Sexual Health

• Request a Presentation - Our office provides several presentations on sexual health. 
• HIV Testing - Find more information about free HIV testing available to UC students.
• RA Resources - Bulletin boards and posters available to RAs in our office.
  
• Gotcha Covered Training - Volunteer based condom distribution program.

Use our Sexual Health Services Map to find sexual health products such as latex-free condoms, dental dams, and emergency contraception locally! 

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that people under 24 acquire 50% of all new sexually transmitted infections (STIs). The UC Student Wellness Center seeks to promote low-risk and safer sexual behavior so that UC students can maintain good sexual health. The most important thing to remember when it comes to sexual health is that many of the unwanted or negative effects of sexual behavior are preventable if people engage in safer sex.

Safer sex is any practice used to reduce the risk of STIs or unintended pregnancy.

Barrier methods are a form of safer sex involving the use of an actual barrier to keep from coming into contact with another person's genitals or sexual fluids. Barrier methods reduce the risk for STIs and pregnancy (depending on the method) and can be used in addition to hormonal birth control. Barrier methods include:

• Male (external) condoms
• Female (internal) condoms
• Dental dams
• Gloves or finger cots

*Click the links for information on how to use each barrier method.

Contraceptives are a method of safer sex that includes any activity, practice, device, or medication that is used to reduce the risk of becoming pregnant. Some examples of contraceptives include:

• Birth control pills
• Intrauterine device (IUD)
• Depo Provera (the shot)
• Vaginal ring
• Contraceptive patch

Learn more about contraceptives.

Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) or sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are infections or diseases that are spread through sexual contact. STIs can be spread through oral, vaginal, anal, and sometimes even digital sex (stimulation of the genitals with the hands or fingers). Many STIs have no signs or symptoms meaning many people may not be aware they have one and could pass it on to their partner(s). Many STIs are curable, often with just one dose of medication. But if STIs go untreated for long periods of time, they can have long-term negative health effects. Since many STIs do not have any symptoms, the only way to know for sure if you are infected is to get tested. If you are sexually active, it's generally recommended that you be tested annually for STIs. You can talk to your health care provider about how often you should be tested.

We do not recommend mixing sex and alcohol. If someone is incapacitated (so drunk that they don't know what is going on), asleep, or unconscious, you should not engage in sexual activities with them.

Alcohol impairment often leads to not knowing your partner, not having a condom available, not using a condom, or not using one correctly. Plus, alcohol could decrease sensitivity and pleasure, meaning the activity might not feel as good.

• Almost 50% of unplanned sexual encounters occurred under the influence of alcohol.
• 60% of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) were transmitted when one or more of the partners was drunk.

• American Social Health Association
• Planned Parenthood
• Smartersex.org
• AIDS Education Global Information Systems (AEGIS)
• Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS)
• The National Minority AIDS Council (NMAC)
• Health Resource Center of Cincinnati (HRC)