📝STD Awareness Month

April is STD Awareness Month. STD Awareness Month is here, along with the alarming news that sexually-transmitted diseases (STDs) are on the rise. Recent CDC data for three nationally-reported STDs-chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis-show staggering numbers, with cases of all three diseases increasing for the first time since 2006.

⚕️What are Sexually Transmitted Diseases

Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are passed from one person to another through intimate physical contact – such as heavy petting – and from sexual activity including vaginal, oral, and anal sex. STDs are very common. In fact, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates 20 million new infections occur every year in the United States. STDs can mostly be prevented by not having sex. If you do have sex, you can lower your risk by using condoms and being in a sexual relationship with a partner who does not have an STD. STDs do not always cause symptoms, so it is possible to have an infection and not know it. That is why it is important to get tested if you are having sex. If you are diagnosed with an STD, know that all can be treated with medicine and some can be cured entirely.

⚕️Increase in Sexually Transmitted Diseases
On September 26, 2017, the CDC issued a statement that STDs were at a record high.  Jackson County, Oregon has also seen increases in chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis over the past five years. Preliminary data shows that in 2018, Jackson County saw the highest number of chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis cases. In 2018, Jackson County saw an increase in the number of syphilis cases among females.  This includes an increase in the number of cases of syphilis in pregnant women and women of reproductive age.

⚕️Some reasons to why STDs are increasing are:

1. Increases in intercourse without condoms due to reduced risk of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) transmission from people with HIV who take anti-retroviral medicines²
2. Reduced local public health infrastructure and capacity to investigate cases, notify partners and bring them in for screening and treatment³
3. Abundance of mobile apps facilitating “hook-ups” with anonymous sexual partners⁴
4. Use of methamphetamine and other stimulants, increasing sexual drive while decreasing inhibition

Tips To Prevent Getting An STD

⚕️The good news is that STDs are preventable.  There are steps you can take to keep yourself and your partner(s) healthy:

• Practice Abstinence: The most reliable way to avoid infection is to not have sex (i.e., anal, vaginal, or oral)
• Have Fewer Partners: Reducing your number of sex partners can decrease your risk for STDs. It is still important that you and your partner get tested, and that you share your test results with one another.
• Mutual Monogamy: This means you agree to be sexually active with only one person, who has agreed to be sexually active with only you.  Being in a long-term mutually monogamous relationship with an uninfected partner is one of the most reliable ways to avoid STDs. But you must both be certain you are not infected with STDs. It is important to have an open and honest conversation with your partner.

• Use Condoms: Correct and consistent use of the male latex condom is highly effective in reducing STD transmission. Use a condom every time you have anal, vaginal, or oral sex. If you have latex allergies, synthetic non-latex condoms can be used. But it is important to note that these condoms have higher breakage rates than latex condoms. Natural membrane condoms are not recommended for STD prevention. Know your CONDOM DOs & DON'Ts. The Right Way to Use a Male Condom.
• Talk with Your Partner: Talk with your sex partner(s) about STDs and staying safe before having sex. It might be uncomfortable to start the conversation, but protecting your health is your responsibility.

STD Testing

⚕️Many STDs don’t have symptoms, but they can still cause health problems. Getting an STD is not the end! Many STDs are curable and all are treatable. If either you or your partner is infected with an STD that can be cured, both of you need to start treatment immediately to avoid getting re-infected. Find a STD testing site near you!

⚕️Screening recommendations:

• All adults and adolescents from ages 13 to 64 should be tested at least once for HIV.
• Annual chlamydia screening of all sexually active women younger than 25 years, as well as older women with risk factors such as new or multiple sex partners, or a sex partner who has a sexually transmitted infection.
• Annual gonorrhea screening for all sexually active women younger than 25 years, as well as older women with risk factors such as new or multiple sex partners, or a sex partner who has a sexually transmitted infection.
• Syphilis, HIV, chlamydia, and hepatitis B screening for all pregnant women, and gonorrhea screening for at-risk pregnant women starting early in pregnancy, with repeat testing as needed, to protect the health of mothers and their infants.
• Screening at least once a year for syphilis, chlamydia, and gonorrhea for all sexually active gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (MSM). MSM who have multiple or anonymous partners should be screened more frequently for STDs (e.g., at 3-to-6 month intervals).
• Sexually active gay and bisexual men may benefit from more frequent HIV testing (e.g., every 3 to 6 months).
• Anyone who has unsafe sex or shares injection drug equipment should get tested for HIV at least once a year.

⚕️Each April, recognizes STD Awareness Month. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC):

• There are 20 million new STI cases in the U.S. every year
• The medical costs for these new cases are $16 billion
• Adding the new cases each year with existing infection, there are an estimated 110 million total STIs among Americans

⚕️STDs are common, but people may not know they have an STD because many don’t have symptoms. But left undetected and untreated, STDs can cause serious health consequences. For example, chlamydia or gonorrhea left untreated can put a woman at risk for pelvic inflammatory disease, a condition that can lead to infertility

⚕️The only way to know if you have an STD to get tested. To learn what tests are recommended for you, you can talk to your healthcare provider.

⚕️STD testing can be confidential and free or low-cost, and common STDs, such as chlamydia or gonorrhea, are usually easily treated with antibiotics. For more information about STDs, YES Means TEST, or how and where to get tested, YESmeansTEST.org. Join the conversation online with #YESmeansTEST.

Talking about Sexual Health

• How to talk to your kids about STDs and sexual health
• Ten questions to ask your healthcare provider
• For healthcare professionals: Herpes and HPV toolkits, patient counseling guides, and more

STD Testing

• Learn about STD tests and find a clinic in your area.

⚕️Understanding Sexual Transmitted Disease Prevention

To prevent getting a sexually transmitted disease, or STD, always avoid sex with anyone who has genital sores, a rash, discharge, or other symptoms. The only time unprotected sex is safe is if you and your partner have sex only with each other, and if it's been at least six months since you each tested negative for STDs. Otherwise you should:

• Use latex condoms every time you have sex. If you use a lubricant, make sure it's water-based. Use condoms for the entire sex act. Condoms are not 100% effective at preventing disease or pregnancy. However, they are extremely effective if used properly. Learn how to use condoms correctly.

• Avoid sharing towels or underclothing.
• Wash before and after intercourse.
• Get a vaccination for hepatitis B. This is a series of three shots.
• Get tested for HIV.
• If you have a problem with drug or alcohol abuse, get help. People who are drunk or on drugs often fail to have safe sex.
• Consider that not having sex is the only sure way to prevent STDs.

⚕️It was once thought that using condoms with nonoxynol-9 helped to prevent STDs by killing the organisms that can cause disease. New research shows that doing so also irritates a woman's vagina and cervix and may increase the risk of an STD infection. Current recommendations are to avoid using condoms with nonoxynol-9.

⚕️How Can I Prevent Spreading an STD?

To prevent giving an STD to someone else:

• Stop having sex until you see a doctor and are treated.
• Follow your doctor's instructions for treatment.
• Use condoms whenever you have sex, especially with new partners.
• Don't resume having sex unless your doctor says it's OK.
• Return to your doctor to get rechecked.
• Be sure your sex partner or partners also are treated.

⚕️Which STD Test Should I get?

If you are sexually active, getting tested for STDs is one of the most important things you can do to protect your health. Make sure you have an open and honest conversation about your sexual history and STD testing with your doctor and ask whether you should be tested for STDs. If you are not comfortable talking with your regular health care provider about STDs, there are many clinics that provide confidential and free or low-cost testing.

⚕️Below is a brief overview of STD testing recommendations. STD screening information for healthcare providers can be found here.

• All adults and adolescents from ages 13 to 64 should be tested at least once for HIV.
• All sexually active women younger than 25 years should be tested for gonorrhea and chlamydia every year. Women 25 years and older with risk factors such as new or multiple sex partners or a sex partner who has an STD should also be tested for gonorrhea and chlamydia every year.
• All pregnant women should be tested for syphilis, HIV, and hepatitis B starting early in pregnancy. At-risk pregnant women should also be tested for chlamydia and gonorrhea starting early in pregnancy. Testing should be repeated as needed to protect the health of mothers and their infants.
• All sexually active gay and bisexual men should be tested at least once a year for syphilis, chlamydia, and gonorrhea. Those who have multiple or anonymous partners should be tested more frequently for STDs (i.e., at 3- to 6-month intervals).
• Sexually active gay and bisexual men may benefit from more frequent HIV testing (e.g., every 3 to 6 months).
• Anyone who has unsafe sex or shares injection drug equipment should get tested for HIV at least once a year.

⚕️Adolescents And Young Adults

While sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) affect individuals of all ages, STDs take a particularly heavy toll on young people. CDC estimates that youth ages 15-24 make up just over one quarter of the sexually active population, but account for half of the 20 million new sexually transmitted infections that occur in the United States each year. The resources on this page provide information about the impact of STDs on youth as well as resources for reaching this population.

STD Fact Sheets – Disease-specific information about symptoms, prevention, and treatment.

https://www.cdc.gov/std/life-stages-populations/adolescents-youngadults.htm

Blogger: Egypt Assanti

ESD Baroness

{aka} Big Sister Southern Heat 🎗️