Sexual Health and Risk Reduction
Sexual Health and Risk Reduction
This domain tests how infections and pregnancy risk are reduced, what testing means, and how consent connects to safety. Grade 7 content stays factual and non-graphic: naming risks and protective actions.
Core rules
- STIs include bacterial infections (chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis) and viral infections (HPV, HIV, herpes). Many have no symptoms, so testing matters.
- Transmission can occur through unprotected oral, vaginal, or anal sex, blood exposure, and from parent to child during pregnancy or birth. Kissing, hugging, and sharing food do not transmit HIV.
- Barrier protection: condoms reduce the risk of many STIs and pregnancy when used correctly every time. Other contraception (pills, implants, injections) prevents pregnancy but does not protect against STIs.
- Testing is private and often free or low-cost. A negative test does not cover the window period; timing matters.
- HPV vaccine prevents the HPV types most linked to cervical and other cancers; it is most effective before exposure.
- Abstinence from sexual contact is the most effective way to prevent STIs and pregnancy. Emergency contraception reduces pregnancy risk after unprotected sex but is not a regular method.
Worked example
A student says, 'We used withdrawal, so we don't need STI testing.' Reasoning: withdrawal does not prevent skin-to-skin or fluid transmission of STIs, and it is less effective for pregnancy than condoms. Testing is still needed if there was unprotected contact. The mark is for separating pregnancy risk from STI risk.
Traps
- Believing only 'promiscuous' people get STIs.
- Thinking two condoms are safer; they increase friction and breakage.
- Assuming no symptoms means no infection.
- Treating emergency contraception as a routine method.