Sexual Health and Peer Violence Educators hosted a sexual health lecture Tuesday as part of Northwestern Sex Week. During his presentation, two SHAPE instructors focused on sexual pleasure and provided information on birth control, abortion, sexually transmitted infections, and more.
To begin the presentation, one of the teachers, McCormick junior David Botta, read aloud NU’s definition of consent: aware, active, willing, and present and ongoing.
“The first aspect of sexual health is consent,” Botana said. “An important aspect is that permission is given freely. There is no coercion. There is no unequal power dynamics.
According to SHAPE teacher and Weinberg sophomore Ethan Roe, young people get sexually transmitted diseases. According to Stanford Medicine, 50% of new STDs occur in people ages 15-24. Roe pointed to resources such as Northwestern Medical’s Student Health Services in Searle Hall, where students covered under NU’s student health insurance can be tested for STIs.
“Different activities carry different risks, but all sex, including oral sex, has some risks – some people often forget,” Roe said.
Some people avoid testing because of the stigma surrounding STDs, Roy said. SHAPE aims to “break down” the stigma around events like Tuesday’s talk, Roy added, making students feel more comfortable accessing resources.
He shared strategies for building conversations around space and safe sex. For example, students can ask their sexual partner when they were last tested. But, Botana said, students should avoid asking if someone is “clean,” which adds to the stigma surrounding STDs.
If a person has an STD, partners can work together to develop a safe-sex plan by discussing barrier methods, testing and treatment, Botana said.
Weinberg junior Andy Tipton, incoming president of NY College Feminists, attended the lecture. Tipton said the incident taught her about Ella — an emergency contraceptive that prevents pregnancy five days after unprotected sex.
“There were a lot more types of contraception that I learned about,” Tipton said. “It’s nice to know there’s more to it than just the condom and the pill.”
Roe said there are barriers to accessing resources for sexual health, especially for people with marginalized backgrounds. People may not know what resources are available or avoid discussing sexual health for cultural reasons, she said.
“There can be mistrust,” Roe said. “People may hesitate to go into the medical system, because it’s not always good for them.”
It debunks myths about sex and sex, including “two condoms are better than one” and “never use flavored condoms for sex.”
Another common myth is that no one uses dental dams, which reduces the risk of STDs during oral sex. The teachers welcome attendees to share other myths to dispel.
“While it is true that oral sex is slightly less likely to be transmitted than other types of sex, it still carries risks and should be addressed,” Botana said.
According to Roe, the main pleasure is in talking about sex. To make sex fun for everyone, students can explore and ask what their partner or partners want, she said.
“Masturbation is a way to explore personal pleasure,” Roe said. Other ways to increase sexual pleasure include the use of lubricants and sex toys. Roe added that lube reduces friction by maintaining condom integrity, reducing the risk of STDs.
“A big part of sex is pleasure. That’s why most people have sex,” says Roe. “There’s no harm in trying things.”
Email: [email protected]
Twitter: @JessicaMa2025
Related stories:
– NU Divided: Beyond the Rainbow Dildo – A Look at SHAPE
– SHAPE held its first ‘Sex Shop Show’.
– Artist MoxyBrown dispels misconceptions about kink, teaches consensual BDSM