What types of STDs are there?
Anywhere from 35-50 different kinds of STDs exist today. The most common STDs are Chlamydia, Genital Herpes, Human Papilloma Virus (also known as HPV), Gonorrhea, Syphilis, HIV/AIDS, Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (also known as PID), and Hepatitis B. Chlamydia is the most common and widespread bacterial STD in America. 46% of chlamydia infections occur in teenage women and as many as 75% of women do not have symptoms of infection. Silent infections are a significant cause of infertility. Half of the women who have chlamydia are also infected with gonorrhea. Gonorrhea is often a cause of Pelvic Inflammatory Disease which can cause infertility. Genital herpes is contagious whether or not symptoms are present. There is no cure for herpes-only the symptoms can be treated. A person may suffer from these sores off and on throughout his/her life. HPV, the virus that causes genital warts, is the #1 reason women visit a gynecologist. There is no cure for HPV. Syphilis is caused by a bacteria which can remain in the body for many years. This STD can be passed on to a woman's child during pregnancy. Hepatitis B is passed through the blood and during intercourse. 40-50% of children born to infected mothers develop liver cancer. HIV is passed through intercourse and blood and remains a deadly virus that will eventually develop into AIDS. This information serves as only a brief description of each STD.


What are the symptoms of STDs?
Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID) is an infection that can destroy a woman's reproductive system. It may cause pain or may be asymptomatic. PID can cause a woman to be sterile. Chlamydia has been labeled as the silent sterilizer. If guys have symptoms, it is usually a discharge and burning with urination. This STD is curable, but the damage can be permanent. Gonorrhea usually produces abdominal pain for females and a pus-like discharge and painful urination for males. It is curable, but if left untreated the damage can be permanent. Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) is an incurable virus that causes genital warts, and cancer. Since this virus can spread throughout the sexual area and is transmitted by skin to skin contact, condoms offer no protection. Genital Herpes is an incurable virus that causes painful blisters around the sexual area that can last a lifetime. Herpes can be fatal if passed to a newborn. Herpes is also transmitted skin to skin, so condoms give no protection. HIV usually results in AIDS. AIDS is fatal and there is no cure. Those with HIV have no symptoms but are contagious. The fastest growing way of spreading HIV is girl/guy sexual relationships. Many of these STDs can be spread by skin on skin contact. Oral sex does not protect from STDs. A person can contract such diseases as gonorrhea, syphilis, chlamydia, and AIDS through oral sex. This information serves as only a brief description of each STD.


How at risk am I for an STD?
According to former U.S. Surgeon General, C. Everett Koop, "when you have sex with someone, you are having sex with everyone they have had sex with for the last 10 years, and everyone they have had sex with for the last 10 years." To put that into perspective, consider the facts of sexual exposure. If you have had 1 sexual partner and they have had 1 partner, then you have obviously only been exposed to 1 person. If, however, you've had 4 sexual partners, then you have been exposed to 15 people. If you have had 6 partners, you have been exposed to 63 people and if you have had 8 partners, you have been exposed to 255 people. Those who have had 12 sexual partners have been exposed to an unbelievable 4,095 people. This exponential analysis assumes that your partners have only had the same number of partners as you have had-if they've had more, the numbers would rapidly increase. 1 in 5 Americans presently have an STD and nearly 80% of people that are infected with an STD do not know it. You can have an STD and have no symptoms for months-even years-but STDs are contagious even though no symptoms exist. Women are often more at risk for STDs because their bodies don't always display symptoms and damage can result. Infections can cause severe damage to delicate reproductive organs, resulting in infertility. Teens are more susceptible to STD damage because they have a lower lever of antibodies than adults do. 66% of all STDs occur in persons under age 25. If you are involved sexually, you need to know these risks.


How can I protect myself from STDs?
It seems these days that we want simple solutions to complex problems, but there is no easy answer on how to handle STDs. You can't take a pill to make you immune and condoms just don't cut it. There is an answer, but it isn't easy. The answer is sexual abstinence. It isn't easy. It means you have to delay something that you may want right now. It also means taking personal responsibility for your actions-taking charge of you. You choose to wait now so that you can have something much better later on. Abstinence isn't new, or easy, and may not even be popular, but it works. Think about it-in the long run, isn't your life worth the wait? A sexually healthy person is able to enjoy an intimate, loving, committed relationship. A person who has experienced an STD may be hurt physically as well as emotionally. Curable as well as incurable STDs can have long-term effects on a person's life. When you look at what you have to lose versus what you have to gain-abstinence from here on out just makes sense. It's not easy; in fact, it is one of the most difficult choices a person will ever make. It requires a tremendous amount of self-control, self-respect and self-discipline. You might say, "but what does it matter? I've already messed up." It's not too late to make a change and make a commitment to yourself (and your future spouse) to turn around and start over. It's never easy, but it's always worth it!


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