STD basics: are you protected?

Sexually transmitted diseases are very common in America. Medical research shows that more than 65 men and women have some type of STD, and that many infected people are unaware they have any problems with their sexual health. This wouldn’t be the case if sexually active adults were to undergo regularly scheduled screening tests, as most medical experts recommend. However, most people never get tested for STDs because they don’t think there’s any reason to suspect that they’re in danger.

Turns out, there are plenty of reasons for sexually active people to worry about contracting STDs. Unless your sexual partner has been tested, there’s no way to know whether he or she may be carrying a crippling or unpleasant illness that could be transferred into you. Some STDs are easily treated and cause very few serious problems. Other STDs are incurable and can cause lifelong problems -- including unpleasant blisters, warts, bleeding or discharge – or significant damage to the male or female reproductive system. The risk of contracting an STD is too great to overlook getting a fast, easy STD screening test.

Common STD Symptoms

How do you know if you have an STD? The top thing to watch out for is anything unusual in your pelvic or genital area. Many STDs have their own unique symptoms, but some universal signs of STDs include bleeding from the penis or vagina, unusual rashes, strange blisters or the yellowing of the skin or eyes. You may experience pain during intercourse or burning while urination. Symptoms may also include unexplainable fevers, weight loss or fatigue. If you have any of these symptoms, contact your doctor immediately and ask to be given an STD screening test. Early treatment is vitally important to make sure the STD doesn’t do any long-term damage to your body. Screening tests administered through a clinic or doctor’s office are usually sufficient in detecting most STDs.

Protect yourself

Birth control pills won’t protect you against STDs. However, wearing condoms will. The male or female styles of condoms will block most STDs from entering your body assuming they don’t break. However, it is not advisable to have sex with someone who you know has an STD, even if you’re wearing protection at the time of intercourse. These devices do lower your risk of catching an STD, but they are not guaranteed to work.

Caution and common sense are your best tools for guarding against STDs. Don’t sleep with people who you know have had several sexual partners who likely have never been tested. Also, don’t have sex with people who you suspect of using any kind of drugs that involve the use of needles, as STDs can also be passed along via drug use. Limit your sexual partners to people who are smart and confident enough to receive STD screening tests. Only then can you rest easy knowing that sex can be fun and safe.

Incurable, But Not Untreatable