Sexual Health
DISCLAIMER: This content was created by students and staff at lss and should not replace professional opinions.
Welcome to the sexual health section of the student council website. Here there will be lots of information about the use of contraceptives, phone numbers for you to reach out to different experts on this specific topic, and links to many informative websites. We are creating this section as a simple way for students to have easy access to information on sexual health as it is very important knowledge to carry with you.
What is sexual health?
Sexual Health is another aspect of someone's physical or emotional well-being. Sexual Health is more than having an STI or being sexually healthy. It's someone's knowledge of their body or sexual activities they have had, or future activities. It's about being informed and knowing your options to stay healthy and safe.
WHAT IS CONSENT?
Consent is when you and your partner(s) agree to engage in sexual activity. Consent needs to be clearly and freely communicated between partners before engaging in a sexual act.
Consent cannot be given by an underage person (in Canada it is 16), or a person under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol. If consent was not given freely (ex. Pressured into a sexual act or threatened, ect.) then it is not considered consent.
Can you ever assume Consent?
The short answer here is no. Consent has to be stated clearly by all members for it to actually be considered consent. Consent can be obtained but can be taken back just as easily. You can't assume that since your partner consented to kissing you that means they consent to having sex with you. Use good communication to be aware of how your partner is feeling and always ask for consent before undertaking any sexual act.
This acronym from planned parenthood is an easy way to remember the important things involved in consent. For a full description from planned parenthood click Below.
Sexual Health information from the local AVI clinic
LSS student Skyla Thomas interviews Jeremy Mailloux from the AVI Clinic in nanaimo.
SEXUALLY TRANSMITTEd INFEcTIONS (STI)
"A sexually transmitted infection (STI) is caused by an organism (bacteria, virus, or parasite) that can be passed from one person to another during sex or intimate contact.
Most STIs are passed (or transmitted) between sexual partners through unprotected oral, vaginal (frontal) or anal sex. Some STIs are passed by skin-to-skin contact. Using condoms and other barriers for vaginal (frontal), oral and anal sex is a good way to lower the chances of passing many STIs.
"If you are concerned that you might have an STI, get tested to find out for sure. Some STIs can cause serious health problems if left untreated. If your results come back positive (meaning you have an STI), your health care provider will tell you what kind of treatment you need. Some types of STIs can be cured with medication. Other STIs can be treated with medications, but not cured."
Click on the button below to visit SOGC.ORG to learn more about all the different contraceptives available in Canada.
Source: “Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs).” BC Centre for Disease Control, www.bccdc.ca/health-info/diseases-conditions/sexually-transmitted-infections-(stis).
Teen Pregnancy
Teen Pregnancy can occur in many different ways from forgetting to take your birth control, the condom breaks during intercourse or not using birth control methods during intercourse. It is important to address the stigma that surrounds teen pregnancy. It is common that the mother in this situation bears the brunt of social judgement. It is vital that we remember a teen pregnancy is not anyone's fault. Contraception failure can happen to anyone which is why it is important to think carefully before consenting to have intercourse with a partner. The best thing we can do for someone experiencing a pregnancy early in life is to offer non-judgmental support.
Contraceptives are an important thing to teach teens and adults about. Learning about the different contraceptives can help prevent teen pregnancy.
SEXUAL ASSAULT
Sexual assault, by definition, is when one person touches another person in a sexual manner without obtaining consent. It falls under the umbrella of sexual violence and can be any of the following: Child sexual abuse, rape (either forced sexual acts or drug-assisted forced sexual acts), or torture of a person through sexual acts.
The victims of sexual assault can be anyone. If you have been the victim of sexual assault you are not to blame! The most important thing you can do is get help. If you have someone you trust, you can ask for their support to report the assault to the police. In BC you can also call or text 1-800-563-0808 or send an email to VictimLinkBC@bc211.ca which can provide advice and help 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
sexual health expert group
All the above information was created by the Sexual Health expert group. Pictured left to right are Brianna Narduzzi, Karmyn Powell, Skyla Tomas and Emily Anderson. Please feel free to ask them questions and thank them for their hard work!
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