Sexual health is a state of physical, emotional, mental, and social well-being related to sexuality… Sexual health requires a positive and respectful approach to sexuality and sexual relationships, as well as the possibility of having pleasurable and safe sexual experiences, free of coercion, discrimination, and violence. For sexual health to be attained and maintained, the sexual rights of all persons must be respected, protected, and fulfilled. (World Health Organization)
Campus Resources for Sexual Health
Health Services offers many services to help you maintain your sexual health, including family planning, female annual exams, STI Screening and Treatment, and free condoms, male condoms, and dental dams.
Counseling Services works with students on such issues as healthy relationships, assertive communication skills, consent, and exploring sexuality and gender identity.
Lactation rooms are open on campus for your convenience.
NOTE: During the 90th General Assembly Regular Session of 2015, House Bill 1534 was passed becoming Act 943 which requires the Arkansas Higher Education Coordinating Board to develop an action plan to address the prevention of unplanned pregnancy. Providing pregnancy prevention resources to the campus on this site is part of UA Little Rock’s efforts in this regard.
Pregnancy Prevention
Planning whether and when to get pregnant will help prevent stopping out of college and making it harder to get your degree. There are many methods of contraception available to both women and men, and many of them are available in our Health Services clinic on campus. Considerations for choosing the right method include safety, effectiveness, affordability, and accessibility.
- Birth Control Options with information about effectiveness, safety, side effects, and benefits (from Center for Disease Control and Prevention)
- Birth Control Options with information about effectiveness, safety, side effects, and benefits (from Planned Parenthood)
- Arkansas Department of Health’s website for reproductive health
Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs)
Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are infections that are passed from one person to another through sexual contact, whether it be vaginal, oral, or anal sex. Learn about preventing STIs, and what to do if you think you’ve been infected.
- CDC Fact Sheets on STIs
- How Safer Sex protects you
- Is the condom too small? (video) by Health Services
Consent
Sexual consent means agreeing to take part in any kind of sexual activity. Having sex can and should be a positive and pleasurable experience when it’s based on mutual respect and both partners have agreed to it. Sexual consent applies every time you have sex, and to any type of sexual activity at any stage – not just penetrative vaginal or anal sex. Talking about what you do or don’t want to do means you’ll both be able to share what you feel comfortable with and want from sex, which will make the whole experience more enjoyable. (from Avert)
- What Consent Looks Like (RAINN)
- Thinking About Consent as Tea (video) by Blue Seat Studios
- Thinking About Sexual Assault as a Bear Attack (video) by CollegeHumor
- Know Your IX video on Kaltura
- Sex Needs a New Metaphor TED Talk