STD: Tips & Precautions

Worried about the repercussions of an unsafe sex escapade? Well, there’s more than just pregnancy and HIV to worry about. There are chances that you might contract STDs as well which may be very harmful to your health.

STDs (sexually transmitted diseases) are on the rise. Western countries have a good knowledge of the term and its consequences but many developing countries are still far behind when it comes to adequate knowledge about unsafe sex and STDs.
STDs can be quite fatal to the body in the long run and can cause several health and reproductive related issues. Here are a few ‘need to know’ facts about STDs.


Sexual Contacts: It doesn’t necessarily require sexual contact between two individuals for STDs to be transmitted. Even an oral act of KISSING can put an individual at risk of contracting STDs.

Oral sex: You can get infected from oral sex of all sorts. Penetration isnt the only act that gives you a first class trip to STD Heaven.
Open sores in the private areas can easily spread STDs if they come in contact with the mouth or any other part of the body for that matter. For example, STDs like Herpes can spread even when the infected area comes in contact with other parts of the body. It is best to refrain from all kinds of sexual contact and activities, including foreplay until the infection is cured.


No physical signs: STDs DO NOT show on peoples faces (well, unless a herpes sore on the lips). So Guys/Ladies, when next you are checking out that HOT Girl/Guy in a bar/club..or wherever..rememeber..you just might be taking home free trial samples of STDs..No return policy here mate!

Virgins: Like mentioned before, intercourse is not the only way STDs can be transmitted. Oral and physical contact with the infected areas can result in the infection spreading to the other person and if you think you won’t be able to contract any such symptoms just because you are a virgin, you are terribly wrong. Also having Sex just ONCE with an infected person is all it takes.


Using Condoms: Condoms can prevent the transmission of sexual diseases like HIV and STDs to a great extent. However, they are not 100% accurate and can cause unfortunate accidents (for example, the condom breaks when inside the body of the partner). Nevertheless, it is always considered to use a condom for sexual intercourse, be it physical or oral.

Catching Symptoms: Many individuals feel that they have less chances of contracting STDs if they fail to notice the symtoms immediately. In contrast to this popular belief, there are certain STDs that show no signs or symptoms on the body until they reach an advanced stage, which in most cases is uncurable. In the worst case scenario, STD’s have known to cause infertility.
The best way to clear your doubts about contracting STD’s would be to take a test immediately. By being ignorant you could cause serious harm to your body and to your partner’s body as well. The saying "ignorance is bliss" certainly doesnt apply here.

Curable STDs: While most STDs are curable, you need to make sure to treat them in time to avoid complications at a later stage. Some STDs like Herpes cannot be cured though. Hence, it is completely necessary that you take the issue seriously and get yourself checked for infections if you indulged in unsafe sex.

Recurring STDs: There are strong chances for STDs to recur. This may be attributed to several reasons, the most common being neglect and callous attitude towards the necessary treatment.
Accordingly, some individuals start to skip their medications or treatment sessions once they notice the symptoms disappearing. However, what one needs to know in these cases is that the medication needs to be completed properly in order to avoid relapses.

Post Diagnosis Stage: If you have been diagnosed with a STD or see symptoms of the same appearing on your body, consult a doctor or a medical specialist immediately. Refrain from all kinds of sexual contact at all costs until you get cured.
On the other hand, if you suspect your partner is infected, advice him/her to seek medical help immediately before he/she risks the chance of passing the infection on to you.

STDs can have temporary and permanent affects on the body. The only way to stay away from them is to practice safe sex. It is better to indulge in sex with one trusted partner rather than enjoying sexual escapades with multiple partners ---> Players and Playettes take note

Remember to play safe and use condoms. Never wait for the infections to disappear on their own, should you get infected. Get medical help as soon as possible to avoid complications later in life.

Men get yeast Infections too...

Few men know that they also can get yeast infections. Yeast infections are not gender specific. The cause of yeast infections, an out of balance Candida Albicans fungus level in the body, can affect either men or women, and when out of balance, can produce negative symptomatic consequences in the genitals .
Sexual transmission with a partner who also has a yeast infection is a method of commuting this bacterial malady. To protect yourself from sexual transmission, open communication with sexual partners about the possibility of sexually transmitted diseases and infections, as well as the use of barrier protection, such as condoms have been known to reduce infections.

A man with a yeast infection will most likely experience some similar symptoms as those of women, such as genital itching, discomfort, or even discharge. If any of these symptoms occur, immediate medical attention should be sought in order to rule out more serious medical conditions before seeking over the counter remedies.

Other symptoms might not lead the man to think of yeast infections at all when experienced. Severe stomach cramps, uncontrollable or increased passing of gas, and other abdominal discomforts would not signify a genital bacterial infection by first glance. Erectile dysfunction on the other hand may be thought of at first as a sign of serious medical or chronic ailment but might actually be a bacterial infection that can be treated with antibiotics.

The treatment for men with yeast infections are the same as they are for women, however the application methods do vary. Male yeast infection OTC treatments can be found for both men and women. Be sure to read the ingredients and follow the instructions carefully.
Wearing loose fitting clothing around the midsection and avoiding scratching the area as well as following your prescribed treatment schedule can aid recovery from a male yeast infection greatly.

If you are a man and you are experiencing any of the above symptoms, reluctant as you may be, you should contact you physician and schedule an examination as soon as possible.

Chlamydia

What is chlamydia?
Chlamydia is one of the most common sexually transmitted infections (STIs). It's a bacterial infection, which is found in semen and vaginal fluids.

Causes and risk factors

Chlamydia is usually passed from one person to another during vaginal, oral or anal sex, or by sharing sex toys. It can live inside cells of the cervix, urethra, rectum and sometimes in the throat and eyes.
Chlamydia can also be passed from a pregnant woman to her baby.

Symptoms

Chlamydia is often referred to as the 'silent infection', as most men and women don't have any obvious signs or symptoms, or they're so mild they're not noticed.
Symptoms can appear one to three weeks after you've come into contact with chlamydia, or many months later, or not until the infection spreads to other parts of your body.

Women might notice:

Unusual vaginal discharge.
Bleeding between periods or during or after sex.
Pain with sex or when passing urine.
Lower abdominal pain.

Men might notice:
White/cloudy, watery discharge from the tip of the penis.
Pain when passing urine or painful testicles.
If the infection is in the eye or rectum, you may experience discomfort, pain or discharge.

Treatment and recovery

Chlamydia is easy to treat with antibiotics, either as a single dose or longer course for up to two weeks.

Tell your doctor or nurse if you're pregnant, or think you might be, or you're breastfeeding - this might affect the type of antibiotic you're given. The antibiotics used to treat chlamydia interact with the combined oral contraceptive pill and the contraceptive patch, making them less effective, so check this with the doctor or nurse.

To avoid reinfection, any sexual partners should be treated too. Every time you have a new sexual partner you need to be tested. If complications occur, another treatment might be needed.

Without treatment, the infection can spread to other parts of the body causing damage and long-term health problems, including infertility.

In women, chlamydia can cause pelvic inflammatory disease. This can lead to:
Ectopic pregnancy (when a pregnancy develops outside the womb, usually in the fallopian tube).
Blocked fallopian tubes (the tubes that carry the egg from ovary to womb).
Long-term pelvic pain.

In men, chlamydia can lead to painful infection in the testicles and possibly reduced fertility.
Rarely, chlamydia can lead to inflammation of the joints in both men and women. This is known as reactive arthritis. When this involves the urethra and the eyes, it is known as Reiter's syndrom.