Sexuality is part of who we are as humans -- it has to do with how we perceive ourselves as males and females; to whom we feel emotional and sexual attraction; reproduction; and more.

We are sexual beings and the range of behaviors through which we can express ourselves is expansive. Making choices about our sexuality offers benefits and risks. The benefits can include intimacy, pleasure and pregnancy.

The risks can include disappointment, guilt, unwanted pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections (STIs). STIs are real. Chlamydia, HIV, genital warts...there's a long list.

It can make thinking about sex and being intimate scary. What can be done? You can deal with the fear, face the reality and stay healthy.

This means becoming informed about the levels of risk associated with sexual behaviors and acting on your information so that you can have a healthy, positive, pleasurable sex life.

Information about risk

Assessing risk for contracting an STI requires understanding facts -- some of which are simple and some complex. Simply, there is some risk if either partner has had sexual contact with anyone else.

It's also more complex than that. The level of risk varies depending on what type of previous contact there was; whether safer sex was practiced; how many times there was contact; and whether the contact occurred with someone who had an STI.

Having sexual contact doesn't cause STIs; it's the mechanism for transmitting them from an infected person to another person. You can't always tell by looking at a person if he or she has an STI.

What behaviors are risky?

Risky behaviors cover the spectrum from skin-to-skin contact to intercourse (oral, vaginal or anal). For some STIs such as herpes, HPV, and syphilis, skin-to-skin contact is enough to cause transmission.

For others, live HIV, chlamydia and gonorrhea, there must be contact with the blood, semen or vaginal fluids of the infected person. Unprotected intercourse has the highest risk because it may involve contact with blood, semen or vaginal fluids as well as genital contact.

It is important to know that unprotected anal sex is the highest risk and unprotected oral sex is the lowest of the three types of intercourse -- and the person who receives the penis in the mouth, vagina or anus is at additional risk. Using protection during these activities can reduce risk significantly.

Act on your information ... Make choices that work for you:

It may mean abstaining from all sexual behaviors.
It may mean abstaining from high-risk behaviors.
It may mean always practicing safer sex.

You make the choices about the risks and benefits of your behaviors. Information is useful, whatever your choices may be.

Resources

There are many resources available to help you make healthy choices. Ask questions, read, talk with your partner, talk with professionals -- get informed. And have a healthy sex life.
(Reprinted with permission of the McKinley Health Center, (217) 333-2700, Web Site: http://www.mckinley.uiuc.edu)

Jacqui





	Healthy Sexuality (Courtesy of the McKinley Health Care Center) Sexuality is part of who we are as humans -- it has to do with how we perceive ourselves as males and females; to whom we feel emotional and sexual attraction; reproduction; and more. We are sexual beings and the range of behaviors through which we can express ourselves is expansive. Making choices about our sexuality offers benefits and risks. The benefits can include intimacy, pleasure and pregnancy. The risks can include disappointment, guilt, unwanted pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections (STIs). STIs are real. Chlamydia, HIV, genital warts...there's a long list. It can make thinking about sex and being intimate scary. What can be done? You can deal with the fear, face the reality and stay healthy. This means becoming informed about the levels of risk associated with sexual behaviors and acting on your information so that you can have a healthy, positive, pleasurable sex life. Information about risk Assessing risk for contracting an STI requires understanding facts -- some of which are simple and some complex. Simply, there is some risk if either partner has had sexual contact with anyone else. It's also more complex than that. The level of risk varies depending on what type of previous contact there was; whether safer sex was practiced; how many times there was contact; and whether the contact occurred with someone who had an STI. Having sexual contact doesn't cause STIs; it's the mechanism for transmitting them from an infected person to another person. You can't always tell by looking at a person if he or she has an STI. What behaviors are risky? Risky behaviors cover the spectrum from skin-to-skin contact to intercourse (oral, vaginal or anal). For some STIs such as herpes, HPV, and syphilis, skin-to-skin contact is enough to cause transmission. For others, live HIV, chlamydia and gonorrhea, there must be contact with the blood, semen or vaginal fluids of the infected person. Unprotected intercourse has the highest risk because it may involve contact with blood, semen or vaginal fluids as well as genital contact. It is important to know that unprotected anal sex is the highest risk and unprotected oral sex is the lowest of the three types of intercourse -- and the person who receives the penis in the mouth, vagina or anus is at additional risk. Using protection during these activities can reduce risk significantly. Act on your information ... Make choices that work for you: It may mean abstaining from all sexual behaviors. It may mean abstaining from high-risk behaviors. It may mean always practicing safer sex. You make the choices about the risks and benefits of your behaviors. Information is useful, whatever your choices may be. Resources There are many resources available to help you make healthy choices. Ask questions, read, talk with your partner, talk with professionals -- get informed. And have a healthy sex life. (Reprinted with permission of the McKinley Health Center, (217) 333-2700, Web Site: http://www.mckinley.uiuc.edu) Jacqui Copyright 2002 Brandwynne Corporation. All rights reserved. Thank you for your trust.
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