Protection for your sexual health and wellness

cartoon image of male and female doctors

Health and Wellness

Doctors and nurses are trained to examine bodies. They protect your privacy. They touch you only to do exams and tests that are necessary for your health.

Doctors check your sexual health. They check for the steps of puberty as you change from a child to an adult. Doctors also check on the health of your private parts once you are an adult.

Male exam video - https://youtu.be/eUYiY0GlFwk?si=LENP22zp0tM_5lHL

Female exam video - https://youtu.be/6US6U9OfM6o?si=3dW_Du1UbnF_sHmj

Breast exam video - https://youtu.be/33FWonvw_tU?si=cHkg3IGfxtC8HFq3

There are urine and blood tests that check for sexual infections.

Using safer sex practices helps to prevent infections. Check-ups make sure you do not have any infections.

Use condoms to lower the risk of sexual infections.
Each person should get a check up before having sex with a new person.
Some people use medicine or a shot to prevent infections.
- The HPV shot helps prevent infection from the HPV virus. It helps prevent cancer of the cervix, vulva, penis, anus, and throat.
Pap smears are exams that check for cancer of the cervix and vulva.
Male exams check for male cancers.

Condom Use Webpage from the CDC

Condom Use Webpage

Use a Condom from Sex Ed for People with IDD

2.5 minute video

Use a Condom Video

HPV Vaccine Recommendations

CDC HPV Recommendations

Image of a teen on a laptop with text explaining that youth with intellectual and developmental disabilities don't always get the same sexual health and relationship education as their peers. Talk to them about their right to set boundaries

Talking and listening about sexual health

Learn how to be safe and healthy. Ask questions about taking care of your body.
Learn how to protect yourself. Learn rules for safety online and in the community. Talk to others you trust about how to keep safe. Listen if the people you trust have concerns.
Learn how to speak up if you are scared or worried. Do not keep secrets from people you trust if you are worried about your safety.
If you had a bad event that hurt or worried you, tell someone you trust. If you are worried about a future bad event, tell someone you trust. Work together to take care of the problem.

cartoon image of a red flag with an exclamation point on it

Coercion

Means making someone do something they do not want to do. Coercion is wrong. It is not OK for someone to push or force you to do something when you do not want to do it or if you do not know if you should do it.

Boundaries are the rules. Make rules between you and another person. Decide what you agree to do and what you do not agree to do. Early in dating, you may agree to hold hands but not kiss.
No one should push or force another person. Forced touch is bad touch. It breaks a rule.
- Some people call this a "red flag" feeling. A red flag is a warning sign about danger. It may make you afraid, worried, sad, angry or upset.
Talk to those you trust when something does not feel right.
Talk to those you trust about how to protect yourself from others who try to control or force you.

Tell someone you trust if anyone lies, threatens, pressures, bribes or forces you.

Tell even if someone just tries to pressure or force you.

Here are examples:

Lies	Saying "I love you" when you don't really mean it. Or saying "You are acting like a baby" to someone who is making their own choice.
Threats	Saying "If you do not go to the movies with me, I will not be your friend."
Pressures	Saying "Come on, please, please, just this time, it will be okay."
Bribes	Saying "If you want me to talk to you at lunch time, you have to come for a car ride with me."
Force	Saying "I am going to make you kiss me, whether you want to or not."

Share this 3 minute audio clip "Sexual abuse prevention" with parents and trusted caregivers: (from Promising Youth Programs)

Sexual Abuse Prevention Audio Clip

The Internet

Can connect you to anyone. It can be great. But it can be a danger.

Work with those you trust to learn how to stay safe on the internet.

Texting and chatting online can help you meet someone. You should take time to be careful. Think about your messages before you send them.

Do not give out personal info online, like your phone number or address.
Be careful with texts and pictures. It is very hard to delete things you post online.
Tell someone you trust if anything upsetting happens to you online.
Watch out for people who pretend to be someone. It can be easy for some people to fake their story online.

Resources:

Keeping Safe Online

Easy read from Change People UK (Please notice that the phone numbers are for people in England)

Easy Read PDF

Stop Abuse and Keep Safe

Easy read from NHS Cheshire and Wirral, UK (Please notice that the phone numbers are for people in England. Print out the pages to make this easier to read.)