1. Make a firm commitment to save yourself for marriage from now on, and believe you can do it- because you can!
2. Get away from people, places, things and situations that weaken your self-control. Sometimes the healthiest thing we can do is avoid those who tempt us.
3. Avoid intense hugging, passionate kissing and anything else that leads to lustful thoughts and behavior. Anything beyond a brief, simple kiss can quickly become dangerous.
4. Find non-physical ways to show your love and appreciation.
5. Remember that anyone can start over, including you! When you focus on commitment and self-discipline, you can control your impulses.

You won’t have to worry about…

1. Worrying You’re Pregnant
2. Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs)
3. Regretting Your Past
4. Guilty Feelings
5. Losing Your Self-Respect
6. Corrupting Your Character
7. Losing Trust and Fearing Commitment
8. Depression and Thoughts of Suicide
9. Ruining A Good Relationship

According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), more than 50% of sexually active people will have genital HPV (human papilloma virus) at some point in their lives. Currently as many as 20 million Americans have HPV. Due to the lack of symptoms, particularly in men who are carriers of the disease, the majority or people with HPV don’t realize they have the infection and spread it to other sexual partners.

The recent media attention given to HPV is due to the FDA’s approval of Gardasil, a vaccine to protect against four types of the virus that cause most, but not all, cases of cervical cancer and genital warts. According to the CDC, “The surest way to eliminate the risk for future genital HPV infection is to refrain from any genital contact with another individual.”

Whether you are making a decision to get the vaccine yourself, or if you are simply trying to keep up with the latest medical advances, it is important to know the facts about HPV and Gardasil.

• Certain HPV infections cause 90 percent of all cervical cancer cases.
• Gardasil protects against the 4 main strains that cause cervical cancer; however, some other HPV viruses may still cause cervical cancer.
• There is no cure for HPV, but, in most cases, the body fights off the infection. However, in about 10% of women the virus causes problems including genital warts, cervical cell changes and cancers of the cervix, vulva, and vagina.
• Gardasil is not a cure for those who have the virus, and it has not been approved for men.
• Approximately 70% of new cases of HPV are found in 15-24 year old females.
• There is no research to show that HPV can be prevented by the use of condoms.
• There is no test for men to see if they are carriers of HPV.

Unlike some STDs, HPV is spread through intimate skin-to-skin contact; therefore, sexual intercourse is not necessary to spread the virus. Protection against the main viruses that cause cervical cancer does not create a safety net for those choosing to have sex outside of marriage. It is important to remember that Gardasil protects against only the 4 main types of the HPV virus, and there are many other forms of the virus (and as many as 25 other sexually transmitted diseases and infections). The only 100% way to protect yourself from getting HPV and other STDs is to abstain from all forms of sexual activity until marriage.