If you really love her, wear a cover

With Valentine's Day rapidly approaching, couples worldwide are scrambling in order to make the day as romantic and memorable as possible.

Between the methodical plans for candlelight dinners, bouquets of flowers and boxes of chocolates, there are two unwanted gifts distributed regularly that a significant other wants no part of.

These white elephants are unplanned pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections, surprises that are easily preventable.

"Most people are aware that there are a lot of sexually transmitted infections out today, so it's a good idea if you're having sex to use [a condom]," James Almeda, health educator and sexual health and peer education coordinator at Student Health Services, said.

He added that one of the keys to avoiding these diseases is finding out about the partner's past.

"Just because you've been with someone for a long time, you don't necessarily know who they have been with before or if they've been exposed to something," he said. "The problem is you can never tell when someone is infected. They may have never had an outbreak, but can still transmit it."

So what is the best way for students to avoid contracting infections on such a historically passionate holiday?

"You need to use a barrier method like a condom to protect yourself," Almeda said. "Condoms or not engaging in intercourse are most used against STI's."

To stay clear of pregnancies, Almeda said the pill is the most popular form of contraception, but also offered advice for sexually active students.

"I recommend to students that are worried about STI's and pregnancy to use both a condom as well as another birth control method," he said.

However, some students are leery of condoms due to rumors of their ineffectiveness. But according to Kathie Spegel, director of education of East Central Illinois' Planned Parenthood, many condom failures are due to incorrect use.

"Most failure is through user mistakes, not condom failure itself," she said. "Using petroleum based lubrication, instead of water based, will break down the latex. Bubble backing, the use of two condoms at once, causes friction between the two pieces of latex and causes the break."

Other cautionary advice with condom use includes checking for fairly obvious signs. The expiration date on the wrapping should be checked to make sure it is still good. The packaging around the condom should also be checked for tears, since that can be seen as a warning sign for a broken condom.

Some believe certain brands of condoms are more effective than others. According to Almeda, that is not necessarily the case.

"If you look at the research, there's really no one brand that is best for protection. A lot of people have the perception that Trojan is the only brand of condom," he said.

"[Condoms] have to meet a certain effectiveness rate as far as protecting against STI's and pregnancies to be approved by the Food and Drug Administration."

He does warn about the use of specially labeled condoms that are available.

"You can buy condoms? that are made of what is called lambskin, natural skin or sheepskin. They are fine for protection against pregnancy, but they don't provide protection against STI's and HIV," he said.

To further the sexual knowledge on campus, Student Health Services offers the G-Spot, a traveling version of the Health Staff Resource Center. Located weekly at different spots on campus, it supplies students with condoms and a variety of important health information.

"The big focus of the G-Spot is sexual information. We do offer free condoms, but people realize that we have other health resources there too," Almeda said.

SOURCE: Philip P. Lasseigne, Daily Vidette Staff, dailyvidette.com