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Sex is not all fun and games. Sex carries the risk of transmitting infections from one person to another through the exchange of body fluids, or sometimes even just from skin-to-skin contact. Numerous diseases caused by bacteria, viruses, or parasites may be transmitted through intimate sexual contact.
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That’s the bad news. The good news is there are plenty of ways to have “safer sex.” Safer sex doesn’t just feel good to your body; it can also contribute to your psychological, social, and emotional well-being. Safer sex means learning to decrease the possibility of a nasty or downright traumatic disease from ever infecting you, even before you reach out and touch someone.
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To accomplish this, you need to play by two main rules: don’t take risks, and if you do, be prepared. In both cases, you’ll need two things: common sense and condoms. Not so bad, right? Now, let’s get specific.
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About Safer Sex
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Nobody talks about “venereal diseases” anymore. Today the term is sexually transmitted diseases or STDs. Unfortunately, not enough people are talking about STDs either. It’s awkward, it’s personal, and it’s embarrassing. But it’s also essential to your health and happiness, and ultimately to whether or not the sex you have is truly as amazing as it can be.

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About STDs
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You should talk about STDs and safer sex before you become sexual. In fact, you should have the conversation before you ever get into bed. Talk when you are not fooling around; just when you have the time and privacy to talk about your soon-to-be sex life.
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To start the conversation, all you need to do is say something like, “Since we are going to be having sex soon, I’d like to talk about the diseases that sex can bring. I know it’s not the most thrilling topic to talk about, but if we get this stuff all talked out now, then hopefully it won’t ever interfere with our sex life.”
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It does not need to be a heavy conversation in which you rehash your sexual history. You just need to talk a bit about your medical history, as well as how you both plan to avoid getting STDs. You need to talk about:

• if you are putting your partner at risk for any STDs and if he or she could be putting you at risk.
• if you both want to get tested for STDs and HIV so you know that you are probably starting your sex life together with clean bills of health.
• the fact that you will use condoms every single time you have sex, no matter what. You can also talk about what types of condoms you like to use.

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No matter what, use condoms
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You might also want to talk about being completely monogamous. Having sex with only one partner will reduce your chances of contracting an STD (if you and your partner are disease-free). However, millions of people say that they are going to be faithful, then they secretly have an affair. That’s why I advise using condoms every time you have sex, no matter what your partner promises.
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Also, you need to use condoms every time you have sex, even if you both test negative for all diseases. Who’s to say that a disease that was dormant won’t appear a day after the negative tests? Or who’s to say that you or your partner won’t cheat and get a disease? No matter what, use condoms. Your health is too important to risk it.

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What If You Know You Have an STD?
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As mentioned earlier, you don’t have to tell your entire sexual history to your partner. But if you know you have an STD, you need to tell your partner, especially if:

• he or she might have the same STD. You could have given it to your partner, or he or she could have given it to you. Just because your partner does not have any symptoms (or does not mention any symptoms to you), he or she could still have the disease. Many STDs are asymptomatic in one partner, so both partners need treatment.
• if you have an STD that can still be transmitted, especially by skin-to-skin contact from places that might not be covered by condoms, such as herpes or genital warts.
• if you have an STD that will affect you for your lifetime and may become life-threatening, such as HIV/AIDS.

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Even if you will use condoms and practice safer sex, if you have an STD, you owe it to your partner to tell him or her. To understand this better, just put yourself in his or her shoes: How would you feel if your partner had an STD and did not tell you! If you care about each other then you should talk about sexually transmitted diseases. And if either of you has one, you should both see a doctor.
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The Lists of STDs
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It’s a daunting list, but better to be acquainted with the names than face the diseases themselves. Most STDs are both his and her infections, but some are experienced mainly by women. That’s all explained in the following information.

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Chlamydia
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The most common STD in the U.S., chlamydia affects about 4 million women, men, and infants annually. Chlamydial infections are caused by bacteria, which, if left untreated, may have serious consequences, such as pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) and infertility in women, urethritis in men, and pneumonia in newborn infants of infected mothers.
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Symptoms: Unlike other STDs, you may not know you have chlamydia, because it often has no symptoms. When symptoms are present, they may be mild. In women, painful urination, vaginal discharge, and lower abdominal pain. In men, a burning sensation with urination, and a watery discharge from the penis.
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Treatment: The antibiotics tetracycline or doxycycline. Though the symptoms may subside in a few days, the infection may take up to two weeks to clear up. It is important that all partners be tested and treated to prevent reinfection.

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Herpes
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Genital herpes is caused by a sexually transmitted virus that develops as painful blisters. There are two types of the virus: Type-1, which often causes cold sores or fever blisters and does not necessarily affect the genitals, and Type-2, which causes genital sores that spread during intercourse. Herpes may spread to other sites through oral-genital, oral-anal, or anal-genital contact. Even after treatment, herpes can recur because the virus remains in the body. Any time herpes sores are present, you should not have sex, because you can become infected or infect your sex partner. Once the sores heal, you can safely restore sexual activity.
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Symptoms: Painful, fluid-filled blisters. Initial attacks last for 2 to 3 weeks. Most patients develop recurrent attacks at irregular intervals. Other symptoms include fever, tenderness and itchiness near the penis or vulva, swollen lymph glands, and flu-like symptoms.
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Treatment: No cure. It lasts a lifetime, but may not always cause outbreaks. To reduce outbreaks, an effective medicine called acyclovir helps. Some people take acyclovir on a daily basis.

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Genital Warts (HPV)
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Caused by the human papilloma virus (HPV), genital warts are sexually transmissible skin warts. In men, warts commonly appear on the penis; in women, they are found around the vagina and/or cervix.
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Symptoms: In men, warts are hard, small, and yellow-gray; in women, warts are usually pink or red and soft, with an indented cauliflowerlike appearance.
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Treatment: Topical treatment, which may be very uncomfortable, such as freezing, laser therapy, or surgical removal. After removal, the warts may reoccur, and would need to be removed again, since the virus remains active in your body for the rest of your life.

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Gonorrhea
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One of the most serious STDs, gonorrhea is an infectious disease that can result in sterility, arthritis, and heart problems. It affects about a million men and women each year in the U.S. Even without treatment, the burning and itching associated with gonorrhea may go away, and the discharge may stop, too. But gonorrhea can continue to spread inside the body and pose a risk for your sex partners for months. However, according to the American Public Health Association, with effective treatment, communicability ends within hours.
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Symptoms: Symptoms are often not obvious, but include: a burning or painful sensation during urination in both men and women; in women, vaginal discharge and pelvic pain; in men, a discharge from the penis.
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Treatment: Antibiotics.

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Syphilis
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A serious infection transmitted by any type of genital, anal, or oral sex, syphilis affects the entire body and blood system.
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Symptoms: Initially, a painless sore that appears where the germ entered the body. The second stage occurs weeks later, usually causing a general body rash. The rash heals without leaving scars. Symptoms then disappear, yet the disease is still present.
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Treatment: Must be detected by a blood test. Penicillin will cure it in the early stages, but once it reaches the tertiary stage (in which cardiovascular and nervous system complications are the most common causes of death), penicillin, even in its most potent forms, has limited effectiveness.
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Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID)
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PID is an infection of the uterus sometimes involving the upper genital tract (cervix, endometrium, fallopian tubes), and is almost exclusively a disease of sexually active women. It is caused when bacteria migrate from the vagina or cervix higher into the female reproductive system. PID is very dangerous to the reproductive organs, and can cause infertility. PID is usually the result of untreated cases of gonorrhea and chlamydia. (That’s why you must get treated early if you think you have an STD!)
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Symptoms: Severe abdominal pain, fever, tenderness of the uterus and ovaries. Other symptoms may include abnormal mucous discharge; longer, heavier, more painful periods or bleeding between periods; fatigue, weakness, nausea, vomiting, and painful intercourse.
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Treatment: Antibiotics and bed rest. No sexual activity during this time. If left untreated, tubal scarring and sterility can occur.

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Urinary Tract Infection
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A urinary tract infection is the result of infection from bacteria trapped inside the urethra. It’s common in sexually active women engaging in frequent sex with a new sexual partner.
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Symptoms: Pain and burning during urination, an urgency to urinate, cloudy or odorous urine.
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Treatment: Antibiotics.
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Vaginitis
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In women, vaginitis is characterized by inflammation of the vagina and may be accompanied by discharge, itching, and/or burning, and a strong odor. Both sexes can be affected, though men are generally free of symptoms.
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One type of vaginitis is the yeast infection, which can bloom and fester because of poor hygiene and, believe it or not, wearing outfits that are tight around the crotch (like pantyhose) for long periods of time. Use of antibiotics, birth control pills, diabetes, and pregnancy may also disrupt the vaginal pH balance, and promote the growth of candida bacteria. This infection can be spread through oral sex or intercourse. Other types of vaginismis are Bacterial Vaginosis and Trichomonas. A doctor will be able to determine which type you have.
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Symptoms: In women, symptoms may include a thick white or yellowish vaginal discharge, pungent odor, vaginal itching, and irritation of the vulva; men may suffer from irritation and itching of the penis and testicles, and possible discharge from the penis. Both men and women could experience painful intercourse. If it is transmitted orally, men or women may have a whitish, yellowish, or greenish film on their tongue, which may be painful.
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Treatment: Over-the-counter vaginal creams for women, topical creams for men. To prevent these infections, women should avoid wearing tight pants, non-cotton underpants, pantyhose, and wet bathing suits. Also, they should not use scented soaps, douches, or feminine hygiene sprays.

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Crabs
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Crabs, also known as pubic lice, are spread primarily through close contact with an infested person, particularly during sexual intercourse. The lice may dwell in pubic hair, hair on the upper legs, and on the abdomen. These parasites may also be transmitted through clothing, bedding, and toilet seats.
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Symptoms: Itching, mild fever, swollen lymph glands, muscle aches.
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Treatment: Prescription or over the counter topical medication. All bedding, towels, and clothing should be washed in hot water and dried on a hot cycle.

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Internal Parasites
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There are a number of infectious parasitic diseases that, although more commonly associated with poor hygiene, sewage system failures, or bad food handling, can be passed along during sex. The intestinal parasites giardia, cryptosporidia, and amoebas are among them. These diseases can be transmitted through oral-anal contact. Note that while not parasitic, E. coli and hepatitis A infections can be passed along at the same time.
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Symptoms: Diarrhea, abdominal cramps, bloating, fatigue, and weight loss.
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Treatment: Medication—Metronidazole for giardiosis; none for cryptosporidiosis; metronidazole followed by other antiparasitics, such as iodoquinol, for amoebic infections.

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Hepatitis B
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Hepatitis B is a bloodborne virus, transmitted through sexual contact and/or the use of contaminated needles and blood transfusions. Like hepatitis A, C, and D, hepatitis B is more common in homosexual men. The incidence is highest in individuals who participate in anal sex, and those with multiple sexual partners.
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Symptoms: In most cases, symptoms are fever, fatigue, headache, abdominal discomfort, loss of appetite, jaundice. In other cases, a severe inflammation of the liver results in bleeding, coma, and frequently death. In remaining cases, it takes a chronic, debilitating course.
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Treatment: Mild hepatitis sufferers need bed rest and a high-protein, low-fat diet, and should avoid alcohol and drugs. In more serious cases, steroid drugs are sometimes used. While there is no known cure, hepatitis B can be prevented with a vaccine (HBIG—hepatitis B immunoglobin). People with multiple sex partners, or those who fall into other high-risk groups, like occupational exposure to doctors, nurses, and lab technicians, are urged to get vaccinated. Chronic cases can be treated with alpha interferon.
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Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS)
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AIDS is a life-threatening, epidemic disease caused by the HIV virus that suppresses the body’s immune system, rendering it unable to fight off illnesses. After someone has AIDS, primary infections such as pneumonia (Pneumocystis carinii) and cancer (Kaposi’s sarcoma) attack and ultimately destroy the body. AIDS is caused by the HIV virus. HIV is transmitted to someone when HIV infected blood, semen, vaginal secretions, or breast milk comes in contact with that person’s bloodstream through a cut in their skin, or through a mucous membrane like the vagina or penis. It can be sexually transmitted from vaginal intercourse, anal sex, or oral sex (although oral sex is less of a risk). Nonsexually, it is easily transmitted if infected blood from a needle gets into someone’s bloodstream, such as if people are sharing intravenous drug needles.
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Symptoms: HIV the virus that causes AIDS usually does not have any symptoms. However, as soon as someone get the HIV virus from another person, he or she immediately has and can transmit this life-threatening virus. Unless the person gets tested for HIV, he or she may never know that he or she has it, until it becomes full-blown AIDS. It may take months or even up to 10 years for the first signs of AIDS to appear. (I must repeat, that during that entire time the person has and can transmit HIV.)
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The first signs that HIV has become AIDS are when a person develops AIDS-related pneumonia, Kaposi’s sarcoma, fungal infections, night sweats, fatigue, or noticeable weight loss. These symptoms often lead to chronic, worsening conditions.
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Treatment: There is no cure to stop the HIV virus. There is no vaccine for HIV or AIDS, but there is evidence that the medicines such as AZT and protease inhibitors, when utilized early after someone gets HIV, may slow the virus. Once HIV turns into AIDS, there are medications to treat the various diseases that will occur, yet many of the diseases are life-threatening no matter what.

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What Are Your Symptoms?

It’s easy to take a healthy body for granted. That’s because when your body is working right and you’re not sick, you’re barely aware of how it carries you through your daily life. However, built into this wonderful machine are all sorts of warning signals and alarms that let you know when something needs maintenance or repair. In a fastpaced, overworked world, it’s all too easy to ignore these alarms or just brush them off. You’ve got to pay attention to your body, especially when it comes to STDs. Early detection methods are available for most STDs and prompt treatment can mean the difference between being inconvenienced and being incapacitated or worse.
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STDs can and will affect both sexes in most cases, and can affect anyone who is sexually active regardless of age, number of partners, or sexual orientation. All it takes is one sexual encounter to get a disease. It can happen to you. If it does, there is nothing to be embarrassed about. It is just an unfortunate problem of sex. As soon as you notice your symptoms, you need to see a doctor. You will have to give a full description of how you feel and what you have noticed. It is essential that you pose any and every question you have about STDs to your doctor. The doctor can then look for telltale signs, and take blood, cell, or tissue samples in order to run tests for specific STDs.
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Blood tests are required for diagnosis of syphilis, hepatitis B, herpes, and HIV (see the following section on testing for HIV). Clinical, visual examinations are used to diagnose crabs and genital warts. Special samples, such as cell or discharge samples, smears may be required to determine if you have gonorrhea, parasitic diseases, PID, or vaginitis.

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