STDs

Sexually Transmitted Diseases
Can you imagine living with a sexually transmitted disease? How do you think it would feel to know that somewhere along the line you didn’t protect yourself? There are so many diseases in the world that it’s hard to keep up with them all anymore. There are eight major diseases and a couple of them you can die from. For example, you can die from AIDS; it’s easily contracted, but so deadly. Sometimes it can take up to 6 months to a year for it to be found in your blood stream. There are more ways than just sexual activity that you can contract a sexually transmitted disease. Disease can be contracted from sex, sharing needles, or a blood transfusion. Sometimes you don’t think your partner can have anything because a lot of people have the “it won’t happen to me” attitude. If you have that attitude, you’re dead wrong. At least one in four Americans will contract a STD at one time in their life. There are over sixty-five million people currently living in the United States with a STD.
The most deadly STD is HIV/AIDS which stands for Human Immunodeficiency Virus and Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome. It starts out with having HIV, which is just a virus that then turns into AIDS and overtime will kill you. Sometimes symptoms may not show up for six months to a year. AIDS can be passed through blood, sex, or from birth. Symptoms include: cramps, coughing, extreme fatigue, lack of coordination, and painful swallowing. Symptoms may also include forgetfulness, weight loss, vision loss, coma, and/or death. There is no treatment for HIV/AIDS, there is only prevention. The only way to ensure not to get it is abstinence. Imagine finding out that you have AIDS knowing that you have just received your death sentence.
Another STD is herpes. Herpes isn’t as bad as some other diseases but it’s still a disease, and it is still harmful to your body. The symptoms usually include flu-like symptoms and fever with swollen glands. A lot of the time though people don’t ever have symptoms, therefore it’s harder to realize and find out that you have it. Herpes cannot be cured, they can only be prevented. Herpes is a vicious cycle of breakouts after breakouts. Abstinence is number one. Condoms cost approximately seventy-five cents. It is not that hard to stop the action for five minutes to go to the gas station and pick up a condom. Five minutes of held up action or a lifetime of pain and regret. Which would you rather?
A couple more STDs are syphilis and gonorrhea. Syphilis is a sexually transmitted disease that is curable. It may be curable but you can always get it again. Symptoms include fever, sore throat, and weight and hair loss. Symptoms also include a rash of flat, red lesions over the whole body, and ulcers. Gonorrhea is also curable with cephalosporin or quinalone type of antibiotics. Symptoms in women include a painful or burning sensation when urinating, increased vaginal discharge, or vaginal bleeding between periods. Symptoms in men include a burning sensation when urinating, or a white, yellow, or green discharge from the penis. Sometimes men with gonorrhea get painful or swollen testicles.
There are so many types of STDs in the world. Another is Chlamydia; it can be treated and cured with antibiotics. Symptoms in women include an unusual discharge from your vagina, burning when you urinate, pain, bleeding, or discharge from your rectum if you have anal sex. Symptoms in men include a discharge from your penis, burning or itching around the opening of your penis when you urinate, pain, bleeding, or discharge from your rectum if you have receptive anal sex. HPV is another STD. HPV stands for Human Papilloma Virus. Most people who get HPV never know they have it. Most HPV infections cause no symptoms at all. There is no treatment for the virus itself. Over time, a healthy immune system can often clear the virus or at least suppress it. There are treatments, however, for genital warts and cervical cancer.
Last but definitely not least is Hepatitis. Symptoms Include: loss of appetite, fatigue, mild fever, muscle or joint aches, nausea vomiting, and abdominal pain. More symptoms include Dark urine, light-colored stools, jaundice or yellowing of skin and/or eyes, generalized itching, and/or an altered mental state, stupor or coma. Unlike some other STDs, Hepatitis is incurable it is one you have to live with if not die from. So, it comes to show that some STDs are curable while some aren’t. It’s your decision on how you want to live your life. Do you want your sex life to end because someone you had sex with was careless, or would you like to stay protected and be safe.
There are a couple ways to prevent from getting an STD. The only sure way to STDs is to not have sex, but if you do have sex; talk with your partner(s) beforehand about STDs. Work out a safety plan that feels comfortable to both of you. Use condoms every time. Male condoms can prevent most, but not all, skin-to-skin contact during sex. Female condoms cover more skin and may protect better than male condoms. Check your partner's genitals. Don't have sex if you see any unusual bumps. Have sex with fewer people. More partners equal more risk! Have sex with one partner who has sex with only you. If you wanted to get tested check your local phonebook and find the nearest clinic and if you already have an STD there are support groups to help you get through it. Be different-Keep yourself safe :)