Commonly known as STDs, sexually transmitted diseases are passed when you have sex with an infected person. The sexual activities that can infect you with STD are ones that involve the penis, mouth, vagina or anus.
STDs need treatment as they are serious diseases. HIV is an STD that is deadly and incurable. By knowing more about STDs, you can learn ways to protect yourself from getting the following STDs:
- Gonorrhea or the ‘clap’
- Genital herpes
- Syphilis
- Genital warts/Human papilloma virus (HPV)
- Chlamydia
- Hepatitis B
Symptoms
Most of the time symptoms will not show but if they do, they may include:
- Severe itching near the vagina or penis
- Warts, bumps or sores near the vagina, mouth, penis or anus
- Pain during sexual intercourse
- Rashes on the skin
- Chills, aches, fever, pains
- Redness or swelling near the vagina or penis
- Foul-smelling discharges from the vagina. Discharges from the penis
- Night sweats, weight loss, diarrhea
- Pain during urination
Consult a doctor as soon as you show any symptoms so tests can be given to determine if you are positive for an STD. If placed under treatment, it can:
- Help you recover and stay healthy
- Help cure many STDs
- Help you prevent from passing on the infection to others
- Help relieve the symptoms of STD
Most STDs are treated with the use of either oral or injectable antibiotics. It has to be noted that even when you feel better, the complete course of antibiotics has to be taken. Your illness may be different from other people’s which means that you must never take medicines from someone else. This could make it hard to diagnose your illness. In the same manner, you must not also share your medications with other people.
Protection/Prevention
Here are some of the ways to prevent or protect you from STDs:
- The surest way from getting infected is to abstain from sex.
- Correctly use a latex condom to all your sexual activities. A water-based lubricant is a better choice if you want to use some.
- Avoid having multiple sex partners. The more sex partners you have, the higher risk you’ll have of getting STD.
- Have a monogamous sexual relationship with only one sexual uninfected partner. Your partner should also have only you.
- Choose your sex partners well. Do not engage in any sexual activity with the one you suspect may have an STD though just looking at a person is not a guarantee you will know if he or she is infected or not.
- Get tested for STD. Avoid passing the infection to others.
- Avoid using drugs or alcohol before engaging in sexual contact. The influence of alcohol or drugs may make you forget to use a condom during sex.
- Learn more about the different signs and symptoms of STDs. Examine yourself and see if you have it or observe if your sex partners have it.
- Read and learn more about STDs. You can better protect yourself when you know more about STDs.