You've heard it before...abstinence is not having sex...of any kind - anal, oral or vaginal sex. Abstinence is the only way to be 100% protected against sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), pregnancy and HIV/AIDS.
     Nothing new, right?
Did you ever stop to think what else abstinence might mean? Well, to be really abstinent, it also means you can't use alcohol or drugs.
Ever. Why? Because when people use alcohol or drugs, it may make them do things they wouldn't ordinarily do - you know, like dance on a table, use the restroom in a public place, or have sex.

Health Education staff asked Long Beach teens and young adults several questions about their sex and drug use behaviors. Many of the youth surveyed said that they had had unplanned sex while under the influence of alcohol. Teens also stated that they had sex without a condom, had sex with a stranger, had sex and later regretted it, or used other drugs while under the influence of alcohol. So just remember, if it's your plan not to have sex, it should also be your plan not to use drugs and alcohol.

So what are the benefits of staying abstinent? We could probably make a list to fill several web pages. However, since we only have so much space on this site, we'll just give you a few.

First of all, if you decide not to have sex, you can be sure that you won't get a sexually transmitted disease, like chlamydia, herpes, or HIV. Another great reason is that abstinence will keep you from becoming a parent before you're ready.

And remember, you have the final say about what you want to do with your body. Don't let anyone (your buddies, your girlfriend, your brother...) talk you into having sex if you don't want to.

Not everyone is doing it!

It can be really difficult trying to use a condom during sex when your partner doesn’t want to. There are probably hundreds of excuses he or she might give for not wanting to use condoms. If you know your partner, you might think ahead to what he or she may use as an excuse so that you are prepared with your response. Here are just a few excuses you might hear, along with sample responses.

I don’t have a condom on me.
That’s okay – I have one. I wouldn’t feel right having unprotected sex so I always keep a few with me. And even if I didn’t have any, we could go to the store to get one.

Condoms take away all the feeling.
I don’t know about that…people use condoms all the time. Besides, I’ve heard that a guy can stay hard longer if he’s using a condom.

I’m allergic to latex.
These days, we can also buy condoms made out of plastic or polyurethane. They are a little more expensive than latex condoms, but I’d rather pay a little extra now for peace of mind knowing that we had protected sex.

I don’t have an STD! If we’re using the pill, why do we need a condom?
I never said you had an STD. But, if we haven’t been tested, either one of us could have something without knowing it. Pills work at preventing pregnancy, but a condom will protect us against any infections we may not know about, and also give us back up pregnancy protection.

Condoms interrupt sex. It doesn’t make sense to stop to put one on.
I bet I can think of some ways to make condoms fun. Besides, it makes a whole lot of sense to stop and put on a condom if it will protect our health and our future.

They aren’t 100% effective anyway, so why waste our time?
You’re right…the only thing that is 100% safe is abstinence. But, if we are going to have sex, using condoms is the best thing we can do to protect us from infections – remember, there are a lot of things out there that don’t cause any symptoms, so we can have something without knowing it.

I’m too big to wear condoms. There aren’t any that can fit me.
Did you know you can roll a condom over an eggplant? Condoms are very strong and durable, and are made to fit people of different sizes. Many condom companies also make condoms that are larger and smaller than the standard size.

No one wants to get an STD, right? So, the BEST way to keep yourself STD-free is by not having sex – abstinence! Abstinence is the only method 100% guaranteed to protect you against diseases and unintended pregnancy.

So, what if you are already having sex? Well there are some other things you can do to protect yourself and your partner.

Talk…Be willing to have a conversation with your partner about sex before you have sex. Ask your partner about the last time he or she took an HIV test, or had an STD check up. Yes, it might be weird, but perhaps you’ll learn something about your partner you didn’t know before.

Test…If you’re having sex, it’s important for you to get an “STD check-up” on a regular basis, just to make sure everything is alright. And it doesn’t hurt to bring your partner, too.

Protect…And, of course, if you are having sex, you always have to use a condom. Always.

Mr. Condom

Ms. Condom

Condom Excuses

For Oral Sex

We call them rubbers, jimmy hats, even raincoats…but maybe another nickname for the condom should be “man’s best friend”. Why, because male condoms help protect against sexually transmitted diseases and also is a form of birth control, lowering the chances of an unintended pregnancy. So, what else makes condoms so great?

They’re cheap. For all the work that they do, condoms are very affordable costing about $1 each or less. You can buy condoms at grocery stores, drug stores, and other places.

They’re easy to find. You can get condoms for free at the Health Department and at community clinics.

They come in lots of shapes and sizes. They also come in different flavors and colors, and can be made from different materials. Whatever you do, just make sure you use condoms made out of latex or polyurethane (plastic). Condoms made out of animal skin (lambskin or sheepskin condoms) don’t protect against HIV and other STDs.

But, before you slip one on, there are a few more things you should know…

How to Use a Male Condom

Condom Tips

She’s strong, she’s flexible, and she’s made out of plastic! What more can you ask for?

The female condom is, yet, another way that people can help protect themselves against unintended pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). Female condoms are made out of polyurethane (plastic) and are inserted into the vagina before sex. The female condom works sort of like the male condom – it keeps partners from sharing body fluids (like semen or vaginal fluid) with each other.

Now some of you might be saying to yourselves – “Wow, that sounds great. Perhaps if I use a male condom and a female condom together, we will be really safe!” But, that’s not a good idea. The friction between two condoms will probably cause one or both of them to tear, making it possible for partners to share fluids – not a good thing.

Female condoms can be found in many of the same places where you get male condoms – pharmacies, grocery stores, and at some community agencies or the health department. Female condoms cost about $3.00 each and can be used one time. Now, you might say that $3.00 is a high price to pay for having sex one time. But, can you imagine how much more expensive sex without a condom might be if you or your partner gets pregnant (diapers…childcare…toys…clothes)? And, without a condom, there is a chance you could get an STD, and there are some STDs that never go away!

So how do you use a female condom? Check it out…

1 - Condoms need to be stored in a cool, dry place so that they do not get damaged by heat or moisture. Your wallet or the trunk of your care are NOT good places to keep condoms. Som teens use a mint tin as a convenient and fun place to keep their condoms.

2 - Check out your condoms. There are a lot of things you want to look for before you even get the condom open. First, make sure the condom has not expired. The expiration date should be stamped on all condoms. If that date has passed, don't use it. You also should check for any holes or tears in the package too. If you find any openings, throw it away.

3 - It's best to use a condom that is lubricated (moist) to help keep it from breaking. If you have a condom that is not lubricated or if you need extra lubrication, use a water-based lubricant (like KY-jelly). Any type of oil is a no-no, so forget about the baby oil, cooking oil, and the petroleum jelly (like Vaseline).

4 - Don't mix Mr. Condom & Ms. Condom!! Sure, it might seem like a good idea to use both types of condoms, but don't - although the male & female condom work great by themselves, there is too much FRICTION between the two of them if they are used together, which can cause tearing.

5 - It's also not good to use two condoms at once for the same reason that the male and female condom shouldn't be used together. When you "double up", that increases the chances of your condoms tearing. One condom is perfectly fine - just make sure you are using that one condom the right way...check out

Family PACT (Planning, Acces, Care, & Treatment)

What is Family PACT?
Family PACT is program that provides reproductive health and family planning services to men and women in California. The goal of Family PACT is to ensure that California residents have access to the health education, counseling, and family planning services they need to reduce the chances of an unintended pregnancy and improve their reproductive health.

What services does Family PACT cover?

• All temporary and permanent birth control methods (such as birth control pills, condoms, and Depo Provera)
• Pregnancy testing/counseling
• Sexually transmitted disease screening, diagnosis, and treatment
• HIV and cancer screening
• Hepatitis B vaccine
• Individual reproductive health education and counseling

Where can I learn more about Family PACT?

• Family PACT Provider Referral Line:
  (800) 942-1054
• Family PACT Provider On-Site Consultation: (916) 657-0760
• Education & Counseling Helpline: (877) FAM-PACT
• Family PACT web site: www.familypact.org
• Office of Family Planning: (916) 654-0357
• The City’s Health Education Division: (562) 570-7924

What do these two things - dental dams and plastic wrap - have in common? They are both barriers that can be used with oral sex. Dental dams, also known as latex barriers, are flat pieces of latex that can be used to cover the vagina or anus during oral sex. The point of using this barrier is to prevent two people from sharing body fluids. Therefore, the user must pick a side and stick with it - if a person accidentally switches sides while using a dental dam, he or she will be exposed (come into contact with) to the other person's fluids.

How to use a latex barrier:

• Handle the latex barrier carefully so it does not rip.
• Hold the latex barrier firmly with both hands. Place the barrier over the vagina or anus. Either partner can hold the latex in place.
• Always keep the same side to your partner the entire time. NEVER switch sides.
• Always throw away the latex barrier after one use. NEVER re-use.
• A few drops of water-based lubricant can be added to the latex barrier on the side that is against the vagina or anus.

Plastic wrap can also be used in the same way - a person can tear off a piece of plastic wrap large enough to cover the vaginal opening or anus, and use it for protection during oral sex.

If you don't have any plastic wrap or dental dam handy, a male condom can be cut to make a latex barrier. Simply unroll the condom entirely, snip off the tip, and then cut the condom all the way down one side.