Weekly Links Roundup 3/2/12 - Condoms, Safe Sex, Sex Education
It’s Friday again ONE Condoms supporters and when Friday rolls around it’s time for ONE’s weekly links roundup! Below you’ll find news stories from the last week regarding condoms, safe sex, and sex education. Be sure to check out the developments in mandatory condom use for porn actors, QR Condoms, and the “Study Sex College Tour,” all of which have been rocking the sexual health world this past week.
If you’d like to share any additional stories we may have missed please leave them in the comments. We’d love to hear what else is going on in spreading safe sex awareness.
Condoms
Condoms In Porn Petition: Los Angeles County Measure Could Make It To November
Condom users make big mistakes that can lead to pregnancy, STDs
Women’s Condom Use Drops During 1st Year of College
QR Codes on Condoms: ‘Check-Ins’ Let You Share Your Safe Sex
Money Seems to Matter for Teen Girls, Condoms
China enforces new condom rule
Safe Sex
Zac Efron Earns a Boy Scout Safe Sex Badge
Program Increases Safe Sex Practices in Latina Women
Condom use 101: Basic errors are so common, study finds
Sex Education
Sex education should be a joint responsibility of parents, teachers
‘Study Sex College Tour’ makes Sex Ed cool, prioritizes pleasure
Utah Will Be Damned if Sex Ed Classes Teach About Anything Sex-y
Seniors and sex: Education important at any age
Friday Links Roundup 2/23/12 - Condoms, Safe Sex, Sex Education
Weekly Links Roundup 2/3/12 - Condoms, Safe Sex, Sex Education
Weekly Links Roundup 1/26/12 - Safe Sex, Condoms, Sex Education
Weekly Links Roundup 1/13/12 - Safe Sex, Condoms, Sex Education
Weekly Links Roundup 1/6/12 - Safe Sex, Condoms, Sex Education
Weekly Links Roundup 12/9/11 - Safe Sex, Condoms, Sex Education
Testosterone Overloaded ‘Macho’ Men More Likely to Practice Safe Sex
In a recent study conducted at the University of Michigan, testosterone loaded guys aged 18 and 19 were found to have a more accepting attitude towards condoms and safe sex practices than low-testosterone males. High testosterone levels are linked to boldness, confidence, and high risk life choices. These results are the first to demonstrate a link between higher testosterone levels and less risk-taking in any domain to date.
According to researcher Sari van Anders, “safe sex behaviors and people who engage with them can be seen in a negative light. The ‘social risk’ of insisting on using a condom might require more boldness and confidence than having unprotected sex.” The new findings reveal that safe sex could feel like a riskier move than unprotected sex does to men.
The study consisted of 78 men answering questions about their health, sexual activity, and attitudes towards condom use. Each man provided a saliva sample to measure testosterone levels.
The results revealed that men with higher testosterone levels had more positive attitudes about safe sex than lower-testosterone men. It’s possible that men get an ego boost (and testosterone boost) from safe-sex practices since it signifies them as knowledgeable about sex and bumps up their social status. Although this study was focused just on attitudes, actual behavioral research is in the works to see whether the testosterone-safe sex link holds up behaviorally.
ONE Condoms will be tracking the development of this research as more findings come to light. ONE wants to make condoms as socially acceptable as toothpaste and safe sex as second nature as wearing a seatbelt. ONE Condoms donates a portion of each sale to HIV/AIDS prevention efforts at home and abroad.
So, tell us fellas. Do you think you high T levels make more accepting of safe sex practices?
STI’s a Problem for 1,000 under-16 Year Olds Brits
A recent survey has found that almost 1,000 under-16 year olds have been diagnosed with venereal diseases (STI’s) such as herpes, chlamydia, and gonorrhea in the past three years in UK hospitals. The youngest amongst this group of affected youth was a boy 11 years old who was treated for chlamydia.
The number of youth affected by STI’s in this recent survey is a sliver of the UK hospital and trust system since most institutions did not decide to release this type information. But those that did revealed that as the patient aged through puberty and into their late teens, the more STI’s and sexual health problems they had.
Since 2008 the shocking statistics of youngsters affected are as follows:
- 44 girls and 2 boys aged 13
- 200 girls and boys aged 14
- 602 girls and boys aged 15
From this survey, it has been found that almost 3 times as many girls were affected and treated compared to boys. The most common STI treated was chlamydia.
This study’s shocking results reveal the great importance of sexual health services and sex education to all demographics. It is vital that parents and schools promote safe sex. The data shows that sex education and sex talks need to start at a young age in a child’s lifetime.
However, it is difficult for children to learn from their parents and role models when the overall sexual health of adult Britons is frail. It’s reported that more than 1 in 3 Brits has unprotected sex with a new partner. It is impossible for the children to learn the importance of good sexual health practices and avoidance of STI’s if the adult population isn’t helping to use illustrate healthy safe sex behaviors.
Condoms are the most effective protection against STI’s and are essential in eliminating venereal diseases. But how early is it to start talking about sex and condom use with your child or the youth? Is 11 years old too young to start these talks?
What age do you think sex education should start to be taught in the public school system to improve the overall sexual health of our youth?
