- What Is A Lifestyle Advisor?
- Become A Lifestyle Advisor
- Educational Programs
-
{ TOPIC GROUPS } - Alcohol & Other Drug Risk Reduction
- Ally Building Network
- CPR/First Aid
- Female Health Educators
- Programs
- Men's Violence Prevention Project
- Positive Body Image
- STI Educators
- Women's Empowerment and Violence Education (WEAVE)
- HOME PAGE
Old Main 560
(360) 650-2993
pws@wwu.edu
Office Hours: Monday-Friday
8:00 a.m to 5:00 p.m.
Female Health Educators
The Female Health Educators provide Western students with information sessions for first-time pelvic exams and birth control appointments in a confidential setting.
Free, confidential sessions by walk-in or appointment:
Self-Care Center
Campus Services Building
2001 Bill McDonald Pkwy
(360) 650-3400 (select the appointment option)
Main messages:
- It is your right to make choices about your sexual health.
- Contraception (e.g., the pill) won’t protect you against STI’s.
- Safer sex can be fun & enjoyable.
- Having an STI does not exclude you from developing a healthy loving relationship with yourself and others.
- One of the best prevention strategies is talking with your partner.
- If you have concerns or questions about STIs or pregnancy, talk to a Female Health Educator and get checked at the Student Health Center.
- Abstinence means many things to different people. From the health perspective, it means not engaging in sexual behavior that may put you at risk for infections or pregnancy.
- It’s OK to not have sex. It’s OK to postpone sex.
- Not using birth control is a decision.
- There are a variety of effective contraceptive methods. It is important to find the one that fits your needs.
- Sex does not only mean intercourse: it can be touching, kissing, holding, etc.
- You can protect yourself from some STI’s if no semen, vaginal fluid or blood is exchanged.
- Condoms, latex gloves, and dental dams do not protect you from all STI’s.
- Condoms, latex gloves, dental dams and abstinence are all valid means of protecting yourself from pregnancy and some STIs.
- You can contract an STI without having intercourse.
- There is risk in oral sex.
- Using protection is not a trust issue.
- STIs are not inhibited by age, gender, socio-economic status, ethnicity, appearance, or sexual orientation.
- If you have an STI it is your responsibility to talk to your partner(s) before you engage in sexual activity.
- Protection needs to be used consistently and correctly from start to finish throughout your sexual relationship.
