Sexual Health

Sexual Health

Sexual health covers health issues including sexual dysfunction in men and women, sexually transmitted diseases or STDs and other reproductive problems. One of the best ways to safeguard your sexual health is by protecting yourself against such diseases. Twenty years ago, the common term for diseases you could catch through sexual contact was VD, or venereal diseases. Many people still use this term today.

There are a number of STDs that can threaten a person's sexual health and there are many different ways to prevent them. The obvious way to protect against catching one of these diseases is by not having sex. Abstinence, or refraining from sexual contact, will protect you against STDs.

If you're going to have sex, then you should protect your sexual health with a condom. By using a condom, you can have a complete protection. It forms a barrier between your body and the body of your partner and is highly effective against diseases like HIV, gonorrhea, syphilis and Chlamydia. A condom can also protect against unwanted pregnancy.

HPV & Genital Warts

HPV stands for human papillomavirus. There are about 40 different kinds of HPV and it is the most commonly transmitted STD and the one that will affect the sexual health of about 50% of all sexually active people. The most common symptoms of an HPV infection are genital warts, but untreated infection can cause more severe things like cervical cancer.

Genital Herpes

Genital herpes is also a common STD caused by the herpes simplex virus. It's estimated that about 1 in 5 people do or will have genital herpes in their lifetime, making it one of the most common STDs. This is a serious sexual health problem because there is no cure for herpes, though the condition can be managed with medication.

Chlamydia

Chlamydia is a disease that often shows no symptoms at all, but does severe damage to a woman's reproductive organs, cause fertility problems and sometimes infertility. Men who have the disease can spread it to women sexually, but may never have a symptom or complication.

Syphilis

Syphilis is an STD that can live in the body unnoticed for years in some cases. Although normally sores, skin rashes and other signs can show up fairly early, a person can live symptom free for years. Untreated syphilis can cause severe neurological problems, including death.

HIV & AIDS

Of the most common STDs, HIV is probably the one most discussed. HIV stands for Human Immunodeficiency Virus. This virus can be sexually transmitted and also transmitted through blood. Intravenous drug users who share needles put themselves at risk of catching HIV. Having HIV present in your blood does not mean that you are necessarily ill at that time, but that you are at a extremely high risk of becoming ill with AIDS.

AIDS stands for Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome. This is the disease that occurs when the HIV destroys cells that a person needs to stay healthy, and basically breaks down a person's immune system. This prevents the person from being able to heal normally.