When you are sexually active, pregnancy is usually the greatest concern. You might think that you will be treated as an outcast, laughed at or criticized. Pregnancy is something to be very concerned about, but sexually transmitted diseases are equally, if not more, worrisome.
In the past, there seemed to be only two known major sexually transmitted diseases (STDs): 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.
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.
What is Chlamydia?
Chlamydia is a common STD that can possibly cause permanent and lasting damage to a woman's reproductive organs if left untreated.iv It is the most frequently reported bacterial STD in the United States.v 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.viiIt can cause damage to the fallopian tubes as well as 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 damage in your reproductive organs that occurred with the first infectionx .
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 experience 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. Genital herpes 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?xvii
Herpes is one of the four incurable STDs – there is no treatment to cure herpes.
What is Syphilis?
Syphilis is occasionally 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 three 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)xxiv.
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.xxv
What is the Human Papillomavirus (HPV)?
There are over 100 different types of human papilloma virus. More than 30 of these types are transmitted through sexual contact, and they can infect the genitalia of both men and women. xxvi The majority of people who become infected with HPV will not experience any signs or symptoms, and their bodies will get rid of the infections on their own.
There is no cure for HPV, but for most women, the infection goes away by itself.
There are a lot of pros and cons to dating, and it all depends on how you approach your dating relationships. If you feel that you are not ready or not interested in having a committed relationship with another person, you may want to postpone dating until you feel that you are ready. There is no rush to start dating a person.
The decision to have sex is a very important one, and there are lots of things to consider and think about before having sex. If you have already had sex, there are still some important things for you to think about as well. Remember that there are risks involved in having sex, such as pregnancy or getting an STD – even when using birth control or a condom. The only sure way to avoid getting an STD or to prevent pregnancy is to practice abstinence. Once you are in a long-term, mutually monogamous, and committed relationship with an uninfected partner (in marriage), you will not have reason to worry about getting an STD.
Do you want to talk with someone about your relationship? We are here for you. Please feel free to contact us.
This information is intended for general educational purposes only and should not be relied upon as a substitute for professional medical advice.
i Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Trends in Reportable Sexually Transmitted Diseases in the United States, 2004.
ii Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Tracking the Hidden Epidemics: Trends In STDs In the United States, 2000.
iii National Institutes of Health, “Scientific Evidence on Condom Effectiveness for Sexually Transmitted Disease (STD) Prevention” (June, 2000).
iv-viii Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Chlamydia Fact Sheet, 2006.
ix-xii Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Pelvic Inflammatory Disease Fact Sheet, 2004.
xv-xxii Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Genital Herpes Fact Sheet (May, 2004).
xv-xxviii Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Syphilis Fact Sheet (May, 2004).
xv-xxxiv Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Genital HPV Infection Fact Sheet (May, 2004).
National Cancer Institute, Human Papillomaviruses and Cancer: Questions and Answers (June, 2006).
