Setting the Fact Sheet Straight – Common STI Myths Busted
Sexual health is a taboo subject that many do not discuss. People often tend to discuss such matters in whispers or behind closed doors and this leads to the spread of myths and hearsay which can pollute the young minds and leads to a plethora of myths that needs to be busted
According to the best sexologist in Karachi, most of the time adults are reluctant to discuss these matters with the young ones as they do not want to ignite this information although they should be the ones to communicate about such matters in the first place.
Poor information and misleading guidance have caused a spike in the elevation of STDs and their new numbers around the globe. According to the data of CDC, STDs have reached an all-time high in recent years and this is for a sixth consecutive year.
But before busting or discussing the myths, we need to understand some basics of STDs.
What are STDs?
Sexually transmitted diseases or infections are those conditions that arise after the transmission of sexual fluid from one person to another. The mode of contacting STDs is through unprotected sexual engagement which counts for the exchange of affected body fluids from the infected person to the healthy ones.
Given below are some of the types of STDs:
- Chlamydia
- Gonorrhea
- Hepatitis
- Herpes
- HIV/AIDS and STD
- Pelvic inflammatory disease
- STDs and infertility
- Syphilis
- Trichomoniasis
In case your doctor suspects any underlying sexual health problem he might recommend you an STD test.
Make sure to check out the std test price in Pakistan as well.
Busting the STD Myths
It is important to understand the fact that sexual health is an important subject and we need to educate our youth about it. Thus we have compiled some of the given myths so that we can set the fact sheet straight.
Myth no 1: If You are Taking the Pill You Cannot Contract STI
No, if you are taking a pill you can still contract this disease. Especially if you are taking oral contraception then it is not going to protect you against any sort of sexually transmitted infection.
For all those who are wondering if oral contraception actually works or not they do if you are trying to protect pregnancy. If you are searching for a way to escape pregnancy then you should wear a condom.
Thus if you are thinking that taking a pill is your ultimate defense against STIs, then we are sorry to burst your bubble because they are not.
Myth no 2: STDs Go Away On Their Own
All those who believe that STDs are not serious and can go away on their own but let us just tell you it is not the reality. The real picture is much more serious and complicated. If you are not careful with an STD or an STI it can result in permanent reproductive damage to the organs
It can also lead to the complications of infertility and affect sexual health which can lead to long-term issues that are then hard to treat.
Your doctor might recommend you a course of antibiotics or antivirals to clear out the infections and their subsequent complications.
Make sure to consult with a healthcare specialist in such matters and do not think that they will go on their own.
Myth no 3: STDs are Pretty Visible So You Can Tell Who Has Them
In some sexually transmitted diseases, the signs and symptoms are pretty visible and thus you can tell who has them and who doesn’t. Such as sexual diseases like Herpes lead to a condition where the person might acquire warts or something on the genitals. But those signs also make an occasional appearance and are not always there even in the case of herpes.
Thus it is anatomically impossible to tell whether someone has STD or not unless or until they get themselves tested for that said disease.
Therefore it is often advised to get your partner tested if you are going to get engaged in sexual relations with them.
Myth no 4: You Only Get STD Once
There is nothing more dangerous than the overall ongoing gossip that you only acquire a particular disease once. Nothing is more dangerous than the ongoing connotation in the young minds that if you have recovered from STD you can go back to your old habits.
Sometimes the STDs can also climb back even after a series of treatments. This is most common in the case of herpes and HIV. The infectious virus tends to remain in the body and might lead to a series of concurrent health complications which can bounce back health issues.
Although there is no potential treatment for the said disease to date it is possible to manage those viral conditions.
It is highly advised to visit your primary healthcare advisor if you need further information in said context.
