Condom Week

It all started at the University of California-Berkley the week before Valentine's Day, and now the educational event has spread across the United States, as well as around the world.

Condom week is used in colleges, high schools, STD awareness groups, family planning organizations, pharmacies, AIDS groups, and condom manufacturers.

In the beginning, Condom Week used humor to educate, and this has not been lost. One of the more common phrases associated with the campaign and safe sex is "No glove, no love!"

While talking to Rob Hundt, a CSU sophomore, he mentioned his favorite condom slogan: "Wrap it before you tap it!" Although the sayings are all humorous, Condom Week is meant to make sure young people know the serious risks involved with unprotected sex.

Here at CSU, there will be a Condom Week table run by the Health and Wellness Center on Tuesday, Feb. 10 and Thursday, Feb. 12 in the Main Classroom Atrium. At the table you can find FREE condoms (even glow in the dark ones!), as well as novelty condoms and key chains for low prices. These novelty condoms include specially manufactured Valentine's Day condoms with hearts and poems on them.

Eileen Guttman, the organizer of Condom Week at CSU, explained that Condom Week is all about promoting safer sexual contact, mentioning that STDs can be contracted through unprotected oral sex too.

She says, "Be safe!" and notes that people should remember that they have enough self worth to protect themselves. It is important to be consistent with condom usage and use them properly, or else you are putting yourself at risk for STDs and pregnancy.

If you have had unprotected sex ever, or if you may have improperly used a condom, then you should consider being tested for some of the more common STDs because most STDs have no obvious symptoms, and many can result in serious health risks, such as sterilization, if left untreated. Guttman tells her patients to remember that without a condom they are "sleeping with everybody their partner has ever ever ever ever ever slept with."

I hope that everyone chooses to use condoms consistently and defend their sexual health this Valentine's Day and throughout the rest of their lives. There is no reason to put your sexual health at risk. At the Health and Wellness Center in the Science and Research building on the first floor, there are always FREE condoms available for students who choose to have sex.