ABSTRACT
Protecting yourself from sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and avoiding pregnancy, if and when you decide to be sexually active with a partner, are a critical part of being a responsible adult. Talking to your partner about preventing pregnancy and protecting yourselves from STIs takes courage. (The medical community is increasingly tending toward the use of “STI” in sexual health literature, in an effort to clarify that not every sexually transmitted infection will progress to a disease.) Some people are concerned about how to respond to a partner who may resist using protection or birth control. Having prepared responses can help you make it clear that you won’t have sex without contraception or protection. You may find it particularly challenging to hold your boundaries in the heat of the moment-always bring the conversation back to making health a priority. This also means you need to be ready to not have sex if your partner pressures you to compromise your values.
