DON'T COUNT ON LUCK, PROTECT YOURSELF!!!
Oh the fear that is instilled in all of us at a young age to scare us from having sex… SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED INFECTIONS (STIs) also known as sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).
The pictures of penises and vaginas with open sores, huge bumps, and nastiness all over it! The thought scared you from ever touching, seeing or feeling someone’s genitals…
HAHA!! Yeah right… those pictures did nothing for you! It scared you for a day maybe, but you went right ahead and had oral sex and sex with no fear after wards. You might have been so fearless that you never or rarely used a condom. I mean, no one really explained to you about STI’s so why worry. You’ve never seen any sores or bumps so you are on the clear!
UMMMM WRONG!!!
Sexually transmitted infections aren’t as visually stimulating as they made them to be in high school health classes. Most of the time, you don’t know you have one; because they are they have no symptoms. That’s why you should get tested regularly!!
Let me explain in more factual details about STI’s.
There are mainly 2 types of infections: bacterial and viral. Bacterial can be cured with antibiotics while viral is more serious and can be treated but never cured.
Lets list all the possible STI’s out there…
· Chancroid – (SHANG-kroid) is a type of bacteria that is transmitted through sexual contact. It causes sores on the genitals, which may pus or be painful. Curable.
· Chlamydia- (klah MIH dee ah) is the most common STI in America. It is an infection caused by a kind of bacteria that is passed during sexual contact. It has no symptoms, yet curable.
· Cytomegalovirus (CMV) - (sigh-tow-MEG-a-low-VI-rus) is a virus that is transmitted through many bodily fluids. Kids can get CMV through saliva and then later adults are usually reintroduced to it via sex. Initially there are no symptoms but later one can see wollen glands, fatigue, fever, and general weakness; irritations of the digestive tract, nausea, diarrhea, or jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes). There is no cure but symptoms can be managed with medication.
· Genital Warts – growths on the skin of the genital area and around the anus. They are caused by certain types of the human papilloma virus (HPV). Usually the body fights off the warts, but one can use medication or freeze them to remove the warts.
· Gonorrhea - (gon-o-RHEE-a), aka the “clap” or “drip”, is a bacteria infection that is passed during sexual contact. It can infect the penis, vagina, cervix, anus, urethra, or throat. This is a major health risk if not treated! It usually has no symptoms but can be cured with antibiotics.
· Hepatitis B – is an infection of the liver. It is spread through semen, vaginal fluids, blood, and urine. In the beginning there are no symptoms but later one’s symptoms first include: extreme tiredness, tenderness and pain in the lower abdomen, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, pain in the joints, headache, fever and hives. Later hepatitis B symptoms include more severe abdominal pain, dark urine, pale-colored bowel movements or jaundice — yellowing of the skin and eyes. There is no cure, but usually your body will fight off the infection in 6-8 weeks.
· Herpes – is a very common infection. There are 2 strands of the virus: herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) and herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2). Both can infect the oral area, the genital area, or both. Symptoms of herpes are “cold sores” or “fever blisters” but in the end it’s all the same thing… herpes. There is no cure, but it can be treated with medication.
· HIV/AIDS – HIV is human immunodeficiency virus, which breaks down the immune system — our body’s protection against disease. HIV causes people to become sick with infections that normally wouldn’t affect them. AIDS is Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome. It is the most advanced stage of HIV disease. HIV is spread by semen, vaginal fluids, blood and breast milk. There is no cure for HIV/AIDS but with the medicine today people can live with it for a long time.
· HPV – aka human papilloma virus is HPV is spread by skin-to-skin contact — usually during vaginal, anal, or oral sex. Most HPV infections have no harmful effect at all. Some types of HPV may cause genital warts. These are called low-risk types of HPV. Some types of HPV may lead to cervical cancer and certain other genital and throat cancers. These are called high-risk types. Currently there are no cures for high risk HPV.
· Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID) – is a serious infection that harms a woman’s reproductive organs. The infection spreads from the vagina and cervix into the fallopian tubes, uterus, and ovaries. It is usually caused by untreated chlamydia or gonorrhea. But it may be caused by other infections. At first there are no symptoms but later * unusually long or painful periods, and unusual vaginal discharge, spotting and pain between menstrual periods or during urination, pain in the lower abdomen and back, fever, chills, nausea, vomiting or pain during vaginal intercourse. If not cured PID can cause infertility, ectopic pregnancy, and chronic pain. There is a treatment for PID.
· Pubic Lice – or you may know it as “crabs” are tiny insects that attach themselves to the skin and hair in the pubic area. Symptoms include * intense itching in the genitals or anus, mild fever, feeling run-down, irritability, the presence of lice or small egg sacs, which are called nits, in pubic hair. There is treatment.
· Syphilis - (SIFF-I-lis) is a sexually transmitted disease caused by bacteria. It can infect the vagina, anus, urethra, or penis, as well as the lips and mouth. Syphilis has 3 stages: Primary Stage — A painless sore or open, wet ulcer, which is called a chancre, appears. Secondary Stage — Other symptoms often appear 3–6 weeks after the sores appear. Symptoms may come and go for up to two years. They include body rashes that last 2–6 weeks — often on the palms of the hands and the soles of the feet. Also mild fever, fatigue, sore throat, hair loss, weight loss, swollen glands, headache, and muscle pains. Late Stage —If not treated one can suffer serious damage to the nervous system, heart, brain, or other organs, and death may result. This can occur 1–20 years after the start of the infection. There is a cure, but damage already done in the later stages will not reversed.
If you want more information about these STI’s and a few others you can go to Planned Parenthood.
The truth of the matter is that half of Americans had or will have a STI at some point of their lives. I can get into all the statistics but at the end of the day, the best way to protect yourself is to have SAFE SEX (condoms are the only way to protect yourself from STI’s) and get tested!!!!
For testing sites around you.
So to answer your question, “can we fuck?”, let me ask you a question, “do you know your status?” There’s nothing sexier then being clean and able to say it loud and proud!! If your answer if yes, then yes we can 
Get tested!!!
