Men's Health > Sexually Transmitted Disease > STD's to look out for

STD's on the Rise

With the sexual revolution in full-swing, disease sharing is rampant. Because of that, there are certain STD's to look out for that you probably never thought you'd have any chance in hell of catching.

STD’s, or sexually transmitted diseases, are infections and diseases that are transmitted during a sexual act between two people.

There are many different types of STD’s that each have their own symptoms and cures.

People that suspect they have a STD should seek the care of a doctor immediately, and completely avoid all forms of sexual contact, including oral sex.

STD Symptoms

Each STD has its own symptoms, but in general affect the genital area of a person. Following are some STD’s and their symptoms:

• Genital herpes. Herpes symptoms include blisters that can occur on the genitals or around the genitals. These blisters will eventually break and can cause ulcers to remain behind. For the first outbreak, the ulcers will often take approximately two weeks to four weeks to heal. After the first outbreak, recurring outbreaks can emerge several months down the road (and repeat themselves for decades), but each time the recovery period is typically shorter and may last a few days. Although the outbreaks become less severe over time, a person with herpes is always contagious and can pass the herpes virus to their sexual partner at any time.
• Chlamydia. This type of STD is caused by bacteria, and many times goes undetected in both men and women. Some of the more subtle symptoms can include minor itching and redness.
• Gonorrhea. Gonorrhea is a STD that is caused by bacteria which grows quickly in moist, warm places. The first symptoms of Gonorrhea includes a burning sensation and the discharge of pus.
• Crabs. Crabs are a STD where bugs, or parasites, live in the hair around the genital area. Extreme itching and discomfort are the two best-known symptoms of crabs.
• Chancroid. This type of STD is caused by bacteria in the genital area. This STD is often undetected for some time until eventually the genital area becomes red and extremely painful.
• HIV. Associated with AIDS (but not synonymous with it), people with HIV suffer from reduced CD4 cells in the body, which can in time lead to AIDS and destruction of the immune system.

One of the most important things that anyone can do in the prevention and cure of STD’s is to make sure that they have protected sex at all times. Each time that someone has unprotected sex they increase their chances of catching a STD. All it takes is the use of condom to make sure that a person is safe from both STD’s and from pregnancy. With condoms so readily available it’s foolish for anyone not in a monogamous relationship to have sex without one.

Jim Shaw