Day 4: Kick-Off True or False About Sexually Transmitted Diseases

Questions #1 ◦You can't get STDs from giving or receiving oral sex

False: ◦This is one of the most dangerous myths in existence. Any exposure to genitalia or body fluids puts you at risk for getting an STD. There are many STDs that can be transmitted through oral sex, including genital herpes, genital warts (HPV), gonorrhea, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, chlamydia, syphilis, internal parasite, and rarely, HIV.

Questions #2 ◦You can't have two STDs at once, including HIV

False ◦You can have multiple STDs at a time. If you have just one other untreated STD, you are 10 times more likely to have HIV. Your chances are greater if you have genital warts, lesions or ulcers like those you can get with syphilis or herpes.

Questions #3 ◦Using two condoms, one on top of the other, gives you extra protection against HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases

False ◦Using two condoms at once increases friction that will tear or break both condoms, increasing your risk of exposure to HIV and other STDs during sex.

Questions #4 ◦If you don't have any symptoms, you don't have a sexually transmitted disease/sexually transmitted infection (STD/STI).

False ◦Many STDs are asymptomatic meaning without symptoms. Serious damage can be done whether symptoms are presents or not.

Questions #5 ◦Being on the contraceptive pill means that I am protected from STDs.

False ◦Birth control pills can prevent you from getting pregnant, but they cannot keep you safe from sexually transmitted diseases

Questions #6 ◦You can tell by looking at someone if they have a sexually transmitted disease (STD).

False ◦Many of the most common STDs have very limited symptoms, and some are even symptomless. As such, there is no way that you could tell somebody had an STD just by looking at them

Questions #7 ◦STDs can make me infertile

True ◦About ten percent of women who have contracted either Chlamydia or Gonorrhea will develop Pelvic Inflammatory Disease which can later result in infertility

Questions #8 ◦All STDs can be cured

False ◦Not all STDs can be cured. A course of antibiotics can clear up diseases such as Gonorrhea, Chlamydia and Syphilis relatively quickly. However there are other STDs that cannot be treated. The most serious of these is HIV which can later develop into AIDS, which leads to immune deficiency. However, less severe STDs such as Herpes and Hepatitis are also incurable and will stay with you for life