[quote name='Sleepkyng']awww, this is so cute! Cappy's like the big brother!
but yeah, i was in pretty steady relationships for four years and never really learned how to use a condom properly (each of my girlfriends were on bc) and so don't feel wierd if you have hella questions.
it's stupid that our society is so embarassed about it. And besides, that shit can be scary.
If or when you go to college, and do end up sleeping around some, definitely get checked out every year just to be safe and to have the confidence in knowing that you're not putting any of your partners at risk.
I had a guy friend who had herpes but never knew because he didn't have any symptoms ever and ended up giving it to his long time girlfriend.
not cool.[/quote]
Great advice--the getting checked out every year. Wish they would recommend that during freshmen orientation, it would probably help out a great number of young, inexperienced, misinformed people. Definitely get checked out yearly--where's the harm? The sooner after unprotected sex is the better. If an accident does occur, you can usually get treated with large doses of anti-virals which can help prevent the STD. Doesn't always work, shouldn't be relied on, but if what's done is done, go ASAP--72 hours is usually that too late to be effective point. Nearly every campus has a health center, which can be free to students (with the exception of prescriptions) but if you don't want parents asking questions about charges to credit cards or health insurance billings, free clinics are not that scary. It's anonymous, free testing, free medication, free condoms, and since your only means of identification to them is a color (Blue, Violet, Green, etc) your insurance company will never have to know (some insurance co. can be tricky especially where AIDS tests are concerned so the clinic is the best bet to avoid that).
And as for "pulling out" which for some reason is enjoying quite the rally on this threat, it does NOT prevent pregnancy. The whole time there is fluid leaking out that contains sperm. Unless you are medically sterile, this will never work. And obviously if you're not protected you're susceptible to whatever STD she may have as well. Think of it like this: you're not only having sex with her, but also every other person she's ever had sex with. Kinda skeevy, no?