mucous membrane contact with an infected area
  • Can spread the infection with no symptoms
    • Symptoms can take up to 8 months to appear
    • Pink, white, or flesh colored warts
    • Individual or multiple growths or bumps
    • Sometimes cauliflower shaped

Back to Topics.

    Genital Warts

  • Complications
    • High risk types can lead to cancer of the cervix, vagina, anus, penis, mouth or throat
  • Treatment
    • No cure
    • Visible genital warts are treated with medication
    • Annual Pap smear for sexually active females
  • Prevention
    • Condoms only partially effective

 

Back to Topics.

 

    C. HIV

Adolescents & HIV Infection

  • Can you tell by looking at someone whether or not they have HIV?
  • Transmission
    • Through contact with contaminated body fluids
    • Passed in semen, blood, and vaginal secretions
    • Through any mucous membranes or broken skin
    • Sharing needles for piercing, tattoos, etc.
    • Sharing razors or toothbrushes (Hepatitis B)

How HIV Infection Progresses

  • Acute HIV Syndrome
    • Occurs 1-3 weeks after exposure
    • Very contagious
  • HIV with No Symptoms
    • HIV may take up to 6 months to show on a blood test
  • HIV with Symptoms
    • Swollen lymph glands, fever, night sweats, diarrhea, skin rashes and sores
  • AIDS
    • Cancers, pneumonia, and other infections

Adolescents & HIV Infection

  • Get tested for HIV if you- or any past or present sex partners:
    • Had unprotected sex- even once
    • Shared needles or syringes
    • Had a STD
    • Had more than one sex partner
    • Had any signs of HIV infection
    • It can take up to six months for HIV antibodies to show up on a test

Downtown Women's Health Clinic

  • Our services include:
    • Gynecological Exams (i.e. Pap smear)
    • Birth Control Services
    • STD testing, treatment, and education (for both males and females)
  • All services are CONFIDENTIAL!

Back to Topics.

TEEN PREGNANCY

True or False?

  • A girl can get pregnant/ boy can father a child even if it's the first time she/he has sex
  • A girl can get pregnant if she has sex standing up (or in any other position)
  • It only takes one drop of semen to get pregnant
  • If you are having sex and you don't use birth control, you have a 90% chance of getting pregnant within one year
  • Not getting pregnant has nothing to do with luck- and everything to do with making good choices

Facts….

  • 4 out of 10 American girls get pregnant/ American boys father a child at least once before they turn 20
  • Teen parents are less likely to graduate from high school and tend to earn less money throughout their lives
  • A guy who gets a girl pregnant is financially responsible for that child for the next 18 years

Getting pregnant and catching diseases aren't the only ways that sex can hurt you….

 

  • Premarital sex can leave emotional scars that you'll feel for the rest of your life.

 

Back to Topics.

ABSTINENCE

  • Choosing not to have sex is your best protection against STD's, HIV and unplanned pregnancy…

Abstinence

  • Fifty-four percent of all sexually active teens wish they had waited longer
  • More than half of all teens have not had sex when they turn seventeen
  • Relationships change when you start having sex
  • Sex doesn't equal love
  • Sex will not make someone stay with you
  • Sex will not fix your problems or make you feel better about yourself

Am I ready to have sex or not

  • Before you decide, consider your values
  • Identify your future goals
  • Think through all of the possible consequences of sex:
    • How will becoming infected with Herpes change my future relationships?
    • How realistic are my idea's about raising a child?
    • Is a baby really what I need to have someone to love?
    • Do I want to pay child support for the rest of my life?
  • Teens often have sex for the wrong reasons… understand your motives:
    • Do you think it will make you more popular?
    • Do you feel it will help you keep a boyfriend or girlfriend?
    • Are you trying to hurt someone you're mad at or trying to escape loneliness?

How confident am I in my ability to avoid risky sexual behavior?

  • Negotiation and communication
  • Learn to show love in other ways, without the physical and emotional entanglements of sex
  • Control passion- allow your mind to help make your decisions (i.e. considers the past and future, in order to make the best decision)

 

Tips for teens on how to say NO!

  • Make a commitment to yourself or to a friend with like values
  • Avoid being alone with a boyfriend or girlfriend
    • Avoid intimate environments
    • Avoid stimulation
  • Plan ahead
  • Date someone with the same values
  • Break off the relationship if you are not respected
  • Tips for teens on how to say NO!
  • Wait to start dating
  • Date someone your own age
  • Be friends first
    • Individuals who are not in love never get the same kind of enjoyment out of sex as people who are

Choosing not to have sex is your right

  • Be totally free
  • No pressure to make commitments to someone, until you want to
  • No fears about disease or pregnancy
  • No risking your whole future for a few minutes of fun now
Back to Topics.

 

Websites

•www.truth4youth.com

•www.ashastd.org

•www.iwannaknow.org

•www.teenpregnancy.org

•www.advocatesforyouth.org

www.cdc.gov/std

•www.state.sd.us/doh/disease/stdstats.htm

 

Back to Topics.