Sex and sexuality

Safer sex

Sexual development

For parents

Protect yourself against STDs

Most teenagers think they do not have to protect themselves against STDs. One might say: “I cannot get an STD, because I carefully choose a sex partner. I never make love to those who sleep around”. This attitude towards sex safety is completely wrong. You never can be sure your partner is not infected. First of all, one does not have necessarily to sleep around to get an STD, a single sex contact is enough for getting infected. Secondly, most STDs do not show any symptoms; therefore many infected persons think they are completely healthy. No one can forget about safety measures as long as he or she has sexual contacts. Do not begin sex life without being aware of STDs and the ways you can protect yourself from.

What are STDs?
As the name says, sexually transmitted diseases are infections which pass from one person to another during sexual intercourse. Some people think they can get infected only through vaginal intercourse and for this purpose replace it by another sort of sexual activity thus making a crucial mistake. STDs can be transmitted through any sort of sexual contact no matter whether it is a vaginal or an anal intercourse or an oral-genital contact. This implies that any kind of sex activity necessarily requires protection against sexually transmitted diseases. Even those who avoid contacts with body fluids and use sex toys for penetration risk to get infected through shared and unwashed sex toys. Always keep this in mind and do not allow anyone talk you into having unprotected sex contact.

What are the most spread STDs?
Syphilis is an STD caused by spirochete bacterium, Treponema pallidum. The incubation period lasts during 3-4 weeks. Then a chancre appears on the place the bacterium got into organism through. The chancre is completely painless. Usually it appears on genitals or in the mouth. After some time the disease provokes loss of hear, headaches, fatigue, sore throat and white patches on the nose or mouth. If untreated syphilis affects brain and heart and then results in death.

Gonorrhea is an STD provoked by a bacterium called gonococcus. This disease shows almost now symptoms in women and considerable affects men. Men infected with gonorrhea suffer from painful urination and ulcers which appear on the genitals. If untreated, gonorrhea affects eyes, joints and other organs.

Genital herpes is a sexually transmitted infection. Infected persons usually suffer from stomach ache, headache, fever and little blisters which cover the genitals and than turn into painful ulcers. The disease is especially dangerous for women , because the virus can provoke cancer of uterus and non-carrying of pregnancy.

AIDS is a disease provoked by HIV that is human immunodeficiency virus. The disease destroys human immunity function. As the result the infected person dies of a disease his organism cannot struggle with. AIDS also passes through blood and from the infected pregnant woman to her baby. Being untreatable AIDS is the most dangerous disease among those who can be transmitted through sexual contact.

How can you protect yourself against STDs?
There is no better way to protect yourself against STDs than a condom which gives you circa 98 per cent protection against various infection provided it is used properly. Carefully read the instruction a condom comes with and follow all the given recommendations to avoid the condom’s breakage which is likely to cause an STD transmission or unwanted pregnancy.

If you want to increase the condom’s effectiveness than use it together with a lubricant containing a sperm-killing agent. By the way, use only water based lubricants, which unlike oil-based ones do not cause the condom to break.
Keep in mind that any kind of sex must be protected. Anal sex also requires using a condom as well as oral one. Modern condoms are very thin and do not decrease erotic sensations.
Some teenagers when lacking sex resort to masturbation, sometime they satisfy themselves with help of a sex toy. Keep in mind that sex toys must never be shared, especially if unwashed. Any object which got in contact with body fluids can transmit infections.
One more tip. Avoid occasional sex contacts. You do not think that five minute pleasure is worth your health, do you?
Unfortunately, no mean can guarantee 100 per cent protection against STDs and unwanted pregnancy. Therefore if you realized you show some STDs symptoms you must necessarily apply to a doctor for treatment.

What symptoms can make you suppose you have an STD?
• Genital itching
• Bloody discharge from vagina
• Reddening, ulcers, warts or blisters on or around genitals or anus
• Painful or more frequent urination

All STDs must be treated in time, before they became chronic. Be aware of complications untreated STDs can cause
• Inflammatory diseases of uterus
• Female infertility
• Male infertility
• Prostatitis
• Growths on genitals: cervical cancer, penile cancer and cancer of the vulva

Never try to treat an STD by yourself as such a treatment is not going to be successful. What is more it is likely to worsen the disease.

No doubt you understand that it is better to prevent a disease rather than undergo medical treatment. Always use a condom, no matter who your partner is. And always keep in mind the following:
• Many infected persons do not know they have a disease. Do not believe anyone who says he or she is healthy and refuses using a condom
• It is silly to think that such a trouble can happen to anyone but you. You can easily become this unfortunate “anyone”.