STDs: Staying Informed is Staying Safe

Sex Education has always been a major part of the educational system: in earlier years, it was important for the [sex] safety of the rapidly-maturing adolescents. The latter years have shown sex education to cause controversy in the system, in which has continued its role in preserving a now, over-generating population of sexual beings; the age range steadily decreases by the passing years. 2009 statistics show a whopping 44,828 cases (all stages) of STDs, nationally, with a rate of 14.7. Statistics for a recorded year of just a mere 10 years earlier, show 35,385 cases, and there's a controversy about whether or not to have Sex Education in our schools? I would let the statistics speak for themselves.

Now, children may have a 'pass' [slightly] at not being completely aware, or knowledgeable on sexually transmitted diseases. But, there is no excuse for an adult! It's almost as more common in numbers for an adult to be infected with a STD, as it is for a younger person. For all who may not have knowledge of STDs, or may need to brush up to stay informed, here are a few facts to get you in the "know".

Sexually Transmitted Disease is [Merriam-Webster©] any of various diseases or infections that can be transmitted by direct sexual contact including some (as syphilis, gonorrhea, Chlamydia, and genital herpes) chiefly spread by sexual means and others (as hepatitis B and AIDS) often contracted by nonsexual means. In more recent times, the internet has additional definitions: sexually transmitted infections (STIs) has been preferred, as it has a broader range of meaning; a person may be infected, and may potentially infect others, without showing signs of disease.

The most common sexually transmitted diseases are gonorrhea, syphilis and Chlamydia. But they are definitely not the only ones. A person can also become infected with HIV, urinary tract infections, Herpes and much more. Not all STDs arrive with signs/symptoms or with any symptoms at all. Let's not forget the STDs that are neither bacterial, nor viral: public lice ["crabs"] and scabies are sexually transmitted as well. Symptoms for the lice would be a feeling of getting 'bitten'.

You must be even more careful of STDs without any symptoms. These STDs are like a silent enemy, creeping on you and causing harm. Trichomoniasis has a characteristic that predominantly affects the female with symptoms, and the male can be a host for the parasite years before seeing any symptoms.

Stay informed, and don't take people for granted; you may be doing the right thing by your body, but it doesn't mean that your partner is doing the same. If possible, keep it safe... wrap it up.