Talkin’ about STIs
I am impassioned about all things relating to healthy female bodies and cyclical wisdom and I want to raise some questions about the pill, condoms and sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
1. Why so young?
Why are so many sexually inactive girls going on the pill so early these days? By early, I mean around fourteen or fifteen. Like it’s a normal response to painful periods, skin disorders and moodiness. The unquestioning doctor writes a script for the unquestioning teenager and often, her unquestioning parents, “Don’t worry pop/insert this, and you’ll be right”. Surely such a response should be the last resort rather than the first? There are plenty of other solutions that work and are aligned with the healthy functioning of a cyclical body. Ask any naturopath! It’s also wiser and kinder to allow a newly operating hormonal system the chance to establish itself fully.
2. Why are the rates of sexually transmitted STIs rising?
There’s no question that preventing unwanted pregnancies is the way to go and that the pill has liberated innumerable women. It’s also allowed us to have sex without any worries. But therein lies the problem, sex with who and at what cost? Sex with a partner when you’ve both been tested or sex with someone you met five minutes ago? The pill makes it so much easier to have sex with any guy, full stop.
It seems there’s a grisly chasm that lies between sexual freedom and women’s health. And in this dark and vexing void lies a mixture of ignorance, a smorgasbord of STIs, the inability to ask and normal, youthful risk taking.
A quick google search of STI stats in Australia, America and the UK, reveals that STIs are on the rise and frighteningly so, for our young people:
“The increase is especially pronounced in adolescents (15–24 years of age). Despite making up only a quarter of the population, adolescents account for approximately half of new STIs in the United States every year...It is estimated that 1 out of 4 sexually active adolescent females have an STI.”
Shannon, C. L., & Klausner, J. D. (2018). The growing epidemic of sexually transmitted infections in adolescents:
a neglected population. Current opinion in pediatrics, 30(1), 137–143. https://doi.org/10.1097/MOP.0000000000000578
Has anyone told them that some of these STIs are for life? That they can hang over a person like an ominous thundercloud forever; over their sex lives, their future partners, their consciences and their birth choices. 1 in 4 adolescent females!
Afraid to ask?
I was having a conversation recently with a group of young women in their early twenties. All of whom admitted that condom use was very rare amongst their cohort when it came to casual sex. They’re all on the pill. Of course. Most have been on it for years so current priority number one—don’t get pregnant—tick. But what about their sexual health? I was baffled. And then just plain sad...it seems that for a lot of young women their sexual health is less important than upsetting the guy, namely, being able to ask if some latex could/would possibly come between them for their one night stand. Apparently, a lot of young women are...afraid to ask (insert crying emoji).
Do they really prefer to put his pleasure over and above their body’s wellbeing? Are they so afraid of rejection? Or maybe they just think STIs aren’t going to happen to them. Or do they just let the pleasure of casual sex run away with them? Whatever the reason, it seems that someone’s pleasure is partly to blame for such self-abandonment. But that’s assuming they had their own backs/bodies/sexual health to begin with.
Conversations
It’s high time we started having more conversations with our daughters, nieces, friends’ daughters. With our sons, nephews and friends’ sons. Just by the by, I wonder how many hetero young men would insist on wearing a condom on a one night stand, even if after hearing, ‘It’s okay, I’m on the pill.’? Any thoughts?
My own initial sexual forays began in the 80s when AIDS was a big, scary, tolling bell on the horizon. There was a huge fear campaign (involving the grim reaper) for safe sex. Perhaps this allowed for more ease in asking? More awareness, more confidence and more understanding of the need for and benefits of condoms? Who knows? I’m not sure about fear campaigns. All I do know is...More conversations please, about STIs, the pill and condoms!