STIs, often called STDs, affect millions of individuals worldwide. The World Health Organization (WHO) approximates over 1 million new infections are acquired daily across the globe. If not treated, these infections may result in severe outcomes like infertility, cancer, and even death.
STI Awareness Month in April presents an opportunity to promote the importance of STI education, prevention, testing, and treatment. This blog post will go over the significance of STI knowledge and the reasons why routine screenings are essential for preserving sexual health.
The Impact of STIs on Young People
Approximately half of all new STI infections in the US occur in individuals aged 15 to 24, significantly affecting young people. Due to factors like insufficient information, societal stigma, and limited healthcare access, young individuals are more susceptible to STIs.
Young people may also participate in hazardous sexual activities that raise their chance of getting a STI, such as unprotected intercourse and having many partners. Untreated STIs can have severe, long-term health implications, such as cancer and infertility.
The Importance of Regular Screenings
To preserve sexual health, routine STI testing is essential. Most STIs don’t show symptoms, so an individual might not even know they’re infected. Long-term health issues may result from this as well as the unintended infection of others.
Regular testing allows people to identify and treat illnesses early, lowering the risk of consequences and spread. It’s recommended for sexually active individuals to undergo STI testing once every year, and more frequently if they engage in risky sexual activities.
The Role of STI Awareness and Education
To curb disease transmission, it’s essential to promote STI awareness and educate the population. By giving patients correct information and dispelling STI myths, nurses play a crucial role in STI awareness and education.
Public health initiatives like STI Awareness Week encourage prevention, testing, and treatment while easing stigma, fear, and discrimination associated with STIs. People can take precautions to protect themselves and their partners, halting the spread of diseases and enhancing general sexual health, by raising awareness and educating themselves about STIs.
The Impact of COVID-19 on STI Awareness
Because social and economic variables like poverty and a lack of health insurance can create barriers and raise health risks for people, the COVID-19 epidemic has brought attention to the significance of STI knowledge.
In addition to disrupting healthcare services, the pandemic has also caused a decline in STI testing and treatment. To continue putting sexual health first during the pandemic, you should be tested for STIs and engage in safe sex.
FAQ
Can I get an STI even if I have only had sex with one partner?
Indeed, having just one sexual partner still puts you at risk for getting an STI. Each type of sexual contact, including oral, vaginal, and anal intercourse, can transmit STIs.
What actions should I take if my STI test comes back positive?
If you receive a positive STI test result, it’s vital to seek treatment promptly. Although antibiotics and antiviral medications can effectively treat many STIs, it’s crucial to adhere to the treatment plan precisely.
What measures can I take to decrease my likelihood of acquiring an STI?
By engaging in safe sex, which includes wearing condoms or other barrier techniques during sexual activity, you can lower your chance of acquiring a STI. Regular STI testing is also necessary, particularly if you have several sexual partners or engage in risky sexual conduct.
Is it possible for STIs to spread through non-sexual contact?
Herpes and syphilis are STIs that can spread even without sexual contact, such as kissing or sharing sex toys. To lower the danger of transmission, it’s critical to maintain proper hygiene and refrain from sharing personal belongings.
Do STIs always present symptoms?
Not all STIs cause symptoms, though. Several STIs, such as chlamydia and gonorrhea, can be asymptomatic, making it possible for people to be unaware that they are infected. To identify and treat these infections at an early stage, routine STI testing is crucial.
Can I contract a STI in a public toilet or pool?
An STI is unlikely to be acquired through a swimming pool or public restroom. The viruses and bacteria that cause STIs can’t survive outside the body for very long, therefore they are mainly shared through sexual contact.
Does condom usage guarantee protection against STIs?
Although using a condom can lower your chance of getting a STI, it is not always successful. During sexual activity, condoms may break or come off, increasing the risk of transmission. To lower the chance of acquiring a STI, it’s crucial to use condoms appropriately and consistently as well as get tested frequently.
Will a toilet seat give me a STI?
It is quite unusual to get a STI through using the restroom. Most STI-causing pathogens cannot survive long outside the body, so sexual contact is the primary transmission route.
Can a blood transfusion cause me to contract a STI?
Even while the chance of getting a STI after receiving blood is extremely low in civilized nations, there is still a possibility. Blood banks check every donation for infectious diseases, however there is a slight possibility that an infected donation can evade the check.
Does oral sex cause a STI?
Absolutely, oral sex can lead to the development of a STI. Herpes and syphilis are two STIs that can spread through oral sex. Having oral sex should always be done safely, which includes wearing condoms or dental dams.
Can a kiss give me a STI?
Although it is uncommon, it is possible to get a STI by kissing. If there are sores or injuries in the mouth, syphilis and herpes can be spread by kissing.
When I receive my period, may I catch an STI?
Being on your period increases your risk of getting a STI because some STIs can spread through blood. Using tampons or menstrual cups instead of pads can help practice safe sex during menstruation and decrease transmission risks.
Final Thoughts
STI Awareness Month offers an opportunity to emphasize the importance of STI education, prevention, testing, and treatment. Frequent STI testing is essential to preserving sexual health, and raising STI awareness and educating the public is key to stopping the spread of diseases.
People can lower the transmission of infections and enhance their general sexual health by taking precautions to protect themselves and their partners.
