When you are sexually active, pregnancy is usually the greatest concern. You may be afraid of what your parents or boyfriend will do if you become pregnant. You may also be concerned that you will not be able to finish school or pursue your career. While pregnancy is something to be very concerned about, sexually transmitted infections are equally, if not more, worrisome. You are at risk from pregnancy if you have sex around ovulation (about 3 days a month), but you are at risk for getting an STI every time you have sex.
If you're out there having sex and thinking "Sexually transmitted infections, that won't happen to me", think again. There are now more than a dozen STIs, several of which are chronic, life-long infections. In the United States, it is estimated that there are 19 million new infections each year - over half of these occurring in young people, ages 15-24.i Presently, over 70 million people in the U.S. are currently infected or have been infected with an STD or an STI (sexually transmitted infection). ii
Did you know that STDs can be spread through all forms of sex and/or intimate skin-to-skin contact (oral sex, outercourse, anal sex, mutual masturbation)? Contrary to popular belief, condoms are not as effective at preventing the spread of STDs. Using a condom during sex can sometimes reduce the risk for transmitting or contracting certain STDs, but using a condom never eliminates the risk entirely.
Abstaining from sexual activity is the only 100% guarantee you have to avoid pregnancy and to avoid contracting an STI. If you feel that you are not ready to have sex, or if you do not want to put yourself at risk for getting pregnant or contracting an STI, then abstinence is your best choice.
What is Chlamydia?
Chlamydia is a common STD caused by the bacteria, Chlamydia trachomatis. It can cause permanent and lasting damage to a woman's reproductive organs (uterus, fallopian tubes and ovaries) if left untreated.iii It is the most frequently reported bacterial STI in the United States.iv Often Chlamydia shows no signs or symptoms, yet can cause irreversible damage.
Chlamydia strikes at a time when most young people are thinking about how to avoid pregnancy. The damage done by Chlamydia is often discovered years later when previously infected women try to become pregnant and struggle with the heartbreak of infertility.
Did you know that Chlamydia can also be found in the throats of women and men who have oral sex with an infected partner?
What is Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID)?
Pelvic Inflammatory Disease is an infection of the uterus, the fallopian tubes and ovaries.v It is a severe infection caused by a number of different bacteria, but is most often caused by Gonorrhea and Chlamydia. It causes damage to the fallopian tubes as well as the tissues in and around the uterus and ovaries.
If you have had PID before, you are more at risk for another episode, which will cause further damage to your reproductive organs.vi One out of every 5 women is left infertile after one episode of PID.vii
What is Gonorrhea?
Gonorrhea is caused by the bacteria Neisseria gonorrhea. The CDC (Center for Disease Control) estimates that over 700,000 people in the U.S. develop a new gonorrhea infection each year.
Gonorrhea can be spread through contact with the:
- penis
- vagina
- mouth
- anus
- mother to baby during delivery
Whether or not you experience symptoms, an infection with gonorrhea can cause serious complications.
Symptoms in men generally consist of :
- burning sensation while urinating
- white, yellow or green discharge from the penis
- sometimes pain and swelling in the testicles
Initial signs of gonorrhea in women:
- discomfort or burning while urinating
- increased vaginal discharge
- bleeding between periods
What is Herpes?
Herpes is a family of viruses that cause several symptoms including cold sores and genital ulcers.
- Cold sores or "fever blisters", typically found around the mouth and lips, are usually caused by Herpes Simplex Type 1 (HSV-1)
- Herpes Simplex Type 2 (HSV-2) is usually associated with ulcers in the genital area.
- With the practice of oral sex, it is possible to get HSV-2 in the mouth and HSV-1 on the genitals.
Did you know that a person who has herpes, but is not showing signs of a herpes outbreak, can still potentially pass it on to someone else?viii
The herpes virus maintains a life-long presence in the infected person's body. Between outbreaks, it lies dormant in a nerve root. A variety of stressors can cause the virus to emerge and cause an active infection. Even correct use of a condom does not guarantee protection from getting or spreading genital herpes.
What is Syphilis?
Syphilis is often referred to as “The Great Imitator” because its symptoms are sometimes very similar to the symptoms of other diseases or disorders. It is passed on through direct contact with a syphilis sore.ix It cannot be contracted through contact with objects like toilet seats, doorknobs, swimming pools, bathtubs, clothing or eating utensils.
Syphilis symptoms occur in three stages, but people infected with syphilis may not show any symptoms for years. However, they are at risk of suffering health complications later if they do not receive treatment.
The use of a condom does not guarantee protection from getting or spreading syphilis.
What Are Genital Warts?
Genital warts are warts that grow on and around the genitals. The STI that causes genital warts is called human papillomavirus (HPV)x.
HPV can cause genital warts on the vulva, vagina, anus, cervix, penis, scrotum, groin, thigh and mouth and throat (in those who have oral sex with an infected person). Genital warts can be raised or flat, single or in clusters or in a cauliflower-like shape and small or large (1/4 inch to several inches).
After having sexual contact with a person who is infected with HPV, it could take weeks or months before warts appear, or they may never appear at all.xi
What is the Human Papillomavirus (HPV)?
There are over 100 different types of human papillomavirus. More than 30 of these types are transmitted through sexual contact, and they can infect the genitalia of both men and women. xii An estimated 50 percent of sexually active people will get a genital HPV infection sometime in their lives. Nearly 6.2 million people in the U.S. develop a new HPV infection each year. xiii
As a viral infection, there is no 'cure' for HPV, but for most women, the infection goes away by itself.
There are many pros and cons to dating, and it all depends on how you approach your dating relationships. If you feel that you are not ready or interested in having a committed relationship, you may want to postpone dating until you feel that you are ready. There is no rush to start dating.
The decision to have sex is a very important one, and there are lots of things to think about. Sexual relationships affect your physical, emotional and spiritual well-being. Whether you are considering sexual activity, or you have already had sex, there are risks such as pregnancy or getting an STD; even when using birth control or a condom. The only sure way to avoid getting an STD, or to prevent pregnancy, is to practice abstinence. Once you are in a long-term, mutually monogamous and committed relationship with an uninfected partner (in marriage), you will have no reason to worry about getting an STD.
Do you want to talk with someone about your relationship? We are here for you. Please feel free to contact us.
This information is intended for general educational purposes only and should not be relied upon as a substitute for professional medical advice.
i Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Trends in Reportable Sexually Transmitted Diseases in the United States, 2004.
ii Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Tracking the Hidden Epidemics: Trends In STDs In the United States, 2000.
iii-v Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Chlamydia Fact Sheet, 2006.
vi-vii Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Pelvic Inflammatory Disease Fact Sheet, 2004.
viii Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Genital Herpes Fact Sheet (May, 2004).
ix Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Syphilis Fact Sheet (May, 2004).
x-xiii Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Genital HPV Infection Fact Sheet (May, 2004).