Genital herpes, Human Papilloma virus (HPV), genital warts, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, Chlamydia, Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID), cancroids and ectoparasitic infections, not to mention scabies and pubic lice, aren’t just scary-sounding names, but very real sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) that women who are dating may be exposed to through their partners.
While it’s safe to say you can be less worried these days about contracting syphilis or gonorrhea (infection rates in this country for women are way down), these other sexually transmitted diseases (and of course HIV) are very real possibilities. HPV is now one of the most common STDs that infect women, and what’s more, you don’t even have to have intercourse to get it. It’s easily transmitted through saliva, which means you can get it from oral sex, or even kissing.
And there's new cause for concern among men: Recent research seems to indicate a link between HPV and increasing rates of throat cancer in men. If the trend continues, the annual occurrence of HPV-related oropharyngeal cancer among men will surpass that of cervical cancer among women by the year 2020, according to a study that will be presented this week at the American Society of Clinical Oncology's annual scientific meeting.
What exactly is an STD? They are infections transferred from one person to another through sexual contact. This contact can include oral-genital contact, intercourse, making out, or an improperly cleaned sex toy, such as a vibrator. STDs probably have been around for thousands of years, and anyone of any age can get them. Most can be treated with antibiotics, although some strains are notoriously resistant.
There is no treatment for HPV except for the passage of time. A person who has an STD may not even know they have it because the disease may be, at least for a time, symptom-less. Swollen lymph nodes, genital itching, fever, vaginal discharge, a feeling of pressure in the pelvis, lesions, a chronic sore throat, chancre sores, or flu-like symptoms that refuse to go away are all indicators you’ve been infected.
How to avoid getting an STD? The most important thing to remember is there is no such thing as “safe sex.” Being in a committed, monogamous sexual relationship works only if both parties have been tested for infection. Kissing new people isn’t really safe as, unfortunately, these are ways that syphilis, herpes, and HPV can be all be contracted.
Using condoms makes sex safer, but condoms do not protect against genital herpes and genital warts, plus they can tear, break, or fall off. Always discuss with a potential new partner your sexual history, and what methods of protection you’re going to take. STDs are no joke; this is one area where ignorance is never bliss!
Eve Marx writes frequently about sex and sexual health for ThirdAge. com
