We all know that Princeton kids are better at life, but are we better at sex? Psychology surveys tell us that on average, men think about sex every six seconds. Surely a technical question must pop up every once in a while. So whether you go at it like rabbits or are waiting for that special someone, are asking for a friend or are just plain curious, you're in the right place. Written by a team of peer sexual health advisors, this column is like foreplay — it aims to open you up. With the help of University health professionals, I'll address a full range of issues and serve as an honest and impartial resource to help you with any question to which you crave the answer. So don't be shy — slip your questions to sexpert@dailyprincetonian.com and see the answers in the 'Prince' every Thursday.
The Sexpert
Dear Sexpert,
I recently became sexually active and am thinking about going on the birth control pill. But I'm a little nervous about messing with my hormones. How does the pill work and what are the side effects?
— Pondering the Pill
Dear Pondering,
Oral contraceptives prevent pregnancy by using a combination of two types of hormones: progestins and estrogens. Estrogen prevents ovulation by suppressing the hormones in the body that would stimulate the ovary to release an egg, while progestin thickens the cervical mucus, making it harder for sperm to penetrate. Progestin also prevents the uterine lining from developing normally. In other words, if an egg were fertilized, it would not implant in the wall of the uterus. Other pills, called mini-pills, contain no estrogen, so progestin works on its own without any additional protection.
As I'm sure you know, the most important thing about birth control pills is that you take them as prescribed — that means every day, preferably at the same time each day. So if you know you're a bit flaky about remembering stuff, this might not be the right option for you. To prevent pregnancy, you will need to use condoms or another method of birth control for at least seven days, and preferably as many as 14 days, after starting the Pill.
The Pill has significantly lower hormone doses today than it did back in our parents' day, so the risk of severe side effects is low — unless you are a smoker. Cigarette smoking has been found to increase the risk of serious cardiovascular side effects among women who use the Pill. Other minor negative side effects may include headaches, irregular bleeding, sore breasts, nausea or mood swings. But there can be positive effects as well — the Pill is frequently prescribed to prevent acne or to regulate menstruation, and has been shown to reduce the risk of ovarian cancer.
If you're still worried, remember that there are many different types of birth control pills. If you're concerned about introducing a lot of hormones into your body, you might be interested in pills with low hormone doses. I'd recommend setting up an appointment with the Men's and Women's Health Center in McCosh to discuss your options. Birth control pills are available affordably from McCosh.
The Sexpert
Dear Sexpert,
I have been involved with someone for a while and even though we're not thinking about having sex yet, we're both feeling pretty frustrated (!) and want to move on to oral sex as a "safer" alternative to sex. Is it really safer, though?
— Frustrated
Dear Frustrated,
While you can't get pregnant through oral sex, there are numerous other risks involved that you should consider. You're not alone in thinking that oral sex is safer — in fact, according to a recent national survey conducted by the Kaiser Family Foundation, about one in 10 young adults aged 18 to 24 thinks that it's impossible to contract sexually transmitted infections (STIs) through oral sex, and one in four teenagers thinks HIV cannot be passed through oral sex. While oral sex may carry lower risks than intercourse, many STIs — including herpes, syphilis, gonorrhea, HPV (genital warts), hepatitis A and even HIV — can be passed through oral sex. This is why it is important to get tested for STI's, even if you are not having intercourse. It's better to be safe than sorry!
Also, always use a condom or a dental dam (yes, everyone laughs at the name) to prevent STI transmission. FYI: A dental dam is a thin sheet of latex (like a condom, cut open) that is spread over the whole vaginal or anal area to prevent skin-on-skin contact during oral sex. Have a good laugh about the name (which came from its original use, in dentistry), but use it, as it won't be so funny if you or your partner winds up with sores in your mouth!
The Sexpert
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