Sexuality Unit

1. Sexuality Unit

2. Toxic Shock Syndrome • All women should be aware and understand what TSS is. • This is a disease caused by toxin-producing strains of the bacteria Staphylococcus aureus • 50% of reported cases of TSS are in menstruating women who use tampons • The risk is usually higher for teenage girls than older women Reducing the Risks: • Use the lowest absorbency tampon • Alternate tampons with pads • Change a tampon regularly • Do not sleep with a tampon in Warning Signs: • A sudden high fever • Vomiting and/or diarrhea • A rash that looks like a sunburn • Dizziness • Fainting • Muscle aches It can rapidly progress from flu like symptoms to a serious illness that can be fatal. If you have any of these symptoms and have been wearing a tampon see a doctor

3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Menstruation Uterine lining is very thin Uterine lining begins to thicken & ovulation may occur on day 14 or 15 Lining becomes thicker as egg travels toward uterus

4. Menstrual Cycle Calculations: Case A: Jane’s cycle is 32 days long. Day 1 for Jane is on January 22nd and her menstrual flow lasts 5 days. Give the actual dates for the following: Day of ovulation: Day 1 of her next cycle: The first day of her fertile time: The last day of her fertile time: Feb. 9 Feb. 23 Feb. 2 Feb. 11

5. Case B:Veronica has a menstrual cycle of 26 days. Her menstrual flow begins on Jan. 4 and lasts for 7 days. Calculate the actual dates for the following: Jan. 16 Jan. 30 Jan. 9- 18 • Day of ovulation: • Day 1 of her next cycle: • The fertile time in her cycle:

6. What influences teens to practice abstinence or delay having sex? • Family influences • Personal values • Moral, cultural or religious values • Fear of being caught • Fear of pregnancy or getting a STI • Feeling not ready to have sex • Too embarrassed to have sex • Have high educational or career goals • Have knowledge about sexuality • Have well developed decision making skills • Consistent parenting, regardless of the number of parents in the family, can influence teens in delaying sexual intercourse. • A female’s cervix is not fully developed until age 19-20. Having intercourse before this time causes a higher risk of cancer

7. Benefits of Abstinence

8. What influences teens to be sexually active? • Increased sex hormones after the onset of puberty, especially testosterone, activates sexual arousal in adolescents • Curiosity about experiencing sex • Consider sexual intercourse as a sign of being “grown up” • A way of showing “loyalty” in a relationship • A way of punishing or rebelling against parents • A need for intimacy and closeness • Peer pressure from close friends • Pressure from boyfriend or girlfriend • Sexual images and messages in the media (advertising, TV, music, magazines, pornography etc.) • History of sexual abuse • Socio-economic status – some young people, especially young women engage in sexual activities with older partners for economic or survival reasons

9. Factors that lead to responsible sexual relationships • Good education about sex, STI’s and teen pregnancy • Positive self esteem • Have activities and hobbies to fill your life • Open communication with parents, partners and peers • Self-respect • Know what alternatives you have to sexual intercourse • Access to contraception (and a comfort level while getting it) • Understanding what makes up a “good, healthy” relationship • Knowing good strategies for problem solving • Knowing good refusal strategies

10. Facts about Teen Sex • A study of sexual behaviours of 21 year olds found that 70% of women surveyed who had engaged in sex before the age of 16 reported that they wished they had waited longer • Not all teens are having sex: 11% of Grade 9 students in the Toronto area have had sex and only 28% of grade 10 & 11 students • In America: 46% of teenagers used no form of contraception (birth control or STI protection) when engaging in sex • In a 24 hour time period, 2795 teenage girls will become pregnant • 73% of all teens say that the reason they engage in sex is due to the social pressure • 1,106 teenagers have abortions everyday • 1 in 4 women will be raped in their lifetime, less than 10 % will report it, and less than 5% of the rapists will go to jail

11. Facts about Teen pregnancy in Ontario • Most teen pregnancies in Ontario are NOT planned • Approximately 14,000 young women between the ages of 10 and 19 become pregnant each year • 20% of teen conceptions (pregnancies) are due to unprotected intercourse following drinking • Almost half of all teen pregnancies end in abortion • Most single women who give birth decide to keep their babies • Teen mothers have an increased risk of having low-birth-weight babies. This may be relate to factors like smoking, alcohol use and being under nourished, as well as late or inconsistent prenatal care • Teen mothers have an increased risk of having premature babies, babies with birth defects, still born babies, and babies who die in their first year of life. • The lower the age of the teen mother, the higher the risks for the baby

12. Sexually Transmitted Infection Facts • Three million new cases of STI’s among teens are reported each year • Up to 29% of sexually active adolescent girls have been found to be infected with Chlamydia • Women are at a higher risk of contracting AIDS than men (semen is a higher risk than vaginal secretions) • Female teens to women in their 20’s are getting AIDS at the highest rate in this country.

13. Type of Sex and Risks • Oral sex – No worry about pregnancy but risk for STI • Anal sex – Risk for both pregnancy and STI • Vaginal sex – Risk for both pregnancy and STI