Who are Your People? There is a saying that goes something like, “A good friend will bail you out of jail. A true friend will be sitting next to you in jail saying, ‘That was awesome!’” Now, I’m not condoning behavior that winds a person in jail! But, the sentiment is real. Something powerful happens…
Sexual Health
“‘NO’ is a Complete Sentence.”
This week, Morgan, RN, and her friend Ann speak to a study on teen pregnancy prevention. When a group of pregnant teen girls was asked, “What can be done to lower the teen pregnancy rate?” their answer was, “Teach us how to say no and not hurt our boyfriend’s feelings.” Education on healthy relationships is…
“You are worthy.”
Today, we continue to talk to Ann, a woman who experienced an unexpected pregnancy while in high school. Ann describes feeling shameful and unworthy of receiving help. Shame and feeling unworthy can be a major barrier to accessing help, especially around sexual health care. What is unmentionable is unmanageable, is the common phrase. Having someone…
“There is Always a Silver Lining”
May is Teen Pregnancy Prevention Month. Statistically, the teen pregnancy rate (15-19 years old) in North Dakota is 13.7%. Meaning, more than 1 out of every 10 teen girls in ND get pregnant before age 20. This month, Connection Point is honored to share Ann’s story. At 16, Ann faced an unintended pregnancy. With hope…
What Only 12% are Doing, and Why that’s Gotta Change.
Did you get them all right?
The CDC recommends that everyone who is sexually active be tested on a routine basis, annually for those who are sexually active, and every 3-6 months for those who have multiple partners and other higher risk factors.
Because of limitations based on their age and point in their life, those who are 15-24 years old (Gen Z) are tested much less frequently than the recommendations. At only 12%, it makes sense that over 50% of all STI infections impact those in that age range.
So why aren’t Gen Zers seeking STI testing?
First, those in that age range often feel they don’t have access to sexual health care. Being on their parent’s health insurance, they may not feel confident talking about these needs with their parents or pediatrician. (We often find that once a teen does open up about their fears and health needs, parent’s reactions are much less severe than what the teen imagined. Parents want what is best for their kids!)
Second, biology is still developing making teens more susceptible to STIs. The prefrontal cortex, responsible for cause-and-effect decision-making, is still developing leading to impulsive, unplanned encounters. The cervix, too, in young women, isn’t fully developed, leaving her less protected than she would be if she delays sexual initiation.
Third, Zoomers just might not know about the recommendation for routine screening. This is the generation consuming the most media (movies, songs, tv shows) in history, yet rarely do storylines emphasize sexual risk avoidance, even while depicting sexual relationships that could lead to the spread of STIs.
So what’s the bottom line?
Connect Medical Clinic sees people who are 14+ years old because that’s the law in the state of ND. The visit is confidential and we do not file with insurance but have low- and no-cost services to help people in our community make informed choices about their sexual health.
If you or someone you know is sexually active and has not been screened for STIs, please reach out to Connect at connectmedicalclinic.com.
Nonprofit Clinic: What’s up with that?
Thanks for asking, keep them coming! Text “Blog” and your question to 701-840-6280. Our nurses are ready to answer your questions! This is a question we don’t get very often! Connect is a nonprofit clinic, meaning that we are not providing our services for profit. (Thanks, Captain Obvious?) Organizations that are for-profit have some benefit…
What’s the Difference?
Thank you for your question to our nurses! April is STI Awareness Month and we’re here to answer your questions! The acronyms in your question refer to Sexually Transmitted Diseases and Sexually Transmitted Infections. Actually, these terms are interchangeable and both refer to microorganisms that are passed via intimate skin-to-skin sexual contact. In recent years,…
Zoomers: Ask an RN!
This month, we are going to focus on answering Gen Z’s FAQs about sexual health.
If you have a question you’d like to have answered in the blog, text “BLOG” to 701-840-6280 followed by your question, and one of our nurses will be sure to answer it for you!
Teen Dating Violence
February is Teen Dating Violence Prevention Month. 1 in 3 U.S. teens will experience physical, sexual, or emotional abuse from someone they’re in a relationship with before they become adults. And nearly half (43%) of U.S. college women report experiencing violent or abusive dating behaviors. According to the CDC, there are four types of intimate partner…
Cervical Health: What you need to know
January is Cervical Health Awareness month, so what better time to talk about cervical health! I know I was never taught the importance of yearly well-woman checks or PAP tests. I only found out these were things women needed to do when I was in nursing school. To me, that is crazy! But all women deserve to know this information….