Sex & STDs

Everybody's doing it.
Sex is no big deal, as long as you're in love.
If I tell him "no", he'll leave me.
As long as you use a condom, you're safe.
People will think I'm a freak if I tell them I'm not having sex till I get married.
I know I don't have an STD, because I feel fine and don't have any symptoms.
I've already had sex, so it's too late to think about purity.

Do you know what all the above statements have in common? They're all FALSE.
And believe it or not, having sex with someone won't make him or her love you. And it won't strengthen a weak relationship. Consider this: many of us think that a good relationship needs sex to succeed. WRONG! But it does need two people who care (really care) about each other.
In fact, choosing to wait until you're married to have sex says a lot about you. And it's all good:
By not having sex, you're telling your partner that he or she is too important to you to risk hurting.
By not having sex, you're telling others that your health means a lot to you.
By not having sex, you're saying that you're ready to stand up for what you believe in.
By not having sex, you're treating yourself (and your partner) with respect.
By not having sex, you're protecting yourself from infections and unplanned pregnancy.
By not having sex, you're choosing love instead of lust, and choosing a healthy relationship.

Love without sex? Is that possible? The answer is YES! Deciding to wait until marriage gives the relationship time to grow and mature--or time to end, if it's not the lasting kind of relationship.

The best, most enduring relationships are based on mutual respect and trust that comes with friendship, time, effort, and love. And it's worth waiting for!

SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASES
The United States has an epidemic of sexually transmitted infections. Over 70 million Americans currently have an STD. Nineteen million new cases occur each year. Half of these are in people under 25.¹

How do you get them?
You get STDs during sexual activity. This includes vaginal sex, oral sex, and anal sex. A few (HPV and herpes) can be spread by contact with infected skin. Others, such as HIV and hepatitis, can be spread through needle-sharing. You can get STDs from someone who has no symptoms.

What are the symptoms?
Most people with STDs have no symptoms. Even without symptoms, they can still pass on the infection. Some STDs cause symptoms such as an abnormal discharge from the penis or vagina, burning sensation when urinating and abdominal pain. Skin changes can also occur; these include rashes, ulcers and warts.²

Are there complications?
In women, complications from infection include pelvic inflammatory disease, tubal pregnancy, infertility and cervical cancer. In pregnant women, STDs can lead to miscarriage, stillbirths, preterm delivery and birth defects. In men, HPV infection can cause penile cancer. Some STDs, such as HIV, can be life-threatening.³

How can I find out if I have one?
Because most STDs cause no early symptoms, they are not detected until complications develop. If you or your partner have had more than one sex partner or have ever injected drugs, talk to your doctor about getting tested.

Can they be treated?
Most bacterial STDs can be treated and cured with antibiotics. Treatment does not guarantee that complications have not already occurred. A few viral STDs can be treated. These include hepatitis C and B. However, other viral STDs can be treated for symptoms, but not cured. These include HIV and herpes. Vaccine research in viral STDs is ongoing. Vaccination for hepatitis B is effective and widely available. An HPV vaccine has recently become available and is recommended for young women. However, this vaccine does not protect against all types of HPV that cause cancer and warts. How long it works is also unknown.⁴

Can they be prevented?
Yes, STDs can be prevented. Avoid all sexual activity if you are single or be faithful to one uninfected partner for life. This is the only way to avoid the risk of an infection.

NOTES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "Tracking the Hidden Epidemics: Trends in STDs in the US", 2000. Atlanta GA: Dept of Health & Human Services, CDC; 2000.
Ibid.
Ibid
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "STD-prevention counseling practices and human papillomavirus opinions among clinicians with adolescent patients", United States, 2004.