Southcoast Health System & Southcoast Hospitals Group | RAPPP | Teen Pregnancy Prevention, Community Assets

Peer Corner

Here's where area teens can share their experiences and knowledge.

June 1, 2006 ~ The importance of condom use

Don't "Con" Your Way Out of Using A Condom

By Ian Donaghy
RAPPP Peer Liaison

Today, the only 100 percent way of preventing both pregnancy and STIs is through abstinence. Abstinence simply means to refrain from having sex. This includes oral, anal, and vaginal intercourse.

However, if you feel you are ready to have sex, your next best bet of preventing pregnancy and STIs are by using latex condoms. Condoms are one of the many barrier methods of contraception.

For males, when placed over the penis, it holds the semen released during ejaculation. This prevents any sperm from entering an egg, which leads to conception. Also, because it covers the penis, it prevents any STI from spreading from one partner to another.

However, you must remember that a condom will only work effectively if worn correctly and used properly. To do this, follow the ABCs of condom use:

Always put the condom on Before any sexual contact.

Use the condom correctly. Use with spermicide. Before withdrawing, hold onto the rim of the condom and withdraw it from the vagina before the erection is lost. After the condom is removed, do not allow the penis to touch the vaginal area and dispose of the condom.

Another important factor when dealing with condoms is storing them. Many times guys may carry condoms in their wallets or place them in the glove compartments of their car. It is OK to place one in your wallet before you go out, but never leave it there permanently. When carrying it in your wallet for long periods of time, you could accidentally puncture the wrapper containing the condom. Also, heat collected in the glove compartment could destroy the latex. Always remember to check the wrapper, making sure it is intact and look for its expiration date. As soon as it is expired, make sure you dispose of the condom!!

Sources:

Sexuality and Sexual Health Ð Birth Control Methods

Your Sexuality and Sex Stuff Ð Male Condom

June 1, 2006 ~ What teens should know about gang violence

Giving in

By James Baptista
RAPPP Peer Liaison

Every teenager wishes to be accepted or "fit in" with at least one group of people. Those who come from troubled families that do not show them love, long to find that emotion and sense of belonging somewhere in their lives.

Many times these teens take the wrong turn in life and decide to join a gang. This is a terrible decision to make at such a young age because teenagers have just entered their prime years. The dangers involved in joining a gang include going to jail, losing all connections to those who are most important like family and loved ones, and worst of all death.

There are five major reasons why one would choose to join a gang:

Structure: Youths want to organize their lives but lack the maturity to do so on their own. The gang provides rules to live by and a code of conduct.
Nurturing: Gang members frequently talk of how they love one another. This remains true even among the most hardened street gangs. These young people are trying to fill a void in their lives by substituting the gang for the traditional family.
Sense of belonging: Because teens require social interaction, some young people find that the gang fulfills the need to be accepted as an important part of a group.
Economic opportunity: Gang members motivated by this consideration alone probably would become involved in criminal activity anyway. Finding it hard to draw away from the lifestyle, but due to a lack of loyalty for the group, they often will provide authorities with information in exchange for some personal benefit.
Excitement: This often represents a motivation for suburban and affluent youths. Gangs composed of these types of individuals usually have very fluid membership, with associates joining and leaving to be replaced by others with a passing interest. Few young people that enter into the gang subculture do so for evil or criminal reasons. They are looking for something that they feel is lacking in their lives. For this reason, gangs can form in any city, town, neighborhood, or region.

Most importantly, never give in to peer pressure if a gang member is calling you names, bullying you, or intimidating you in any way. Always remember to trust your instincts and do what you know is right.

Sources:

Source

May 18, 2006 ~ Teen Pregnancy

This isn't easy!

By Kayla Perry
RAPPP Peer Liaison

Expect BIG CHANGES if you become pregnant, especially as a teen.

Pregnancy and childbirth change your life. You must now think and care for two people — you and your baby.

Feelings: You may feel happy, scared, or even feel you are too young. You may feel like your life is out of control. You may need help with money or housing. Talk to someone you trust.
Choices: Remember, you do have options. You may decide to keep the baby, give it up for adoption, or terminate the pregnancy. If you decide to terminate the pregnancy, the earlier you do it, the better.

Helpful Links

Greater New Bedford Community Health Center

New Bedford Family Planning

Fall River Family Planning Services at 508 679-0198

The final decision about your pregnancy is yours.

Being a Mother

Having a baby means you have to get used to a new way of life. Your baby will need your care for much of the day and night.

Teen mothers are less likely to complete high school (only one-third receive a high school diploma) and only 1.5% have a college degree by age 30.7 Teen mothers are more likely to end up on welfare (nearly 80 percent of unmarried teen mothers end up on welfare.

Caring for the Baby

Caring for a baby can enrich your life. It also is a lot of work and responsibility.

Costs of Raising a Baby

You should plan for the costs of raising a baby. You and your baby will need a place to live and money for food and clothing. You also may have other needs, such as a car seat, a stroller, or childcare.

The government recently calculated the cost of raising a child from birth to 18 is $160,140 for a middle-income family.

Prenatal Care

Prenatal care is the health care you receive before your baby is born. It includes medical care and counseling. The earlier you get prenatal care, the better your chances are for a healthy pregnancy, birth, and baby.

Visits With Your Doctor

At your first prenatal visit, your doctor or nurse will ask you many questions.

You will have a complete physical exam, which may include a pelvic exam.

Your doctor will set up a prenatal care plan for you. As your pregnancy goes on, you will visit your doctor more often.

Finally ...

Being prepared for your baby and planning for your future will make a positive difference in your life and in your baby's life.

Sources:

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists

The National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy

FamilyLife.Com

January 4, 2005 ~ It's a Guy Thing

It's A Guy Thing

By Nathan Macedo
RAPPP Peer Liaison

There are many things out there in the world that we guys have to worry about. School, sports, and girls are not the only things we have to be concerned about we also have to be aware of our health.

As teenagers sometimes our bodies give us uncontrollable urges and we may find ourselves rushing into acts we are not ready for. Hopefully if you do decided to be sexually active be aware of what can happen if you don't protect yourself.

Also, besides sexual health, we have to make sure that as we grow up we respect our bodies and make sure everything abnormal is checked out. These things may seem difficult but when taken a second look at it, it really isn't that hard.

Having sex without protection can create many consequences that can affect the rest of your life. Not only does unprotected sex create the risk of getting a girl pregnant, it also creates a bigger of risk of you contracting an STI.

An STI is a Sexually Transmitted Infection. These diseases are spread through sexual contact, which includes vaginal, anal and even oral sex. Some common known STIs are HPV( genital warts), Herpes, Gonorrhea, and HIV. Two-thirds of all STIs occur in people 25 years of age or younger. STIs can be incurable and curable, and all could progress and get worse, and eventually be fatal. For example, HIV is the virus that brings about the syndrome known as AIDS. It is a viral STI and is incurable. And as you probably know AIDS victims take an incredible amount of medication and many die from the effects of AIDS. This is one of the many STIs out there.

Now there are many forms of contraceptives out there but not many that concern only males. One of the cheapest and easiest has about a 97 percent chance of unwanted pregnancy. This is the condom. It's cheap, easily available, and also prevents STIs.

Now that you understand the consequences of having unprotected sex it is time to take a look at our bodies.

First off, you only get one, and you should respect it. Since we have finished talking about sex, one of the main body organs that help make our bodies grow, create sperm and be able to have intercourse are the testicles/testes. Although testicular cancer is rare in teenage guys, it is the most common cancer between the ages of 15 and 35. That's why it is important to perform a TSE once a month.

A TSE is a testicular self-examination, and it is an easy way for guys to check their own testicles to make sure there aren't any unusual lumps that could be cancerous.

A TSE can be done very easily in three simple steps:

It should be done after a hot shower or bath because that is when the scrotum, which is the skin sac that covers the testicles, is most relaxed and makes it easier to examine the testicles.
Next examine one testicle at a time. Use both hands to gently roll each testicle between your fingers. Remember lumps on the testicles may be very small and this why doing this regularly can give you a way to know what is normal and what is not.
If you notice any abnormal bumps, lumps, or changes in size of a testicle, or have any pain let your doctor know right away.

These are just a few tips on how you can be in charge of your health. Some can be simple but they can save your life if done correctly.

Sources:

January 3, 2005 ~ Teen Parenting

Teen Parenting

By Nathan Macedo
RAPPP Peer Liaison

We're in the 21st century and you'd think that after years and years of history that we would be a perfect society by now, right?

Wrong.

One of our main problems today is the incredible number of teen pregnancies in the world. The United States has the highest rate of teen pregnancy in the developed world. And for those young girls who complete their pregnancies become teen parents and now face many difficulties, besides having a baby.

There are many consequences in adolescent pregnancy and parenting. Being a parent is a full-time job. No more hanging out with friends or having free time. You have a child now and it is your responsibility to be there for him or her whether you feel like it or not.

Now that you're a teen mother you probably won't finish high school, are likely to live in poverty and rely on welfare for the rest of your life. Also, your children will probably be neglected if you don't accept your new responsibility.

What legacy!

Now, as a teen parent, you probably know that it's not just a cute baby because that cute baby is going to need a lot of love, attention, as well as clothes, diapers, doctor visits, car seats, toys, and much more until they are grown up. This can add up after some time. For guys, this isn't just a girl problem. If you decide to leave, you will be tracked down and forced to pay child support! The Massachusetts Department of Revenue can take up to 28 percent of your paycheck!

With all this up against you, do you still want to take a chance and become a teen parent?

As I said before we are in the 21st century, modern medicine has given us more time to live, which means we can wait until we are fully ready to take on the responsibilities of raising a child.

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