SAFER Sex TOOLs What's The Right Choice For You? Take the quiz Wrap it before you tap it Condoms: Do's + Dont's SCROLL DOWN FOR MORE WAYS TO PRACTICE SAFER SEX Find More Safer Sex Resources Here Communication MSM Safer Sex Trans Safer Sex How to Choose A Lube STI Screening If you are sexually active, getting tested for STIs is one of the most important things you can do to protect your health. Make sure you have an open and honest conversation about your sexual history and STI testing with your doctor and ask whether you should be tested for STIs. If you are not comfortable talking with your regular health care provider about STIs, there are many clinics that provide confidential and free or low-cost testing. STI Screening Avoiding Injury When we talk about safe sex, we usually mean using protection with a respectful partner. But even if you’re comfortable with consent and contraception, lovemaking still entails some physical risks. Let’s admit it: Passion can quickly turn painful when accidents occur during sex. Even for the most connected couples, one wrong move can replace moans of ecstasy with screams of agony – and leave us sidelined from seduction for the foreseeable future. Trans Resources How to Choose A Lube PrEP Pre-exposure prophylaxis (or PrEP) is when people at very high risk for HIV take daily medicine to prevent HIV. PrEP can stop HIV from taking hold and spreading throughout your body. When taken daily, PrEP is highly effective for preventing HIV from sex or injection drug use. PrEP is much less effective when it is not taken consistently. Learn More HPV Vaccination HPV vaccination is preventing cancer-causing infections and precancers. HPV infections are so common that nearly all men and women will get at least one type of HPV at some point in their lives. Nearly 80 million Americans are currently infected with some type of HPV. About 14 million Americans, including teens, become infected each year. HPV is spread through intimate skin-to-skin contact. You can get HPV by having vaginal, anal, or oral sex with someone who has the virus. Talk to your healthcare provider or visit one of the local clinics to learn more about the vaccination. clinics

Is the place to get your questions answered about sex, pregnancy, STIs and whatever else comes up in Coos County, Oregon. The Sex Talk Is the place to get your questions answered about sex, pregnancy, STIs and whatever else comes up... Home Ready to make the leap? Maybe take a second to think things through.... LEARN MORE ABOUT SAFER SEX Consent is what needs to happen first. If you’re confused, this little video should make things clear. Now...Let's start the Safe Sex CONVERSATION Safe Sex LEARN MORE ABOUT STIS Did you know that you can get condoms mailed to you!? Click here What's the Risk? LOVE IS LOVE The word "ally" is a powerful one. It means someone who has your back and is on your side, because they know it's the right thing to do. In the LGBTQ movement, an "ally" describes someone who may not be LGBTQ themselves, but who are committed to equality and who speak out against discrimination. Be An Ally

abstinence Abstinence What’s Abstinence? How Effective Is Abstinence Abstinence is VERY effective at preventing pregnancy Talking With Your Partner It's important to communicate with your partner about how you feel about sex and abstinence Tribadism And Beyond Can lesbians get STIs? What Is Outercourse? Outercourse is a term that can be used to encompass a wide variety of sexual behaviors. Frottage Can you get an STI dry humping? Masturbation Masturbation is normal, and can be a healthy way to learn about your body. In fact, it’s the safest way to have sexual pleasure there is — there’s no risk of pregnancy or STIs.

Sex Positivity: Educate, Empower, Self-Define! Consent Consent is the expression of a mutual desire between parties to participate in a sexual activity. Sexual activity without consent is sexual violence. Period. Consent is fundamental in creating a sex-positive space. It is vitally important to respect other people’s consensual choices when it comes to their identity and body. Consent can be withdrawn at any time and it is given without coercion. Someone saying “yes” because they are too afraid to say “no” is not what consent looks like. Someone changing their mind about a sexual desire and then being forced to engage in it anyway is not what consent looks like. Consent isn’t always spoken, but it should never be assumed. The absence of a “no” is not a “yes!” Minors, people who are mentally incapacitated or unconscious, and people under the influence of drugs or alcohol are unable to give consent. Self-Defined Sexuality Sex positivity celebrates healthy sexual relationships, diversity within those relationships, bodily autonomy, and empowering individuals to control their own sex life (or lack thereof). You define what is right for you–there is no “right” way to engage in sex and express your sexuality as long as everything involves consent, empowerment, and respect. Breaking Down Gender Myths Gender roles are the behavioral expectations placed on people in relation to the gender binary. It’s important to remember that gender is a social construct, and if someone doesn’t fit into the societal expectations for what their gender (or lack of gender) looks and acts like, that is perfectly okay! Critically examining gender roles and participating in behaviors and expressions that make you happy is extremely sex-positive! It is important not to put other people in boxes when it comes to sexual expression, and everyone should be able to express their gender in a way that empowers them. Safe Sex Comprehensive Sex Education Empowering folks to take control of their sexuality starts by making sure they know how their bodies work and how to keep them safe. According to the Sexuality Information and Education Council of the United States (SIECUS), comprehensive sex education is characterized by teaching age-appropriate, medically accurate information on topics such as sexuality, human development, decision-making, abstinence, contraception, and disease prevention. Comprehensive sex education provides students with factual information on abortion, masturbation, and sexual orientation, and they are encouraged to explore their own values, goals, and options. These curriculums also cover consent, healthy relationships, communication skills, and bodily autonomy. Sex-positive, comprehensive sex education does not intertwine sexual identities and choices with character and is supportive of students’ safe and informed exploration of gender and sexual expression. SIECUS defines the following curricula as not sex-positive: Abstinence-Based: Programs that emphasize the benefits of abstinence but also include information about sexual behavior other than intercourse and contraception and disease prevention. Abstinence-Only: Programs that emphasize abstinence from all sexual behaviors and don’t include information about contraception or disease prevention. Abstinence-Only-Until-Marriage: Programs that emphasize abstinence from all sexual behaviors outside of marriage and often present marriage as the only morally correct context for sexual activity. If contraception or disease-prevention methods are discussed, failure rates are typically emphasized. Fear-Based: Abstinence-centered programs that are designed to control young people’s sexual behavior by instilling fear, shame, and guilt in them via negative messages about sexuality, distorted information about condoms and STIs, and biases about gender, sexual orientation, marriage, family structure, and pregnancy. Comprehensive sex education has been proven time and time again to lower rates of unprotected sex, unintended pregnancy, and sexually transmitted infections (STIs). According to research conducted by the Journal of Adolescent Health, teens who receive comprehensive sex education are 50% less likely to experience pregnancy than those who receive other types of sex education. Despite tremendous evidence that comprehensive sex ed leads to a healthier youth population and abstinence-only programs are ineffective, the federal government has invested billions of dollars on abstinence-only programs over the past 20 years. Only 22 states require sex education in public schools, and only 19 of those require sex education to be medically accurate. President Obama has slashed the budget that supports abstinence-only sex education, but there is still a lot of work to be done at the state and local levels to ensure young people have access to comprehensive sex education. Condoms and Contraception Making condoms and contraception accessible is a critical aspect of empowering people to control their own sexuality. When used correctly, condoms–including condoms, dental dams, and insertive condoms–are very effective at preventing the spread of sexually transmitted infections (STIs). However, to prevent pregnancy it is critical that condom use be paired with other forms of contraception such as the pill, implant, ring, and IUD. It is common, especially among younger populations, for condoms to be used inconsistently and incorrectly, which contributes to failure rate between 12% and 18% for preventing pregnancy. It is important for all people to have access and knowledge of these resources. To learn more about condoms and contraception, check out plannedparenthood.org and bedsider.org. To push for better birth control access on campus, check out our Birth Control Access Campaign! Fighting Rape Culture “Rape culture” refers to a complex set of beliefs that create an environment in which sexual violence is prevalent and in which sexual assault and coercion are normalized. These beliefs are perpetuated through misogynistic language, objectification, and the glamorization of sexual violence and create a society that disregards rights and safety, blames victims of sexual assault, and normalizes sexual violence. Sex positivity fights rape culture by emphasizing consent, valuing bodily autonomy, and empowering young people to make informed decisions. These elements work together to deconstruct slut-shaming and victim-blaming–harmful elements of rape culture that permeate many elements of our society. Sex positivity also combats rape culture by ending the social cycle of guilt people might experience about sexual activity, examining harmful elements of hyper-masculinity, fostering safe spaces for survivors, encouraging people to view others as full humans with bodily autonomy, and deconstructing harmful power dynamics in relationships. Fostering Self-Love An important element of sex positivity is the practice of loving yourself holistically–physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Body positivity is about developing a healthy, loving relationship with your body, in all of its uniqueness and perfect imperfections. The National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders (anad.org) found that 91% of women surveyed on a college campus had attempted to control their weight through dieting and 58% felt pressure to be a certain weight. All people in our society are affected by the unrealistic and often unhealthy standards of western beauty, but young women are disproportionately affected. It is estimated that 95% of people suffering from an eating disorder are between the ages of 12 and 25, and 85% are young women. Anorexia, bulimia, binge eating disorder, and other specified feeding or eating disorders (OSFED) are caused by a combination of sociocultural, psychological, and biological factors; they do not discriminate by socioeconomic status. Marginalized groups are more vulnerable to eating disorders, but are less likely to be diagnosed and treated. No one should feel ashamed of their body, and our culture shouldn’t be pushing unrealistic beauty standards on women and girls. We should encourage women to define their value by finding what makes them feel strong, healthy, and empowered–not by what society says they should look like. Glossary Gender: The socially constructed idea of what “masculine” and “feminine” look, act, and feel like. Gender Binary: The social dichotomy that polarizes the masculine and feminine and allows for little in-between. Heteronormativity: The belief that people should fall in line with the assigned binary identities they’re assigned. LGBTQIA Spectrum: A range of sexual and gender identities including folks who identify as: Asexual: A person who does not feel sexual attraction toward any group of people. Bisexual: A person attracted to people who identify with varying genders. Lesbian: A woman who is primarily attracted to other women. Gay: A person who is attracted primarily to a person of the same gender. Genderqueer: A person who identifies outside of the gender binary. Intersex: A person whose anatomy or chromosomes at birth defy definitions of “female” and “male.” Pansexual: A person who is attracted to people regardless of their sex, gender, or gender identity. Queer: A reclaimed term sometimes used by members of the LGBT community to identify their sexuality or refer to that community. Transgender: A person who doesn’t identify with the gender they were assigned at birth or the gender binary. (Cisgender people do.) Monogamy: A relationship practice in which people partner with only one person at a time. Polyamory: A relationship practice in which people may partner with multiple people in varying ways. Privilege: A position of social or cultural power someone is born with (i.e. white privilege, heterosexual privilege) or otherwise obtains (i.e. education or wealth). Self-care: The act of taking steps to honor your physical, emotional, situational, or spiritual well-being. Sex: The socially constructed biological categories of “male” and “female” and the stuff in-between. Slut-Shaming: When people are made to feel bad, guilty or inferior for their actual or alleged sexual behavior. Victim-Blaming: When victims of crimes are made to feel responsible for what they’ve experienced. This occurs frequently in conversations about sexual assault, in which survivors are often asked “what they were wearing” or “why they chose to walk home alone” as if their behavior could have ever warranted sexual violence. WEBSITE

Sti risk and oral sex STI Risk And Oral Sex Many sexually transmitted diseases (STIs) can be spread through oral sex. Using a condom, dental dam or other barrier method each and every time you have oral sex can reduce the risk of giving or getting an STI. LEARN MORE

sexual orientation What Is Sexual Orientation? Lesbian. Gay. Bisexual. Queer. Questioning. Asexual. Straight. There are many labels that describe who you’re attracted to romantically and sexually. Maybe you’ve spent a lot of time thinking about your sexual orientation. Or maybe you haven’t given it much thought. Either way, sexual orientation is just one part of who you are. LEARN MORE Love Is Love Sometimes sexual orientation changes over time. And sometimes it stays the same throughout your life. But sexual orientation isn’t a choice, and can’t be changed by therapy, treatment, or pressure from family or friends. You also can’t “turn” a person gay. For example, a girl who plays with toys traditionally made for boys isn’t going to become a lesbian because of that. LEARN MORE Who Can I Talk To About My Sexual Orientation? Figuring out your sexual orientation can feel confusing and lonely. But it doesn’t have to be. LEARN MORE

Coming Out What is “coming out”? “Coming out” is understanding your own sexual orientation or gender identity and then deciding to share it with some or all of the people in your life. Coming out is different for everyone and there are lots of ways to do it. Some LGBTQ people choose to come out only to themselves, and not to anyone else. Only you can know what’s best for your life right now. Learn more about coming out. Should I come out? Coming out is a decision that LGBTQ people have to face all the time, with every new person they meet. So it’s something you’ll probably do over and over again throughout your life. The way you approach and experience coming out might change, depending on where you are and who you’re with. Coming out is a very personal decision. You — and only you — get to decide if, when, and how you do it. Coming out can be a really important step, and people should only come out if and when they’re ready and feel safe doing so. It’s never ok to pressure someone into coming out or to out a LGBTQ person without their permission. You might want to start by talking with other people who are LGBTQ. Sometimes it’s also helpful to talk to adults you trust, like a counselor, social worker, teacher, or supportive family member, to help you decide when you want to come out, and who to come out to. For all people — and young people especially — gender and sexuality can change and evolve over time. It might take you a while to fully understand your own sexual orientation and gender identity, and these things can shift as you get older. Sharing a big part of who you are as a person during the time that you’re trying to figure it all out can be complicated. For a lot of people, coming out can be a great experience — especially if they have support from their friends, families, and communities. While it can make your relationships better and make you feel great, it can also feel scary depending on who you’re coming out to and what you think their reaction will be. And unfortunately in some places there’s a lot of homophobia, biphobia, and transphobia — fear and hatred of people who are LGBTQ. If you think coming out might cause you harm — physical, emotional, or financial — you may decide to wait to come out until you have a plan to take care of yourself.

BIrth control Birth Control Resources Birth Control CDC Website Many elements need to be considered by women, men, or couples at any given point in their lifetimes when choosing the most appropriate contraceptive method. These elements include safety, effectiveness, availability (including accessibility and affordability), and acceptability. Voluntary informed choice of contraceptive methods is an essential guiding principle, and contraceptive counseling, when applicable, might be an important contributor to the successful use of contraceptive methods. Transportation Website Getting To A Clinic Birth Control PP Website Birth control is how you prevent pregnancy. There are lots of different birth control options out there. We’re here to help you figure it all out. Birth Control Bedsider Website The explorer is a place to learn about all your birth control options. We cover every available method, from the IUD (and others on our most effective list) to condoms, the pill, the patch, and more. Click on any method for more details. Want a more apples-to-apples way to compare? Cost Of Condoms and Birth Control Website They are A LOT Cheaper than having a baby... Power To Decide Website Having the power to decide if, when, and under what circumstances to get pregnant and have a child increases young people’s opportunities to be healthy, to complete their education, and to pursue the future they want. The Pill Club Website $0 with most insurance (low prices without) and best of all, you can skip the drug store line. Get treated right with The Pill Club. One At Home Website This program allows Oregon residents to receive a free envelope of sexual wellness supplies delivered discreetly to their door, up to twice per 30 days. Pregnancy CHW Clinic Services More Info Pregnancy Testing CHW Oregon Mother's Care More Info Access to OHP CHW WIC Program More Info Nutrition program for mothers and children CHW Maternity Case Management More Info Home visiting program CHW The Lactation Club More Info Breastfeeding support and education DHS TANF More Info Temporary Assistance For Needy Families Bay Clinic More Info Prenatal Care Providers and OB-GYNs North Bend Medical Center More Info Prenatal Care Providers and OB-GYNs Bay Area Hospital MOMS Program More Info Birth, parenting and breastfeeding classes Pacific Pregnancy Clinic More Info Pregnancy continuation Safe Haven Maternity Home More Info Provides a safe home for pregnant women and mothers and their babies who are in crisis. Pregnancy Resources LGBTQ LGBTQ Resources Be An Ally And A Friend More info 10 Ways To Be An Ally And A Friend Coming Out More info Coming out as LGBTQ can be exciting, overwhelming, and sometimes scary. It’s different for everyone, and you’re the only one who can decide when the time is right. Love Is Love More info Sometimes sexual orientation changes over time. And sometimes it stays the same throughout your life. But sexual orientation isn’t a choice, and can’t be changed by therapy, treatment, or pressure from family or friends. You also can’t “turn” a person gay. For example, a girl who plays with toys traditionally made for boys isn’t going to become a lesbian because of that. PFLAG More info PFLAG has been saving lives, strengthening families, changing hearts, minds and laws since 1972. Our family and ally voice is integral to advancing equality. Safer Sex For Trans Bodies More info Resources for Transgender People Sex, Gender And Gender Identity More info There’s a lot more to being male, female, or any gender than the sex assigned at birth. Your biological or assigned sex does not always tell your complete story. Trans And Gender Nonconforming Identities More info Some people feel that the sex they were assigned at birth doesn’t match their gender identity, or the gender that they feel they are inside. These people are often called transgender. Trans Women's Safer Sex Guide More info Trans Women's Safer Sex Guide UNI-T Flier More info UNI-T Flier Vocabulary More info To help you make sense of the alphabet soup, and be as respectful and accurate as possible when using identifying language. What Is Sexual Orientation? More info Lesbian. Gay. Bisexual. Queer. Questioning. Asexual. Straight. There are many labels that describe who you’re attracted to romantically and sexually. Maybe you’ve spent a lot of time thinking about your sexual orientation. Or maybe you haven’t given it much thought. Either way, sexual orientation is just one part of who you are. Who Can I Talk To About My Sexual Orientation? More info Figuring out your sexual orientation can feel confusing and lonely. But it doesn’t have to be. common stiS Common STIs Resources Bacterial Vaginosis More Info Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is a condition that happens when there is too much of certain bacteria in the vagina. This changes the normal balance of bacteria in the vagina. Chlamydia More Info Chlamydia is a common sexually transmitted infection (STI) that can be easily cured. If left untreated, chlamydia can make it difficult for a woman to get pregnant. Genital Herpes More Info Genital herpes is a common sexually transmitted infection (STI) that any sexually active person can get. Most people with the virus don’t have symptoms. Even without signs of the disease, herpes can still be spread to sex partners. Gonorrhea More Info Anyone who is sexually active can get gonorrhea. Gonorrhea can cause very serious complications when not treated, but can be cured with the right medication. HIV/AIDS More Info HIV is a virus spread through body fluids that attacks the body’s immune system, specifically the CD4 cells, often called T cells. Hepatitis A More Info Hepatitis A is a contagious liver infection caused by the hepatitis A virus. Hepatitis A can be prevented with a vaccine. People who get hepatitis A may feel sick for a few weeks to several months but usually recover completely and do not have lasting liver damage. In rare cases, hepatitis A can cause liver failure and even death; this is more common in older people and in people with other serious health issues, such as chronic liver disease. Hepatitis B More Info Hepatitis B can be a serious liver disease that results from infection with the Hepatitis B virus. Hepatitis C More Info HCV infection is the most common chronic bloodborne infection in the United States, with an estimated 2.7 million persons living with chronic infection. Human Papillomavirus (HPV) More Info Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted infection in the United States. Some health effects caused by HPV can be prevented by the HPV vaccines. Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID) More Info Untreated sexually transmitted infections (STIs) can cause pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), a serious condition, in women. 1 in 8 women with a history of PID experience difficulties getting pregnant. You can prevent PID if you know how to protect yourself. Pubic Lice "Crabs" More Info Also called crab lice or “crabs,” pubic lice are parasitic insects found primarily in the pubic or genital area of humans. Pubic lice infestation is found worldwide and occurs in all races, ethnic groups, and levels of society. STI Treatment More Info If your sexual history and current signs and symptoms suggest that you have a sexually transmitted infection (STI), laboratory tests can identify the cause and detect coinfections you might also have. Scabies More Info Scabies is an infestation of the skin by the human itch mite (Sarcoptes scabiei var. hominis). The microscopic scabies mite burrows into the upper layer of the skin where it lives and lays its eggs. Syphilis More Info Syphilis is a sexually transmitted infection (STI) that can have very serious complications when left untreated, but it is simple to cure with the right treatment. Trichomoniasis More Info Most people who have trichomoniasis do not have any symptoms. Adoption Adoption National Pro Choice Adoption Collaborative More Info NPAC is Open Adoption & Family Services (OA&FS) and Friends in Adoption (FIA). We are very unique in that we are pro-choice, not religiously affiliated and do not discriminate. All Options Hotline More Info Boys And Girls Society Of Oregon More Info The most powerful support in the world is family. We're committed to ensuring every child grows up with a family of their own. Open Adopt More Info Only you can decide which choice is right for you. Whatever you decide, we’ll stand by you, offering our compassion, guidance and support. By exploring each pregnancy option thoroughly, you will gain clarity about what choice feels best to you. SUSAN C MOFFET, PC More Info Adoption & Family Formation Law ending a pregnancy Ending A Pregnancy Planned Parenthood More Info There are two ways of ending a pregnancy: in-clinic abortion and the abortion pill. Both are safe and very common. If you’re pregnant and thinking about abortion, you may have lots of questions. We’re here to help. Lilith Clinic More Info When no one else would, or could, give women choice, we did. And now, more than 40 years later, we continue to help women – and men – make the best possible choices for their futures. Northwest Abortion Access Fund More Info The Northwest Abortion Access Fund is an abortion fund serving Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and Alaska. We help people pay for their abortion care by sending funding directly to the clinic. We also help people get to and from the clinic. And we make sure people traveling for care have a safe place to stay. Events Calendar

Pregnancy Info The Full Story What do I do If I am pregnant? Parenting Ending a Pregnancy Resources Resources Adoption Resources Resources I got someone pregnant, what do I do? There is a lot of advice out there for girls who find themselves facing an unwanted or unexpected pregnancy but there is very little information out there for guys. It takes two to make a baby but all too often when the pregnancy is announced the guy gets lost in the confusion. Teen fatherhood is not something to be taken lightly and along with responsibilities to the mother and the child; you have rights that you need to know about. Fathers Rights and Responsiblities How To Be Supportive Local Counseling Resources Local Legal Resources Bringing Up Baby: A Cost Analysis While being a parent can be rewarding and joyful job, it also comes with many challenges. One enormous challenge teen parents face is having enough money to afford raising a child. Provided below is a cost break down and where you can go if you would like to talk to someone about what parenthood really entails. Baby Expenses Local Resources Resources

The birds and the baes

RESOURCES FOR LGBTQIA+ RESOURCES FOR LGBTQIA+ Q&A Coos County Events Calendar Vocabulary Coos Health Resources GLAAD Resources PFLAG Resources Trans Women's Safer Sex Guide more websites Find More Safer Sex Resources Here General Info General Info MSM Safer Sex Trans Safer Sex How to Choose A Lube

i am pregnant-what do i do? Parenting Is parenting the right option for me? Deciding whether to raise a child is a very important and very personal choice. Everyone’s situation is different, and only you know what’s best for you and your family. Learn More Resources Adoption Is adoption right for me? Some people choose adoption when faced with a pregnancy. Information and support is important, but the decision is personal and only you know what’s best for you. Learn More Resources Ending A Pregnancy There are two ways of ending a pregnancy: in-clinic abortion and the abortion pill. Both are safe and very common. If you’re pregnant and thinking about abortion, you may have lots of questions. We’re here to help. Learn More Resources