Summer Is Coming: And So Are Sexually Transmitted Diseases

Sexually transmitted diseases cases are increasing at a very alarming rate. Teens are prone in developing such diseases especially since they are curious with the world around them unsuspecting of the unknown dangers that they may be facing. Summer is coming and so are sexually transmitted diseases. Let us consider the widespread of STDs, its types causes in an effort to effectively avoid them.

Sexually Transmitted Infection also referred to as sexually transmitted diseases (STD) and venereal diseases (VD), are infections that are commonly spread by sex, especially vaginal intercourse, anal sex and oral sex. There are different types of STIs however they can be broken down into three basic types: Bacterial, Viral and Parasitic.  You will find Vaginitis, Chlamydia, Gonorrhea, Syphilis and Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID) under Bacterial. Genital Herpes, Human Papillomavirus (HPV) or Genital Warts, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C Virus (HCV), and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) / Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) are identified as Viral. Lastly, with Trichomonas can be found with parasitic cases.

Most other sexual infections, while potentially dangerous, can be cured with antibiotics. H.I.V. cannot, though it can be controlled with antiretroviral drugs or daily pills that taken for life. As such, the most effective way of preventing STIs is by not having sex. However, this may not be entirely possible for some. Instead, safer sex practices is being urged which includes the use of condoms, having a smaller number of sexual partners, and being in a relationship where each person only has sex with the other also decreases the risk. Circumcision in males may be effective to prevent some infections

The latest report card on Australia’s sexual health, by the University of NSW’s Kirby Institute, is a mixed bag. Even though new HIV infections have flattened out over the past three years, along with Chlamydia in recent times, more Australians are being diagnosed with gonorrhea and syphilis. And rates of sexually transmitted infections remain much higher in Australia’s indigenous population, with the HIV diagnosis rate increasing over the past five years.

The increase in popularity of “hookup apps“have been blamed for surge in sexually transmitted infections reported in Rhode Island. The Rhode Island department of health attributed the rise to “high-risk behaviors that have become more common in recent years”, which it said included “using social media to arrange casual and often anonymous sexual encounters”. This includes apps such as Grindr, Tinder, Blender, Happn, Scruff, Down, Pure, Glimpse, JSwipe, Hinge and more that are used to meet up and hook up with complete online strangers. This in turn increases the risk of unsuspecting online users to contracting sexually transmitted disease to their partner.

If you feel like you have developed a sexually transmitted infection, don’t hesitate to visit the nearest sexual health clinic around you and they are more eager to help you with your problem. Early diagnosis is one of the keys on how to effectively combat the threat of STIs. It is good to hear that these clinics have setup and established their services over the internet for easy access and view. As a result, more and more individuals were able to find comfort and the much needed help online and were able to setup appointments in a timely and effectively manner. Check them out today.