wellnesscenterusa.comPosted on 12/26/2007 by Karilee Bingham, R.N., B.S.
OK, now that I have your attention... Yes, sex is a basic physical necessity and can be one of the most fulfilling experiences of our day, week, month, or whatever, depending on who you are. Sexually transmitted diseases (STD's) are still a very real potential consequence of this wonderful act depending on your practices.
Let's be cliche what's the difference between love and herpes? Herpes is forever! All kidding aside, we have much worse diseases with even worse outcomes than our parents and grandparents had. Although there are advances in treatments, viral infections like HIV (human immunodeficiency virus), hepatitis B and C, and herpes are still not curable. Even though the commercials show actors playing people with these diseases white water rafting and hang gliding, talk to someone with an active herpes outbreak or is on anti-retroviral therapy, and they'll tell you this is not something they party over.
STD's can permanently affect your fertility, or ability to become pregnant. If you are pregnant, then the risks are even higher. Certain STD's can cause miscarriage or can change the way in which you deliver your baby. For example, if you have an active genital herpes outbreak at the time of delivery, then a vaginal birth will not be an option for you.
Different STD's can be transmitted to your baby at various points during your pregnancy. Syphilis crosses the placenta and can infect the baby while it is in the uterus. Gonorrhea, chlamydia, hepatitis B, and genital herpes can be transmitted during delivery as the baby passes through the birth canal. HIV can cross the placenta during pregnancy, infect the baby during the birth process, and unlike most other STDs, can infect the baby through breastfeeding.
The harmful effects of STDs in babies may include stillbirth (a baby that is born dead), a baby weighing less than five pounds, life-threatening infections of the baby's blood, liver, and/or lungs, brain damage including the baby being permanently blind or deaf, as well as some less serious infections. Some of these problems can be prevented if you have early and frequent prenatal care, with screening tests for STDs.
Am I starting to sound like "Mom" now? I'm really not trying to lecture, but the facts are there. The only way to be sure you don't get any STD's is by not having sex. To be clear, that means no oral, vaginal, or anal contact with another person's penis, anus, or vagina. In case any of our readers are former Presidents: that includes the giving or receiving of such contact. There are diseases (such as gonorrhea, HPV, and herpes) that can be transmitted from penis or vagina to oral.
Realistically, the best way to prevent contacting STD's is be in a mutually monogamous relationship with a person who has been tested and known to be disease free. If that's not your situation, then the use of latex condoms is strongly recommended. The CDC states, "Latex condoms, when used consistently and correctly, are highly effective in preventing the sexual transmission of HIV, the virus that causes AIDS." The CDC further states that condoms reduce the risk of Chlamydia, Gonorrhea, HPV (human papilloma virus), chancres (herpes), and trichomoniasis (trich). Condoms, when used properly, can also prevent unplanned pregnancy.
Now that I have this off of my chest, look for my next article about other ways to prevent pregnancy. while having sex!