Free love isn't

Ah, the swinging 60s and 70s. Those were the days. Sex was an egocentric activity engaged in, solely and indiscriminately, for pleasure.

"Spreading the love" was a humanitarian activity, not a euphemism within the medical community for the increased distribution of STDs among the population. This was all, of course, before the official discovery of AIDS by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on June 5, 1981.

After the discovery of AIDS, using protection such as condoms became the expectation and the norm for highly developed societies.

Or did it? Judging by the way college students have sex today, one might think that it was 1972 and not 2008. Several students interviewed admitted to having unprotected sex regularly, though they are informed of the risk involved.

In a random Hodges Library sample, 8 out of 10 students admitted to having unprotected sex at least once.

Some of the comments that were shared regarding their decisions:

"Sex feels better without a condom."

"I was drunk, and it was only one time."

"I haven't gotten anything yet."

"Condoms suck."

"I didn't want to, but she said she was clean."

"I trust him."

News flash: It only takes one unprotected sack session to contract an STD. There is no way to tell if someone is "clean" other than getting tested.

Most males have never been tested. A Pap test (standard yearly procedure for females) only screens for abnormalities. Separate tests are required for most STD diagnoses, including HIV and herpes. Most women do not know this.

Condoms are not a get-out-of-jail-free card. Per the back label of a Trojan, "If used properly, latex condoms will help to reduce the risk of transmission of HIV infection (AIDS) and many other sexually transmitted diseases. Also highly effective against pregnancy."

Many STDs, such as Chlamydia, HPV (Human papillomavirus, aka genital warts), herpes, and HIV, can remain symptom less for months, or even forever. A person can be a carrier, spreading the disease to many others, without ever having a single outbreak.

Alternatively, a person aware that they have the disease can still spread it to others, regardless of whether or not they're having a visible outbreak.

Hold the phone. So are we just supposed to not have sex, ever? Not exactly. But with the STD rate steadily climbing, so is the average sexually active person's risk of exposure. Condoms aren't a guarantee, but they are a fairly sure bet, and certainly better than nothing.

Never engage in unprotected sex outside of a solid monogamous relationship. If you happen to be a swinging single with raging hormones, be a smart swinging single. Get tested regularly. And never dismiss the often overlooked joys of frottage and heavy petting.

SOURCE: Katherine Leone, tnjn.com