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A disturbing thought was presented to me by a friend who said, “I think one of the reasons people are more willing to discuss AIDS is that there’s at least some chance that you got it from a blood transfusion, if you’re old enough, or from some other accidental fluid contact (as with a health care worker), so it somehow seems less “dirty” to people.”

The more I thought about her comment, the more I realized it was true. AIDS doesn’t seem as bad when it’s accidental or out of our control. Then I realized that this mentality actually applies to all STDs. Having a STD to begin with is punishment enough without society poking its collective finger at you. That’s why there’s so little communication about STD’s. It’s all about the guilt, the fear, and the isolation that’s involved with having an STD. By society’s standards, STD’s are considered dirty and only people who sleep around or do drugs get these diseases. WRONG! Accidents happen. The person you thought loved you infects you with a disease you didn’t know he/she had. A woman in the wrong place at the wrong time is raped and catches a disease. Because accidents happen, and let’s face it, humans make mistakes, we have a responsibility to have compassion for these people, to reach out and educate others to prevent STD transmission.

It’s not enough that someone has a disease for the rest of his/her life; society has to create an example and make him or her ashamed. Ads on television, discussions and health courses in schools inadvertently create stereotypes about those with STD’s, creating an illusion about what types of people carry STD’s. We, as a society need to open our hearts to these people; they need our help and understanding, instead of our criticism.

Here are some percentages on STD’s found on the American Society Health Association web site:

* An estimated 25% of adults in the United States have genital herpes. Most don’t know it because their symptoms are too mild to notice. (Another translation: 1 in four have genital herpes; of these four, only three know about it.)

* Approximately 5.5 million new cases of sexually transmitted HPV (Human Papillomavirus) occur in the U.S. each year, with at least 20 million people currently infected.

* The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that each year about 240,000 Americans get hepatitis B. One out of 20 people in this country will get Hepatitis B at some time during their life.

* Chlamydia is a sexually transmitted disease that’s very common among teens and young adults. If untreated, Chlamydia can affect the reproductive organs causing sterility. The good news is that Chlamydia is easy to treat. Unfortunately most people with Chlamydia don’t know they’re infected. If you have had sex, you may need to be tested, even if you feel healthy.

KNOW THIS:

The presence of certain STDs (such as Herpes and Genital warts) increases the risk of getting HIV infection during sexual contact with an HIV-infected person. Certain STDs result in breaks in the skin on or in the anus, vagina, or penis that permit the virus to enter the blood system more easily. See a health care provider for testing and treatment if you think you might have any STD.

Just because someone has one STD doesn’t mean they’re safe from others! The chances of catching another STD increase by 50% if you already have an STD and continue to have unsafe sex with one or multiple partners.

When discussing STD’s, always remember these important facts:

* Remember that once you have an STD, it’s generally there forever, in one way or another. If you catch AIDS, it could cost you your life. A few hours of pleasure aren’t worth the rest of your life.

* Don’t think, “It can’t happen to me.” You’ll be one of the ones who catch it. No one in this world is immortal or untouchable. If you catch an STD, your life will never be the same.

* Be educated about these diseases with your family. Ignorance is NOT bliss. Be smart and know about ALL STDs.

STD’s are scary and difficult to discuss but without education, and an open mind, the statistics listed above will continue to grow. To prevent contracting an STD, awareness and education key factors. Be aware of the symptoms of all STDs, abstain from sex if you’re unsure of your partner’s history or your partner won’t disclose his/her history, always practice safe sex by using a condom, minimize your partners to one at a time, avoid intravenous drug usage, and get tested yearly for all STDs including HIV. If you know that you have an STD, explain to your partner patiently, calmly, and clearly about your disease including the symptoms, and the risk factors, and be sure to practice safe sex at all times.