When there is a decision to open up to a person on a physical level, you open the door to several health risks which you may not be aware of. Sexually transmitted diseases commonly called the STDs may not take much to transfer a simple skin to skin touch can transfer the diseases. Let’s explore a few myths and facts that every adult should know regarding STDs.
Table of Contents
What are sexually transmitted diseases (STDs)?
Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are health conditions that develop when you are involved in a sexual intercourse or coming in contact with body fluids of an infected person can lead to sexually transmitted diseases. Sexually transmitted diseases are one of the most highly transferable diseases especially if you are sexually active.
What are the common signs of sexually transmitted diseases?
Depending on the type of the disease there can be several symptoms of sexually transmitted diseases. Also during the initial stages you may not experience any major symptoms. The few common symptoms can include:
- Weird smelling discharge from vagina or penis
- Bleeding from vagina even when not on period
- Extreme pain during intercourse
- Visible sores or bumps around penis, vagina or mouth
- Discolored vaginal discharge
- Pain while urination
Consult a general medicine hospital in Coimbatore if you are not quite sure why you are experiencing these symptoms.
What are the types of sexually transmitted diseases?
There are quite a few commonly reported sexually transmitted diseases that include:
- Genital herpes
- Chlamydia
- Gonorrhea
- AIDS/HIV
- Vaginitis
- HPV
What are the common myths and facts about STDs?
Myth 1: Condoms completely prevent the risk of sexually transmitted diseases.
While condoms reduce the risk of transmitting sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), they do not provide complete protection. This is because certain STDs, such as herpes and genital warts, can spread through skin-to-skin contact. If a condom does not fully cover an infected sore or wart, there is still a risk of transmitting infections like those caused by the herpes simplex virus (HSV) or human papillomavirus (HPV).
Myth 2: Involving oral sexual activity cannot spread sexually transmitted diseases
Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) like herpes, syphilis, gonorrhea, and HPV can be spread through oral sex. An HPV infection from oral sex can lead to warts in the throat or even cause cancer in the head or neck. Therefore, it’s possible to contract STDs through oral sex.
Myth 3: You cannot have STDs if you have single sexual partner
You can still contract an STD even if you have sex with just one partner or only once. Regardless of the number of partners, it’s important to get tested for STDs and use proper protection every time you have sex.
Myth 4: STDs always cause symptoms
Many STDs do not show any symptoms, so they need to be detected through blood tests. Even if you have no symptoms, you can still pass the infection to others. This is why it’s important to get tested for STDs before having sex.
Myth 5: Teens are at lower risk when compared to active adults
Teens and young adults are at higher risk for STDs due to unprotected sex or not receiving proper health care advice about sexual activity. Additionally, young women’s bodies are more biologically susceptible to STDs.
Myth 6: STDs only affect once in lifetime
Some STDs, like gonorrhea and chlamydia, can return even after treatment. For instance, you can become infected again if you have sex with someone who has the infection.
Myth 7: STDs cannot be treated
Many sexually transmitted infections (STIs) can be cured, and most, including HIV, can be managed with treatment. The sooner you find out you have an STI, the sooner you can start treatment and help prevent it from spreading to others.
Myth 8: Only one partner needs to get checked for STDs
Just because you don’t have an STD doesn’t mean your partner should skip getting tested. What if your partner has an STD, and you’re unaware of it? To prevent the spread of STDs, both partners should get tested before having sex.
Myth 9: STDs can spread through toilet seats
In most cases, a virus starts to die as soon as it leaves your body, so it can’t survive on a toilet seat or infect someone else. For example, HIV requires an open wound to enter the bloodstream, so simply sitting on a toilet seat isn’t enough to catch an STD.
Myth 10: If you are not involved in sex you cannot get STDs
Choosing intimate acts that don’t involve full intercourse doesn’t mean you’re safe from STDs. Viruses and bacteria that cause STDs can enter the body through tiny cuts or tears in the skin. Additionally, for STDs like herpes, all it takes is direct skin-to-skin contact with an infected area.
What are the tips to lower the risk of sexually transmitted diseases?
The only way to completely avoid the risk of sexually transmitted infections is to not have sex. If you engage in sexual activity, you can:
- Always use a latex condom during any type of sex.
- Be selective about your sex partners and avoid having sex if you think your partner might have an STI.
- Get tested for STIs regularly to help prevent spreading them to others.
- Also, ask new partners to get tested before you have sex for the first time.
- Avoid alcohol or drugs before having sex, as they can lead to risky behavior and skipping safety precautions.
- Learn about the signs and symptoms of STIs, and if you notice any, see a healthcare provider as soon as possible.
Important Takeaway:
Most STIs clear up with treatment, but some may need ongoing medication to manage. You can get the same STI again if you’re exposed to it after it has been treated. It’s common for people diagnosed with an STI to feel embarrassed or ashamed. Reach out to the best gynecologist hospital in Coimbatore if you are looking to get checked for sexually transmitted diseases.