Sexual Health

When you are sexually active, pregnancy is usually the greatest concern. You might think that you might be treated as an outcast, laughed at, and criticized. Pregnancy is something to be very concerned about, but sexually transmitted diseases are equally, if not more, worrisome.

The Basics

In the past, there seemed to be only two known major sexually transmitted diseases (STD): gonorrhea and syphilis, and both were treatable with penicillin. Things have gotten much worse since then: there are now over a dozen STDs, some of which are incurable

STDs: Prevention

Did you know that STDs can be spread through all forms of sex and/or intimate skin-to-skin contact? Contrary to popular belief, condoms are not as effective at preventing the spread of STDs. Using a condom during sex can sometimes reduce the risk for transmitting or contracting certain STDs, but using a condom never eliminates the risk entirely.

Abstaining from sexual activity is the only 100% guarantee to avoid pregnancy, and it is the only sure way to avoid contracting an STD. If you feel that you are not ready to have sex, or if you do not want to put yourself at risk for getting pregnant or contracting an STD, then abstinence is your best choice.

STDs: What Are They?

What is Chlamydia?
Chlamydia is a common STD which can possibly cause permanent and lasting damage to a woman's reproductive organs if left untreated. It is the most frequently reported bacterial STD in the United States. It often shows no signs or symptoms, which is why it is sometimes called the “silent sterilizer”, and can cause irreversible damage to a woman’s reproductive system.

Were you aware that Chlamydia can also be found in the throats of women and men who have had oral sex with an infected partner?

What is Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID)?
Pelvic inflammatory disease is the infection of the uterus, the fallopian tubes, and other female reproductive organs . It can cause damage to the fallopian tubes as well the tissues in and around the uterus and ovaries

If you have been infected with PID once before, it is not unlikely that you will suffer from another episode due to damages in your reproductive organs that occurred with the first infection .

What is Gonorrhea?
Gonorrhea is a very widespread STD. The CDC estimates that over 700,000 people in the U.S. develop a new gonorrhea infection each year. Gonorrhea is spread through contact with the penis, vagina, mouth, or anus, and can also be passed from mother to baby during delivery.

Whether or not you experiences symptoms, an infection with gonorrhea can cause serious complications.

What is Herpes?
Herpes is a common viral infection that causes oral herpes (cold sores or “fever blisters”) that appear on and around the mouth and lips, and genital herpes that are found below the waist - on and around the genitalia.

Did you know that a person who has herpes, but is not showing the signs of a herpes outbreak, can still potentially pass it on to someone else ?

Herpes is one of the four incurable STDs – there is no treatment to cure herpes.

What is Syphilis?
Syphilis is sometimes referred to as “the great imitator” because its signs and symptoms are sometimes very similar to the symptoms of other diseases or disorders.

Syphilis symptoms occur in 3 stages, and many people infected with syphilis do not show any symptoms for years. However, they are at risk of suffering health complications later if they do not receive treatment.

What Are Genital Warts?
Genital warts are warts that grow on and around the genitals. The STD that causes genital warts is called human papillomavirus (HPV) .

After having sexual contact with a person who is infected with HPV, it could take weeks or months before warts appear, or they may never appear at all .

What is the Human Papillomavirus (HPV)?
There are over 100 different types of human papillomavirus. More than 30 of these types are transmitted through sexual contact, and they can infect the genitalia of both men and women . The majority of people who become infected with HPV will not experience any signs or symptoms, and their bodies will get rid of the infection on its own.

There is no cure for HPV, but for most women, the infection goes away by itself.