It's the time of the season....

Have you ever wondered why there are so many September birthdays? Well count back nine months and think about what everyone was doing. Between the mistletoe and the eggnog it's no wonder that the cold winter months mean sex, and lots of it.

As Tufts students we don't have to wait for New Years to have an excuse to drink too much and make out with people. As a release from tension (both school and sexual), we have the Naked Quad Run. Although I do not believe that the act of running around the quad naked is inherently sexual, any environment that involves mass quantities of alcohol and college students probably means some unplanned sexual encounters.

So, in honor of spontaneous sexual decisions, and in the spirit of cramming, I've compiled a Cliff Notes list of 5 things everyone should be aware of before they kick off of this holiday season.

1.Genital Herpes (HSV) -- This sexually transmitted disease affects an estimated one out of five teens and young adults in the United States. I wish I could say that to avoid contracting this disease one must simply refrain from touching genitals with oozing sores, but unfortunately, it's not that simple. Although herpes is most easily contracted when outbreaks occur, it is very possible to contract this disease from a partner who is showing no visible outbreak. If you have contracted this infection, and are going to develop symptoms (which not all people do), they are most likely to occur within the first two to four weeks after you were infected

2. Genital Warts (HPV) -- Even more popular than Herpes, this virus is thought to infect anywhere from 50 to 75 percent of sexually active men and women in their lifetime. Again, be on the lookout for visible signs of the disease (soft, moist, pink or gray raised bumps), but also be aware that many people are carriers with no visible symptoms. Although there is no cure for the virus, often the symptoms go away on their own. However, in women this virus is much more serious. Certain strands of HPV are strongly linked with the development of cervical cancer. For this reason, it is recommended that all sexually active women get regular pap smears to test for pre-cancerous conditions.

3.Chlamydia -- the good news about Chlamydia is that it's as treatable as strep throat. The bad news is that it's often aesymptomatic and goes untreated which can lead to chronic pain and/or infertility. By age 30, 50 percent of sexually active women have had a diagnosable chlamydia infection. The symptoms, which occur only between 25 and 50 percent of the time, include abnormal discharge and burning during urination within the first 1 to 3 weeks of initial exposure.

4. Gonorrhea -- The name sounds pretty intimidating, but similar to chlamydia, Gonorrhea is very treatable. Unfortunately, also similar to Chlamydia, it is often undiagnosed, and an undiagnosed infection can again lead to chronic pelvic problems in women. Most men infected with Gonorrhea do develop symptoms, which include a burning sensation during urination and abnormal discharge within 2 to 30 days of exposure. Women develop similar symptoms, which are often misinterpreted as another type of vaginal infection, or a urinary tract infection.

5. Condoms are not God...-- If you don't want to catch an STD, using a condom is your best bet. However, condoms cannot guarantee that you will not contract an STD. Not only do condoms slip and break, but often times lesions or warts fall outside the area protected by the condom.

I don't mean to piss on everyone's parade here, I just think it's important that we are all able to make informed choices. If you are going to take risks, it's best to know what the consequences of those risks may be. Whatever sexual risks you do or do not take is your business. Although, personally, I know I'd rather show a bit of restraint this holiday season then have to ask Santa for penicillin and herpes medication as stocking stuffers.

Note: All information for this article gathered from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. For further information about sexually transmitted diseases please go to www.cdc.gov/std/ or contact health services