HealthierU ~ November 1, 2006

Announcements
November 16 is the Great American Smokeout. If you wish to learn more about your options for tobacco cessation, contact Joyce Walter at Health Services, 860.685.2656 or jwalter @wesleyan.edu.

Tips for a HealthierU
Allergy Myths Quiz: Find out whether your allergy beliefs are based on fact, fiction or folklore.
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/allergy/QZ00071

November is Diabetes Awareness Month. Whether you, a family member or friend lives with diabetes or you're simply concerned about your risk, the American Diabetes Association offers an "All about Diabetes" information page that can be helpful.
http://www.diabetes.org/about-diabetes.jsp

What's the point of pubic hair?
http://www.goaskalice.columbia.edu/1901.html

Quote of the Week
"All is in the hands of man. Therefore wash them often." ~ Stanislaw J. Lec

Healthy Dose of Info
All About Birth Control
Birth control is just that -- it controls (or reduces) the likelihood that a person will become pregnant from sexual intercourse. Many options are available including over the counter (condoms, spermicides, the sponge), prescriptions (the pill, the patch, the ring, injected hormonal options, implanted devices such as IUDs and diaphragms) and even behavioral options such as outercourse, abstinence, and fertility awareness methods.

The critical thing to remember about birth control is that most forms protect against pregnancy but NOT against sexually transmitted diseases or infections. Hormonal birth control (such as the pill, the patch, and the ring) are the perfect example of this.  Some forms, such as condoms -- both external/male condoms and insertive/female condoms -- protect both partners from many STIs, but not all. Some STIs are transmitted simply from skin-to-skin contact with an infected person so no form of birth control can completely protect both partners (except abstinence).

If you are sexually active, or considering becoming sexually active, being informed about your protection options and risks is important to your health. This protects not only you but also your partner(s) from the possibility of pregnancy and/or infection. Use the following links to educate yourself on how to protect yourself AND how to talk about these concerns with your partner(s).

Sexual Health Care at Wesleyan
http://www.wesleyan.edu/healthservices/services/sexualhealth.html
http://www.wesleyan.edu/weswell/atoz_info/sexual_health/Sexual%20Health%20Care%20at%20Wes%20brochure%20-%20Fall%202006.pdf (.pdf)

Birth Control & Pregnancy
http://www.plannedparenthood.org/birth-control-pregnancy/birth-control-and-pregnancy.htm
http://www.smartersex.org/stis/stis.asp
http://www.sexhealth.org/birthcontrol/

Sexual Health
http://www.plannedparenthood.org/sexual-health/sexual-health.htm
http://www.smartersex.org/safe_sex/safe_sex.asp
http://www.sexhealth.org/safersex/
http://www.iwannaknow.org/

Healthy Relationships
http://www.plannedparenthood.org/sexual-health/relationships-4321.htm http://www.smartersex.org/healthy_relationships/healthy_relationships.asp http://www.utexas.edu/student/cmhc/booklets/romrelations/romrelations.html
http://www.k-state.edu/counseling/topics/relationships/relatn.html

For more information on Wesleyan's health offices, visit:
WesWELL, the Office of Health Education ~ www.wesleyan.edu/weswell
Health Services ~ www.wesleyan.edu/healthservices
Office of Behavioral Health for Students ~ www.wesleyan.edu/obhs

HealthierU is created and maintained by WesWELL, the Office of Health Education. 
Please direct any feedback or suggestions to Lisa Currie, Director of Health Education, at weswell@wesleyan.edu or 860.685.2466.

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