In honor of National Teen Pregnancy Awareness Day, which was May 6, I wanted to write about teen pregnancy. Did you know that teen or adolescent pregnancy is considered to be all females/pregnant people under the age of 20? At 18 and 19 they can vote, join the military, move out, rent an apartment, etc. Years ago, we had a few young girls at my high school who were pregnant. I recall discussing teen pregnancy with my grandmother and she told me stories about how they had homes for young girls … [Read more...] about Educating about Teen, Adolescent Pregnancy
Sexual Health
Arizona Ranks Highest for New Cases of Syphilis
It is springtime everyone! Yes, the birds and bees are humming and buzzing around us. Here in Yavapai County, the waves of yellow and green pollen are floating gracefully through the air. Pollen is tree sperm, which is why it is so sticky and effective with pollination. Love, or lust, with mammals is also in the air. This month, I want to highlight the state of Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) in Arizona. Arizona is No. 1 in the nation for new cases of syphilis, the multi-system … [Read more...] about Arizona Ranks Highest for New Cases of Syphilis
Touch is Contagious
As we enter the last month of the year 2021 and work our way through the end of the “giving season,” many of us have already contemplated how keeping our distance has affected us, our relationships, our friends and families – heck, even our co-workers! After all, right before COVID-19, I had just painted and hung a picture on my office door that said, “Free Hugs.” Wasn’t I disappointed when I couldn’t follow through with my favorite form of giving affection anymore! Before we were all afraid … [Read more...] about Touch is Contagious
Understanding the Significance of Dec. 1
Human nature dictates the things that capture – and keep – our attention. If you send a survey out to 300 random people and ask them about the significance of Dec. 1, I can guarantee you most of them will not know. Unless something affects us directly, we tend to not pay attention. Admittedly, there is too much going on in every individual life that we can barely pay attention to what is right in front of us, let alone the significance of any random date on the calendar. After all, there … [Read more...] about Understanding the Significance of Dec. 1
Discussing Two Herpes Viruses
There are those who do not believe herpes viruses are still around. Yes! Herpes is around and just as contagious today as it ever was. HSVI & HSVII: The two viruses are not as simplistic as their names suggests. There is a lot of misinformation out there about these two viruses, so let’s explore the facts. All strains of herpes are extremely contagious: saliva, sores and skin-to-skin contact is how they are typically spread. These viruses are known to “shed,” releasing small, trace … [Read more...] about Discussing Two Herpes Viruses
Understanding the Prevalence of Sexually Transmitted Diseases in Arizona
Most people in the United States are not aware that Arizona has the distinguished honor of being higher than the national average for chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis cases. These bacterial infections are easily spread and can have no symptoms, which makes them that much easier to spread unknowingly. In 2020, there were 36,983 reported cases of chlamydia, 16,180 reported cases of gonorrhea and 2,671 reported cases of syphilis in the state. Reported is the key word, because often STDs are … [Read more...] about Understanding the Prevalence of Sexually Transmitted Diseases in Arizona
