Don't Let Sex Ruin Your Life

Good. Now that I have your attention, it's time to talk about a very grave matter--literally. By now you have all heard of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS). You know basically what it is, what it does and how it is spread. But do you know how to avoid it?

You may be saying, "What, me worry? I'm not gay, and I don't use needles, so I won't get it." Wrong. A common misconception is that you must be in a high-risk group to get AIDS. If you are having sex, regardless of who you are with, you are in a high-risk group. It's as simple as that. [While the number of cases of gay males with AIDS is higher than the number of heterosexuals with the disease--males and females--heterosexual cases rapidly are increasing.] This is due mainly to lack of education about having "safe sex."

AIDS is caused by the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), which is spread through the exchange of body fluids such as blood, semen, urine and possibly saliva. It does not discriminate about who it affects. No matter your sex, age, sexual orientation or shoe size, you are at risk unless you follow safe sex practices. This primarily means you should USE A CONDOM. No, Dr. Ruth hasn't taken over The Battalion. If you aren't going to follow Reagan's advice--complete abstinence from sex--then a condom is necessary equipment.

"Why?" you ask. Remember Mom's wise words, "Don't touch that, you don't know where it's been." Can you be certain that whoever you're in bed with is healthy? Sure, she said you were her first as she threw off the feather boa. Or maybe he told you that he's been saving himself for just the right girl. You can trust them, can't you? No. It has been said that nowadays when you take someone to bed, you're also sleeping with everyone they've had sex with in the past five years. And vice versa. How can you be sure that you haven't been exposed already?

Many places in the Bryan-College Station area perform blood tests for the HIV antibody. This is not a test for AIDS. It can only detect the presence of antibodies that indicate infection from the virus sometime in the past. A positive result does not mean you have or will contract AIDS.

Some of the labs that offer these tests are:
[list of labs removed since outdated.]

The question now is, how do you talk to a potential sleeping partner about practicing safe sex? What if it scare them away? Or if they tell you not to worry about it, what should you do? First, you should ask yourself, "is sleeping with him or her really worth dying?" If your answer is "yes," you had better start digging.

The best way to handle the situation is to simply express your concern about AIDS, and discuss the ways to decrease your chances of contracting it, i.e.--safe sex. Remember, you must both follow the safe sex guidelines if they are to do any good. Don't let your partner convince you not to bother "just this once." This is your health they are risking, and possibly even their own.

Many people believe that talking about AIDS or using a condom takes the romance out of love-making. Yes, perhaps it does a little, but how romantic is the tale of the man who killed his lady with his love? Actually, safe sex need not detract from the romance. The general rule is to use your imagination, as long as you keep your fluids to yourself.

Just what is safe? Basically, there are four categories of safety. "Safe" sex includes dry kissing, mutual masturbation, oral sex with a condom, massage and fantasy. Vaginal and anal intercourse with a condom are "possibly safe."

Those practices classed as "risky" include oral sex without a condom, cunnilingus, wet kissing, and use of drugs or alcohol. Drugs and alcohol decrease judgement ability and also lower your immune system defenses. Unprotected vaginal or anal sex, intravenous drugs, sharing needles and rimming are considered "dangerous" and should be avoided.

Some numbers you can call for more information on AIDS and safe sex are:
National AIDS Hotline 1-800-342-AIDS (4-minute recording);
1-800-447-AIDS (Live Operators);
KS/AIDS Foundation, 1-713-523-AIDS (Houston);

Despite the occasional jokes, this is a serious subject. You should not only learn safe sex, but use it. You may think, "I can't change my habits." You can, and you had better. All it takes is one night to ruin the rest of your life. Protect yourself--and the one you're with. Play it safe and live.