Sexually Transmitted Diseases: 12 Interesting Facts

#1 Condom Still Not 100%

While it's important to wear a condom, understand that it merely reduces (but does not completely remove) the risk of spreading an STD. It still gives you a much higher chance of avoiding infection than not wearing one.

#2 Pregnancy Scare

Hey ladies, remember when you used to worry so much about getting pregnant? Turns out a woman is 4 times more likely to contract STDs than she is to become pregnant!

#3 The Africa Epidemic

Because of STDs like AIDS, rape has become an epidemic in Africa. This is largely due to the belief that sex with a virgin can cure all sexually transmitted diseases, but it only results in the further spread of it.

#4 The "Pull Out" Myth

Pre-ejaculate can still transmit sperm and STDs, the 'pulling out' method does not prevent pregnancy or infections. Use a condom instead, or better still ABSTAIN.

#5 Timing is Everything

Statistically, a person that has sex for the first time at a younger age is more susceptible to developing a STD. The risk also increases with the number of partners over a longer span of time.

#6 The Douching Myth

The benefits of douching are greatly exagerated! Doing so before or after sex does not protect against STDs as some claim. In fact, they may help promote an infection after exposure to an STD because the good bacteria (which fights infections) will have been cleared out.

#7 Look Out For Crabs (Pubic Lice)

Crabs (or pubic lice) are small parasites that feed on human blood. They can be sexually transmitted even if there is no penetration or bodily fluid exchanged. They can even be passed on if a condom is worn. They can live for 24 hours after leaving a human host so it is possible to get crabs from infested bedding or clothes.

#8 Oral Risks

Some may think oral sex is safer, and for this reason it can actually be more dangerous in spreading STDs. It is important to limit your partners to one, even in performing oral.

#9 Sterilization for Women

For woman, a single chlamydia infection brings a 25% chance of sterility. If she gets a 2nd infection, it boosts it up to a 50% chance and a 3rd basically guarantees that she will not be able to get pregnant again. This is because of PID (pelvic inflammatory disease)

#10 Famously Infected

Al Capone, the notorious gangster had syphilis and some believe it may have driven him crazy. Some other famous people believed to have suffered from it include Napoleon, Hernando Cortez, Benito Mussolini, Friedrich Nietzsche, Edourd Manet and possibly, Adolph Hitler.

#11 Sigma Symbol for Syphilis

In the late 1400s and early 1500s doctors were so afraid of syphilis they refused to write down its name in fear something bad would happen to them or their patients. They would instead use the Greek letter Sigma in place of the word.

#12 Get Help

For those suffering from chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis, the good news is that they are curable. The bad news is that if they are left untreated they can cause infertility, chronic pain, birth defects, miscarriages and even death! An STD can ruin your life and harm your family.