Safe sex advice offered at counseling program

By Tashieka Hammond
Assistant Photo Editor

What makes a healthy relationship? Communication, loyalty, love and respect were some of the things mentioned at the Counseling and Testing Center’s program “Can we talk before we touch?”

Conducting your sex life in a way that will minimize the possibility of exposure to a life-threatening, sexually transmitted disease such as AIDS and enjoying sex fully without putting your life at risk is the definition of safe sex. Everyone should practice safesex, the program advised, especially college students because they think the possibility of being exposed to AIDS is too small to be concerned with.

A recent study of blood tests conducted at college health services showed that about one in 50 college students may carry the HIV or AIDS virus.

There is no cure for AIDS, so reasonable precautions should be taken by everyone.

Many sexually transmitted diseases, including AIDS and hepatitis B, are spread by bacteria and viruses in body fluids.

Minimizing direct contact with body fluids from your partner is one safe sex technique.

Any contact which involves contact between body fluids of partners, contact with cuts, sores or raw areas is not safe. Even small microscopic cuts can be dangerous.

Don’t be afraid to talk about safe sex with your partner.

The Counseling and Testing Center offers a lot of information about talking and prevention of sex abuse and practicing safe sex.

Rape Aggression Defense (RAD) is a class offered at UNCP on Friday mornings from 10-10:50 a.m.