"How do I know when I’m ready to have sex and is there really any safe sex out there?" – 14 year old

 

ADOLESCENCE is a time when your body is changing, you are becoming more independent and you might be increasingly curious about sex.

SEXUAL HEALTH encompasses sexual development and reproductive health, as well as such characteristics as the ability to develop and maintain meaningful relationships; appreciate one’s own body; interact with both genders in respectful and appropriate ways; and express affection, love and intimacy in ways consistent with one’s own values. The majority of teenagers will become involved with sex during their adolescent years. The first thing one needs to do is to become informed about what sex is and what the options are. Once you have been informed of the potential risks involved with different types of sexual activities, it’s up to you to determine what your limits are; what you are willing or not willing to do.

It is important to appreciate your own body by:

• Understanding changes due to puberty
• Viewing pubertal changes as normal
• Undergoing regular check-ups
• Understanding how your body feels

It is important to take responsibility for your own behaviors by:

• Identifying your own values
• Deciding what is personally ‘right’ and acting on it
• Understanding the consequences of your actions
• Understanding that media messages can create unrealistic expectations related to sexuality and intimate relationships
• Distinguishing the difference between personal desires from that of your peer group
• Understanding how alcohol and other drugs can impair decision making
• Understanding the consequences of sexual behaviors
• Accepting people with different values and experiences

It is important to have the skills to determine your readiness for a sexual relationship by:

• Talking with your partner about sexual behaviors before they occur
• Communicating and negotiating sexual limits
• Differentiating between low and high risk sexual behaviors
• If having intercourse, protecting yourself and your partner from unintended pregnancy and diseases through effective use of contraception and condoms
• Knowing how to use and access the health care system, community agencies, religious institutions and is comfortable to seek advice, information and services as needed.

STD’s/Sexually transmitted diseases (also called veneral diseases or sexually transmitted infections, STI’s) are not shameful and they are not a punishment – they are simply diseases that, if not treated, can seriously damage your health.

"Both my girlfriends and I haven’t had other partners before and we are practicing oral sex. Is it possible to catch STD’s from this even though we haven’t had previous partners?" – 16 year old

FACTS:

• You can get an STD at any age and get it again and again.
• Most STDs are treatable but there is no vaccine to prevent them.
• Herpes can be controlled but is not curable.
• It is possible to have an STD without feeling sick or noticing any changes in your body.
• You can NOT tell if another person has an STD just by looking at him or her.
• Tests for STDs are confidential. You do not need your parents’ permission.
• The longer an STD goes untreated, the more damage it can do to your body.
• If you have an STD, your sexual partner or partners have also been exposed. Tell them. (If you get treated and they do not, they can re-infect you.)
• You can NOT catch STDs from toilet seats, door knobs or through casual contacts like handshakes.

SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASES (STDs) Anyone who is sexually active can get sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), also called venereal diseases or sexually transmitted infections. The main way to get an STD is through sexual intercourse or any other sexual contact with someone who already has it.

Included in these diseases are:

• HIV (the AIDS virus)
• Herpes
• Syphilis
• Gonorrhea
• Venereal warts
• Chlamydia

PROTECTION:

• Use a latex condom
• Do not have sex with anyone who has sores, discharges, or blisters around their mouth or sex organs.
• WARNING:If not treated, STDs can result in serious damage, including heart disease, blindness, deafness, non- healing skin sores, paralysis, sterility (inability to have children), damage to unborn baby, even death. IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE AN STD, GET TESTED NOW! Tests are confidential and you don’t need parental permission.

AIDS

"How long does it take for AIDS to be found in the system?" - 16 year old

• AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome) is a killer and there is no cure. It can happen to anyone. However, there are some treatments available that may prolong life. AIDS is caused by a virus called HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus).
• HIV may live in the human body for many years before the infected person becomes sick. HIV gets into a person’s bloodstream and attacks the body’s immune system, leaving the body defenseless and unable to fight off infections and diseases.

FACTS:

• AIDS can be spread by sexual contact with an infected person. It can be transmitted through the exchange of fluids during vaginal or anal intercourse and during oral sex with an infected person.
• AIDS can be spread from blood to blood contact—for example, by sharing needles and syringes with users of illegal drugs, or by transfusion of contaminated blood.
• Babies of women who have been infected with HIV may be born with the infection because it can be transmitted from the mother of the baby before or during birth and through breastfeeding.
• AIDS is not spread by casual contact in schools, at parties, in swimming pools or in the workplace.
• You can’t catch AIDS by hugging, shaking hands or simply being near a person who is infected with the virus. No person has ever been infected by an insect bite or an animal.

YOU CAN PROTECT YOURSELF:

• DON’T DO DRUGS. Especially needle drugs. NEVER share a needle with anyone.
• If sexual intercourse is now a part of your life, USE LATEX CONDOMS OR RUBBERS. During any kind of sex—vaginal, oral or anal — use latex condoms and a spermicide. But remember that condoms are not foolproof; they are not 100% safe.
• NOT having sexual intercourse is the surest way to avoid HIV/AIDS.

RESOURCES

213-201-1600AIDS Project Los Angeles (APLA)

M-F 9am-5pm
Website: www.apla.org
Client Line (213) 201-1512
Provides education, individualized assessment, case management, medical, pharmacological, legal, mental health, dental, residential, and work services along with support groups and a food pantry program.

626-453-8466AIDS Test Sites, El Monte

W 2:30pm-7pm
By appointment only. Free STD screening.

562-570-4315AIDS Test Sites, Long Beach

M-Th 9am-5pm; F 8am-4pm
Website: www.ci.long.ca/health
Confidential HIV and STD testing. Walk-in. Free family planning services.

562-949-8717AIDS Test Sites, Pico Rivera

M-F 9am-5pm; Call first
Website: www.altamed.org
Walk-in for HIV medical care and STD screening.

562-434-4455AIDS Test Sites, South Bay

W, Th, F by appointments only
Website: www.centerlb.org HIV and STD testing

323-980-4466Alta Med Health Services

M-Th 10am-6pm; F by appointment only
Website: www.altamed.org
Confidential HIV Testing.

323-644-3880Asian Pacific Health Care Venture Clinic

M-F 9am-5:30pm; Youth Clinic: W 5pm-7pm
Website: www.aphcv.org
Youth Clinic Appointment Line: 323-644-3887 xt. 261
Free HIV testing. Walk in.

323-727-7897Bienestar La Casa LGBT Youth Center

M-F 10am-7pm
Website: www.bienestar.org
FREE HIV testing.

800-942-1054CA Family Planning Information (Family PACT)

24 hours referrals
Confidential reproductive care services including emergency, short, long and permanent contraception; birth control; STD/HIV testing; cancer screening; family planning and counseling.

800-367-2437California AIDS, STD, and Hepatitis Hotline

M-F 9am-5pm (til 9 pm on)
Website: http://www.aidshotline.org
(415) 863 - 2437 (in SF and outside CA)
Referrals to anonymous test sites. Information and support. Services offered in English, Spanish and Filipino.

888-554-5459Common Ground- The Westside HIV Community Center

M-W 1pm-4pm; T 5:45pm-10pm; Th 5pm-7pm; F 10am-1pm, 5:45pm-8:30pm; Sat 11:45am-5pm

Website: www.commongroundwestside.org
Additional phone: (310) 314-5480
Free anonymous HIV testing . HIV prevention and education. Bilingual. By appointment only. Homeless youth program.  Mental, dental, and legal assistance.  Birth control.  Needle exchange onsite.

626-919-4333East Valley Community Health Center West Covina

M-Th 10am-7pm; F 8am-4pm; Sat 8am-2pm

Additional Office at 680 Fairplex Drive, Pomona

Website: www.evchc.org
Mental health counseling, job training resources, legal assistance, medical and dental assistance, pregnancy/birth control/family planning services, and sexuality/sexually transmitted diseases for teens.

562-434-4455Gay and Lesbian Center of Greater Long Beach

M-F 9am-10pm, Sat 9am-6pm, Sun 1pm-9pm

Website: www.centerlb.org
Free HIV/STD testing by appointment.
Youth drop-in center M-Th 2pm-5pm. Young adult support groups W 8pm-9pm. Coming out Support Group on Fri 7pm-9pm

310-281-7511Herpes Resource CenterAll phone numbers are 24 hour recordings
Website: www.lahelp.org
Website: www.ashastd.org/hrc
Orange County: (949) 753-2580 or (919) 361-8488
Hotline services, advocacy work and a network of support groups. The HRC focuses on increasing education, public awareness and support to anyone concerned about herpes.

323-337-1775High Risk Youth Clinic - Children's Hospital of Los Angeles

T 12:30pm-5pm; Th 1pm-5pm

Free primary medical care for acute and chronic conditions for youth 12 to 24.  Free STD/HIV testing and treatment; contraception/gynecology; and health screening.

800-227-8922National STD and AIDS Hotline

24 hours
Website: www.ashastd.org and/or www.cdc.gov
Additional phone: English (800) 342-2437 and (800) 344-7432
Center for Disease Control; and TTY Hotline (800) 243-7889
Information and referrals for clinics nationwide. Also free publications on HIV, STD's, etc.

323-845-1800Project Angel Food

M-F 9am-5:30pm
Website: www.angelfood.org
Volunteer Hotline: (323) 845-1816
Client Services: (323) 845-1810
Delivers hot meals daily (12pm-3pm) to those with HIV/AIDS and other diseases. Nutritional services.

951-358-6000RIVERSIDE Neighborhood Family Health Center

M-F 7:30am-5pm
HIV/AIDS services; provides primary care physicians, urgent care, teen clinic, consultations, teen pregnancy help; Wednesday 1pm-4pm prescriptions filled.

310-318-2521South Bay Family Health Care Center

M,W,F 7:30am-4:30pm; T 8:30am-5:30pm; Th 8am-6:30 pm
Website: www.sbfhc.org
Appointments: (310) 802-6170
All services are FREE or by donation. Birth control, pregnancy testing, prenatal, and pediatric care. Confidential HIV & STD testing and counseling. Serves Gardena and Redondo Beach.

323-361-2153Teenage Health Center - Children's Hospital of Los Angeles

M-F 9am-4:30pm
Website: www.childrenshospitalla.org

Office phone: 310-664-7908.  Serves youth aged 12-24.  Provides medical care, STD/HIV testing and treatment, birth control, pregnancy testing, emergency contraception, transgender services, immunizations, urgent care, physical exams, and care for chronic conditions.  Bilingual.

805-339-6340Ventura County Rainbow Alliance

M-F 8am-7pm
Website: www.lgbtventura.org
HIV/AIDS peer education and prevention for ages 13-24; FREE HIV testing & counseling, street outreach, cyber outreach and one-on-one risk reduction counseling.   Syringe replacement program.  Food pantry as well.

MORE LINKS

• www.apla.org
• www.youthpower.org (only for girls age 9-13)