Are you a fan of the hit show Gossip Girl? There’s been some controversy over the promos for the new season. Critics argue that the promos are way too sexual and that the ads are sending the wrong message to the show’s teen audience. Take a look at the promos for Gossip Girl in the clip below:

These ads are just another example of sexualized advertisements that specifically target teens. Did you notice the OMFG? Some adults might not know what that means, but ask almost any teen and he or she will know. The teen-friendly OMFG sends a message that clearly says, “Hey teens, watch Gossip Girl! The sex scenes are outta control!” And, just in case you don’t realize how much sex there is on the show, a voice says the word “sex” over and over while sex scenes from the show flash across the screen.

Some people might think, So what? I’ve seen ads like this before. What’s the big deal?

The big deal is that ads like these present a warped view of sexuality that’s all about sexual fantasy and not reality. Important parts of sex—like communicating with your partner and using condoms to prevent sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and pregnancy—are completely left out of the picture. With teens and middle-school kids watching, you have to wonder: How are they supposed to learn about the really important parts of sex that we don’t see on TV, like deciding if you want to have sex, communication and condoms?

The next time you’re watching TV and you see a sex scene, take note: Do the partners discuss their expectations of sex? How about using condoms or other methods of birth control? Do they talk at all about preventing STDs? You’ll find that although there’s tons of sex on TV, there are few realistic portrayals of responsible safer sex.

Did you know that before the 1990’s, sexually transmitted diseases were called venereal diseases or just VD? The word “venereal” comes from the Latin word venereus, meaning of or from Venus, the Roman goddess of love. At one point in time, it may have made sense to use the phrase “venereal disease” to refer to diseases that you can get from lovemaking or sex. But many people were clueless about what the word “venereal” meant, so they never understand that a VD is sexually transmitted!

In the 1990’s, there was a major focus on improving sexual health, especially preventing the spread of HIV/AIDS. Public health officials started to use the phrase “sexually transmitted disease” instead of “venereal disease.” So now when we call diseases, like herpes or HIV, sexually transmitted diseases, it’s clear that they’re transmitted through sexual contact with an infected person.

Check out this old public service announcement from 1969 on VD. The message is that ANYONE can get a sexually transmitted disease—guys and girls of all ages and backgrounds. But if you don’t know what VD is, you’ll totally miss the message. And, you’d probably think VD was something you’d want to get, after looking at the happy people and listening to the song’s catchy tune.

A recent survey of Florida teens found that some teens believe surprising myths about pregnancy and HIV. Let’s put these myths to rest right away.

Myth: Drinking a capful of bleach will prevent HIV infection.

Fact: Drinking bleach DOES NOT prevent HIV infection. Only abstinence—choosing not to have oral, vaginal or anal sex—will prevent the transmission of HIV. And if you’re going to have sex, latex condoms and Sheer Glyde dams—when used correctly each and every time you have oral, vaginal or anal sex—are highly effective at preventing the spread of HIV. Bleach is toxic and will send you to the hospital if you drink it!

Myth: Drinking Mountain Dew will prevent pregnancy.

Fact: Drinking Mountain Dew DOES NOT prevent pregnancy. Only abstinence—choosing not to have oral, vaginal or anal sex—is 100-percent effective at preventing pregnancy. And if you’re going to have sex, latex condoms—when used correctly each and every time you have sex—and hormonal birth control methods like the Pill can prevent pregnancy.

Myth: Smoking marijuana will prevent pregnancy.

Fact: Smoking marijuana DOES NOT prevent pregnancy. Only abstinence—choosing not to have oral, vaginal or anal sex—is 100-percent effective at preventing pregnancy. And if you’re going to have sex, latex condoms—when used correctly each and every time you have sex—and hormonal birth control methods like the Pill are highly effective at preventing pregnancy. Smoking pot causes memory loss, damages lung tissue and increases the likelihood that you’ll experiment with harder drugs.

If we had better sex ed, teens would be less likely to believe in these outrageous myths! Let’s hope that Florida lawmakers pass a bill requiring comprehensive sex ed in schools. Teens need and deserve accurate sexual health info!

There are tons of sex myths out there. Check out the top ten!

On an episode of Flavor of Love 3, Hotlanta, a contestant trying to win Flavor Flav’s love, had a bump on her lip that became the highlight of the show. Everyone thought the bump was a herpes sore, and some contestants couldn’t help but make nasty comments:

Later in the show, all of the women were split into two teams and had to pick one person from the opposing team to “roast.” Hotlanta was one of the women that was chosen. The roast was downright nasty; the Flavor of Love girls were taking turns cracking mean jokes on everything from Hotlanta’s weight to her vaginal odor. One of the girls asked Hotlanta: “What’s up with that herpes on your lip. You better ask the doctor if Valtrex is right for you, boo.”

Hotlanta spoke to Flav and insisted that she didn’t have herpes, saying “If I had anything, I wouldn’t be here.”

Flavor eventually called in a doctor to have Hotlanta tested for herpes. The bump was nothing more than an unfortunate acne outbreak. At the end of the show, Flav gave Hotlanta a clock to keep her on the show.

It’s important to remember that you can have an STD like herpes and not have any symptoms whatsoever. So, instead of jumping to conclusions that someone does or doesn’t have an STD, you and your partner should always get tested before engaging in vaginal, anal or oral sex. It’s also important to always use latex barriers like condoms or dental dams. Latex barriers will reduce the likelihood that you’ll transmit or get an STD like the herpes virus.

Make sure you know what herpes is and how it’s transmitted. Check out the links below for more info on what to do if you have herpes.

http://www.sexetc.org/faq/std/4030
http://www.sexetc.org/faq/std/4033

Gardasil is a vaccine that protects you from certain strains of human papillomavirus (HPV), which are associated with 70 percent of cases of cervical cancer and 90 percent of cases of genital warts. So far, Gardasil has only been approved for use by girls and women ages 9 to 26, but that might change soon. By 2009, Gardasil may be available for guys.

If guys were vaccinated, they would be protected against genital warts as well as the strains of HPV that can cause cancer of the anus and penis. And you know what else is great? A guy who gets vaccinated won’t pass those strains of the virus on to his partners.

We vaccinate against lots of diseases like measles, hepatitis B and even chicken pox, so would it be so bad to vaccinate against HPV, too? Do you think guys should be able to get Gardasil? Comment below, and tell us what you think.