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STD's (Sexually Transmitted Diseases)
I have thought long and hard about STDs (Sexually Transmitted Diseases). I mean, it's like some silent, creeping epidemic that is sweeping across America causing untold pain, misery, and confusion. Roughly, 67 million Americans have some kind of STD, with nearly 12 million newly infected persons each year.* In fact, 80% of people who have a sexually transmitted disease experience no noticeable symptoms.**
The statistics are just that - statistics. They don't really tell the story of how awful an STD can be. I received a call on my radio show, Dawson McAllister Live. He told me his story - he and his friend went to Vegas one weekend to party. One night at a party, he got really drunk and had unprotected sex with a stranger. When he got home, he realized he had contracted genital herpes. Once you get herpes, you have them for life. He said to me, "I always thought what happened in Vegas stayed in Vegas." I said to him, "Not an STD. They will follow you everywhere."
Some STDs are more damaging than others. For example, with the right kind of medicine, you can get rid of gonorrhea. Others, like HIV, can kill you. It amazes me how many people are walking around with an STD and don't even know it. So they pass it from one to the other to the other.
I received a really powerful comment about STDs last week. "I think a lot of people walk around and they might have an STD
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“In a way I’m scared to have sex because I’m scared of getting an STD.” | but they don't know because they haven't been tested. That's the danger of it because It’s not an open thing for everybody. In a way I'm scared to have sex because I'm scared of getting an STD. I have been warned from my parents about it and I've read books about it…it’s always possible even if you are being careful to get pregnant or get an STD…The best thing is to not have sex but we all know many teenagers are having sex. So the best thing is to have protection and try to find out about your partner's sexual history as much as possible. Be in the know-it will benefit you in the long run." (Megan) Megan is wisely cautious and still realizes nothing outside of abstinence is a sure fire way to be protected from STDs.
Then I received another comment from
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“STDs do not discriminate!!” | someone who wasn't as lucky as Megan. "I was diagnosed with genital herpes about a year ago. I am only 20 now. I never would have in my life thought this could happen to me. It has changed my entire life forever. I no longer can date as I used to, or even at the most best relationships, be as intimate as I used to could be. This is a VERY common disease and most people do not know the facts about it. 1 out of 5 people are said to have genital herpes. And 70% of people who contract this disease, get it from a partner who has absolutely NO SIGNS of it...and as with any std, it only takes one time to catch one. And STDs do not discriminate!!!" (Coutney A.)
There are so many people who are ignorant of STDs. Their ignorance puts them in true danger. That is why in the next few weeks I want to talk more about STDs so we can all be far safer from something that could ruin our lives.
Do you have an STD? Comment and tell me what you know about STDs. I would like to put some of your research in the next few blogs.
Meanwhile, it's a crazy world. Be safe out there.
* Facts in Brief, New York: The Alan Guttmacher Institute, 1993
** Moscicki, B., et al, "The Use and Limitations of Endocervical Gram Stains...," American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 157:1, July, 1987
Wednesday, Apr 9, 2008 - 9:49:09 PM
It comes to me that in some of these comments listed below people say the easiest way of getting an STD is by not sleeping around. As I said in another blog before this, I've had one and it's gone now. I didn't sleep around and in fact the person who gave it to me was the one who i lost my virginity to and he and I have a baby coming in July just two days before my birthday if everything goes as planned. How he got it? Well he never slept around either. He was with a girl before me & they had a very good relationship for a while until he found out she was cheating on him but still wanting sex from him as well. I find it really rude that some people believe they come from people who sleep around when in reality some are gotten by sleeping with one partner, trusting them and then going to a new one to start a new life. STDs cause tons of drama within relationships and almost split I and my baby's father up.. however I have no right to be mad at him for trusting someone else, after all they were together for a really long time.
- Ashleymegan
Wednesday, Apr 9, 2008 - 9:48:17 PM
I was unfortunate enough to have a family member to get almost all of the diseases you can get. she was sleeping around all the time. she had oral and genital. everyone in my family hates her and makes fun of her....Advice for all of you all who are sleeping around it is not a smart thing to do so you might want to consider abstinence....
- michael
Wednesday, Apr 9, 2008 - 9:47:54 PM
I don't have and STD and never have but I have had the scare of it. I was dating a guy and slept with him once and then our relationship started going downhill and I just didn't want to anymore. Shortly after, we broke it off. I later found out that him and a lot of his friend had been sleeping with a prostitute and that they had all caught something. I went and got tested immediatly. And I got lucky. Now, having two kids, I wonder what would have happened had I not been so lucky. When his cousin asked me out on a date, I turned him down for that reason.
- Elayna
Tuesday, Apr 8, 2008 - 9:07:39 PM
I was unfortunate enough to contract herpes. I have oral and genital herpes. I have an unusually high number of breakouts too. Much more severe than average. Puss oozing from my sores. Everyone laughs at me.
- Nate M.
Tuesday, Apr 8, 2008 - 9:07:15 PM
Lets face it, waiting until marriage is unrealistic. You want to know if the intimacy is there before you get married, because if it's not, it will kill your marriage. But anyways, I find that girls are pretty stupid these days. It's not hard to avoid getting an STD. DON'T SLEEP AROUND. Just simply have respect for yourself. Most of the "good guys" find that girls who will sleep with anyone are disgusting. Yes, there is a possiblity you may have an addiction, so go get help. But if all you girls think that spreading your legs for anyone is making you look cool, it's not. It's gross, so stop. & Guys, you sleeping with 938472398 women doesn't make you look cool either. Most girls I know wont sleep with guys like that because they know they probably have caught something. Use condoms, dental dams, and anything else. And don't use the excuse that you got drunk, no one cares, it was your decision, no one forced alcohol down your throat. Just be smart, know what you're doing, and don't get intoxicated to the point where you lose control of yourself and your morals.
- Melissa
Monday, Apr 7, 2008 - 6:49:14 PM
I was diagnosed with HPV also known as genital warts. I have to go in every two or three weeks and have them burned off at the doctor. Its painful, and believe me if I could do it over again and wait I would wait until I'm married to have sex. People need to relize that you dont know your partner's sexual past, it just takes one time to catch it. And even using protection still doesn't guarantee you from being protected from std's. Once you get an std the virus stays with you for the rest of your life.
- Andrew
Sunday, Apr 6, 2008 - 10:29:38 PM
The best way to avoid STD's is obvious, if both you and your partner/spouse wait until marriage to have sex then it is impossible for both you or your partner to contract an STD
I plan on keeping that abstinence card for a while yet
- Josh
Saturday, Apr 5, 2008 - 3:10:22 PM
The first time I ever had sex, I ended up getting an STD. I was aware halfway through our relationship that my ex (and first sex partner) had herpes, but took on the famous "It could never happen to ME" attitude. A year and a half later, I was diagnosed with genital herpes. It's no fun. I have to tell any future partner about it before things get serious, and have to live with the bad choices I made in the past. It will always haunt me. Don't think you will never get it...play it safe, in the end you'll be happier because you educated yourself and took the precautions you needed to take to ensure your safety from STDs.
- Jen
Friday, Apr 4, 2008 - 11:26:33 PM
STD's scare me too that and fear of getting pregnant are the TOP 2 reasons I've never had sex......It would be really scary to get an STD from having sex or doing drugs!!!!
- Erica
Friday, Apr 4, 2008 - 8:55:49 PM
The thought of STD's scare me so much, I'm scared to even have sex.
- aaron
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