Spring Break
Sex, STIs and responsibility
Caitlin Myers, Contributing Writer, cmyers@smu.edu
Issue date: 4/16/08 Section: News
Up until recently, the university's Memorial Health Center Web site led students to believe that sex is a woman's issue. The site listed all information related to sexual intercourse under the "Women's Health" link. Facts on Herpes, HIV, Chlamydia and Gonorrhea - all sexually transmitted infections (STIs) contracted and transmitted by women and men - were couched on the site titled for females.
"I am shocked to know this," Knapp said upon learning of the Web site's title. "I mean, women are more likely to contract STIs just because of their anatomy, but there's no reason it should be just a women's issue."
The health center, when notified of the discrepancy, changed the link on its main page from "Women's Health" to "Sexual Health."
An online survey of 156 sexually active undergraduates shows that an overwhelming 96 percent believe both partners should take responsibility for staying safe, including avoiding STIs and impregnation.
Why did Christine go to CVS alone?
"Basically, my boyfriend didn't care," she said. "He'd tell me if we're having sex, it's my responsibility to be on birth control and my responsibility to get the condoms."
James, a junior engineering major, says although he used to be "pretty lax" about sexual precautions, he now believes "if you're not taking responsibility, you can't expect someone else to."
And, yet, he says his typical sexual encounter goes something like this:
"If a girl lets you start having sex with her, she's usually on the pill. Like when we're in the middle, I'll ask if she's on the pill, and if she says she's not, I'm like 'What's wrong with you?' And then I'll go and put a condom on or something."
The 20-year-old says he picked up on the negative repercussions of unprotected sex after talking with some guy friends, rather than through sexual education provided by the university.
"We realized that if you get an STD, the next time you hook up with a girl, before you do anything you have to be like, 'Oh, by the way, I have Gonorrhea,' and you know she'd be like, 'Umm, we're not hooking up anymore.' So, I'm trying to get more into wearing condoms."
"I am shocked to know this," Knapp said upon learning of the Web site's title. "I mean, women are more likely to contract STIs just because of their anatomy, but there's no reason it should be just a women's issue."
The health center, when notified of the discrepancy, changed the link on its main page from "Women's Health" to "Sexual Health."
An online survey of 156 sexually active undergraduates shows that an overwhelming 96 percent believe both partners should take responsibility for staying safe, including avoiding STIs and impregnation.
Why did Christine go to CVS alone?
"Basically, my boyfriend didn't care," she said. "He'd tell me if we're having sex, it's my responsibility to be on birth control and my responsibility to get the condoms."
James, a junior engineering major, says although he used to be "pretty lax" about sexual precautions, he now believes "if you're not taking responsibility, you can't expect someone else to."
And, yet, he says his typical sexual encounter goes something like this:
"If a girl lets you start having sex with her, she's usually on the pill. Like when we're in the middle, I'll ask if she's on the pill, and if she says she's not, I'm like 'What's wrong with you?' And then I'll go and put a condom on or something."
The 20-year-old says he picked up on the negative repercussions of unprotected sex after talking with some guy friends, rather than through sexual education provided by the university.
"We realized that if you get an STD, the next time you hook up with a girl, before you do anything you have to be like, 'Oh, by the way, I have Gonorrhea,' and you know she'd be like, 'Umm, we're not hooking up anymore.' So, I'm trying to get more into wearing condoms."
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