1. The Importance of Safe and Responsible Sex BRITNEY OROZCOFHS 2450FINAL PROJECT

2. Content:  Love and Relationships  Contraceptive Options  STD’s

3. Love and Relationships It is important to know what is important to you in a relationship before getting involved with anyone. It is easier to lower expectations if you don’t have them set before you meet someone. Don’t settle for anything less than you deserve.

4. Types of Love It is important to be able to recognize what type of love you are in. You may believe you are in love and ready to have sex but if it is Infatuation, you will most likely regret it later. Pay attention to the type of love both you and your partner are in when deciding if you are ready for such a big step.

5. Effective Communication  Voice  Intent  Body Language  Timing  Approach  Being Clear  What do each of these mean to you? See handout for more detail. Communication skills are important in a relationship, whether it is sexual communication or otherwise. You need to be able to show what you need and understand what your partner needs. At times it is difficult to state you are not ready to have sex. If you work on effective communication from the beginning it will be easier to not get into a situation you are not comfortable with.

6. Healthy and Unhealthy Relationships Healthy Relationship o Treat each other with respect and fairness o Support and encourage each other o Honesty and trust o Enjoy being with each other Unhealthy Relationship o Treat partner disrespectfully and unfairly o Frequently argue or fight o No shared Interests o Cheat on partner Abusive Relationship o One person throws or breaks things during argument o Controlling and Jealousy o One person hurts the other physically or sexually o One person puts the other down.

7. Contraceptive Options If you make the decision to have sex it is important to know your options before you do. It can be overwhelming but you need to do research. By not making a decision before engaging in sex, it can lead to pregnancy and/or Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STD’s)

8. Protects from STD’s and Pregnancy Condoms are the only form of contraception that will protect against STD’s. It is very important to always use a condom. Your best option is to use a condom along with a secondary form of birth control for additional protection against pregnancy.

9. Does not protect from STD’s  Spermicides  Diaphragm  Injectables  Birth Control Pills  Sponge  Vaginal Ring  Patch  IUD  IUS  Under the skin implant  Emergency contraception: Plan B

10. ABSTINENCE  What is Abstinence? Making the decision not to have sex.  How it works: If you don’t have sex, sperm can’t fertilize an egg and there is no possibility of pregnancy. You don’t have to be a virgin to practice abstinence. It is a decision you can make at any time but you need to be committed to it. It is 100% effective against pregnancy and complete abstinence (avoiding all types of intimate genital contact) will prevent STD’s as well.  Abstinence is the best option until you are married or in a 100% monogamous relationship (both parties).

11. Teen Pregnancy It is important to remember that ANY time you have intercourse it can result in pregnancy. If you are not ready to become a parent you should think twice about having sex. It is ALWAYS an option.

12. “ ” How would your life change if you had a child? W OULD YOU BE ABLE TO LIVE ANY PART OF YOUR LIFE THE SAME ? Think about your hopes and dreams for the future. Would those be affected?

13. STD’s SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASES ARE A VERY REAL RESULT OF UNPROTECTED SEX. THEY VARY IN SEVERITY BUT ARE ALL IMPORTANT TO KNOW ABOUT AND AVOID.

14. STD’s Bacterial Infections o Chlamydia o Gonorrhea o Nongonococcal Urethritis (NGU) o Syphilis o These STI’s are caused by bacterial agents. Viral Infections o Herpes o Genital Warts o Viral Hepatitis o A virus is an organism that invades, reproduces, and lives within a cell, disrupting normal cell activity. Most viruses are transmitted through direct contact of bodily fluid. Other o AIDS o Pubic Lice o Scabies o Vaginosis o Trichomoniasis o Candidiasis

15. “ ” How would your life change if you had an STD? D ID YOU EXPECT THERE TO BE SO MANY DIFFERENT TYPES ? How do you plan to protect yourself from STD’s?