Sex and Your Health

Through listening and encouragement, the counselors at Cobb Pregnancy are instrumental in helping our clients evaluate their current choices regarding their relationships and sexuality in order to make healthier decisions in the future.

Our counselors are aware of the following:

• STD's are hidden epidemics of enormous health and economic consequence in the United States. [1]
• Over 70 million Americans currently have a Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI) and 19 million new cases occur each year. [2]
• The United States has an epidemic of sexually transmitted infections (STI’s). Over 70 million Americans currently have an STI. 19 million new cases occur each year. Half of these are in people under 25. [3]
• Most people with STI’s have no symptoms. Even without symptoms, they can still pass on the infection. [4]
• In women, complications from infection include pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), tubal pregnancy, infertility and cervical cancer. In pregnant women, STI’s can lead to miscarriage, stillbirths, preterm delivery and birth defects….Some STIs, such as HIV, can be life threatening. [5]
• Waiting to have sex until you are in a faithful, lifelong relationship (such as marriage) is the only way to avoid being infected sexually. [6]
• “Sexual permissiveness has not led to greater pleasure, freedom and openness, more meaningful relationships between the sexes, or exhilarating relief from stifling inhibitions, but has often led to empty relationships, feelings of self-contempt and worthlessness.” [7]

Fallacies of "Safe Sex"

Condoms have often been promoted as "safe sex," but how safe are they? Condoms are more readily available now than they have ever been but STD's are still on the rise. The Medical Institute published a report on the latest reserach of the effectiveness of condoms against STDs. The key findings of this February 2007 report are as follows:

• HPV: 50% or less risk reduction for secual transmission of HPV with 100% condom^ use.
• Syphillis: about 50% reduction with 100% condom use (50% relative risk* of infection)
• Gonorrhea: about 50% reduction with 100% condom use (50% relative risk* of infection)
• Chlamydia: about 50% reduction with 100% condom use (50% relative risk* of infection)
• Genital Herpes: about 50% reduction with condom use with every sex act (50% relative risk* of infection)
• HIV: approximately 85% reduction with 100% condom use (15% relative risk of infection)

^100% Condom Use: Condoms must be used 100% of the time and used correctly during all the years an unmarried individual is engaged in sexual activity to provide any reasonable hope of avoiding STD infection and potential diseases from infected partners (except for Herpes and HIV where less than 100% condom use can provide some risk reduction).

*"Relative Risk" does not mean the actual percentage of infection, but rather refers to the calculated difference of risk between using a condom and not using a condom.

Any form of sexual activity can spread STDs, not just intercourse. Condoms may reduce your risk, but the only way to eliminate your risk is to wait to engage in sexual axtivity until you enter a monogamous marriage relationship.

                                                          
Resources   

1. Concluding statement from the Institute of Medicine's Summary Report, The Hidden Epidemic Confronting Sexually Transmitted Diseases, National Academy Press, Washington, DC, 1997, P.43

2. The Medical Institute of Medical Health. Available from: www.medinstitute.org.

3. Ibid

4. Ibid

5. Ibid

6. Ibid 
*Note: At Cobb Pregnancy we believe the “faithful, lifelong relationship” is marriage.

7. The Constitutional Coalition. “The Rules Have Changed” Video. Quote from Dr. Armand Nicholi, Harvard Medical School.