Sex is just one of the topics on the brains of women entering EmpowHer.com’s Give the Gift of Giving contest. Women were asked to share the best health advice shared with them and the response has been amazing. Here are a few tips from our entrants.
Jessica recommends getting vaccinated against HPV.
“I got the vaccines (you have to get three of them) during the past year, and I am very glad I did it. The vaccines work best when given to young girls or women, if possible before they have their first sexual intercourse. In my experience, they are the ones most likely to think they will never get an illness like that, but it is not true. It can affect anyone. The vaccines don't hurt at all, and if you think about what you have to go through with HPV, they are nothing.
So don't put yourself at risk when you don't have to, you're life and health is much too valuable.”
Amanda, who found out she had cervical cancer about a year ago, reinforces the message.
Doctors said it was something to worry about with me being rather young. I've taken the advice and lived each day to the extreme.
For other women she offers advice in the form of a lyric from a band she saw a few months ago. "It's not too late, it's never too late." Ladies enjoy life. Live life. Don’t ever let anything stop you.
Brenna says she has been very careful when it comes to her sexual experiences and gets tested once a year. She encourages her friends to get tested as well.
“…It could take months for something to show up, or it might never. This does not mean you are clean! STDs are a very serious issue and should not be taken lightly. This is a very scary matter. There was a health center out of Nevada that over the last year was reusing syringes and infected up to 40,000 patients with HIV and Hepatitus, both very serious diseases.
Indie Girl has another way of addressing sexual issues – abstinence.
I cannot tell you how grateful and proud I am to be able to say that I am a 18 year old woman who has not had sex, not saying I haven't had plenty of opportunities, I just didn't feel ready. Sex is something that is a lot like love, when you know you know, but you can't force the feeling to be there if your body, mind, and spirit aren't ready for it. I was a high school cheerleader for 3 years, and I can say that by our senior year, I was one of two girls out of twelve that had not had sex. Having sex in high school I believe is a large mistake, for many reasons. 1. Your body may be ready but that doesn't mean your mind is. 2. It puts more strain on a relationship than many teen girls are ready or willing to deal with. 3. It is a precious gift that you can only give away once and most teenage boys or older guys that are willing to pursue teenage girls are not worthy of receiving. Girls mature faster than boys and teenage males don't realize what an emotional change it can have on a woman, or their relationship. I know that every person has to choose their own ways of life, but honestly, I think that waiting until you are at least out of high school and in a committed relationship is completely worth it, and the right way to go. My boyfriend and I have been best friends for 3 years and are getting married this summer and I am glad that I waited for this to happen with him, and that he is the kind of guy who can wait for me until I am ready. Sex is not, and should never be, the deciding factor of a working relationship. It is because of him and his love that I realized the importance of waiting.
To enter to win the Gift of Giving contest, visit empowher.com/contest