Safe sex: let’s talk about it

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) headquarters, located only 15 minutes from the SCAD Atlanta campus, released the 2009 sexually transmitted disease surveillance report in late 2010. It revealed that the age group of 20-24 is at the greatest risk of contracting HIV because of unprotected sex, STD test neglect and multiple partners.

According to the Planned Parenthood website, practicing safe sex by using a condom every time and receiving regular STD tests will contribute to a smaller chance of exposure to possibly dangerous diseases. But safe sex is not simply limited to disease prevention.

Planned Parenthood’s website suggests that individuals seek immediate medical attention if symptoms of an STD occur. The symptoms can vary in severity, but receiving treatment as early as possible can side step some long term effects, including spreading disease. This is especially true for women that may be pregnant, because the effects of some STDs can complicate pregnancy and affect the child.

According to Medline, an extension of the National Institute of Health, there are over 20 possible, sexually-transmitted infections. Some are bacterial and can be cured with antibiotics, but others are viruses that can only be treated — not cured.

The CDC report also explained that preventing the spread of STDs is collaborative and cannot be fought by any particular organization’s effort. Rather, all the members of a community must be responsible and do their part by raising awareness and practicing safe sex habits. Public awareness, according to the report, is the first line of defense. It is because of raised awareness that the Chlamydia positivity rate has decreased in the southeastern region of the United States by 0.02 percent, since 2008. On the other hand, the Syphilis positivity rate has increased in men since 2000.

There are preventative measures that can be taken to reduce the risk of contracting an STD, according to the National Institute for Health, such as knowing your partner and communication with a doctor if symptoms present. In the United States, over 19 million people per year report having an STD. The only way to completely avoid exposure is to practice abstinence, but for those that are sexually active, using condoms — every time — can greatly reduce risk of infection.