Prevention of sexually transmitted infections

There's a higher risk of STIs

Without infected persons showing up at the center for STD Testing, they can carry the deadly infections for several weeks and transmit to another individual during sex. Sexually transmitted infections don't need a show of symptoms in the infected person to be spread through oral sex, anal, or vaginal medium. More so, skin-to-skin contact, and not sexual intercourse spreads some STIs like genital herpes and HPV.

Interestingly, older adults pose a higher risk of infection after adolescents whose age group is lower. In states with STI awareness programs, surveys show a decline in the spread of sexually transmitted diseases. In 2016, a survey conducted by the North Dakota Epidemiology report shows infection detection report of Chlamydia infection was recorded 3,463 times.

More so, it's an increase of 9% from 2014 o 2015. Out of the number of times, female patients accounted for 63%. Chlamydia infection poses a long-term threat if it's untreated with antibiotics. The spread of Chlamydia infection in females affect their reproductive organs (fallopian tubes, uterus), cause infections inside the uterus, pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), and inability to conceive.

Gonorrhea is the second most common STI; from 2015 to 2016 reports showed that North Dakota recorded 46% increase in the rate of gonorrhea. More so the split was averagely shared between male and female patients. There are various signs of STIs, genital discharge, itching, and odor is some of the symptoms, while some patients lack symptoms.

Get tested without delay

To get tested is a surefire way of knowing your infection status, and most clinics can run a test. Otherwise, patients are referred to the nearest testing facility. It is easy to perform an STI test; with a cotton-tip swab, blood or urine sample it is done.

  • The use of drugs to prevent STIs: With the use of antibiotics, most infections are treated; antiviral medications are used to suppress HIV and herpes which can be transmitted through skin to skin contact and bodily fluid to sexual partners. Bacterial infections are contracted and treated even though they can resurface; an earlier infection doesn't guarantee immunity from the same infection.
  • Abstinence pays both sex partners: To avoid infectious diseases is a smart way of preventing STIs, and the best way of protection is abstinence from sex. Exposure to sexually transmitted infections is as good as getting them, and vaccination is a method of prevention.  There are vaccines for infections like Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) that protects male and female persons and hepatitis B (Hep B) to protect all school-aged youths.
  • The practice of safe sex:  To have several of sex partners is a risk for STIs, it is better for all your partners to get some tests and disclose their test results. Both sexual partners can decide to practice safe sex without adding a third party; that's mutual monogamy. One of the most reliable ways to avoid STIs is being in a long-term relationship of mutually monogamous with an uninfected partner.
  • The use of Condoms: The use of latex condoms by men is highly effective in reducing STI transmission; provided the condoms are used correctly and consistently. When you plan to perform anal, oral sex or vaginal sex, use a condom. With the use of condoms, you can get dual effects; prevention of unwanted pregnancies, and STIs.
Contributor: admin