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Sexually-Transmitted Diseases: Advice for Singles Who Don’t Want to Stop Having Sex
If the notion of catching a sexually-transmitted disease makes you fearful about enjoying intimate physical contact with another adult, you’re certainly not alone. Gonorrhea, chlamydia, genital herpes, HIV and other STDs are easily contracted, easily shared, and can cause a range of health problems. Crossing your fingers and hoping that a sex partner is safe is not enough to protect oneself from disease. The only sure way to eliminate the risk of STD is total abstinence. Refraining completely from sexual contact is not, however, a realistic option for those who wish to continue to enjoy intercourse and other adult intimacies.
Common sexually-transmitted diseases
The spectrum of sexually-transmitted diseases is amazingly varied and includes such communicable diseases as gonorrhea, syphilis, chlamydia, genital herpes and human papillomavirus, or HPV. Each of these diseases may be spread via genital contact and/or exchange of bodily fluids and each can have the most dire of consequences.
If left untreated, syphilis, gonorrhea, chlamydia and other STDs can result in a range of serious medical complications, including but not limited to infertility, heart disease, brain damage, blindness and sterility. Women who become pregnant while infected have a much higher chance of passing birth defects, mental retardation and blindness to their unborn child, says the National Institutes of Health.
HIV, or human immunodeficiency virus, is transmitted by way of sexual contact and can destroy a person’s immune system and lead directly to death. Symptoms of HIV infection may include high fever, headache, fatigue, swollen lymph glands and a sore throat. A somewhat less common but still worrisome STD called Trichomoniasis is caused by a single-celled organism and can cause severe genital itching
It is interesting (and a bit frightening) to note that a person can be infected with an STD yet show no obvious signs or symptoms. When symptoms are present, they may include painful urination, genital soreness or itching, abdominal pain and genital discharge. Testicular pain in men and painful intercourse in women are common signs of infection with a sexually-transmitted malady. Exceptionally heavy menstruation and bloody spotting between periods is another sign of STD in females.
Who is at risk for STD
According to the Center for Disease Control, sexually active adolescents and young adults between the ages of 15 and 24 are at highest risk of contracting and spreading STDs such as gonorrhea and chlamydia. In fact, this youthful demographic accounts for nearly two thirds of all reported STDs in the United States. While this statistic is alarming, young people are not the only ones who are in peril. In fact, anyone who has sex –whether they are straight, gay, or bisexual, is susceptible to infection with a sexually transmitted disease.
Fortunately, there are a number of methods that can significantly reduce one’s risk for contracting a dreadful sexual disease.
Best practices to avoid STD
As mentioned above, totally abstention from sexual activity is the only 100 percent sure way to eliminate the risk of STD. The second-best way to avoid STD infection is to use a condom every time you have sex with another person. Don’t rely on a person’s healthy appearance. Medical experts explain that visual clues cannot prove a person is free from STD. A person who appears robust and healthy may indeed be carrying a dangerous sexually-transmitted disease. A barrier device that eliminates the exchange of seminal fluid can go a long way toward preventing the transmission of STD.
Monogamous partners who are tested before entering into a sexual relationship have the best chance of remaining STD-free for life. Persons who are sexually active do themselves a fine favor with regular STD testing In NYC or wherever they happen to be.
Communication is key
When it comes down to it, you probably should not be having sex with anyone you cannot be completely honest with. Before taking a relationship to a sexual level, have a frank and honest discussion about sexual health. It’s a good idea for a new couple, especially if one or both partners has been sexually active in the past, to submit to STD testing before jumping into bed with each other.
Sex can be a wonderful experience to share with someone special. Honest and open communication are imperative to a healthy relationship and can enhance intimacy between healthy, consenting sex partners.
Randy Glickman is a marketing director in Chicago, IL. Randy enjoys sharing his research online so as to make it easy for anyone to find the right STD test for their needs, privacy and budget, even on their smartphone.
