I used to wear them in like 8th grade. I was unaware of any sexual connotation until some idiot at school told me about them. I wouldn't wear them again, not because of what people would think, but because I don't want to.
When I was in 6th grade, it was a trend to pull the little blue plastic things out of soda bottle caps, cut the middle out, carefully stretch, and wear as a bracelet. They were called "kiss-kiss bracelets", because if someone were to break it, they'd have to make out with you. I'd call it a milder version of the whole "sex bracelet" shebang. I was walking around school in 9th grade with about 20 of those on my wrist; I thought they were cool-looking, and some jerkwad says to me, "Are you really that desperate?" I rolled my eyes and walked away. Needless to say, I took all the bracelets off later because my dance teacher complained.
If you want to wear them, I suggest you wear them and not care what other people have to say about it. It requires a lot of self-discipline, but eventually, you won't give a rat's hiney about it.