What Is A Sexually Transmitted Disease?
A Sexually Transmitted Disease (STD) is an infection that spreads from person to person. Often, it is bacteria that is at the core of most of these diseases. However, there are also viruses and viral infections that can cause the spread of sexually transmitted diseases.
How Are STD Transmitted?
With rare exception, an STD will be transmitted via sexual intercourse. HIV would be an example of a STD where nonsexual practices such as IV drug use can spread the virus. Some STs Dare exclusively spread by blood to blood contact.
Certain diseases might be spread by skin to skin contact.
What Are The Most Common STDs Currently Presenting A Major Health Risk Throughout The Globe?
Syphilis, Genital Herpes, Chlamydia, HIV/AIDS, and Gonorrhea would be the most common. The severity of the health threat of each of these diseases do vary. Syphilis is far more dangerous than herpes and HIV is assuredly a much greater risk to health than syphilis.
What Practices Can Spread An STD?
Oral, vaginal and anal sex can spread sexually transmitted diseases. In some cases, the risk of contracting a particular disease is greater or lower depending on the specific practice and the actual disease in question.
For example, herpes can spread very easily via oral sex. HIV, however, is more commonly associated with anal and vaginal transmission.
Who’s At Risk For STDs?
The persons at risk for STDs may vary depending upon the particular disease in question. In general, those that have more than one sex partner will be placed at a higher risk for an STD than someone that is monogamous.
Anyone that practices unsafe sex will also be at great risk. Studies have shown that those living in metropolitan areas and under the age of 30 will suffer more risks. In some cases, a sexually transmitted disease can be spread via other means than sexual intercourse.
HIV, for example, can be spread via blood transfusions and the use of IV drugs.
Can Condoms Effectively Stop The Transmission Of STDs?
This can be a difficult question to answer. It would be inaccurate to state that condom usage will be able to eliminate the transmission of an STD at 100% effectiveness. There will always be a risk for condom failure.
That said, using a condom can dramatically lower the potential of contracting an STD. Used properly, a condom can present a reliable barrier preventing bacteria or viral transmissions.
Is There Any 100% Full Proof Method That Can Prevent An STD From Being Transmitted?
The only way to completely reduce the chances of getting an STD would be total abstinence or having sexually intercourse with someone that knows for sure via testing he or she does not have an STD.
How Can You Tell For Sure That You Have An STD?
The only way to be completely sure whether or not you have an STD would be to undergo comprehensive testing. Blood tests can detect the presence of such diseases quite effectively. It is suggested that you have a second test performed to be sure that the results are conclusive.
This will be the case whether you have a positive or negative result from your tests. Questions may arise regarding when you should have a test performed. Obviously, if you are showing the signs or symptoms of a particular sexually transmitted disease, you want to have a test done.
That said, you, like mostly everyone on the planet, are not versed in what the symptoms of STDs are. So, the best step to take would be to have a test performed once a year if you are sexually active and embody certain risky behaviors.
What Are The Symptoms Of STDs?
Shockingly, many sexually transmitted diseases have no visible symptoms. Because of this, many sufferers of STDs do not take the necessary steps to actually seek treatment for the problem.
There are, however, certain signs and symptoms that should raise serious concerns about having contracted an STD. For example, discharge from the penis or vagina or a burning sensation when urinating would be a major sign.
Sores, bumps and rashes around the genitals would be another. Even serious flu-like symptoms in the days after sexual intercourse might be a major sign of having contracted an STD.
Are There Known Cures For STDs?
Gonorrhea, syphilis and chlamydia can be cured. HIV/AIDS and herpes cannot be cured. Generally, those STDs spread via bacteria can be cured because the troubling bacteria can be destroyed.
Can You Develop An Immunity To An STD?
No one is immune to an STD. Just because you have been treated for an STD does not mean you will become immune from it and will not catch it again in the future.
Are Women At A Greater Risk For These Diseases?
In many instances, the answer is yes. Women may be more susceptible to contracting an STD and the effects of such diseases can be even worse on many women. Chlamydia, for example, can have extremely serious complications for women than may be the case with men.
How Can You Tell Your Partner You Have An STD?
Those worried about telling their partner should realize the person will eventually discover the problem if they notice the symptoms on you or themselves. It is best to be direct with a partner and let them know you have contracted an STD and that they should be tested.
Delaying telling a partner you have an STD places everyone at risk.