Safe is Sexy Back to School Guide for Sexually Active Teens

It’s almost time to head back to school. Teens and young adults are at the very peak of their sexual curiosity. Many college students are getting their first taste of freedom from their parents. This can be a perfect recipe for some potentially sticky situations.

This seems like the perfect time to discuss why sex is nothing to be ashamed of, but smart sex is always healthier. So let’s make sure we’re spreading the love instead of the STDs!

This is the Safe is Sexy Back to School Guide!

Are You Ready?

Before we go any further, there’s a serious question that everyone needs to ask themselves before their first time. Are you ready for this? As in, really ready for all of the potential consequences that come with having sex?

Your answer may be “yes.” That’s great. If not, just remember that there’s no shame in waiting until you’re ready.

Sex can bring about a profound change in your life and relationships. You may find true love and have some amazing sex, but this can also cause unplanned pregnancy or sexually transmitted infections, if you aren’t careful.

Safe is Sexy

When we’re talking about sex, the risk of a surprise pregnancy is what most people worry about. That said, you absolutely need to keep an eye out for sexually transmitted diseases and infections, too.

Even though you may know your bedroom partners from class, that’s not the same thing as knowing their STI status. College is often a time when students experiment with their sexual activity, have multiple partners and dates, and play it a little loose with the rules. You’ll never know if someone is free and clear of STIs unless they’ve been tested.

The truth is, STIs are more rampant than ever these days. We’re in the middle of an STI epidemic. According to the CDC, almost two-thirds of all reported cases of chlamydia and gonorrhea in the United States were among people aged 15–24. This risk is made even greater because having one of these STIs can increase your chances of contracting HIV.

Speaking of HIV, there’s a shocking amount of people who have never been tested. According to a report published in the journal Pediatrics, only one-third of sexually active young adults, and less than one-quarter of sexually active high-schoolers, have ever been tested for HIV. That’s a lot of undiagnosed cases!

So how do you make sure that you stay in total control of your sexual health? Read on!

Condoms

The condom is one of your best methods of defense against infection and unwanted pregnancies. When used correctly, they can offer a 98% chance of preventing pregnancy. While not perfect, latex condoms are also among the best ways to protect against many STIs.

Tips for Condom Usage:

• • Only use latex condoms.

• • Use a new condom for every act of vaginal, anal, and oral sex.

• • Always check the expiration date on a condom. An expired condom can break easily, rendering it useless. Chances are, that condom that’s been in your wallet since freshman year may be one of them.

• • If you feel the condom break at any point during sexual activity, stop immediately and put on a new condom. That may not set the mood you’re looking for, but you’ll be glad you did.

• Never “double-bag it.” This means wearing multiple condoms at once. Contrary to urban legend, twice the condom does not offer twice the protection.

Other Methods of Protection

There are other ways to protect yourself as you go back to school and back in bed. These include the birth control pill, the patch and the ring, all of which are prescribed by your doctor. All of these methods are designed to administer hormones to your body – via pill, a patch that is worn on your skin, or a ring that you insert vaginally – for 3 weeks at a time, with your period occurring in the 4th week.

These methods are great at stopping baby-making, which is great news for young people who may not be ready for parenthood. But these methods of birth control can still leave you exposed to a wide range of nasty STIs.

Back to School, Back to Testing

Again, STIs are a serious health risk. Regular, scheduled testing is the best way to consistently know your status.  As the numbers of STIs increases, we all need to amp up our level of carefulness.

For example, HPV is shockingly common. Far more people than you might expect are walking around with this ultra-common STI. Just because it’s common doesn’t mean it’s harmless though.  According to the CDC, HPV is responsible for nearly 91% of cervical cancers, 75% of vaginal cancers, 69% of vulvar cancers, 63% of penile cancers and 91% of anal cancers.

One of the smartest moves you can make for your sexual health is to get tested for HPV and other STIs.  If you’re too nervous to go to a clinic, you can order an at-home STI testing kit and do the test right in your dorm room. It’s so easy that it leaves you with no valid excuses for not getting tested. It even comes in a discreet package.

Safe Sex isn’t As Safe As You May Think

STIs are not only passed through intercourse.  You can also contract them from oral sex and, in some cases, even from kissing. For example, herpes, chlamydia and gonorrhea are three infections that can directly affect your mouth or throat. It pays to educate yourself on the common signs and symptoms of the most common STIs. myLAB Box’s blog and FAQ page provide invaluable study material.

• • Look Out for These Common STD Signs and Symptoms
  • What To Do If There Isn’t an STD Testing Clinic Near Me

• • Safe is Sexy: Understanding PrEP and HIV Prevention

• • STDs Are Gross! Myth vs. Reality

• • Safe Is Sexy: A Woman’s Guide to Sexual Health

• • Why is Gonorrhea called “The Clap” and Why You Should Care

Test Like Nobody is Watching

A lot of high-schoolers and college students are nervous about testing. That makes sense. Teens and young adults are often too shy to go to a clinic or doctor’s office.

Even just the idea of the lab bills being reported on their parents’ health insurance seems mortifying. But that’s still no reason to avoid being tested.

myLAB Box offers quick and confidential tests that can be paid for out-of-pocket (and for about half of the price you would pay out-of-pocket at a doctor’s office). These tests take five minutes to complete and are shipped in discreet packaging. You can take them any time and any place. If you live in one of the many states that offers telemedicine, and most do, you can even speak with a doctor and get prescribed your treatment right over the phone. It’s simply the easiest and most convenient way to be tested.

Plus, if you schedule your tests along with arriving back to school, you’ll be in total control of your sexual health. It’s a win-win situation for any sexually active young person.

No Matter What, Remember:

Safe Sex is Consensual

Date rape, or any type of sexual activity without mutual consent, is always a crime. No one should ever be forced or pressured to participate in any type of sexual behavior.

Safe Sex is Sober

Alcohol and drugs can lead to shoddy decision-making. When you’re not thinking clearly, you may end up doing something you’ll regret for the rest of your life. Be clear in your actions and intentions.