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Sexual Health
The SMU Memorial Health Center offers education, routine gynecology, and information about disease prevention. Women's annual exam and Pap smear, as well as testing and treatment for vaginitis, urinary tract infections, and sexually transmitted infections are offered at low and reduced cost. Contraceptive counseling is provided and prescriptions are given for hormonal therapies such as birth control pills, the shot, the patch, the ring, and hormone replacement therapy. In addition, pregnancy testing and emergency contraceptive (“morning after”) pills are available. Gynecologists are available by appointment in the specialty clinic two days per week. Staff physicians and nurse practitioners are experienced in the evaluation and treatment of sexual health care issues.
What defines sexual activity: Intercourse vs. “Outer-course”? What are the risks?
Heterosexual intercourse is any penetration of the vagina by a penis. But often sexual relationships are expressed in different ways, so that the couple perceives that he/she technically retain “virginity.” Couples may consider oral penetration (“blow jobs”) or rectal penetration to maintain the perception of virginity.
Outer-course is any kind of “rub-a-dub” stimulation. Manual manipulation (“hand jobs”), manual rubbing and/or penetration (“fingering”), and male/female genital rubbing without penile-vaginal penetration are examples of outer-course.
Although intercourse has the highest risk of pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections, outer-course is not without risk. Some risks are listed:
· Herpes can be transmitted by oral-genital contact.
· Herpes can be transmitted by mutual manual manipulation (“fingering and hand jobs”.
· HPV (Human Papilloma Virus) can be transmitted by touching and by manual manipulation. Some strains of HPV cause genital warts and other strains of HPV may lead to cervical and/or rectal cancer.
· Pregnancy can occur during coitus interruptus (vaginal penetration without ejaculation), as well as by ejaculating close to the opening of the vagina. Sperm are motile and can swim from the outside to inside the vagina.
· HIV is commonly transmitted by rectal penetration.
· Chlamydia and Gonorrhea are commonly transmitted by rectal penetration.
· Gonorrhea of the throat (often mis-diagnosed as Strep throat) may occur by oral penetration (“blow jobs”).
Summary: Intercourse has many risks, but Outer-course is a form of sexual activity that is not without risk. For more information contact your healthcare provider.
Information about HPV can be obtained at: http://www.tell-someone.com
HPV Vaccine
Gardasil, the new HPV vaccine is now available at the Health Center. The HPV vaccine protects against 4 major types of HPV. These include 2 types that cause about 70% of cervical cancer and 2 types that cause about 90% of genital warts. The vaccine is recommended for females 13 to 26 years of age.
The vaccine is given in a series of three shots. The second shot is given two months after the 1st dose, and the third shot is given six months after the 1st dose. The cost is $150 per dose.
For more information, visit www.cdc.gov/std/hpv , www.cdc.gov/nip , and www.tell-someone.com .
Back to School Health Guide for College Women
