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Frequently Asked Questions

Topics (Arranged Alphabetically)

Abortion | Adoption | Pregnancy | Sex | STIs/STDs

Abortion


  1. What are the various types of abortion procedures?
  2. What is a partial birth abortion?
  3. Should I really be concerned about having an abortion?
    Abortion is not just a simple medical procedure, nor is it something that only affects you and your body. For every woman, it is a life changing event with significant physical, emotional, and spiritual consequences. Most women who struggle with past abortions say that they wish they had been told all of the facts about abortion before they consented to having one. This is not a decision to make lightly, but should be seriously considered from many different perspectives. Good questions to ask yourself are, "Why I am considering having an abortion?" "Is this embryo or fetus living inside of me a human life? Will I ever regret making the decision to terminate this life? What other options do I have? Is this the right thing to do? In the long run, what would be the best choice to make?"
  4. What can I do about the pressure I am receiving to have an abortion?
    Remember, you are the only person who will have to live with the consequences of this decision. If your boyfriend or parents are pressuring you to make a quick decision, take a moment to consider the consequences of this choice. Do your best to explain your needs to those pressuring you and try to involve them in counseling to explore your positive options. You have the right to continue with this pregnancy. You also cannot afford to allow others to make a decision for you that you (and not they) will have to live with for the rest of your life.
  5. Can I have a baby and still live my life?
    An understandable initial response is to view this unplanned pregnancy as a major barrier in your life. Thankfully however, there are many other paths that will help you get things back on course. Be encouraged to know that many women in exactly the same situation as you have found the necessary help and resources to make positive choices regarding their unplanned pregnancies and still follow their dreams.

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Adoption

For additional information regarding adoption, we refer visitors to the Christian Family Care Agency (CFCA) at http://www.cfcare.org/adoption.html.

  1. How can I place my baby up for adoption?
    If you are exploring adoption we encourage you to meet with a pregnancy assistance counselor. The counselor will do options counseling with you and the services are free.
  2. How can I go about adopting a child?
    At CPC we refer clients who are interested in adopting to Christian Family Care Agency. The number is 602-234-1935 and ask for Roberta Salamone. A packet will be mailed to your home with all the information that you will need to become certified.
  3. How can adoption be a good thing for my baby and me?
    Even if you are not yet ready to be a parent, you can still give your baby the gift of life by choosing adoption. You can plan positively for your baby's future by selecting a stable, loving family to care for him or her. After birth, you can see your baby, name your baby, and spend time with your baby. If you so choose, you may be able to receive updates on your child's progress, pictures, or have ongoing visits throughout your child's life while you continue your education or career goals. Finally, and most importantly, you can find peace and joy in the fact that you chose life for your baby.
  4. Can I choose a family for my baby?
    Yes! Most adoption agencies have adoptive couples who come from a variety of backgrounds, and they have been screened and approved. There are additional options such as choosing a friend, or someone who has been recommended to you. Your agency will discuss all of these options with you.
  5. How much contact can I have with my baby after birth and after adoption?
    You may have as much contact with your baby at the hospital as you desire. When planning your child's adoption, you can choose an open adoption plan—one that allows ongoing visits with your child, or you can choose a less open adoption that keeps you informed about your child's progress through letters and photos. Adoptive families respect the need birthmothers to know that their child is loved and happy. Finally, if you decide you would not like to have any ongoing contact with your child and the adoptive family, confidential adoption plans are also possible.
  6. How soon after birth can my baby be delivered to the family that I choose?
    The timing of your child's placement depends on three factors: (1) Your preference for the timing of the placement, (2) legal aspects of the adoption, which may vary from state to state, and (3) the cooperation of the birthfather. Many birthmothers want their baby placed with the adoptive family directly from the hospital. Some women prefer to place their baby in temporary care while they consider their adoption decision. You agency can help you pursue either option.
  7. How much will my child know about me?
    That depends on what type of adoption plan you choose: open, semi-open, or confidential. Your agency will encourage you to provide your complete medical and social history for your child, no matter what type of adoption plan you make, and in some states, that is required. You may choose to share your identity and where you live with the adoptive family. If you've made an open adoption plan, you may have ongoing, direct contact with your child and the adoptive family. The information your child will know about the birthfather depends on his relationship with you and your counselor. Most birthfathers give their complete medical and social history, recognizing how important it is for the child. In some cases, the only information available about the birthfather is what the birthmother provides.
  8. Does the birthfather have any rights to the child?
    Both you and the birthfather have rights to your child. If you disagree about adoption or you no longer have a relationship with him, your agency will work with the birthfather and/or the courts to determine if his rights can be terminated.
  9. Can my child find me if he or she wants to search for me someday?
    The law in your state determines when and how your child may access the information in the adoption file. Your caseworker will explain the current laws as they apply to your particular adoption plan.
  10. How can I be sure my child will be well cared for?
    Adoptive families approved by your agency must meet standards that are shared with you. Your agency will make every attempt to complete a thorough assessment of potential adoptive families. Prior to finalizing the adoption, a caseworker will make home visits to ensure the child's well-being. In an open adoption, you will be able to see for yourself how well your child is cared for and how much he or she is loved through your ongoing relationship with your child and the adoptive family.
  11. Do I need an attorney, or do I pay my adoption agency to assist me with the adoption?
    You do not need an attorney and there are no costs charged to you. The adoption agency will handle all the legal details for you and the birthfather.
  12. Does your adoption agency offer assistance with medical and living expenses while I am making an adoptive plan?
    Assistance with medical and living expenses is available through many adoption agencies. For details about how your agency can help you in your particular circumstances, contact your caseworker.

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Pregnancy

What is the impact of nonmarital teenage pregnancy? 1
According to recent studies, one out of every three females in the US gets pregnant at least once before the age of 20. This results in over 800,000 teen pregnancies each year. Three out of every ten of these pregnancies ends in abortion. Nonmarital teenage pregnancies are life-affecting for the mother, father, child, extended family and society.

Teen parents are more likely than other teens to:

  • drop out of school
  • have additional out-of-wedlock children
  • change jobs
  • be on welfare
  • have mental and physical health problems

Children born to teens are at increased risk for:

  • low birth weight
  • lower cognitive scores
  • school failure
  • becoming teenage parents
  • incarceration
  • drug abuse

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Sex

  1. Exactly what is considered "sex"?
    Typically most people assume that only penetration of the vagina or anus is considered "sex," but in fact any genital contact falls under the category of sex. Thus, to have "sex" with someone can be as broad as any intentional stimulation of another's genitals.
  2. Are there any good reasons to wait until marriage to have sex?
    Yes, there are at least six great reasons to wait until marriage to have sex. In brief they are: (1) the risk of contracting a sexually transmitted infection, (2) the risk of unplanned pregnancy, (3) condoms are an unreliable protection against disease and pregnancy, (4) sex is powerfully bonding, (5) sex outside of marriage is damaging to relationships, (6) the many significant rewards offered to those who wait.
    For more detail about each of these reasons to wait, click here.
  3. What is optimal sexual health? 2
    Sexual health is a state of physical, intellectual, emotional, social, and spiritual well-being in relation to sexuality; it is not merely the absence of disease, dysfunction, or infirmity. Sexual health is a positive, honest, and respectful approach to sexuality. The healthiest sexual activity is intentional, mutually agreeable, and mutually pleasurable in the context of a respectful, lifelong, mutually monogamous relationship. The healthiest sexual activity occurs between adults who are mature physically, intellectually, emotionally, socially, and spiritually. They are financially self-sufficient and prepared to handle the results of sexual activity. Healthy sexual activity is characterized by freedom from coercion, exploitation, transactions, oppression, discrimination, violence, the influence of mind altering substances, and transmission of disease. Persons of all ages can aspire to optimal sexual health. Therefore, mentors and individuals in the helping professions should facilitate movement toward this ideal for people in all conditions and life stages. This ideal evolves as a person matures from childhood through adulthood.
    • For children: parenting adults provide protection, guidance, and healthy role models.
    • For adolescents: delay of sexual debut, ideally until committing to a life-long mutually monogamous relationship such as marriage.
    • For adults: abstinence outside of a life-long mutually monogamous relationship such as marriage.
  4. What is abstinence? 3
    Abstinence is refraining from all sexual activity. Sexual activity means sex as well as other actions intended to result in sexual arousal or gratification.
    Sex includes penile-vaginal, anal and oral sex. Other actions intended to result in sexual arousal or gratification, include, but not limited to, masturbation, mutual masturbation, fondling, the use of sex toys and the viewing of pornography.
    Abstinence is the healthiest behavior for unmarried individuals.
  5. What is "secondary virginity"? 4
    "Secondary virginity" is a return to abstinence after a period of sexual activity. A commitment to secondary virginity is often made with the goal of remaining abstinent until committed to a life-long monogamous relationship, such as marriage. Increasing numbers of teens and young adults are making this decision to reduce their considerable risk for sexually transmitted infections and nonmarital pregnancies. Parents, peers, family physicians, youth directors, teachers, and health educators all play important roles in encouraging sexually active youth to turn to abstinence.
  6. Should parents discuss sex with their teens? 5
    Absolutely. Multiple studies demonstrate that parent-child communication has an important protective effect on adolescent sexual behavior. Parents need to be actively involved with their teens and take time to clearly communicate their own values and expectations. Teens who feel close to their parents are much less likely to engage in risky sexual behavior. Teens whose parents express disapproval of nonmarital sex and contraceptive use are less likely than their peers to have sex. Teens who talk to a parent about sex tend to wait to have sex, have fewer sexual partners, and are more likely to name a parent than a peer as a good source of information about sex.
  7. How should parents talk about sex and sexuality with their teens?
    For an abundance of information on how to discuss this tricky subject with your kids, click here.
  8. Is it true that sex releases chemicals in the brain can actually affect future behavior?
    Yes. To read more about this interesting topic, click here.
  9. What is oral sex?
    Oral sex is the contact of one person's mouth or tongue with the genitals of another person.
  10. Is oral sex really sex?
    There is an increasingly popular idea among young teens that oral sex isn't really sex. Some will say, "'Real sex,' or sexual intercourse, is technically called 'coitus' (or vaginal sex—the penetration of the vagina by the penis), and therefore oral sex isn't really sex." However, almost every dictionary includes this secondary definition for "sexual intercourse": "Sexual union between humans involving genital contact other than vaginal penetration by the penis" (The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition [Houghton Mifflin Company, 2004], "sexual intercourse"). By definition then, any genital contact between two people is considered "sex." Therefore oral sex is really sex.
  11. Is oral sex "practicing abstinence"?
    It is common knowledge today that the only way to prevent the spread of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and avoid an unplanned pregnancy while single is to practice sexual abstinence. But what about oral sex? Well, according to the dictionary, oral sex is actually part of sexual intercourse. Nonetheless, "abstinence" means abstaining from or not participating in any sexual activity. Oral sex is definitely sexual activity. Therefore having oral sex with someone is exactly the opposite of practicing abstinence.
  12. Is oral sex "safe sex"?
    There is no debate in the medical community on this one—oral sex is not "safe" and thus not "safe sex." (In fact, there is no such thing as "safe sex" except between a committed, sexually-faithful, disease-free married couple.) Oral sex, like other sexual activities where contact with the genitals is involved, exposes both men and women to life-threatening and incurable sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Oral sex has been found to spread such STIs as syphilis, gonorrhea, HIV (which causes AIDS), human papillomavirus (HPV—the leading cause of cervical cancer in women), genital herpes, chlamydia, and possibly hepatitis C.

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Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs and STDs) 6


  1. What is the difference between a sexually transmitted infection (STI) and sexually transmitted disease (STD)?
    These terms are often confused, but they are not interchangeable. Sexually transmitted infection is the broadest term. All STDs are STIs, but not all STIs are STDs. (To keep with the trends in modern health care, we will be using the label "STI" where previously you would have expected to see "STD" in discussing this topic.) A sexually transmitted infection is an invasion of and multiplication in bodily tissue by a microorganism (for example, bacterium, virus, protozoan) that is usually (more than half the time) passed from one person to another during intimate bodily contact meant to give or derive sexual gratification.
    A sexually transmitted disease, on the other hand, involves manifest damage to the body with or without symptoms secondary to an infection that is usually (more than half the time) passed from one person to another during intimate bodily contact meant to give or derive sexual gratification.
  2. How common are sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in the United States (all STDs are STIs)?
    The United States has an epidemic of sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Over 70 million Americans currently have an STI. Twenty million new cases occur each year. Half of these are in people under 25. Three STIs (human papillomavirus, trichomoniasis and chlamydia) accounted for 88% of all new cases of STI among 15- to 24-year-olds.
  3. What causes STIs?
    STIs can be caused by bacteria (for example, chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis), viruses (for example, HIV/AIDS, hepatitis, herpes, HPV), or parasites (trichomoniasis). Chlamydia is the most common bacterial STI. Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is the most common viral STI.
  4. How do you get STIs?
    You get STIs during sexual activity. This includes vaginal sex, oral sex and anal sex. A few—HPV and herpes—can even be spread by contact with infected skin. Others, such as HIV and hepatitis, can be spread through needle-sharing. You can get STIs from someone who has no symptoms.
  5. Can I have an STI if I am still a "virgin"?
    Yes. All STIs can be transmitted through vaginal or anal intercourse. But there are many other ways of becoming infected. Most STIs can be transmitted to a baby during pregnancy or childbirth if the mother is infected. Some sexual activities have a greater transmission rate depending on the STI. In general, the progression of sexual contact from most likely to less likely that one will become infected with a STI goes like this: anal>vaginal>oral. Skin to skin contact with lesions or infected areas of skin can transfer HPV, HSV, and syphilis. If an infected male ejaculates outside the vagina, chlamydia, gonorrhea, or trichonomonas can be transmitted. Transmission through blood transfusions is rare today because all blood donors are tested. Smoking, oral contraceptive use, a new male partner, a partner reporting other partners, and penetrative and non-penetrative sex can each lead to HPV. So, you do not necessary have to "be sexually active" to contract an STI.
  6. What are the symptoms of STIs?
    Most people with STIs have no symptoms. Even without symptoms, they can still pass on the infection. Some STIs cause symptoms such as an abnormal discharge from the penis or vagina, burning sensation when urinating and abdominal pain. Skin changes can also occur; these include rashes, ulcers and warts.
  7. What are the complications associated with STIs?
    In women, complications from infection include pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), tubal pregnancy (pregnancy that begins with implantation of the embryo in one of the fallopian tubes instead of in the uterus), infertility, and cervical cancer. In pregnant women, STIs can lead to miscarriage, stillbirths, preterm delivery and birth defects. In men, HPV infection can cause penile cancer. Some STIs, such as HIV, can be life-threatening.
  8. How can you find out if you have a STI?
    Because most STIs cause no symptoms, they are not detected until complications develop. If you or your partner have had more than one sex partner, talk to your doctor about getting screened. Also talk to your doctor about getting screened if you or your sex partner have ever injected drugs.
  9. Do I need to be tested for STIs if I have only had sex with one other person?
    Yes! Something very important for everyone to understand is that most people carrying STIs do not even know it. This is called an asymptomatic carrier. Chlamydia, herpes, HPV, and HIV are all STIs that convey very little to no symptoms. Therefore you want to make sure you get treated early in any case or chance of an STI. We see this to be so important that we offer extremely low cost STI testing (only $26!). Come in and see one of our kind staff members. Remember: All STIs can be transmitted through vaginal or anal intercourse. If you have had any sexual contact with another person at any point in your past, then you have a chance of being infected with an STI currently.
  10. What makes adolescent females so susceptible to STIs?
    In all females the cervix is covered with 2 cell types—epithelial (skin-like) cells and columnar (like the cells lining the intestine) cells. In mature females, the outer part of the cervix (that is, the part the doctor sees when he or she looks at the cervix to obtain cells for a Pap smear) is covered with multiple layers of hardy (squamous) epithelial cells, and the upper part inside the cervical canal is lined with fragile columnar cells. Where the two cell types meet is referred to as the squamocolumnar (SC) junction. The location of this junction varies considerably between adolescents/young females and mature females. Adolescents/young females have a normal condition referred to as ectopy. With ectopy, the junction between the two cell types is somewhere on the outer cervix (where a physician could see it on pelvic exam) rather than inside the cervical canal. The more ectopy there is, the larger the diameter of fragile columnar cells on the outer exposed surface of the cervix. In addition to being highly susceptible to STIs, the exposed columnar and SC junction cells are more easily transformed into precancerous cells or into cancer if infected with a certain and common STI—human papillomavirus (HPV).
  11. What happens if you save sex for that special person you will spend the rest of your life with and then in your marriage you get an STI from your spouse?
    We think its best to cross that bridge when you come to it. If you come to it. Why worry about what "could be." The best thing you can do for yourself is to protect yourself and your future spouse by choosing the healthiest, most effective option of safeguarding yourself against unwanted pregnancy and STIs: abstinence-until-marriage. This insurance policy offers 100% coverage. Every other option has a cost or a doubt to associated with it. Not abstinence.
  12. Do you have to be tested for STIs before you get married?
    You do not. However, we recommend it. It is always better to have more information than less. Together with your future spouse you can learn how to handle the treatment of a potential or real STI.
  13. Where are these STIs coming from? Can two people who are not infected just get an STI?
    This is very, very unlikely. The only methods for this would be when you were born, if your mother was infected, if you had a blood transfusion (but transmission through blood transfusions are rare today because all blood donors are tested), or, through skin-to-skin contact with an infected person.
  14. How effective are condoms in preventing STIs?
    Condom breakage and slippage is estimated to occur 1-4% of the time. This is known as method failure. By far the most extensive research on condom effectiveness has been done for HIV. A number of authors have performed meta-analyses (summaries) of other studies. These meta-analyses show that with 100% consistent condom use, condoms reduce the risk of HIV transmission by about 85%. Condom effectiveness against transmission of bacterial diseases like gonorrhea, chlamydia and syphilis is significantly lower than for HIV. Conclusive evidence is lacking for condom effectiveness against transmission of several other specific STIs, such as HPV and T. vaginalis, which each affect over 5 million people annually. Finally, effectiveness is seriously limited for the many STIs which are transmitted through skin-to-skin contact, since condoms do not cover all the areas of the body which may be the source of transmission. The major factor affecting "condom effectiveness" is not method failure, over which the user has no control, but user failure-the incorrect and inconsistent use of condoms during sexual acts.
  15. What is meant by "consistent" condom use?
    Consistent condom use means using a condom 100% of the time during every sex act. Few individuals actually manage to use condoms consistently and correctly for any length of time. Typical condom use is inconsistent. Studies have shown that even in couples in which one partner is known to be infected with HIV, consistent use was attained by only 45% of the participants. How do teens fare? A study conducted over a period of six months found that "always" condom use was reported by adolescent females only 13% of the time. In another study, just 50% of females reported consistent condom use. Generally, adolescent males report slightly more condom use than females.
    Unfortunately, inconsistent use provides little to no risk reduction for most STIs. According to a National Institutes of Health panel on condom effectiveness, even if 100% consistent condom use could be attained, it would not totally eliminate the risk of acquiring any sexually transmitted infection, including HIV.
  16. I heard that there are 6 steps to correct condom use. What are they?
    According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the following are the "six steps to correct condom use":
    1. Use a new condom with each act of sexual intercourse.
    2. Carefully handle the condom to avoid damaging it with fingernails, teeth or other sharp objects.
    3. Put the condom on after the penis is erect and before any genital contact with the partner.
    4. Use only water-based lubricants with latex condoms. Oil-based lubricants can weaken latex.
    5. Ensure adequate lubrication during intercourse, possibly requiring the use of exogenous [outside of the body] lubricants.
    6. Hold the condom firmly against the base of the penis during withdrawal, and withdraw while the penis is still erect to prevent slippage.
    • Almost no studies actually measure correct condom use. In theory, condom effectiveness against STI transmission is further diminished if a condom is used incorrectly. In a study of college males, more than a third reported major errors in condom use over a three-month time period, despite having received instructions on correct use.
  17. What can be done about the epidemics of STIs and nonmarital pregnancy facing our country?
    People who postpone sexual activity until marriage to an uninfected partner are completely protected from STIs and nonmarital pregnancy. If this behavior choice (that is, abstinence) were to become normative again, it is likely that these epidemics would be reversed. There is evidence that many teens are getting this message. According to Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance data, over half of teens in high school are not having sexual intercourse. From 1991 through 2001 the number of teens not having sexual intercourse increased from 46% to 54%. Additionally, the number of teens with four or more lifetime partners decreased significantly from 1991 to 2001. Most adolescents will postpone sexual activity (become or remain abstinent) with proper instruction and encouragement, especially from parents.
  18. Can STIs be treated?
    Most bacterial STIs can be treated and cured with antibiotics. Treatment does not guarantee that complications have not already occurred. A few viral STIs can be treated and occasionally cured. These are hepatitis C and B. However, other viral STIs can be treated for symptoms, but not cured. These include HIV and herpes. Vaccine research on viral STIs is ongoing. Vaccination for hepatitis B is effective and widely available. An HPV vaccine has recently become available and is recommended for young women. However, this vaccine does not protect against all types of HPV that cause cancer and warts. How long it works is also unknown.
  19. Which viral STIs are curable and which are incurable?
    • Herpes and HIV: These are the only two viral STIs which are always chronic. Even though people with herpes or HIV cannot currently be cured, their symptoms can be treated.
    • HPV: In females, 70-90% of HPV infections are cleared by the body's immune system within 12-24 months of detection. Those who are infected with high-risk (cancer-causing) HPV types and do not clear their infection quickly are at risk for persistent infection. There is no cure for persistent HPV. Persistent HPV infection is a risk factor for the development of cervical cancer. All women should have routine Pap smears by age 21. Females who initiate sex before 18 should consult their doctor.
    • Hepatitis B: Most adults who are infected with hepatitis B virus (HBV) recover from their infections; the remainder develop chronic infections.
    • Hepatitis C: Approximately 15% of those who are infected with hepatitis C virus (HBV) recover from their infection; however the vast majority develop chronic infections.
  20. Can STIs be prevented?
    Yes, STIs can be prevented. Practice abstinence by avoiding sexual activity if you are single. Save sex until marriage. Be faithful to one uninfected partner for the rest of your life. This is truly the only way to avoid the risk of an infection. There are also a number of ways to reduce the risk of infection. Wait to have sex until you are in a faithful lifelong relationship. The fewer people you have sex with, the lower your risk of getting STIs. Correct and consistent condom use can also reduce (but not eliminate) your risk of getting most STIs.
  21. Consistent condom use (100%) during vaginal sex reduces your risk for:
    • HIV by 85%
    • Gonorrhea by about 50%
    • Chlamydia by about 50%
    • Herpes by about 50%
    • Syphilis by about 50%
    • HPV by 50% or less
    • As you can see, even with consistent condom use you are still at risk of catching most STIs about half the time and every 15 out of a 100 people having sex with a condom still get HIV. (Very few studies have been done to see whether condoms reduce the risk of STIs, including HIV, during oral sex or anal sex.)
  22. How many STIs are there and what are their names?
    The number of STIs (sexually transmitted infections) will vary depending on what is counted as an STI and whether sexually transmissible infections are also counted. The Medical Institute (http://www.medinstitute.org) uses a list of STIs that is adapted from chapter headings in a standard STI textbook (usually referred to by the name of its primary editor, K. K. Holmes) 7. This list, which appears below in alphabetical order, has 29 different infections.
    • Bacterial:
      • Bacterial Vaginosis
      • Campylobacteriosis
      • Chancroid
      • Chlamydia
      • Donovanosis
      • Gonorrhea
      • Lymphogranuloma Venereum
      • Mycoplasmas, Genital
      • Salmonellosis
      • Syphilis
      • Treponematoses, Endemic
    • Ectoparasitic:
      • Lice, Pubic
      • Scabies
    • Fungal:
      • Candidiasis, Vulvovaginal
    • Protozoal:
      • Amebiasis
      • Cryptosporidium
      • Giardiasis
      • Trichomoniasis
    • Viral:
      • Cytomegalovirus
      • Epstein Barr Virus
      • Hepatitis A
      • Hepatitis B
      • Hepatitis C
      • Hepatitis D
      • Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV-1 & HSV-2)
      • Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)
      • Human Papillomavirus (HPV)
      • Human T-cell Lymphotropic virus (HTLV-1)
      • Molluscum Contagiosum

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1 This question and answer have been adapted from "Frequently Asked Questions," http://www.medinstitute.org. The Medical Institute. http://www.medinstitute.org/content.php?name=faq#listitem1766-7472, accessed January 23, 2007. We rely on an organization such as The Medical Institute (MI) for true and accurate information because of their mission: "The Medical Institute provides scientifically accurate information that guides individuals and society in making choices that lead to optimal sexual health and overall well-being."

2 This question and answer have been adapted from http://www.medinstitute.org. The Medical Institute. http://www.medinstitute.org/content.php?name=aboutmi, accessed January 23, 2007.

3 This question and answer have been adapted from "The Facts about Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs)," http://www.medinstitute.org. The Medical Institute. http://www.medinstitute.org/content.php?name=stifacts, accessed January 23, 2007.

4 This question and answer have been adapted from "The Facts about Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs)," http://www.medinstitute.org. The Medical Institute. http://www.medinstitute.org/content.php?name=stifacts, accessed January 23, 2007.

5 This question and answer have been adapted from "The Facts about Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs)," http://www.medinstitute.org. The Medical Institute. http://www.medinstitute.org/content.php?name=stifacts, accessed January 23, 2007.

6 The questions and answers for this section have been adapted from "The Facts about Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs)," http://www.medinstitute.org. The Medical Institute. http://www.medinstitute.org/content.php?name=stifacts, accessed January 23, 2007.

7 Holmes K. K., Sparling P. F., Mardh P., et al. Sexually Transmitted Infections, 3rd ed. (New York, NY: McGraw Hill; 1999), vi-vii.

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