STD Awareness Week, observed April 11-17 this year, provides an opportunity to raise awareness about sexually transmitted diseases and how they impact our lives; reduce STD-related stigma, fear, and discrimination; and ensure that people have the tools and knowledge to prevent, test for, and get treatment for STDs.
Protecting your teen from STIsThey include: Have a mutually monogamous sexual relationship with an uninfected partner. Use (consistently and correctly) a male latex or female polyurethane condom, even for oral sex. Reduce chance of HIV infections by preventing and controlling other STIs.
Signs and symptoms that might indicate an STI include:
- Sores or bumps on the genitals or in the oral or rectal area.
- Painful or burning urination.
- Discharge from the penis.
- Unusual or odd-smelling vaginal discharge.
- Unusual vaginal bleeding.
- Pain during sex.
Viruses such as HIV, genital herpes, human papillomavirus, hepatitis, and cytomegalovirus cause STDs/STIs that cannot be cured. People with an STI caused by a virus will be infected for life and will always be at risk of infecting their sexual partners.
Contracting an STD, even an incurable one, can be manageable. Many are treatable, even curable, through antibiotics or antiviral medications, and some STDs clear up on their own. With most STDs, you may not show any signs or symptoms.
Depending on the type of STD test you took (urine vs blood), most results are returned within two to three days. Talk with your doctor about a screening if you're experiencing any of the symptoms outlined below.
Can you get an STD from oral sex? The short answer is yes, you definitely can. There are a number of STDs that can be spread through oral sex, and you can be at risk whether you are giving oral sex or receiving it.
Although the exact cause is unknown, urethritis typically occurs due to STIs, such as chlamydia or gonorrhea. It can also occur due to irritation. If the cause is due to a bacterial infection, the discharge may be white and cloudy. A male may also notice that the end of their penis is painful, itchy, or swollen.
You can get a STD from vaginal, anal, or oral sex. You can also be infected with trichomoniasis through contact with damp or moist objects such as towels, wet clothing, or toilet seats, although it is more commonly spread by sexual contact. You are at high risk if: You have more than one sex partner.
The appearance of bumps on the lips, or labia, of your vagina can indicate a sexually transmitted infection. If you have contracted the herpes simplex virus and now have genital herpes, you may develop clusters of red bumps around your vagina.
Use CondomsUsing a condom correctly every time you have sex can help you avoid STDs. Condoms lessen the risk of infection for all STDs. You still can get certain STDs, like herpes or HPV, from contact with your partner's skin even when using a condom.
IKnowUShould2 is a media campaign, started in 2012, targeted at Philadelphia youth ages 13-24. The campaign aims to improve adolescent knowledge and testing behaviors for Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) such as gonorrhea, chlamydia, syphilis, and HIV.
STI can lead to chronic diseases, pregnancy complications, infertility, cervical cancer and death, as well as facilitating the transmission of HIV infection. In developing countries, this group of infections and their complications are among the top five reasons that adults seek healthcare.
