5 Common Myths & Facts About STDs (gonorrhoea, syphilis)

I thought of what  I could bring up on the first edition of “PillowTalkPlus” and what came through my mind was health...yes health! And I thought about the scourging “STDs” and the myths surrounding it. So much wrong information about sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) gets passed around that it's no surprise the diseases do too. Of course, the only way to be 100% sure you won't get an STD like herpes, chlamydia, syphilis, gonorrhea or HIV, etc, is not to have any type of sex (abstinence). But if you do decide to have sex, you'll need to stay informed and learn what's true — and what's not.  

Here are 5 of the more common things that people get wrong about STDs.

Myth: Only "Dirty” people get STDs.

Fact: STDs don't discriminate.

Rich people do get STDs. Poor people get them. Farmers get them.  CEOs and professors get them. Even someone having sex for the first time can get an STD. The only people who have no risk of getting an STD are people who haven't had sex or any kind of sexual contact.

What can you do? If you decide to have sex, always use a condom every time. Even if you're already on another kind of birth control, like the Pill, you should still use a condom. No Condom prevents pregnancy or sexually transmitted disease(STDs) 100% of the time. But if you and your partner are having sex, nothing protects against STDs better than a properly used condom. 

Myth: If your partner has  STD, you'll see it.

Fact: There's often no sign that a person has an STD, it is never shown or written on the face.

Even doctors often can't tell by looking on the faces of their patients. So they need to do tests, like bloodwork. People with STDs might not know they have them until they are being tested for: STDs don't always cause symptoms. But it is possible to carry and spread the infection without ever having an outbreak. Untreated STDs can add up to serious health problems, like infertility (the inability to have a baby) or pelvic inflammatory disease(PID), which may land you in the hospital.

What can you do? Even if you both think you're clean, get checked out before having sex. Then use a condom every time, just to be sure. It can take a while for some STDs to show up on tests.

Myth: You can avoid STDs by having oral or anal sex.

Fact: Where there's sex (oral, anal, vaginal, or even just sexual contact), there can be STDs.

The viruses or bacteria that cause STDs can enter the body through tiny cuts or tears in the mouth and anus, as well as the genitals. Some STDs, like herpes or genital warts, can spread just through skin-to-skin contact with an infected area or sore.

What can you do? Use a condom or a dental dam every time you have oral or anal sex. If the taste of latex isn't your thing, check your pharmacy, there are flavored condoms that are made specifically for oral sex.

Myth: Once you've had an STD, there's no chance of getting it again.

Fact: You can get some STDs more than just once.

Some STDs are yours for life, like herpes and HIV. Others, like syphilis and gonorrhea, can be treated, but you may get infected again if you have sexual contact with someone who has them.

What can you do? Protect yourself with condoms, of course! And if you're having sex, let your doctor know so you can get tested regularly. If you do get diagnosed with an STD, your partner should be treated at the same time you are. That way your partner will avoid future problems — and avoid reinfecting you.

Myth: If you get checked and you're STD free, your partner doesn't need to get checked as well.

Fact: Your partner could have an STD and not know it.

Who wants to make the effort to get tested, find out they're clean, and then end up catching an STD from a partner anyway?

What can you do? Get tested together. It may not be your most romantic date, but nothing says "I care" like trying to protect a boyfriend or girlfriend from illness.

STDs are more than just an embarrassment. They're a serious health problem, if left untreated; some STDs can cause permanent damage, such as infertility and even death.

There are tons of myths out there about sex and STDs — the ones above are just a few of them. Luckily, you only need to remember these essential truths:

The only way to 100% avoid STDs (and pregnancy) is not to have sex.(Abstinence)

If you do wish to have sex for any reason, use a condom every time.

If you have had sex, get tested for STDs.

Edited by Dr. N. Valentine