Lesson 3
Lesson 3 Module 1
Reproductive Health
Consider the list of questions below. These questions are for you to answer for yourselves. Even if you are not sexually active yet, or would not consider yourself currently active at this moment, this information is vital for you to think about. Do you know the answers? Do you know where you can find the answers if not?
Reproductive Health: Right Now
• Are you engaged in sexual activity?
• Do you know how conception occurs? “(or how a person becomes pregnant)
• Do you know the point in your cycle when you are most fertile or likely to become pregnant?
• Do you understand your choices for birth control?
• Are you aware that most birth control options do not protect you from STIs? (Sexually Transmitted Infections)
• Do you know how substance use can impact development of a fetus?
• Are you aware of the long term effects substance use can have on a baby, well into adolescent years?
Discuss:
Do you have a reproductive life plan? What might it include? We will have an example in our resource section that you can use to write one.
Alcohol Use
Reproductive health and sexual activity are clearly linked. We argue that drug and alcohol use are often linked to both. There are times when how you use alcohol or drugs impacts your ability to engage in healthy relationships – with both yourself and
others. It can additionally affect the ability to make decisions such as:
• Your ability to give consent (say yes or no)
• Who your sexual partners are
• When you have sex or hook-up with a person
• How far you decide to go
• If you use protection like condoms
Discuss:
Have you considered how drug and/or alcohol use influence who you engage in sexual activity with? How and when you engage?
Healthy Relationships
Did you have examples of safe, caring relationships growing up?
How does that affect you?
Do you discuss family planning with partners you are in serious relationships with?
Do you discuss safe sex with sexual partners?
Do you know how to have difficult conversations?
Do you know how to express your thoughts and feelings clearly to another person?
Does drinking, for example, cause you to fight more with your partner?
Discuss:
Consider a time when using drugs or alcohol may have impacted your ability to communicate with a partner or a friend, or your ability to make healthy choices.
Decision Making
When we say decision making, we mean the ability to make things happen and not just let things happen. When you have good decision making skills, you can identify various options, the probable consequences of those options, and the impact those options will have on others.
When we talk about having agency, we are talking about exercising your capabilities. This means being present and making decisions about your future so that you can be in control where possible and not feel like your life is simply happening to you.
Discuss:
Think of a situation when you have felt like you had no agency. In the future, how can you try to avoid that?
Reasoning
When we talk about using agency in your life and making decisions, it often includes the process of reasoning. Different people have different experiences and emotions that shape their reactions and ability to handle situations – you feel a specific type of way usually because of a prior experience. People who are unable or unwilling to explore decision making outside of their emotions may have issues with reasoning. It is important to both acknowledge your emotions and to examine the facts of a situation.
Discuss:
Because reasoning is rooted in fact it often doesn't take into account your feelings/emotions. Your feelings and past experiences may affect what decision you make. Has this ever been true for you?
Listening to Your Intuition
Intuition, often referred to as your “gut feeling,” is another piece of decision making. Intuition is a combination of your past experience and your personal values and reflects what you’ve learned about life.
Discuss:
It is worth taking your intuition into account because it reflects what you’ve learned about life.
Listening to your intuition is always important, and sometimes, it can be the most important factor. If something just feels wrong, or if you’re in a place that makes you feel uncomfortable for a reason you can’t put your finger on, or a person comes across as just seeming “off” – it is okay to remove yourself from a situation or conversation without explanation. You can also take the time to figure out why you have the “gut reactions” you do. Working on both listening to and understanding your intuition can be important as you age.
Discuss:
Sometimes a situation just feels wrong to you, and that is okay. Explore why if you have the time, but this is often a protective instinct and you should listen to it.
Decision Making
Let’s take another look at this graphic. We encourage you to continually think about how these different areas overlap. Now that we have looked at most of them – we want to more directly examine substance use and the reasons why people use and misuse drugs and alcohol.
