Sexual health seems to be the health topic that is not always comfortable to talk about. This makes it difficult for many teenagers and even adults to find the information they need in order to be healthy. Questions can range from abstinence to sexually transmitted infection symptoms, to barrier methods to contraception options. Students may not get the healthcare they need because they are embarrassed about the questions they have, and many forgo a trip to a medical provider and search for answers on the web. While the internet is full of information, it is important to find credible resources. To help, I am offering some supportive and informative online organizations that are sure to give you the facts you need. Bedsider.org is a nonprofit birth control support network designed to educate women ages 18-29 on options for birth control. On the website there are 17 different contraception options listed, not limited to the ring, the patch, the shot, male and female condoms and the pill. The website has tabs to help you with your search including “most effective,” “party ready,” “easy to hide,” and “STI prevention.” Bedsider also gives a brief explanation of each type and its effectiveness. This is a great way to find a birth control suitable for your needs.
CDC.gov is the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. This website provides people and communities with the tools, expertise and information needed to protect their health. There are articles, links and searchable topics on this site. You can navigate your way through the site using either the A-Z index or the search bar. For example, you can search a specific STD and then read about its signs, symptoms, transmission, treatment, prevention and statistics.
Go Ask Alice! is an interactive Q&A for health-related issues, including sex. The website is goaskalice.columbia.edu. Once on the site you can search the Q&A library that people have submitted and the experts have answered. If you cannot find the question you are looking for, you can submit your own. The Go Ask Alice! questions are answered by professionals at Columbia University and are much more credible than a general Internet search.
Remember when searching the Internet for information, not everything you find will be factual information posted by doctors or sex experts. Typically .org or .net websites are more credible than those that end with .com. Before taking the information from websites as fact, be sure to read the “about us” section and cross-check the information with other sites or sources.
When looking for information and resources specific to the UI community, try Vandal Health Education. You can find connections to services or ask questions at www.uidaho.edu/vandalhealth. If you are looking to actually speak with someone in the area, there are plenty of on-campus and community resources. Utilize the free services of the LGBTQA office and Women’s Center here on campus. There is also the Student Health Clinic, Planned Parenthood in Pullman, Inland Oasis, which offers LGBTQA services and HIV testing and programs and ATVP (Alternatives to Violence of the Palouse).