Here's to the countless times any woman, anywhere on the planet has walked up to the counter at her local Valero or Walgreens (or, you know, whatever they have on the rest of the planet) and bought, red-faced, the Keys to Infinite Pleasure.

At least the Keys to Infinite Pleasure for the Next Couple of Hours (or Minutes ..... what do I know, I don't know you!).

You know how it goes: You grab the condoms. You stake out the cashiers (is it a guy or a girl?). You talk yourself into it: “OH, no, they're having a shift change! There's no way I can buy these from that cute guy! Where's the self check-out?? Why don't they have a self check-out here??” You agonize, debate and finally just give up, vowing never to come to this Valero again. The desire is that powerful.

 Here's to those of you who put yourselves through the shame, the embarrassment, the having to ask for a paper bag. Be grateful they don't have those black plastic bags at Walgreens (hello, porn shop!).

Here's to you because according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly half of pregnancies in the United States are unwanted. And each year, 14 million new cases of STD infections (chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis — that's not even counting HIV/AIDS) are reported, almost half among people ages 15-24.

And for those of you who think you're out of the woods because you're too old: After a couple of years of decline, HIV/AIDS cases reported in the U.S. rose again in 2005; the largest increase was among those ages 35-39.

So you see, a little embarrassment can count for a lot. Whether it's condoms or abstinence, the most important thing is to protect yourself and those around you. Surely the quality of your life (or your life itself) is worth making the effort to prevent STDs and unwanted pregnancy.

Many of us have grappled with what we think we're worth myriad times, but it hit home after a conversation the other day. A friend (a man) was talking about the women who go on shock jock Howard Stern's show and allow themselves to be humiliated and degraded (guys fart on their faces, among other things) to get a free boob job.

“Why do women do that to themselves?” he asked. The fact is, I had no good answer. And while it might be a stretch to connect those chicks who'll do anything for a boob job to making the effort to buy condoms to protect yourself, the concept really is the same: What do you, as a woman, think you're worth? At what point does one say, “Oh, I’m not worth buying a condom, I'll just take the chance of getting pregnant/an STD.”

So, in honor of National Women's Health Week, here's to all those chicks out there who know what they're worth; definitely you’re worth a little embarrassment in the checkout at Wal-Mart.

Julie Vera | 210SA