April is STD Awareness Month.

April is STD Awareness Month.

Read this article and find out if you should consider being tested. Find out what risk group you fall under and why. STD testing isn’t the same for everyone.

STDs (sexually transmitted diseases) can happen any time you have sexual contact with anyone that involves the genitals (vaginal sex), the mouth (oral sex), or the rectum (anal sex). Sexually active people must get STD testing on regular basis. Contracting an STD is a certainty if you have unprotected sex, it’s not if you become infected, it’s when will you become infected.

Wondering if you should get tested?

To help you figure out if STD testing is something you should be concerned about go to: http://www.plannedparenthood.org/all-access/check-26541.htm A simple survey of your sexual practices and health status is used to give you a recommendation about testing.

What is STD testing? Testing falls into the following catagories:

Urine Test: Chlamydia and gonorrhea can be detected using a urine test. A urine sample is provided by the patient and sent to a laboratory to be tested for the infection.
Blood test: Herpes, syphilis and hepatitis are diagnosed with a blood test. A sample of blood is taken from a vein in the arm and sent to a lab for test results.

Swab test: Gonorrhea and chlamydia can be detected through a urine test or a swab of the infected area (penis, vagina, cervix, anus, and throat). This is done during a pelvic exam for women, with a swab rubbed on the cervix or vagina to collect a specimen. A swab is inserted into the urethra, anus and/or throat for men. Trichomoniasis is also diagnosed with a swab test of the infected area. The samples are sent to a lab for testing and diagnosis.

Physical Exams: A physical examination by a doctor is required for the diagnosis of scabies, pubic lice, syphilis, herpes and genital warts (also known as human papilloma virus or HPV). For scabies and pubic lice, the doctor looks for the organisms or their eggs. To detect syphilis, herpes and genital warts, the types of sores or warts visible on the patient determine the type of infection and help to determine the treatment plan.

HIV Testing: HIV tests are performed on blood samples. Rapid tests provide test results in 20 minutes are also available.

Routine STD testing is important for both men and women. See your doctor if you are having unprotected sex or symptoms of an STD.

Unprotected sex is high risk behavior. The CDC advises yearly HIV testing if you are at high risk of infection and any unprotected sex.

Medium risk behavior is being in a monogamous relationship and having occasional unprotected sex with your partner. Many people assume that if they are in a monogamous relationship they need not to worry about HIV and other STDs. Many monogamous couples do not get tested for HIV and other STDs before stopping the use of condoms. It’s possible for a monogamous couple to be engaging in other behaviors that could put them and their partner(s) at risk for HIV and other STDs. If you even suspect or question your partners’ behavior consider getting tested.

Low risk behavior is the practice of safer sex, using a condom and/or dental dam greatly reduces the risk of contracting STDs including HIV.

No risk behavior is the practice of abstinence.

The CDC advises STD and HIV testing as a routine part of medical care if you’re a sexually active adolescent or adult between the ages of 13 to 64.

Where to get tested STD Free Clinics are a source for locating clinics that offer free STD testing throughout the USA and many parts of the world. Find a FREE STD Clinic near you. http://stdfreeclinics.com/FREECLINICSBYCOUNTRY.html

For a online confidential STD blood testing service. All STD lab tests are available, no office visit is required. Go to justgettested.com http://www.justgettested.com/index.php

At-home STD Testing is gaining popularity. At-home STD testing for Chlamydia and gonorrhea you collect a urine sample, a genital and/or rectal swab and then send it to a laboratory for analysis. Test results are provided online in a few days. Test at home or test at a private local service center in your area http://getstdtested.com/get-std-tested.php

If you test positive for an STD, the next step is to seek treatment. It is also important to inform your sex partner(s) about your test results. Encourage them to get tested and seek treatment immediately. It is very possible for you and your partner(s) to pass infections back and forth. You need to practice abstinence until otherwise approved by your Physician.

Knowing that unprotected sex jeopardizes your health and your partner’s health and both of your futures; common sense tells you that the use of a condom is necessary. Condoms are inexpensive especially in comparison to the cost of treatment for any of the above mentions STDs.

Condoms are a medical device used in the prevention of pregnancy and contracting STDs that will affect your future. Health education is the most effective approach to stop unwanted pregnancy and the spread of STDs.

Maxpro promotes a healthy tomorrow by providing educational information allowing people to make informed choices. Always use a condom every time you have sex, if not a male condom then use a female condom to prevent unwanted pregnancy and the transmission of STD's and HIV/AIDS. Pleasurable safe sex is an effective lifestyle choice used by many to bring about a happy and healthy future.

The best place to buy the best condoms. Buy Condoms online from the #1 provider of premium condoms designed for pleasure and safety.
Buy Condoms Online

Articles and Resources:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Safe Sex – Talking with your partner

Safe Sex - Talking with your partner

Talking with your partner about safe sex and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) is hard. But if you don’t have the conversation now, you could be having a much harder one later.

Talking is an important first step to practicing safe sex. It’s smart to be concerned about STDs and HIV/AIDS. Communicating is the first step in building your confidence and self esteem; it gives you a chance to protect yourself and your partner from HIV and other STDs. Talking and sharing responsibility for practicing safe sex can build trust between the two of you and allow for you to enjoy sex even more without worrying about contracting an STD or HIV/AIDS.

Talking about safe sex will be uncomfortable and stressful. It would be normal for you to be concerned about your partner’s reaction. But not talking increases your risk of contracting an STD or HIV/AIDS. You owe it to yourself to talk about safe sex.

Educate yourself before sitting down with you partner. Learn as much as you can.
The more you know about STDs and HIV/AIDS the easier it will be to talk about them and the more determined you will be to pratice safe sex. You may feel uncomfortable talking about intimate issues and embarrassed to talk about safe sex, but the risks outweigh any feelings of embarrassment you may have, knowing the risks are real and life threatening.

Plan how you want the conversation to go. Sort out your feelings and fears before you begin. Be clear in your mind’s eye on what you will and won’t do sexually. Be assertive. It’s your life and health you are discussing. Say what you want very clearly so there is no misunderstanding. It’s ok to set ground rules that benefit both you and your partner.

You can say something simple, such as ‘I need to talk to you about something important. I feel embarrassed but I think we need to talk about safe sex and using protection’.

You can say something to the effect; ‘I always use a condom’ or ‘I’d only have sex with someone who cares enough to use protection’.

Timing is important… Don’t wait until you are in the heat of the moment and ready to make love. Once you start talking it will get easier to communicate your needs. Your partner may even be relieved you brought it up.

Be yourself. Be open and honest about safe sex. The difference starts by when you make the choices that will affect the rest of your life. Be safe, protect your health, if your partner resists safe sex, you may need to think about the relationship. Do you really want to have sex with someone who doesn’t care about their health or yours?

Knowing that unprotected sex jeopardizes your health, your partner’s health and both of your futures; common sense tells you that the use of a condom is necessary. Condoms are inexpensive especially in comparison to the cost of treatment for STDs or HIV/AIDS.

What is Safe Sex?

• Don’t allow any of your partner’s body fluids to enter your body.
• Always use a condom every time you have sex, if not a male condom then use a female condom to prevent the transmission of STDs and HIV/AIDS.
• Don’t use oil-based lubricants. Hand creams, massage oil, Vaseline and other oil-based products can cause the condom to leak or break.
• Don’t have sex when you are drunk or high. Drinking or using drugs makes it harder to practice safe sex. Be aware of situations that can make it hard to practice safe sex. Be careful of romantic times when you don’t have a condom.
• Always be prepared and carry a condom and dental dam.

Condoms are a medical device used in the prevention of pregnancy and contracting STDs that will affect your future. Health education is the most effective approach to stop unwanted pregnancy and the spread of STDs.

Maxpro promotes a healthy tomorrow by providing educational information allowing people to make informed choices. Always use a condom every time you have sex, if not a male condom then use a female condom to prevent unwanted pregnancy and the transmission of STD's and HIV/AIDS. Pleasurable safe sex is an effective lifestyle choice used by many to bring about a happy and healthy future.

The best place to buy the best condoms. Buy Condoms online from the #1 provider of premium condoms designed for pleasure and safety.
Buy Condoms Online

Articles & Resources:
Sexually Transmitted Diseases

Inform Yourself about STD's! Part II

Last week general information was given about sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). This week: How you get them and what you should be watching for (symptoms). Also information about the more common (STDs): Chlamydia, Gonorrhea, Hepatitis B, Syphilis, Genital Warts, Herpes and HIV/AIDS.

STDs are spread during unprotected vaginal, anal, and oral sex, and sometimes by genital touching (warts and herpes). Some STDs (HIV and hepatitis B) can be contracted by contact with infected blood (shared needles and cuts). Symptoms of STDs can be any of the following:

For Women and Men

• Sores, bumps or blisters near sex organs, rectum or mouth.
• Burning and pain when urinating or having a bowel movement.
• Need to urinate often.
• Itching around sex organs.
• A swelling or redness in throat.
• Flu-like feelings, with fever, chills and aches.
• Swelling in groin.

For Women

• Discharge or smell from vagina.
• Tenderness and/or pain in pelvic area.
• Burning or itching around vagina.
• Experience pain deep inside during sex.

For Men

• A drip or discharge from your penis.

Remember that many people with an STD do not have any symptoms but are still able to infect others. They may be unaware of their own status.

If you experience any of the above symptoms stop having sex. Get tested. Get treated! Inform sex partner(s) to seek treatment. Ask the doctor how long after treatment before sex can be resumed.

Chlamydia affects women and men, symptoms show up 7-28 days after having sex. The majority of women and some men have no symptoms. Women may experience vaginal discharge, burning during urination, or the infection may progress to pelvic inflammatory disease. Men may have painful urination, pain or inflammation in the testicles or rectum, and penile discharge. Both men and women may experience inflammation of the lining of the eye, but many have mild or no symptoms at all.

Most women and some men will show no symptoms of Gonorrhea. Symptoms usually appear within 2-10 days after sexual contact. Women may have thick yellow or gray discharge from the vagina, burning or pain when urinating or having a bowel movement, abnormal periods or bleeding between periods, cramps and pain in the lower abdomen. Men can experience thick yellow or greenish drip from the penis, burning pain when urinating or having a bowel movement, frequent need to urinate, swollen or tender testicles.

Non-gonococcal urethritis (NGU) is an infection of the urethra caused by germs most often found in gonorrhea or Chlamydia. NGU can be transmitted with direct contact through vaginal, anal, and oral sex, even if body fluids are not exchanged.

Human papillomavirus (HPV) can cause genital warts (in a minority of cases – HPV can lead to cancer of the cervix and anus in women or cancers of the anus and penis for men). There are over 200 different types of HPV most of which are harmless. About 40 types are spread through sexual contact; the symptoms show up 1-8 months after sexual contact. Many people with HPV have no symptoms.

Most genital herpes are caused by HSV-2. Symptoms show up 1-30 days or longer after having sex and some people have no symptoms; flu-like feelings, Small, painful blisters on the sex organs or mouth, itching or burning before the blisters appear which can last 1-3 weeks. Blisters go away, but you still have herpes. Blisters can come back.

Hepatitis B often goes undetected because many people experience no symptoms or only mild ones. The symptoms do not show up for one to nine months after contact with the virus. Flu-like feelings that do not go away, jaundice, and fatigue can easily be mistaken for symptoms of other problems.

Easily the most lethal STD: human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is the beginning infection that will cause acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Symptoms of infection can take several months to several years after contact with the infected blood. Unexplained weight loss, fatigue, flu-like feelings, diarrhea, white spots in the mouth, and incurable yeast infections are all symptoms of HIV/AIDS.

Syphilis has two stages of symptoms that become apparent after 1 and up to 12 weeks of having sex. Stage one: painless sore(s) on the mouth or sex organs that lasts 2-6 weeks. Sore(s) go away, but you still have the disease. Stage two: after your sore(s) heal you will have a rash and flu-like feelings. These symptoms will go away and you will still have syphilis.

Many of the STDs can remain undetected for such a length of time that one sexually active person can potentially infect several people before any symptoms are even apparent. And so on...

Know your status. Get tested.

Symptomatic or asymptomatic if you have been having unprotected sex, get tested! Look for an anonymous testing site in your area and get tested. This will protect your identity and your ability to be insured in the future. Most county health departments have special STD clinics.

All STD’s are serious and must be treated. Not all STD’s can be cured, but left untreated STD’s can have serious health consequences. Chlamydia and Gonorrhea left untreated can cause a serious infection of the reproductive organs (women and men) which can leave you unable to have children. Other STD’s can cause heart disease, liver damage, arthritis, brain damage, blindness and death.

Tell your sex partner(s). If left untreated the STD(s) can have a very serious physical and emotional impact on them. You risk becoming re-infected with the STD.

Next week's article will cover talking to your partner about safe sex and STDs.

Protect your status. Knowing that unprotected sex jeopardizes your health and your partner’s health and both of your futures; common sense tells you that the use of a condom is necessary. Condoms are inexpensive, especially in comparison to the cost of treatment for any of the above mentioned STDs.

Practice Safe Sex. Everytime you have sex use a condom.

Maxpro promotes a healthy tomorrow by providing educational information allowing people to make informed choices. Always use a condom every time you have sex, if not a male condom then use a female condom to prevent unwanted pregnancy and the transmission of STDs and HIV/AIDS. Pleasurable safe sex is an effective lifestyle choice used by many to bring about a happy and healthy future.

The best place to buy the best condoms. Buy Condoms online from the #1 provider of premium condoms designed for pleasure and safety.
Buy Condoms Online

Articles & Resources

Inform Yourself about STDs

Avoiding all scare tactics here is factual information about sexually transmitted disease(s) (STDs), what they are, how they are spread, how to avoid them and why you should be checking for them and getting treated.

This is going to be a mini series of articles. An overview of STD awareness: what you need to watch for, how to protect yourself, and why it is important to get checked and treated.

An STD is an infection that is transmitted during sex. It is an infection passed by the exchange of body fluids (semen, pre-ejaculate fluid, vaginal fluid and blood) while having unprotected oral, anal and/or vagina sex.

How serious are STDs? Many people with STDs experience no noticeable symptoms. You may contract a STD with no signs or symptoms and in some cases the symptoms may go away after a period of time. You must be treated by a health professional to stop the infection.

STDs such as Chlamydia, genital warts, HPV, gonorrhea, syphilis, and trichomoniasis infect the sexual and reproductive organs. Left unchecked these can have serious consequences; sterility, cancer, blindness and early death. Then we move on to the more deadly diagnosis of hepatitis B, HIV and AIDS. All of which while treatable will eventually cause an early demise.

All STDs can be treated. To get treated you must be tested first. We recommend that you search via google or any other search engine for an anonymous testing site in your area. This will protect your identity and your ability to be insured in the future. Most county health departments have special STD clinics. Many STDs can be treated with antibiotics. Be sure to follow the medical advice and adhere to the instructions on your prescriptions.

You must tell your sex partner(s). If left untreated the STD(s) can have a very serious physical and emotional impact on them. You risk becoming re-infected with the STD.

Knowing that unprotected sex jeopardizes your health,your partners health and both of your futures; common sense tells you that using a condom is smart. Condoms are inexpensive; especially in comparison to the cost of treatment for any of the above mentioned STDs.

Condoms are a medical device used in the prevention of pregnancy and contracting STDs. Maxpro promotes a healthy tomorrow by providing educational information allowing people to make informed choices. Always use a condom every time you have sex, if not a male condom then use a female condom to prevent unwanted pregnancy and the transmission of STDs and HIV/AIDS. Pleasurable safe sex is an effective lifestyle choice used by many to bring about a happy and healthy future.

The best place to buy the best condoms. Buy Condoms online from the #1 provider of premium condoms designed for pleasure and safety.
Buy Condoms Online

Articles & Resources
American Social Health
CDC

More details next week on "Inform Yourself about STDs"

Risks of Unsafe Sex!

The health risks associated with unsafe sex have increased.

The number of people contracting STDs (Sexually Transmitted Diseases) is on the upswing. Chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, HIV/AIDS are just a few of the STDs you are at risk for when you have unsafe sex.

What is the reason for this rise in transmissions?

People aren’t practicing safer sex. Straight, bisexual, and gay; it doesn’t seem to matter. Infection rates are on the rise in each group.

Why aren't people practicing safer sex? Ignorance, low self esteem and thinking it could never happen to you. And alot of the "not thinking with the head on your shoulders" or getting lost in the moment excuses. Possibly the reason could be that people are afraid to communicate with each other.

Unprotected sex (sex without a condom) is high risk sex. Unprotected sex refers to such acts as felatio, cunnilingus (both are oral sex), vaginal, and anal intercourse performed without a condom or dental dam. Kissing doesn’t count unless blood is involved (use mouth wash but do not brush before actively kissing). The bodily fluids that spread STDs & HIV/AIDS are semen, pre-ejaculate fluid, vaginal fluid, and blood.

There’s a risk during unprotected oral sex for males and females. During oral sex condoms and/or oral dams should be used by the active partner. The passive partner should also be aware because they are at risk during such activities as well.

Early withdrawal and the rhythm method are practiced by some as a form of contraception; it’s not considered safe sex. Sex without a barrier (condom or dental dam) is not safe sex.

Health risks associated with unsafe sex;

• Unwanted pregnancy.
• Venereal diseases; such as gonorrhea and syphilis.
• Sexually transmitted infections; such as herpes, pubic lice, viral warts, and chlamydia.
• HIV/AIDS.
• HPV which cause cancer of the cervix. Most men are carriers.

Untreated STDs can have serious long lasting consequences like sterility and lifelong scaring. Knowing that unprotected sex jeopardizes your health and your partner’s health and both of your futures; common sense tells you that the use of a condom is necessary.

Condoms are inexpensive especially in comparison to the cost of treatment for any of the above mentions STDs. Condoms are medical devices used in the prevention of contracting or transmitting diseases that will affect your future.

Health education is the most effective approach in getting the word out to all ages to practice safe sex and to stop unwanted pregnancy, the spread of STDs and HIV/AIDS.

Maxpro promotes a healthy tomorrow by providing educational information allowing people to make informed choices. Always use a condom every time you have sex, if not a male condom then use a female condom to prevent unwanted pregnancy and the transmission of STD's and HIV/AIDS. Pleasurable safe sex is an effective lifestyle choice used by many to bring about a happy and healthy future.

The best place to buy the best condoms. Buy Condoms online from the #1 provider of premium condoms designed for pleasure and safety.
Buy Condoms Online

Articles & Resources
Sexual Health Center
Safer Sex
CDC: STD’s Remain Unacceptably High