Super Sex Series: Should You be Scared of STDs?

By: Nicole Colwell, STPRC volunteer 


We hope you’re enjoying our Super Sex Series, which is actually an exploration of the benefits of waiting until you’re married to have sex. In our last post, we discussed how couples who have sex (whether they have sex before they’re married, or they wait) actually demonstrate a creation of chemical bonds in their brains. These bonds were designed to draw them closer. The problem is that many couples who choose to have sex before they get married end up breaking up, thus breaking this bond. This results is a great deal of pain and heartache, as well as a degree of inability to bond with their husband or wife in the future.

As we continue our Super Sex Series, we’d like to talk about a subject that you’ve probably heard a lot about - STDs.

What are STDs?

STDs, or Sexually Transmitted Diseases, are also referred to as Sexually Transmitted Infections. These infections are contracted by having sexual contact with someone who has the infection. Some examples of STDs include:

• Gonorrhea
  
• Chlamydia
  
• Herpes
  
• HPV
  
• Syphilis
  
• HIV/AIDS 

What is my Risk?

Years ago, it was believed that if you used protection (such as a condom) during sex, you weren’t at risk for contracting an STD. However, through significant amounts of research, studies have found that any time you have sex with someone who is infected with an STD, you put yourself at risk for contracting the infection yourself. Condoms offer you some protection, but not enough according to the Centers for Disease Control and Protection website. According to their findings, latex condoms offer some protection against unwanted pregnancy and some STDs. However, there are other types of condoms that may not provide protection against STDs, including HIV. The website also indicates that the failure rate for condoms when used appropriately is 18%.

How Will I Know if I have an STD?

There are a few symptoms you can look for to determine whether or not you may have gotten an STD. These symptoms include:

• Painful urination
  
• Painful intercourse
  
• Open sores near the mouth or genital area
  
• Strange or foul-smelling discharge
  
• Itching or swelling in the genital area
  
• Fever/chills/nausea
  
• Changes in your menstrual cycle
  
  

If you believe you might have contracted an STD, it’s important for you to contact your physician right away to determine the best course of treatment.

The Southern Tier PRC is Here to Help

Although the decision of whether or not to have sex before you are married is entirely up to you, here at the Southern Tier PRC, we have a lot of information and materials that can help you make a good decision. If you would like to speak with one of our peer counselors, we encourage you to make an appointment. You can contact us, or you can also make an appointment through our website by clicking the appointment button above.

STDs are very serious, and they can affect you for the rest of your life. Some STDs don’t surface for years, so you can become infected without knowing it for a long time. It’s our hope that this series on Super Sex will be informative for you, and that it will give you the tools to make excellent choices for your sex life.

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