Warning! STDs closer to home than one can imagine!What is a STD?STDs stands for sexually transmitted diseases and is also known as an STIs or sexually transmitted infections. The sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are a broad category and variety of pathogens that includes viruses, bacteria, fungi and protozoa. These bugs cause a wide variety of clinical symptoms that are unwanted and unpleasant. The common denominator between STIs is their mode of acquirement and transmission: sexual relationships in which contact between infected fluids or body parts merge. Spreading of STIs can also occur without sexual relations. A mother with contaminated fluids within her vagina can pass an STD to her newborn at the time of birth.STIs?STIs potentially affect everyone. Having knowledge about them can alleviate concerns. In addition, knowledge of disease prepares an individual for prevention and spreading of disease. Knowing what to look for and when at heightened risks of infection is key. Even more important is getting help and care right away if you think you're infected. Having a sexually transmitted disease makes you more likely to contract HIV (because you immune system is deficient from the existing disease) so make sure to take care of it 1st thing. Furthermore, if left untreated sexually transmitted diseases can cause infertility, impotency, mental retardation and death.StigmaSexually transmitted diseases are out there and likely closer to you than you realize. Maybe a friend of yours or someone, you know of has an STD. Not all of them can be cured and an STD infection when widely known about in the community can cause social stigma. There are at least 60 different kinds of STIs (sexually transmitted infections) but the most occurring are syphilis, chlamydia, gonorrhea, herpes, HIV, AIDS, hepatitis, genital warts, chancroid, public lice or scabies and trichomoniasis (known as trich)Who is at higher risk of STD infection?Some populations and types of behavior put someone into higher risks of infection. College students are one of the populations that are a prime risk for three sexually transmitted infections. Genital warts, scientifically known as human papillomavirus is the most common STD among college students. Second spreading and likely contraction on campus is chlamydia. Thirdly, genital herpes otherwise known as HSV-2 (herpes simplex virus two) is present.People may think who, me? What? really? Yes, really, STIs will take advantage and succeed with the most unprepared. One should never adopt the attitude that they are too lucky or invincible to such a threat. It only takes one time and one incidence to contract an unpleasant viral illness for the rest of your life. You are not immune, and it is your responsibility to be educated about STIs and on guard 24/7. Other vulnerable people that should especially be aware of STIs are those that have casual sex. A male with between two and four sexual partners during a lifetime has a 3% chance of contraction. A 28% contraction rate exists for men if having slept with 20 or more partners. Women, on the other hand, have a five-percent risk of contraction with few partners and a 35% contraction rate with high numbers of partners. Other high-risk
categories for STIs are those under age 25 that started having sex at an early age. Settings with alcohol, illicit drug
use and prostitution also greatly increase the risk of STI contraction. Previous exposure to an STI will likely result in another encounter. Some communities by nature have a higher incidence of STIs. Make sure to do your homework, you could be in a highly infected area where you live.
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