Safe and sexy: Annual Sex Week aims to enlighten students

February is Sexual Health Awareness Month, and the Ohio University Student Senate is commemorating the occasion with a full week dedicated to the education of a topic that many college students are familiar with — sex.Organized by Student Senate Women’s Affairs Commissioner Talie Carter, and in conjunction with the Campus Wellness Center, Sex Week aims to educate students on sexual health and safe-sex practices by holding a variety of events over four days."It's a great event to embrace your sexuality in a safe, positive and healthy way,” said Student Senate President Anna Morton.Wednesday marked the last day for senators tabling at the bottom of Baker University Center and handing out free condoms, candy and hot chocolate to passersby. Tonight, Senate’s “Safe and Sexy Social” will be held in Baker from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. Students that attend the social will be able to enter a raffle for Sex Week baskets filled with sensually themed items and food.“Regardless if it’s romantic love or lustful, we want to make sure that students are prepared and protected, and let them know we love them too,” Carter said.The goal of Sex Week is to purposefully target the shame and taboo usually associated with sex, and to allow students an environment where they can discuss sexual-health issues of both genders, Carter said.A 1½-hour seminar for women titled “No. 1 Tip for Hot Sex? Get good birth control!” was led Tuesday by Campus Care practitioners Dr. Krista Duval and Dr. Jane Balbo, as well as OB-GYN Club President Robin Fuchs. The group discussed the benefits and effectiveness of different types of birth control while fielding questions from the student audience, going through different brands, their implementation and their side-effects.“There are more options than most people realize, and they’re easier to obtain than most people know,” Duval said.  “Insurance covers even the most expensive types almost 100 percent…the long-acting reversible types, like implants and IED’s (intrauterine devices) are far more effective and tolerated.”The meeting aired some little-known facts about birth control. For example, the Plan B pill does not work for anyone weighing over 165 pounds. Additionally, intrauterine devices can be removed at any time.“Most people are better at having something that’s with them all the time that they don’t have to remember, versus a pill they have to take every day,” Duval said. “Since I started working at the Student Health Center 2½ years ago, the number has gone through the roof because they didn’t realize it’s an option for them.”