Advocates for Youth is dedicated to advocating for young people have the resources, tools, and education in order to prevent STD/HIV transmission, unplanned pregnancies and to live a sexually healthy lifestyle. However some young people still choose to continue with unplanned pregnancies or plan to have children. With that said, I think it is common knowledge that breastfeeding is the best thing for a baby. It is not only better than formula, it also transmits antibodies from the mother which means it builds the immune system and sets children on a path to a healthy life.

In addition to the health benefits for the baby, breastfeeding can act as a form of birth control. While a woman is continuously breastfeeding, her body does not make a hormone that is necessary for ovulation — the release of an egg from an ovary. Pregnancy cannot happen if an egg is not released. Effectiveness is an important and common concern when choosing a birth control method. Like all birth control methods, breastfeeding is much more effective when you do it correctly.

We always hear about HIV/AIDS as a STD, indeed it is an STD but many cases are from sharing dirty needles. There are programs to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS through providing sterile needles in exchange for dirty needles.

There is a hot debate over this issue with many claiming that it will increase the number of IV drug users. I don’t know about you, but I am not saying to myself “well since I can get a clean needle, let’s try out some heroin this weekend”. In the same way that people are not going to have sex just because they have access to condoms.

There is no proof that access to sterile needles increase IV drug use, but there is proof that 20% of new HIV/AIDS cases are related to dirty needles! The needle exchange program not only protects the IV drug users, but protects one family, children and sex partners. This program has been endorsed by a former Surgeon General and the Department of Health and Human Services!

Food for thought!! Let’s prevent this deadly disease on all fronts! HIV/AIDS is preventable!

I think most of us have seen the K-Y commercials for the Intense Lubrication. Until now they have always been straight couples, but recently K-Y has introduced a commercial with a lesbian couple.

This is very monumental as there are rarely commercials that feature GLBT characters in a positive light. This commercial does a few things:
          1. It acknowledges that gay people exist.
          2. It acknowledges that gay people have sex (and that it’s 
               not “gross” or an abomination).
          3. It’s perhaps the only ad I’ve seen referring to lesbians having sex that doesn’t portray them as over sexualized, objectified and not really gay, but rather just performing for dudes’ pleasure.

Why is this important you ask? Well, for one thing it helps to breakdown stereotypes of lesbian women. It is a commercial that kind of slips onto your TV without saying “look at me”. In other words, it just seems like another commercial with a happy couple! K-Y, give yourself a pat on the back; you have done a great deed! All couples deserve emotional and physical happiness!

Lately there has been a lot on my mind. It’s the start of a new semester so we got to buy books, pay tuition and schedule our classes. We also have the debt crisis, international crimes and elections. Through all that I have something else on my mind. I have a special young woman in my life, she is thirteen and going on twenty one. I will call her Elise.

Sometimes I feel like I am an encyclopedia of facts about sexual health, but when it comes to protecting young women from bad boys I feel helpless. Elise is a smart girl who has a lot of potential and is for the most part a “good girl”. She is (not to my approval) boy crazy! I do not approve of 13 year old young women having boyfriends, but unfortunately that decision is not up to me. Where I feel helpless is protecting young girls from these young men, SOME of them can be so toxic.

We can talk about STDs, birth control and the risk of pregnancy all day, but what we cannot do is be there when two teens are in private, and whisper advice in their ears. Our society is obsessed with the “fairy tale life”, and young women start looking for it early in life. They see their future husband in every boy because that is what they think life is all about! Women also feel that they will be more loved and respected when they have sex. All of this is not true, but what can we do???????????

There is not one answer to this question. In truth there are probably 100 answers to this lifelong question. I think it starts with open talk about sexuality.

WE need to talk about sex from a young age, and not secret whispers in a dark closet. Talking about sex does not mean: “if you every have sex you will be locked away till you are 30”. We need to include information about safe sex but we need to talk with teenagers about what sex means, when to know when a person really RESPECTS you and tell them that we are open to talk about it (and really mean it). If a teen goes to an adult that says they are open and then they are judged, they will never talk again.

We also need to talk to them about judging a person’s character and intentions. Have them look at why that person wants to have sex and give them tools to handle these types of situations. If we want young people to be open with us we have to be open to them. We need to teach respect while giving respect.

We need to be mentors not preachers. We need to be role models, and it all starts with honesty. The goal is not to preach about bad boys, but to teach how to detect a person who respects you for who you are and is ok with not having sex until you are ready!

As much as we don’t want summer to end, school will be starting in a little less than a week! It’s time for studying, papers, student groups etc…. As much as we may not be looking forward to school there is one resource we need to take advantage of…student health centers!!

Health centers offer reduced and/or free services! If you have not had the time or money to take care of your sexual health take advantage of this service!!!! It’s especially important to do this early in the semester before we get overwhelmed!!!

To get information you can always text the words SEXT to 74574, through this free and private information line you can get information about STD’s/HIV, birth control and locate the nearest clinic! This is a great tool for you to use!!

It is easier to concentrate on our school if we are confident that we are in good sexual health! As well as getting tested you can get birth control, condoms and the morning after pill !!! You can also read our blogs at: http://www.amplifyyourvoice.org/southcarolina. Our advocates from all over the state post information and opinions about women’s equality and sexual health.

Start this semester on the right track! It’s going to be a great one.

Whether you are a political junkie, like me, or not it’s that time again: Campaign Season! It’s the time when we hear from the multiple candidates about their stance on issues and what they want to do for the American people.

First of all, I want to plead that everyone vote! I know many of you say “well my one vote does not matter”, but if everyone said that you will not be heard. Women strived, and starved and died for the right to vote. Whatever side of the coin you are on, I bed you PLEASE VOTE!

Secondly, vote for those who share your values. I have very strong beliefs about who I want to elect to office, but it is not my place to tell you who to vote for. What I ask is that you look at the candidates and see who shares your values. As young women and men we need to pay attention! What I ask is that you elect candidates that are working for you! As sexually active men and women, look at who supports sex education, birth control, emergency contraception and abortion. As students we need to look to those who support more affordable higher education. As graduates we need to support those who want to create jobs, so that when we graduate we can begin a successful career!

I ask you to do you research and participate in our democracy! Every voice and vote counts!! The young people of this country need to be heard, WE are the emerging leaders! Vote and be heard!

So, most of us have probably heard the song from Grease, Summer Lovin’, I was thinking about summer today and this song came into my mind. You are probably thinking…why is she telling me this? Well let me be frank! It is summer time for most of us and we are ready to relax and have a little fun before it all starts over next semester.

Fact: When people drink they are more likely to have unprotected sex!! And what happens when we have unprotected sex? STD’s, HIV and unplanned pregnancy! Not a fun way to spend the summer!

So what can you do to ensure a safe summer?
1) Always use a condom…even if its your first time, or you’re in a hot tub, or you/she is on the pill

2) Don’t forget that you can get STD’s from oral sex

3) Get yourself tested!!! (check with Planned Parenthood and your campus Health Center for confidential and very affordable services

4) Don’t drink/use drugs and drive

5) Wear sunscreen

6) Oh and don’t forget ALWAYS USE A CONDOM (did I say that already)

Next semester we are going to have a lot of stories to tell. Make sure that you have good stories to tell!! Be safe everyone and have a great summer!!!

Why Sex Ed Matters!!

Sex-Education is a touchy subject for parents, educators and students. Let’s face it, people have sex, it’s just a matter of at what age and how/if they protect themselves. Unfortunately, many people are getting their sex education from the internet, friends, Facebook and television. While sometimes these types of media can be useful, they are not useful for getting medically accurate sex education. South Carolina’s youth deserve to be given all of their options regarding preventing HIV, STD’s and pregnancy.

South Carolina’s sex-education stance claims to be comprehensive, but there is a lot of information that is left out of the curriculum. In South Carolina, state law severely restricts sex education. There can be no discussion of contraception except with reference to marriage, no discussion of abortion, and nothing said about homosexuality except with reference to preventing sexually transmitted diseases. Students are only required to participate in sex education for 750 minutes during high school.

Why is a lack of sex-education toxic to the youth of SC? In 2009, among those high school students who reported being currently sexually active, 54% of females and 66% of males in South Carolina reported having used condoms the last time they had sexual intercourse, compared to 54% of females and 69% of males nationwide. Among those high school students who reported being currently sexually active, 21% of females and 19% of males in South Carolina reported having used birth control pills the last time they had sexual intercourse compared to 23% of females and 16% of males nationwide.

So what does all this mean? It is a well-researched fact that students who have abstinence only sex education have a higher rate of STD’s, HIV and unplanned pregnancy. Why? When people are taught that condoms and birth control don’t work they don’t use them. Although talking about sex to young adults, whether it is your children, your patients or a student, is hard it is imperative to their health. Yes we wish that people would not put themselves in risky situations, but if they choose to have sex they need the tools and education to protect themselves and the person they are with.

Every time I listen to the radio I have to shake my head. Many people tell me that I am a prude but I can tell you that is so far from the truth. There are many lyrics on the radio that are inappropriate for young girls and boys. The average child listens to 14 hours of radio a week. When you consider some of the lyrics this is a lot of time children are being hypersexualized. We tell children and young adults that they should not be engaging in sexual acts, however every time they turn on the radio they cannot escape sex.

Here is one example of many of lyrics are on the radio now:

When it comes to STD’s the one we worry about the most is HIV. Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a virus that causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), a condition in which progressive failure of the immune system allows life-threatening opportunistic infections and cancers to thrive. When it comes to HIV there is a lot of misinformation and well as a lack of education about the virus.

10 Truths and Myths about HIV

Myth: HIV can be transmitted through saliva or tears

Truth: HIV is transmitted through blood, semen, vaginal fluid and breast milk

Myth: HIV is a “gay men’s” disease

Truth: 43% of HIV cases are females

Myth: Oral sex is safe sex

Fact: Like I earlier stated HIV can be transmitted by semen and vaginal fluid. So the safe way
To have oral sex is by using a dental dam/barrier. You can purchase dental dams or you can cut a condom.

Myth: All HIV come from sexual activity

Fact: 25% of HIV cases are from needle sharing and many cases are from breast milk

Myth: If a person doesn’t show symptoms they will not be able to pass on the disease to their partners.

Fact: People who are HIV positive can infect another person with aids. The aids virus takes ±
10 years to
become a full-blown virus and it only starts to show symptoms after the virus has fully grown.

With this information I hope that you will better understand this devastating disease. We all need to respect out bodies and protect ourselves from the preventable life threatening disease

**statistics from www.cdc.gov and www.plannedparenthood.com