Safety before Sex

February 14 is Valentine’s Day. This day is very special for loved ones as they express their love for each other by going on dates, buying gifts and doing anything special to show their affection. One of the most useful and impressive ways you can express your love to your partner is by taking ‘True Love’s Test’, and encourage your partner to do the same. The Institute of Medicine, Washington DC, reports that STDs are most common among teenagers and young adults. Talking to your partner about STDs before having sex is the sign of a healthy and honest relationship.

What is True Love’s Test?

Partners who’s love for each other is true will make sure they are extra careful at every step. You can show that you care for your partner by taking an STD screening test before having sex for the first time. It is a healthy decision to take the test to know your status even if you have had sex before to be safe in the future. This test will give you and your partner the following benefits:

• You can have a risk free, tension free, healthy sex experience.
• You can be 100% sure that you are not going to transfer any disease into each other.
• Early detection will make sure you take early treatment in case you’re infected. Early treatment will give you higher chances of recovery.

Everything you need to know about STD

Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs) are also known as Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) and Venereal Diseases (VD). Your genital areas being warm and moist serve as an ideal ground for the living and breeding of micro organisms. These micro organisms pass on from person to person through semen, vaginal fluids and blood during vaginal, anal or oral intercourse. Once contracted, the symptoms and signs appear at a later stage and vary between males and females. Some STDs can further develop into genital cancers. It is possible that an STD may remain dormant in an adult but get transferred into the baby via childbirth or breastfeeding. Possible consequences among babies involve stillbirth or neurological system damage. A few main types of Sexually Transmitted Diseases are- HIV/AIDS, syphilis, gonorrhea, human papillomavirus and Hepatitis B. Some STDs can occur without sexual contact, such as via blood transfusion (Hepatitis B), needle sharing (HIV/AIDS) and skin to skin touch (scabies).

Prevention and Protection from STDs:

• The first way you can protect yourself and prevent STD from spreading is by getting yourself tested.
• According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, you can protect yourself from Hepatitis B and Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) by getting vaccinated before becoming sexually active.
• Those who have multiple sex partners are more at risk of contracting STDs. It is a healthy decision to have fewer sex partners, and best to have only one. When in doubt after intercourse, you must get tested for STD immediately.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that correct and consistent use of the male latex condom is highly effective in reducing STD transmission. However, condoms do not provide 100% safety against STD.

Make sure you and your partner get yourself checked before you get intimate and prove that your love for each other is true.