STD Information & Facts

An Overview of STDs

Sexually Transmitted Diseases or STDs will touch the lives of most people at some point. It is believed that close to half of all people on the planet will experience an STD during their lifetime. Considering the fact that when your partner has an STD it affects you as well, it’s easy to see why having some basic knowledge can help you to understand the symptoms and what to do after diagnosis.

The term “STDs” is really a blanket term used to describe a whole host of conditions. Some are more serious than others so it’s a good idea to get the facts on which of the STDs you have.

You may feel overwhelmed when you are told by your doctor that you have one of the STDs. It’s important to bear in mind that most conditions are treatable and all are manageable. You are at a distinct advantage once you are diagnosed since it means you have the information you need to be more aware and also you can begin receiving treatments.

Many people with an STD have no idea that they are afflicted. They may not experience any symptoms. The biggest concern with this is that they can be infecting others. Therefore it’s wise to be tested for STDs from time to time. Many people now undergo a routine HIV test every few months or once a year and it’s suggested that at the same time testing is done for other STDs.

If you’ve never had an STD you may be unaware of some interesting facts including:

* Each year one in four teenagers will contract an STD. In fact about half of all new cases of STDs reported each year are occurring in individuals who are younger than twenty-five. This is one of the reasons that safe sexual practices need to be discussed with young people before they become sexually active.

* By the time a person reaches their mid-twenties, one in two people their age will have had an STD. This number is staggering and if you a sexually active with numerous partners it’s easy to calculate that at some point you most likely have been exposed to one of the STDs.

* By the time a person reaches their mid-forties only half of the people in their age group have ever been tested for STDs. This number clearly suggests that people simply aren’t aware of the potential risk. Because many of the STDs don’t have symptoms a person may never be tested even though they are infected.

One of the smartest things any sexually active individual can do for their own health and the health of any future partners is to be tested. Granted it can be a scary experience but it’s important to remember that being ignorant to the fact that you might be infected is terrifying to the people you are intimate with.

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