The era of the 60s free love is long gone. The threat of sexually transmitted diseases (STD) has definitely put a damper on the flower children's ethos of open love. Nonetheless, sex is a wonderful thing that we should all enjoy without fear or inhibition. It's just important to be safe and smart about it. Although it's difficult during the heat of the moment to think about the practical side, in the long run it's worth it. One in Five Americans has an STD The risk of contracting an STD is astoundingly high. For example, studies conducted by the CDC (Center for Disease Control and Prevention) show that there are 2.8 million new cases of Chlamydia each year in the United States. Women are especially vulnerable to the contraction of Chlamydia, and the rate of new cases for women was over 3 percent higher than that of men. Of course, the consequences of this disease are extremely serious. Without treatment, Chlamydia can lead to infertility and birth defects. It is only one of the many sexually transmitted diseases that circulate widely. HPV or genital warts, which is linked to cervical cancer in women, Herpes, an incurable skin condition affecting the genitals, and even more ominous diseases such as AIDS and HIV are prevalent. Protection is the only form of immunity from these diseases. How to Protect Yourself Apart from abstinence (who wants to go that route?!), the most effective form of protection from sexually transmitted diseases is a condom. Both male and female condoms are effective but studies have shown male condoms in conjunction with the use of spermicide to be the best and safest option. Now don't get any silly ideas ladies... if you are practicing birth control, you might be preventing pregnancy but you are not protecting yourself from contracting an STD. Using a condom 100% of the time is the only way to properly protect yourself. Some Tests Are Not That Scary Another important thing to consider is testing for STDs. It might be a slight nuisance, but getting tested regularly is integral to a happy and healthy sex life. There are serious physical consequences related to sexually transmitted diseases that go untreated. And, depending on the infection, treatments can often be quick and painless. You owe it to your partner and to yourself to be aware of the state of your physical health. Now don't be shy, go out and get your groove on! Just do it with some smarts and protect yourself. |
