STD's (Sexually Transmitted Diseases) - Part 2

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Last week I blogged on the near epidemic proportions STDs. 67 million Americans have some form of STD and 12 million new cases appear each year. There doesn’t seem to be any indication, at this point, that this very personal problem will go away any time soon. The best way to think about STDs is to view them as one of your worst enemies. STDs don’t care whether you are rich, poor, black, white, educated, uneducated. It just wants to spread its cruel wings on as many people as possible.

One reason STDs seem to be winning the war on teenagers and young adults is sheer ignorance.

One reason STDs seem to be winning the war on teenagers and young adults (with more victims everyday) is sheer ignorance. Most everybody has some kind of idea of HIV or Herpes. But few really know who their enemy is and what to do about it. So here is a partial list of some of the STDs that could attack you:

 

  • Chancroid - A treatable infection causing painful sores.
  • Chlamydia – Almost no symptoms. Serious complications that cause irreversible damage include infertility and damage to woman’s organs.
  • Crabs - Parasites or bugs that live on the pubic hair.
  • Gonorrhea – A treatable infection that causes pain, or burning feeling as well as a pus-like discharge.
  • Hepatitis – An incurable disease that affects the liver.
  • Herpes – A recurrent incurable skin condition that can cause skin irritations in the genital region.
  • Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) – An incurable virus which causes the immune system to fail.
  • Human Papillomavirus/Genital Warts – An incurable virus that affects the skin in the genital area, as well as a female's cervix.
  • Lympogranuloma Venereum (LGV) – An infection involving the glands in the genital area.
  • Molluscum Contagiosum – A skin disease usually causing lesions or bumps.
  • Nongonococcal Urethritis (NGU) - A treatable bacterial infection of the urethra oftentimes associated with Chlamydia.
  • Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID) - An infection of the female reproductive organs by chlamydia, gonorrhea or other bacteria.
  • Scabies - Scabies is an infestation of the skin by a microscopic mite.
  • Syphilis - A treatable bacterial infection that can spread throughout the body and affect the heart, brain, nerves.
  • Vaginitis - An infection of the vagina resulting in itching and burning.

 

It’s easy to look at a list of STDs as long and detailed as this one. (Actually, there are a total of over 25 STDs that we know of.*) But just one true life story makes these STDs jump off the page and right into our lives. “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. It’s 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 realize that you don’t 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) There’s an old saying that says, “Ignorance is bliss.” When it comes to STDs, ignorance is your enemy and there is only one enemy bigger than that and that is the actual sexually transmitted disease. We need to say to ourselves over and over again, “STDs are my enemy and they can be deadly. What must I do to protect myself?”


There is no shield to protect us simply because we’re young.

Ignorance isn’t the only reason people contract STDs. Some people are convinced they can beat the odds. They think somehow because they are young and have been lucky so far, they will continue to dodge the STD bullet. How many are so painfully wrong. There is no shield that protects us simply because we are young. If that were true, the nearly 9.5 million people under 25 would not contract the diseases every year.**


Being young is a wonderful experience. It gives you strength, energy, and a sense of invincibility. It will not however protect you from STDs. “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)


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You and I have an enemy lurking at our door. It is silent, cunning, and very patient. This enemy is waiting for us to make a wrong move so it can attack. And when it does, it can claim us as victims for life.

Next week I want to blog about how to defeat the STD plague so you can be free for its cruel grip. You won’t want to miss this one. Leave a comment below with your answer for this question:

Tell me your secret to protecting yourself from STDs.



* R. Eng and W. T. Butler, The Hidden Epidemic: Confronting Sexually Transmitted Diseases (Washington, D.C.: National Academy Press, 1997), 1. ** Hillard Weinstock et al., “Sexually Transmitted Diseases Among American Youth: Incidence and Prevalence Estimates, 2000,” Perspectives on Sexual and Reproductive Health 36:1 (January/February 2004): 6–10.

Monday, Apr 21, 2008 - 9:19:24 PM
The safest way to protect yourself from an STD is not to have sex. Some people freak out and say OMG everytime I say that. They act like it is so hard, but trust me...its not. I have been with two older guys when that subject came up or came close to happening but I didn't do it. You need to wait for the right one. Thats not something you give up to just anyone. If you fall in love with someone with an STD make sure you are married before you have sex. That way if they give you an STD they are stuck with you.
- Shayna

Monday, Apr 21, 2008 - 1:05:42 AM
I AGREE. IT IS AN EPEDEMIC. THERE ARE SO MANY YOUNG PEOPLE WHO ARE GETTING THEM. OR OLDER PEOPLE. IT REALLY DOESNT MATTER. AND I JUST THINK THAT IT RUINS A LOT OF PEOPLES LIVES. BUT YOU CAN ALSO GET MEDICINE TO HELP WITH THE DISEASE SUCH AS AIDES. BUT I THINK IF YOU HAVE ONE THAT YOU SHOULD LET YOUR PARTNER KNOW SO THAT THEY ARE AWARE OF IT TO.
- from a DMLive myspace friend ~ DAVE

Sunday, Apr 20, 2008 - 9:01:46 PM
well this is no comment it is a ? what if u do not know if u have a diseas
- flower

Sunday, Apr 20, 2008 - 8:35:04 PM
hey ur blogs helped me out! thank you!!
- from a DMLive myspace friend ~ Willy

Thursday, Apr 17, 2008 - 11:25:33 PM
Hi Dawsom! You hear all those stories about Aids and HIV in Africa. You learn stuff at school that teach you helpful tips about "it". (Sorry, the s word is just.... a bit disturbing)Besides getting a STD, we girls could get pregnant. It's just plain old stupid. What can you get out of "it"? Feelings that your partner 'loves' you? Haha! No way. If you're only in your mid-teens, then you're just desperate for a way to feel good. And, besides, it's like giving a petal from a flower to each person you meet. There isn't enough petals to go around. But, besides all that, when you're older, and you have kids, what are you going to tell them? "I had 'it' when I was 15. And that's how you have a young mom and dad." What's that going to do to them? Just stay away from "it"... It brings nothing but pain and unwanted things. Just don't do it.
- Jacqueline

Tuesday, Apr 15, 2008 - 10:37:42 PM
hey dawson! my secret to avoiding stds is staying away from sex all together. thats the best way to avoid anything. and its not really a secret, its common sense really. from past experience alot of guys would probably be like 1 time (i havent had sex or anything) cant hurt anything but thats all it takes is once for ANYthing to happen. And im really stayed on my decision to not have sex until marriage. and now i think u cant really trust anybody or anything with your health. so you have to be extra EXTRA careful nowadays because if u make a wrong decision, your life can be changed in a split second. if you have future plans and goals you wont want to mess things up by having sex or getting pregnant too early. yea everyone makes mistakes, but if you dont put yourself in that situation then you really dont have nothing to worry about. so overall the secret is stay away from sex all together; or a better word everyone recognizes is ((Abstinence)). it may not be easy or popular but its the safest way out and you wont regret it in the long run. [[~RiAh~]]
- riah

Tuesday, Apr 15, 2008 - 10:12:20 PM
thanks dawson i didnt care about std's i was like what ever that stuff cant happen to me well i was wrong after i had started reading this. thanks
- NATE A.

Tuesday, Apr 15, 2008 - 9:29:01 PM
My absolute, guaranteed protection from STDs is abstinence. It's unfortunate that some people are naive enough to think that condoms are 100% efficient barriers against pregnancy, disease, and all the other baggage that comes with pre-marital sex. I made a personal decision when I was about ten or so that I would wait to have sex until marriage and I'm proud to say that I've stuck with it so far. I'm 15 and carefree---I'm not buying pregnacy tests, freaking out in a guidance cousnelor's office, or getting some weird bump or rash tested. I feel like my virginity is a gift that can only be given once, and I'm saving it for my husband. Sex is most enjoyable when you share it with ONE faithful partner and you're both clean and tested for all diseases. It's your choice to make!
- Iris

Monday, Apr 14, 2008 - 10:40:29 PM
Thanks a lot Dawson i never really cared about std's but now im gonna be prepared thanks to this
- Tom

Monday, Apr 14, 2008 - 10:03:14 PM
I have had some of my friends tell me how bad life is because they got the curable std's and none of them know how lucky they are. After I had my son I found out I had high grade precancer cells. They found them just in time. I had the leep procedure done. After I had my daughter they told me I had abnormal cells, and finally told me I had HPV. I was told that my husband won't catch this strand of HPV, which I don't quite know why not but I'm really glad. None of my friends know and only my immediate family know. It's hard out there trying to explain to people that this STD is not like AIDS. I just hope people would realize that they are not bullet proof and they can catch anything, and protection doesn't prevent STD's. Abstinence is the best way to make sure you don't catch anything.
- Amber

Monday, Apr 14, 2008 - 9:09:34 PM
People joke all the time about STD's, "Oh you have genital warts" or "AIDSSSSSS!!!!" But what I don't think we realize is that, these jokes hurt the people who do have it. I am a pure virgin, and plan on being well out of high school, hopefully until marriage. Teenagers, I think guys more than girls, feel the need to have sex because "all their friends are doing it." 8 times out of 10, they're not. And when you end up with all the consequences of your actions, whether it be STD's or pregnancy, your friends won't be doing it. You and you alone will have to deal with it. My advice: abstinence.
- Ashley

Monday, Apr 14, 2008 - 9:08:58 PM
Wow, Dawson. Thanks for putting this up. I had no idea how seriously STD's were affecting people. After reading this I think I'm going to cut down on sex, and go get tested. Thanks again.
- Renee

Monday, Apr 14, 2008 - 2:11:41 AM
My best guy friend just dropped a huge bomb on me the other day. He told me he has HPV and i really didnt know what to say. I just held him and told him i would always be there for him. I feel so bad for him because he is not a man whore at all. He was seeing this girl and she didn't know she had it and gave it to him. It was a huge shock to me and i never know what to say when he gets down about it. He always talks about how if the right person comes along they will understand, but will they? I just think about what i would do if i was the girl on the other side of that and if i could look past that i really don't know if i could. I love him to death and i just wish all the time i could make it go away because he is a great guy and has so much to offer but he wont get close to anyone because of this.
- Lauren

Sunday, Apr 13, 2008 - 11:23:14 PM
I have HSV2 (genital herpes) and I don't know that I would say I made a "bad choice" or had an "it could never happen to me" kind of attitude. I only slept with guys I trusted and with guys I was in serious relationships with. Along the way I slept with someone who said he didn't know he had it. Whether he did or didn't, it has changed my life and I moved on. It was a long hard road but I have come out stronger..and left him far back in the dust!
- James

Sunday, Apr 13, 2008 - 9:02:59 PM
i enjoy avoiding STD's by choosing abstinence i have been abstinent for all of my life and i am only 21 my ex's have respected my decide and none of them have left me yet and i believe in waiting until marriage. annie
- annie

Saturday, Apr 12, 2008 - 2:23:05 PM
I enjoy avoiding STD's by choosing abstinence. I have been abstinent for five years. At first, Everyone tried to convince me to date; I reminded them I am a heart-felt Christian. Everyone decided I forgot how to date. They started kissing in front of me; I reminded them I believe in sanctity of marriage. By being abstinent, and holding to the truth, I have made more friends, parents ask me to counsel their children, I receive better job offers, and daily smiles from strangers. Hold true to the positive things you beieve in. Remember that God loves you- even when you make mistakes. Doing something right confirms that we learn through experience.
- Sonya B.