Your STD Project: Are You At Risk?

Be protected. Stay safe!

In this day and age, sexual activity is no longer a big deal.

Young people jump in and out of the sheets without much thought about their emotional and physiological health.

Little wonder we hear too many stories of unwanted pregnancies, (which is responsible for many early marriages in contemporary Nigeria), broken hearts and then the other aspect that has a really low voice; sexually transmitted diseases/infections.

The goal of this article is not to condemn human sexuality, but to provide an insight on how much we stand to loose if caution is thrown to the wind.


YOU COULD GET INFECTED

Sexually transmitted infections are transmitted through unprotected sexual contact with an infected person.

Some infected people have no obvious symptoms.

In some individuals, the symptoms appear and disappear while the infection still persists and the person continues to infect other people.

Some common STIs include

1. Candidiasis
2. Trichomoniasis
3. Gonorrhoea
4. Syphilis
5. HIV/AIDS
6. Genital warts (human papilloma virus)
7. Hepatitis B
8. Chlamydia.

General signs of an infection are ;

• Wounds, sores, ulcers, rashes or blisters on or around the genitals.
• Abnormal discharge that is itchy, thick, that has color and a foul odor. 
• Painful urination

WHAT ARE THE POSSIBLE COMPLICATIONS OF STI's

Improper and late treatment of STIs could result in

1. Infertility (gonorrhoea)
2. Impotency
3. Death (AIDS, syphilis)
4. Blocked tubes
5. Pelvic inflammatory diseases (gonorrhoea)
6. Urinary tract infections (Chlamydia);
7. Genital cancer (HPV).

WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO GET TESTED? 

Populations at higher risk of getting infected are people that have unprotected sex, people that have multiple sexual partners and sex workers.

You may feel you are safe, but how are you sure your partner does not have other partners?

If you notice abnormal changes in your body, seek medical help immediately.

Consult a doctor for counseling, treatment and follow up. Be straight with your doctor.

If the environment is not private or comfortable, let him know. Do not forget to inform your partner to get tested.

PREVENTION IS THE BEST MEDICINE

The importance of prevention can not be overemphasized.
Do not expose yourself to STIs in the first place. Abstain from sex (if you can),

Stay faithful to one partner and use condoms correctly. Alcohol and drugs are bad for sexual health.

Remember, when youth is a mistake, old age becomes a regret.

What other methods of prevention do you know? Share them with us.