STDs and Healthy Sexuality


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STDs 
Pregnancy is not the most serious consequence of having sex. Sexually Transmitted Diseases and Infections (STDs/STIs) are common. Some can be cured; some cannot. All of them can be transferred from person-to-person through sexual contact. Comprehensive information about a variety of STDs is available in our centers. Two of the most common are listed here:

HPV (human papillomavirus)
This sexually transmitted disease is the primary cause of cervical cancer. 50 percent of sexually active men and women aquire genital HPV infection at some point in their lives. Most HPV infections have no signs or symptoms; most people are unaware they are infected and can transmit this highly contagious virus to their sexual partner.

Chlamydia 
This is the most frequently reported bacterial sexually transmitted disease in the United States. Any sexually active person can be infected with Chlamydia. The greater number of partners, the greater the risk of infection. Teenage girls and young women are the most at-risk group for chlamydia because the cervis is not fully mature until later adulthood, making is especially vulnerable to this infection.

Sex Is A Big Deal
Much medical research has been done about sexual health. Before you decide to become sexually active, you may want to consider the risks that are involved in sex before marriage:
     •     Unplanned pregnancy
     •     Sexually Transmitted Diseases
     •     Emotional/Psychological Damage

Sex: To Have? Or Have Not?...It May Be The Choice of a Lifetime
If you would like to sit down with a trained counselor or a nurse and talk about how a choice to become sexually active can impact your life, call today and make an appointment.

Having Sex? You Need A Test
If you are already sexually active you need to be tested for STDs. A trained counselor or a nurse can talk with you about how at risk you are for unplanned pregnancy, STDs, or a broken heart. Call today and make an appointment. We can also provide referrals for low-cost or no-cost STD testing.

Source: Centers For Disease Control