People often feel uncomfortable or awkward discussing or asking questions regarding STI’s, and this is undoubtedly due to the stigma that continues to surround this topic. However, this article is here to provide you with the information on STI’s in order to keep yourself and partner(s) safe. The aim is to break the taboo surrounding sexual health as it is incredibly important to be aware of how to keep yourself as safe as possible.
What Is A Sexually Transmitted Infection?
An STI is an infection acquired through sexual contact. The bacteria or viruses that cause the infection can be passed onto people through blood, saliva, semen, and other bodily fluids. It is always important to discuss this before engaging in sexual activity with a partner, as it can be spread easier than what most people may think.
What Is The Primary Cause Of An STI?
People often neglect the idea of safe sex, but it is important to remember that safety is as equally important as pleasure. The risk of transmission increases when sexual intercourse occurs without the use of protection such as using condoms. Condoms act as a barrier between two people, hence the extremely low risk of being able to spread infection. The rate of STI’s are surging day by day and as the pathogens are mutating and developing resistance mechanisms, undiagnosed patients are the root cause of the increase in the spread.
Due to the stigma that surrounds the topic, many people feel embarrassed to visit a doctor or a sexual health clinic to discuss or receive treatment for STI’s, however, this only poses a further risk to others.
What Are The Common STI’s?
Bacteria, viruses, and parasites cause different types of infections. Some of them are curable and some don’t require any treatment. Some of them may be asymptomatic or mild and others are highly pathogenic.
A few common STI’s are:
- Syphilis
- Gonorrhoea
- AIDS
- HPV
- Chlamydia
- HBV
- Herpes
Every infection has the risk of symptoms and can affect people in different ways. If anyone discovers or feels any abnormalities, especially within the reproductive or genital region, it is crucial to visit a clinic or a doctor to get checked out to stop the infection from worsening and infecting others.
Who Is At Risk Of Developing An STI?
There is no age or gender restriction when it comes to sexual infections. The most common reason why people become infected is if they are sexually active (more so if they have more than one sexual partner). However, it is possible for babies to acquire an infection from a mother’s womb, or a thalassemia patient can acquire it from a blood transfusion.
How To Tackle STI’s
Here are some ways you can prevent the infection:
- Use condoms – there are condoms available for men and women.
- If you have more than one sexual partner, be sure to inform them of this
- Visit your doctor every so often to get an STI test and keep an eye out for any changes
Final Words
Step one in breaking the taboo regarding a sexually transmitted infection is to talk about it and educate others on the signs, preventions, and treatments. It is important not to panic if you feel you may be infected, as mentioned, there are some treatments available. It is also your own responsibility to keep as safe as possible when having sexual intercourse and break the habit of neglecting protection.
