Having sex with the wrong individual can kill you. Sexual transmitted diseases (STDs) are real, and if you have sex, you are at risk of contracting one. You can mitigate that risk by choosing your sexual partners very carefully, making sure that you are only having sex in mutually exclusive relationships, making sure each partner is tested for STDs before engaging in sex, and using protection anyway. If you think all this would kill the moment, consider how bad it would be if it actually killed you instead.Sex can obviously lead to pregnancy, even if you use precautions. And if you aren’t prepared for that possibility, you might want to hold off on having sex until and unless you are ready to handle an unintended pregnancy. Also, if you don’t think your partner can handle that consequence, don’t have sex with him or her.
...Jen went off:
Wow, can you say sex-negative? This is reminiscent of a deep South's high school's sex education. OMG NEVER HAVE SEX BECAUSE YOU'LL DIIIEEEEE! Or worse, GET PREGNANT!!!!11!!one!!!Look, people. Yes, STDs are a problem. Yes you should always use protection, get tested for STDs, and sleep with people you have at least some level of trust with. But the way to deal with them is not through fear mongering and omitting practical information (ironic given the title of the book). This is exactly what abstinence only education programs do, and they've actually been shown to increase the rates of STDs in teens. Knowledge is power.
Stuff like this contributes to society's stigma about STDs. You know, most STDs really aren't that bad. Chlamydia, Gonorrhea, and Syphilis can be cured with antibiotics. 65-90% of people have Herpes 1 ("oral" Herpes, though it's not limited to the mouth), and 15% of people have Herpes 2. Symptoms can be reduced to practically nothing with medication. And about 80% of sexually active Americans have HPV, though it usually clears without any symptoms showing.
Does anyone want an STD? No, just like no one wants bronchitis or any other disease. The stigma is blown so out of proportion compared to the actual harm, and fear mongering adds to that. But people shouldn't feel like getting an STD is the end of the world. That can have more consequences than the actual disease.
The rest of this post—"Apparently even Humanists can be sex-negative"—is here. Her blog is good readin', Seattle, check Jen out and make her feel welcome.
