Mini-fridge? Check. Laptop computer? Check. Talk about sex? Really?
Sex isn't always the easiest topic for parents and teens to discuss, yet it is critical for parents to help prepare their young adult children to deal with a range of serious sexual health issues that are common on college campuses.
Illustration by Ned Shaw
Conversations surrounding teens' impending independence should touch on STDs such as HIV, contraception, sexual assault prevention, and sexual orientation and gender identity.
"Parents need to arm their children with sexual health information and resources available on college campuses so their teens don't become part of the growing statistics related to negative sexual health outcomes," said Catherine Sherwood-Laughlin, sexual health expert in Indiana University's School of Health, Physical Education and Recreation.
Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and HIV
If your college student is sexually active, suggest they take the following precautions: Reduce the number of sexual partners, use latex condoms consistently and correctly to prevent infection, get tested often for STIs at the university health center, get tested often for HIV, and for daughters, encourage them to get vaccinated against cervical cancer by getting the HPV vaccine.
- Sexually transmitted infections acquired during college can result in a lifetime of health and fertility problems. Younger adults are at a higher risk of acquiring STIs, and they experience unintended pregnancies at a higher rate than older adults. Many of the most common STIs like chlamydia and gonorrhea do not show signs and symptoms of infection. College students might think they are disease free while they unknowingly spread these infections. People who are infected with an STI are two to five times more likely to get HIV if they are exposed to the virus through sexual contact.
- Where to get information on campus: Student health center or local health clinic, student health and wellness programs, courses in human sexuality, personal health and wellness, biology, anatomy and physiology.
Contraception
Use it -- and a back-up.
- Almost half of all pregnancies in the U.S. are unintended, and the majority of those pregnancies occurred while using a birth control method. Birth control methods can be effective in preventing pregnancy, but they have to be used consistently or correctly every time during sexual intercourse. Because no birth control method is 100 percent effective, besides abstinence, a back-up birth control method should be used in case the first method fails or is used incorrectly.
- Where to get information on campus: Student health center or local health clinic, student health and wellness programs, and courses in human sexuality, women's health, men's health and personal health.
Relationships and sexual violence
Talk with daughters about safety measures and how women are at a higher risk of becoming a victim of rape or acquaintance rape in college when they use drugs, attend a university with higher rates of drinking alcohol, belong in a sorority or if they drank heavily while in high school.
- According to the CDC, 22 percent of all sexual assault victims are between the ages of 18 and 24. In the majority of rape cases, the victim knows the perpetrator.
- Where to get information on campus: Student health center or local health clinic, student health and wellness programs, college police department, college sexual assault services, college psychological and counseling services, dean of students office, and courses in human sexuality, women's health and men's health.
Sexual orientation and gender identity
Diversity exists within sexual orientations and sexual expression; once at college, not only will the young adults learn more about themselves, but also about how new friends and acquaintances express their sexual orientations. Still, many people who are gay, lesbian and bisexual face prejudice and discrimination.
- Many young adults become more acutely aware of their sexual orientation during this time in their lives, and for some, college is a time for them to begin to explore and understand their sexual and romantic feelings and emotions for others. For some, the college environment becomes a safe place for young adults to "come out" and let others know of their sexual orientation. For those who are homosexual or bisexual, this "coming out" process is necessary for their self-esteem and psychological development. Many gay, lesbian and bisexual students delay telling their parents and use their experiences coming out among their peers to help build their confidence.
- Where to get information on campus: Student health center or local health clinic, student health and wellness programs, college lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender services, dean of students office, and courses in human sexuality, gender studies, men's health and women's health.
More information about these topics can be found at these Web sites: American College Health Association, http://www.acha.org/info_resources/hc2010.cfm; CDC, http://www.cdc.gov/family/college, http://www.cdc.gov/std/stats07/trends.htm and http://www.cdc.gov/std/research/2004/weinstock-PSRH-2004-36-1-AB.htm; Association of Reproductive Health Professionals, http://www.arhp.org/publications-and-resources/contraception-journal/january-2008; and the American Psychological Association http://www.apahelpcenter.org/articles/article.php?id=31.
To read more articles from the Department of Applied Health Science, visit http://newsinfo.iu.edu/cat/page/normal/357.html.
