Wellness Resources
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Impact
What is Impact?
Impact is an evidence-based program designed for our students to engage in meaningful discussion about alcohol or other substance use. During your Impact session, you will receive personalized feedback regarding your substance use, along with a variety of harm reduction strategies to help you be safe and responsible.
Impact is available to all students, however, may be required for those who have been sanctioned by the Residence Hall system, Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards, Corvallis Municipal Court, Benton County Circuit Court, the City Attorney’s Office, or other off-campus referral sources.
If you have any questions please send us an email!
Sexual Health
The World Health Organization (WHO) defines sexual health as "the state of physical, emotional, mental and social well-being related to sexuality; it is not merely the absence of disease, dysfunction and infirmity. Sexual health requires a positive, 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."
For questions about the Safer Sex Spots and other sexual health resources, please contact:
Amanda Stevens, MPH
Sexual Health Coordinator
email: [email protected]
Have a general question about sexual health?
Submit your questions about sexual health here. Then, check the Barometer weekly to see if our sexual health team has chosen your question to answer.
"Give A Dam With CAPE" Podcast
Join our hosts each week for conversations and interviews on topics related to CAPE’s mission.
Sexual Health Question/Answer Video Series
Safer Sex Spots: Products
Don't want to break the bank on barrier methods? Curious what condoms and other barriers are available on campus? You can find the following products at Safer Sex Spots throughout campus:
- Condoms:
- external lubricated
- non-lubricated
- larger
- non-latex
- ribbed & flavored
- Receptive condoms
- Dental dams
- Flavored and unflavored lubricant
Safer Sex Spots: Locations
- All Student Health Services clinic locations:
- OSU Health Center
- Tebeau Hall Rapid Clinic
- DCE Cultural Resource Centers
- SafeRide vans
- Waldo, 4th floor
PLEASE NOTE: Many of our Safer Sex Spots are closed until further notice. Check out our Remote Programming Page for our online sexual health resources.
Barrier Methods
Barrier methods of contraception offer different levels of protection. Some protect only against unwanted pregnancy; others protect only against sexually transmitted infections (STIs); and some protect against both STIs and pregnancy.
How to use a condom made for the penis
The condom is rolled over the erect or hardened penis.
- Condoms should not be used with oil-based lubricants such as petroleum jelly, Vaseline, or mineral and vegetable oil. Such lubricants damage the condom.
- Check the expiration date and make sure the package is still airtight. Open carefully.
- Make sure the rim of the rolled up condom is facing outward and place it on the head of the penis/object.
- Pinch the tip to leave room for ejaculate.
- Roll condom to base of penis/object.
- Enjoy the action. When finished, hold base of condom while pulling out.
- Remove condom and throw in trash (do not flush).
Remember, practice is important to ensure proper use!
How to use a condom made for the vagina
Remove the condom from its package and rub the outside of the pouch together to be sure the lubrication is evenly spread within it. Be sure that the inner (smaller) ring is at the bottom (closed) end of the pouch, and then hold the pouch with the open (larger) end hanging down.
Squeeze the inner ring with the thumb and middle finger, and then insert it and the pouch into the vaginal opening. With the index finger, push the inner ring and pouch all the way up into the vagina against the cervix
The penis should be guided into the condom in order to ensure that it does not slip into the vagina outside of the condom. After intercourse squeeze and twist the outer ring gently and then pull the condom out keeping the semen inside. Then simply discard as you would a male condom.
Remember, practice is important to ensure proper use! Learn more about condoms made for the vagina (PDF).
Other barrier methods
- Dental dam
- Surgical gloves
- Finger cots
Hormonal Methods
Hormonal methods of contraception protect against unwanted pregnancy, but not sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Here is information on each form of hormonal contraception.
The pill (Oral contraceptives; birth control pills)
- Combined effects of synthetic hormones called estrogen and progestin.
- Estrogen decreases production of the hormone that helps develop the ova within the ovaries.
- Progestin prevents the proper growth of the uterine lining and thickens the cervical mucus forming a barrier against sperm.
- Pills can be progestin only or a combination of estrogen and progestin.
The shot (Depo-provera)
- Injectable progesterone that lasts for three months and prevents ovulation.
The patch (Ortho evera)
- Worn for a week at a time for three weeks, then no patch for three weeks.
- Can be worn on the buttocks, abdomen, upper torso or upper arm.
The ring (NuvaRing)
- Inserted into the vagina and left in place for three weeks.
Emergency contraception
- Combination progestin and estrogen or just progestin; but it’s concentrated enough to interrupt a women’s normal hormonal patterns and prevent pregnancy after unprotected intercourse has already occurred.
- Works better if taken right away, but can be taken for up to five days after unprotected sex.
- Progestin only pill (Plan B) reduces risk of pregnancy by 89 percent.
- Combined pills reduce the chances by 75 percent.
- Is available over the counter at the SHS Pharmacy.
Tobacco Cessation
Oregon State is a tobacco-free campus.
Student Health Services offers one-on-one nicotine treatment services for those who are thinking about or have decided to quit.
These services focus on cigarettes, smokeless tobacco, cigars, hookahs, vaping, E-cigarette and other types of nicotine. The American Cancer Society states that pairing Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) with a cessation program can double your chances of success.
NICOTINE TREATMENT PROGRAM
Program includes:
- Free nicotine gum or patches.
- Visits with a nicotine treatment nurse specialist to discuss:
- NRT options and dosage
- Quit date preparation
- Post-quit date strategies
- And more!
Services are confidential and free to Oregon State students.
If you are not ready to meet with a health educator, but you have more questions, or if you are ready to make an appointment, please call 541-737-9355.
Hot Topics in Tobacco
There are over 800 cases (up 270 cases from 10 days ago) of lung injury reported from 46 states (including Oregon) and 1 U.S. territory (up from 38 states 10 days ago). Twelve deaths have been confirmed in 10 states (including Oregon). Two deaths have now been reported in Oregon.
Using tobacco products while pregnant can negatively affect your unborn babies’ health.
Many toxins found in cigarette smoke are passed to the baby through the placenta. This can deprive the baby of the food and oxygen it needs to develop properly. As a result, babies of mothers who smoke are often underweight. These babies are more likely to need special care and therefore may have to stay longer in the hospital. Some may die at birth or within the first year. Other health risks involved with smoking while pregnant include miscarriage, still births and premature births. According to the American Lung Association, "smoking during pregnancy is estimated to account for 20-30 percent of low-birth weight babies, up to 14 percent of preterm deliveries and some 10 percent percent of all infant deaths."
Some of the effects of smoking while pregnant may not show up at birth, but may begin as the baby develops. Sudden Infant Death (SIDS) is more common among babies of mothers who smoked while pregnant. Smoking during and after pregnancy may lead to asthma in children. Children of mothers who smoked while pregnant may also have learning difficulties and/or behavioral problems.
If you are pregnant, quitting will greatly improve your health AND your chances of having a healthy baby.
Secondhand smoke contains many of the same chemicals inhaled by the smoker themselves.
About 500 chemicals in secondhand smoke are known to be toxic or carcinogenic. There is no safe amount of secondhand smoke; even the smallest amounts can be harmful to your health. Non-smokers who are exposed to secondhand smoke at home or at work increase their risk of developing heart disease by 25-30 percent and increase their risk of developing lung cancer by 20-30 percent.
Secondhand smoke kills approximately 65 Oregonians each month. Ninety-one percent of Oregonians favor a smoke-free workplace.*
Children are especially vulnerable to secondhand smoke. Smoking around children is responsible for many hospitalizations, new cases of asthma, lung infections and is responsible for 40 percent of all SIDS cases.
*Information provided by the Benton County Health Department.
Light cigarettes are generally low-tar cigarettes.
The use of light cigarettes greatly increases as age, education level and income level increases. Because of the light cigarette target market, it is not surprising that women use them much more than men.
Many smokers believe that smoking low-yield or menthol cigarettes is safer than smoking regular cigarettes. Marketing tactics imply that low-yield cigarettes are less harmful. Because many smokers actually block the vents or take bigger puffs when smoking light cigarettes, they may be getting just as much tar and nicotine as from regular cigarettes.
There is no evidence that switching to light cigarettes can help a smoker quit, or improve their health. Smoking light cigarettes is dangerous and poses the same health risks as smoking regular cigarettes.