What You Should Know About STDs

Sex is an enjoyable aspect of being an adult, but it is also one which requires some measure of responsibility. Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs) are a reality, but one that can be handled with a few simple precautions. Don't let the fear of an STD keep you from enjoying your sex life, but do let it guide your behavior enough to protect your health and well being. STDs range in severity from mild irritations that can be cured easily to permanent or chronic diseases that are currently incurable but somewhat manageable. In extreme or undetected cases, some STDs can lead to infertility, organ damage or even death - but in today's modern world, if you know what to look out for and what to do to protect yourself, you can remain healthy and sexually active throughout your life.

Although the only surefire way to prevent contracting an STD is thru abstinence, or avoiding sexual activity, it is an unrealistic (and certainly not an enjoyable) form of prevention for most people. The next best thing is to limit your sexual partners in order to limit your risk. There is a saying that when you have sex with someone, you are also having sex with everyone that they have had sex with and everyone that each of those people have had sex with, etc., etc. So limit the people that you have sex with to people whose sexual history you know and are comfortable enough with to discuss protection honestly.

STDs are transmitted by the sharing of bodily fluids or by skin to skin contact between an infected person and another individual. So although some transmissions can be prevented by using condoms, transmission is still possible for some diseases if one partner has a sore or cut on their body. If the sore is a symptom of an STD, rubbing up against it can spread the disease to you. If the sore is a cut of some kind, then infected fluids of their partner could potentially enter the body through that sore. Unfortunately, many people are not well educated about the ways that STDs are passed and they may also not recognize when they have an STD. So caution is the best way to protect yourself from STDs.

When discussing sexual history, you'll want to know when the person last got tested for STDs, especially HIV, the virus which causes AIDS. If you or they have never had a test, then you can get one together. You'll actually be advised to have 2 tests over a period of 6 months in order to be certain that neither of you carry this or other diseases. During all of this time, it is important to use condoms in order to reduce your risk of contracting an STD. Be sure you understand, however, that even condoms cannot prevent the transmission of all STDs because you will likely have skin to skin contact with your partner even with a condom on. There are a number of STDs that are easily treated with antibiotics or other medication, but others that are yours to manage for the rest of your life. A list of the 10 most common STDs is provided below.

1 - Yeast Infections - Even though you might not think of it as such, yeast infections are often spread sexually. If a woman has a yeast infection, she can pass it to the man, although he may not recognize any symptoms. Then he can continually pass it back to his partner. If this is a problem for you, see your healthcare professional. He or she may be able to recommend some medication, hygiene or even dietary changes that can help with this problem.

2 - Gonorrhea is a painful infection that causes discharge from the infected area. It is caused by the bacteria Neisseria gonorrhoeae, but it is easily treated with antibiotics from your healthcare professional.

3 - Chlamydia is another bacterial infection that also results in discharge and/or pain in the infected area. It is also treatable with antibiotics.

4 - Syphilis is a bacterial infection as well, which, before it was understood and treated, would start with a rash that could actually spread throughout the body and cause major damage to the hear and brain as well as skin and tissue deterioration. It is a sad fact that a few generations ago, this disease could even lead to death, but in the Western world today, the disease is easily treated and cured - so detection is important.

5 - AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome) is caused by the HIV or human immunodeficiency virus. This disease, once a near immediate death sentence, is now treated with aggressive medications that allow some people to lead somewhat normal lives. However, it is not curable, and some people either cannot afford or will not respond to treatment. In these cases, severe infections and death will result. It is important to realize that even if a person is being treated with medications, they can still pass the disease to their partner.

6 - Genital herpes is a painful, chronic STD caused by the herpes simplex virus. It causes painful rashes of sores that will come and go depending on the person's immune system and stress levels. There is no cure for this disease, but there are medications that can help to limit the number of outbreaks that a person experiences. However, even if a breakout is not present, you may still pass it to a partner.

7 - Hepatitis B is not as common as it once was, but this virus can lead to serious damage to the liver. It is also known to cause liver cancer in some people. As a virus, it is difficult to eliminate, but it can be suppressed considerably with medication.

8 - Trichomonas occurs in women and is caused by a parasitic organism that invades the vagina. It causes abnormal vaginal discharge, but can be easily treated.

9 - Pubic lice are not truly a disease, but an infestation. They are commonly called 'crabs' and are similar to head lice, but live in the pubic hair and cause extremely irritating itching in the genitals. They can be eliminated by a rigorous treatment of shampoos and chemical treatment of any exposed clothing or linens.

10 - HPV is the human papilloma virus which is what causes genital warts. These sores are spread by skin to skin contact and cannot be entirely eliminated, although outbreaks are often controlled to the point of making very rare appearances.

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