2008 Woodie Awards
Nichole's corner
An honest discussion about your sexual health
Nichole Betts, Staff Writer
Issue date: 2/20/07
Last Updated: 8/9/07
One in two sexually-active persons will contract a STI by age 25, according to the American Social Health Association (ASHA). The leading strategies to prevent STIs are abstinence and consistent condom use.
(FYI, the Health Center has free condoms available in their lobby in Hendrick Hall next to the cold and flu remedy kits.)
However, the ASHA also says, microbicides and vaccines, now being researched and tested, might also be able to prevent these diseases.
Murray said women should not make the decision whether to get the new human papilloma virus (HPV) vaccine, Gardasil, based on whether or not they are sexually active. The vaccine can prevent cervical cancer caused by the virus. One in eight women in the United States will be raped in her lifetime; you never know what the future holds, she said.
The ASHA reported that over 6 million people acquire HPV each year.
Most treatment, for any illness or disease, can be done on campus through the Health Center, which carries many prescriptions in-house.
"We're here for everyone, regardless of their background, their religion, or where they're at in their walk with sexual health," Murray said. "[Sexual health is] one spoke in the wheel of wellness and it isn't any greater or less than any other spoke."
I wholeheartedly agree: Health encompasses every part of the body, not just the parts people are more comfortable talking about. That's the whole point of this column.
Each week, I'll feature a different aspect of sexual health right here, including your contributions.
Please help me promote healthier living by sending me your questions and comments.
E-mail me at nbetts07@whitworth.edu and I'll do my best to answer your question, or find someone who can.
For more information on STDs or sexual health, visit these Web sites:
•Center for Disease Control and Prevention www.cdc.gov/std
•American Social Health Association www.ashastd.org
•Planned Parenthood www.plannedparenthood.org
(FYI, the Health Center has free condoms available in their lobby in Hendrick Hall next to the cold and flu remedy kits.)
However, the ASHA also says, microbicides and vaccines, now being researched and tested, might also be able to prevent these diseases.
Murray said women should not make the decision whether to get the new human papilloma virus (HPV) vaccine, Gardasil, based on whether or not they are sexually active. The vaccine can prevent cervical cancer caused by the virus. One in eight women in the United States will be raped in her lifetime; you never know what the future holds, she said.
The ASHA reported that over 6 million people acquire HPV each year.
Most treatment, for any illness or disease, can be done on campus through the Health Center, which carries many prescriptions in-house.
"We're here for everyone, regardless of their background, their religion, or where they're at in their walk with sexual health," Murray said. "[Sexual health is] one spoke in the wheel of wellness and it isn't any greater or less than any other spoke."
I wholeheartedly agree: Health encompasses every part of the body, not just the parts people are more comfortable talking about. That's the whole point of this column.
Each week, I'll feature a different aspect of sexual health right here, including your contributions.
Please help me promote healthier living by sending me your questions and comments.
E-mail me at nbetts07@whitworth.edu and I'll do my best to answer your question, or find someone who can.
For more information on STDs or sexual health, visit these Web sites:
•Center for Disease Control and Prevention www.cdc.gov/std
•American Social Health Association www.ashastd.org
•Planned Parenthood www.plannedparenthood.org
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