If you are someone who is already sexually active or about to have their first sex, it is highly recommended that you understand what STDs are and what you have to do to avoid them. STDs are sexually transmitted diseases and are also called STI i.e. sexually transmitted illnesses. STDs don’t have any symptoms so don’t be under the impression that you will know when you have them. Furthermore, there are STDs that can be cured but there are ones that can take your life. With frequent sexual relations, they can keep coming back too even if you have already treated them.
The danger of having STDs is not lower in men or women – they equally exposed to this danger. How much of a chance there is of you having an STD depends on how frequently you have sex. If you want to keep away from the regret of a lifetime, here are a few things you can use to keep STDs away from you:
Use Protections
Using protection is the best way of avoiding STDs after abstinence. Abstinence in its strictest sense is when you don’t get into any type of sexual activities at all – not even oral. Protection is not a matter for men only. Women should be equally concerned about protections and ask their partners to use protection as strictly as possible. Condoms made of latex are the most recommended method of preventing most of the STDs. When your male partner is giving your oral pleasure, the best method to avoid STDs is to use dental dams. While it is a pretty straightforward thing to use, you can still watch online videos to know how dental dams can be used.
Have Some Rules
Have some rules when it comes to having sex. First, you don’t want to involve in sexual activities when you are drunk or under the influence of any drugs. The best way is to not get drunk and avoid using any drugs. Moreover, it is best if you choose one life partner and stick to that partner. Don’t keep on changing partners frequently. Also, you would like to keep a partner who is only attached to you and in sexual relation with you. Of course, it won’t be your fault if your partner has been cheating on you and keeping you in the dark.
Proper And Timely Testing
Don’t ever try to trust your intuitions and observations when it comes to STDs. Most STDs don’t have any symptoms and so you will only get to know about them when they have already got worse. Frequent STD testing is the best way to keep yourself informed about your situation. Of course, you have to ask your partner to follow the same rules as well. Make it a habit to have yourself and your partner tested for STDs regularly. Do not hide things from each other because you are going to cause devastation that way. By transmitting these diseases to others by not telling them you are actually putting their lives in danger.
Vaccination And Circumcision
People who have risks of getting STDs can make use of a drug called Truvada to be on the safe side. You should not hesitate from using this medication as it has been approved by FDA. Hepatitis B vaccinations are given to people when they are little babies. If you missed your vaccination as a baby, you might consider getting vaccinated for hepatitis B now. Ask your doctor if you can still have this vaccination at your age. Furthermore, circumcision has been reported after several studies to be a great way to prevent STDs. In fact, the studies have proved that men can prevent HIV even if they have come in contact with a woman with STDs through circumcision.
Ditch The Myths
There are many myths associated with sex and prevention of STDs. Some people think taking a bath and washing the genitals after having sex will prevent them from having STDs. While it might help in a small way, no studies have proved this method to be effective in avoiding STDs. Even worse, some women go for douching after sex – they believe that it will help them avoid STDs. Studies have proved that it actually increases their chances of having sexually transmitted diseases.
Claiming that circumcision prevents a health problem is a compulsion of circumcised men to have done to others what was done to them. Historically, this compulsion has led to over 200 potential health claims for circumcision. All have been refuted. Thirteen national and international organizations recommend against circumcision.
Many professionals have criticized the studies claiming that circumcision reduces HIV transmission. The investigators did not seek to determine the source of the HIV infections during their studies. They assumed all infections were heterosexually transmitted.
Many HIV infections in Africa are transmitted by contaminated injections and surgical procedures. The absolute rate of HIV transmission reduction is only 1.3%, not the claimed 60%. Even if the claim were true, based on the studies, about 60 men had to be circumcised to prevent one HIV infection.
Authorities that cite the studies have other agendas including political and financial. All other national and international organizations that have positions on circumcision oppose it. Research shows that circumcision causes physical, sexual, and psychological harm, reducing the sexual pleasure of both partners. This harm is ignored by circumcision advocates. Other methods to prevent HIV transmission (e.g., condoms and sterilizing medical instruments) are much more effective, much cheaper, and much less
invasive. Even HIV/circumcision studies advise using condoms. With condoms circumcision adds no benefit to HIV prevention. For more information see HIV page under Medical Issues at circumcision dot org.