STD and how to protect against them
This world is not fair. As humans, we get to experience sex. It is one of the most fun activities we can do with ourselves or with someone else. We're given multiple pleasure centers to maximize the many ways we can have sex or masturbate. Everything around sex is great, and as long as all sexual activity is consensual, we can have a great time with each other or all by ourselves. But then the world has to go and create STDs for us to become infected with, and infect others. If you do contract an std, they are irritating or painful diseases. Plus society will now call you filthy and dirty, which isn't true at all. It's just not fair.
Learning how to practice safe sex is essential for you and your current and future partners. So today, we're going to educate you on how to keep yourself safe from STDs and engage in sex in a healthy way.
STDS and how people contract them
As long as STDs exist, we need to know how to protect ourselves against them. Sadly, in the American school system, protection against STDs isn't always covered beyond the advice "don't have sex." Not educating a young population about sexual education properly leads to more std contractions, and more teenagers will become pregnant. They'll also start listening to harmful sexual myths and participate in terrible sexual practices.
So how do people contract STDs?
STDs are spread by having a sexual encounter with someone who already has an STD. A sexual encounter can be a hand to genital contact, mouth to genital contact, and genital to genital contact. Some STDs can even be contracted from skin to skin contact, so you're also at risk if you are fingering or giving a handjob to someone who is infected.
If I do contract an STD, what does that mean about myself?
Many people believe that if they are they contract an STD, it means that they are a whore or a slut or sexually deviant. This is a toxic way of thinking. The likelihood of you contracting an std is not based around your morality or innocence. It's based around how much safety you practice during sex.
Who gets STDs?
Anyone can get an std if they have sex with someone who is infected with one. It doesn't matter how healthy your body is or how much you exercise, or if you're a virgin losing your virginity or an older adult trying to date again. Anyone can get an std if they don't practice safe sex.
How to protect yourself and others from STDs?
The first line of defense when protecting against STDs while having oral, vaginal, or anal sex is wearing a condom. Although condoms don't protect a person from all diseases, it can be a significant barrier against contracting many.
The second defense against contracting an std is making sure any new partner that you're about to have sex with has been tested recently. You should also be tested after every new partner at the local clinic or on a college campus. Some people may be offended when you ask about testing, but it is a normal part of having sex and staying protected against STDs. If someone has not been tested recently, you probably should not have sex, even if they say they're clean.
If you have a partner and you have an open relationship, you should require that partner to make sure their new sex partners have also been tested. If you are in a relationship or a marriage and your partner cheats on you, then your partner has to be tested. If they cheated on you while still engaging in sexual activities with you, then you must be tested as well, even if your partner's test is clean.
Can you get STDs from kissing?
If you are kissing someone who has an STD that affects the mouth, you can contract that STD. However, if you are kissing someone who has an STD that affects their genitals, then you will not. Two common oral STDs are the herpes virus and cytomegalovirus. If you have a partner who has an oral disease, you have to avoid kissing them and having any other contact with their mouth until the infection clears up.
If someone has an oral STD, can I still share food, utensils, and cups with them?
Studies have shown that oral diseases cannot last long on surfaces, even if the std causes open wounds. So, technically, you're still able to share food, cups, and utensils with a person who has an oral infection. But basic hygiene tells us not to share anything with someone who has a contractible virus, and it's probably the better practice.
Testing is expensive, so I don't do it as often as I should.
We understand that the average std test is around $150, and that price is too much for a lot of people. But many places do offer STD tests completely free with an appointment. Search "free std tests near me" on google to find one close to you.
Does birth control protect against stds?
No, taking birth control in pill form, shot form, IUD form, or any other form does not protect at all against STDs. Birth control is meant to protect against pregnancy.
BONUS: Sexual myths that need to die.
- You can get pregnant from a toilet seat, swimming pool, Jacuzzi, or bathtub.
- If you do get an std, it means you're a bad person.
- Wearing two condoms is extra protection against STDs.
- You can't get an STD on your first sexual encounter because your virginity will protect you.
- You're first sexual encounter is supposed to hurt.
- If you perform an act with a partner, now you have to do that act with every new partner, you owe it to them.
- The more men a woman sleeps with, the bigger her vagina becomes
Source: STD and contraception
Conclusion
Being properly educated on how to have safe sex is an important lesson that all teenagers and adults must learn. This article is just beginning information on how to practice safe sex. If you have a question about safe sex practices, STDs, one night stands, or abusive relationships, please email us a question and title it "safe sex practices" It's important to us that our customers are safe both in body and in mind.