STDs
If you are involved sexually, you need to
Know the Risks
Beware… Your partner may not know he/she has an STD. 70% of those infected do not know their condition.
Beware… Your partner may not tell you the truth if he/she has been sexually active in the past.
Beware… You can have an STD and have no symptoms for weeks, months, possibly years. STDs are contagious even though no symptoms exist.
Beware… Teens are much more susceptible to STD damage because they have a lower level of antibodies than adults.
Beware… It is extremely important to see a doctor for a check-up if you or your partner have had a sexual experience outside of marriage even though no symptoms exist.
Beware… Condoms do not provide complete protection from any STD or pregnancy. Infection can occur in both males and females whether or not a condom is used.
The Myth of Safe Sex
The word “safe” means free from harm, danger or risk. Safe sex is defined as using a male latex condom during sex play where there is exposure to genitals and sexual fluids. Health officials, sex educators etc. tell us we can have sex with anyone and as long as we wear a latex condom, no harm or danger will come to us. According to the latest research on condoms and their effectiveness in preventing STDs (sexually transmitted disease), condoms have been found to be anything but “safe” sex.
The Condom Effectiveness Conference (June 2000) which was led by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) , reviewed published scientific evidence on condom effectiveness as of June 2000. Based on the conference’s findings, here’s how condoms stack up against some common STDs:
- Human Papilloma Virus (HPV). Also called “genital warts.” Condoms offer little to no protection even if used 100% of the time.
- Trichomonas. No protection even if condoms are used 100% of the time.
- Syphilis. Condoms reduce the risk of transmission by 29–50% if they are used 100% of the time.
- Gonorrhea. Condoms reduce the risk of transmission by 50% if they are used 100% of the time.
- Chlamydia. Condoms reduce the risk of transmission by 50% if they are used 100% of the time.
- Genital herpes. Condoms reduce the risk of transmission by 40% if they are used at least 65% of the time. One study showed condoms reduced transmission risk for women by 25% but men were still at risk.
- HIV/AIDS. Condoms reduce the risk of transmission by 85–87% if they are used 100% of the time.
If safe sex were truly “safe,” condoms would eliminate the risk of STD transmission but the NIH study reveals that condoms only offer risk reduction. Read the back of any box of condoms and see that even condom manufacturers say that when condoms are used properly, they MAY help reduce the risk of catching or spreading many STDs. Realize also, that correct use of condoms means using a condom with EVERY act of sex (no forgetting) and that the 5–7 steps for putting on and removing a condom MUST be followed (you can’t make mistakes or you lose the benefit of the condom). And even if you use them correctly, condoms only reduce the risk of STDs, so you’re still at risk.
Two things that condoms can’t protect are the heart and mind. Condoms can’t prevent the emotional, physical, mental and spiritual bonds that form when two people have sex and condoms can’t reduce the risk and pain of heartbreak when relationships end. Condoms don’t protect against unwanted memories and connections to past sexual partners long after those bonds are broken.
Sources
NIH Report on the Scientific Evidence on Condom Effectiveness for Sexually Transmitted Disease (STD) Prevention. www.medinstitute.org/media/NIH Answers.htm
“Workshop Summary: Scientific Evidence on Condom Effectiveness for STD Prevention.” www.niaid.nih.gov/dmid/stds/condomreport.pdf
See also: Sex, Condoms and STDs: What We Now Know. “Safer sex” isn’t nearly safe enough, The Medical Institute for Sexual Health, 2002.
What Every Woman Should Know About STDs
If you have or suspect you might have a sexually transmitted disease, be sure that you tell your healthcare provider and get treatment. Some STDs can make it difficult for you to conceive. Other STDs may cause severe damage to your baby while in the womb or during birth:
- Chlamydia: eye and ear infections, pneumonia, premature birth, stillbirth
- Genital Herpes: blindness, skin and mouth lesions, convulsions, mental retardation
- Gonorrhea: blindness, pneumonia, jaundice, deficient muscle tone
- HIV, the virus that leads to AIDS: immune system damage, death.
- HPV: can cause genital warts, and is the leading cause of cervical cancer.
Even if you have an STD that can’t be cured, there are treatments that can help to prevent your baby from being infected or harmed.
Resources
Sexually Transmitted Disease Testing
Santa Cruz Drop-In Center
412 Front Street
(831) 457-1163 or (831) 454-4014
Tuesday and Wednesday, 3–6pm
Watsonville Salud Para La Gente
204 E. Beach Street
(831) 728-0222
Wednesday, 1–6:30pm
HIV Counseling and Testing Sites
Santa Cruz Health Services Agency
1080 Emeline Avenue, Building D
(831) 454-4014
Second and fourth Tuesday, 1–3pm
Watsonville Salud Para La Gente
204 E. Beach Street
(831) 728-0222
Tuesday, 1–6:30pm
Hotlines
Free, Anonymous, and Confidential
National STD Hotline: (800) 227-8922
National AIDS Hotline: (800) 342-AIDS
National Herpes Hotline: (919) 361-8488
Spanish AIDS and STD Hotline: (800) 344-SIDA
The Most Common STDs
| STD | Cases | Transmission | Symptoms | Effects |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trichomoniasis | 7.4 million new cases diagnosed each year | Fluid exchange, genital to genital contact | Discharge from penis or vagina, discomfort when urinating; usually appears in women 5–28 days after infection | Genital inflammation |
| HPV | 6.2 million new cases diagnosed each year | Skin-to-skin contact, mother to child during delivery | There are over 100 different strains. Some produce genital warts | Number one cause of cervical cancer in women; may cause penile and anal cancer in men |
| Chlamydia | 2.8 million new cases diagnosed each year | Fluid exchange, mother to child during delivery | May appear 1–3 weeks after infection; abnormal discharge from penis or vagina, burning when urinating, bleeding between periods 75% women have no symptoms 50% men have no symptoms |
PID, severe damage to reproductive organs, infertility in women, sterility in men |
| Genital Herpes | 1 million new cases diagnosed each year | Skin-to-skin contact, mother to child during delivery | Flu-like symptoms, fever; outbreak of blisters usually within two weeks of infection | Recurring outbreaks |
| Gonorrhea | 700,000 new cases diagnosed each year | Contact with the penis, vagina, mouth or anus; mother to child during delivery | Men: Discharge from penis, burning when urinating, pain in testicles; usually 2–30 days after infection Women: Discharge from vagina, burning when urinating, bleeding between periods |
PID, severe damage to reproductive organs, infertility in women, sterility in men, skin disease, arthritis |
| Hepatitis B | 60,000 new cases diagnosed each year | Fluid exchange, mother to child during delivery | Jaundice, tiredness, loss of appetite, nausea, abdominal discomfort, dark urine, joint pain | Cirrhosis of the liver, liver cancer, liver failure |
| HIV | 50,000 new cases diagnosed each year | Fluid exchange, mother to child during pregnancy, delivery or breast-feeding | Tiredness, fever, chills, weight loss, swollen glands, white spots in mouth, constant diarrhea | Weakened immune system, some cancars, pneumonia, damage to central nervous system, death |
| Syphilis | 32,000 new cases diagnosed each year | Direct contact with syphilis sores, mother to child during pregnancy | Primary Stage: one or more small, firm, round, painless sores at the spot where the bacteria entered the body; appears 10–90 days after infection Secondary Stage: skin rash, spots on palms of hands and bottoms of feet; may include fever, swollen glands, sore throat, patchy hair loss, aches, fatigue |
Late Stage: damage to the brain, heart, liver, bones, and joints; paralysis, blindness, death |