By Dr. Justin
Sexual Well being
April is sexually transmitted illness (STD) consciousness month, so let’s take a second to clear up some common misconceptions round sexually transmitted infections and sexually transmitted ailments. On this article, I’ll discover 5 widespread myths and clarify what the analysis and knowledge actually must say.
Delusion #1: “I apply monogamy, so I by no means must get examined for STDs”
Lots of people maintain the assumption that “solely sluts get STDs,” but it surely’s nicely previous time we retire this concept about sexual exercise. Being in a monogamous relationship or practising serial monogamy (leaping from one monogamous relationship to a different) doesn’t make you proof against STDs. It is a widespread fable. Additionally, simply since you’re in some kind of sexually open relationship doesn’t essentially imply you’re going to contract much more of them, both.
I revealed a examine a couple of years again wherein I in contrast self-reported charges of STDs amongst individuals in monogamous and sexually open relationships. Whereas the sexually open contributors did certainly report having extra previous and present sexual companions, you could be shocked to be taught that charges of STDs didn’t considerably differ between the 2 teams. In each circumstances, about 1 in 5 folks reported having had an STD earlier than. How can we clarify these outcomes?
Individuals in sexually open relationships talk about sexual well being and apply safer intercourse extra typically than folks in monogamous relationships. These security precautions assist to mitigate their danger. On the similar time, many individuals in monogamous relationships do issues that elevate their danger.
For instance, monogamy is usually applied imperfectly. We all know that charges of dishonest and infidelity are excessive in monogamous relationships, with roughly 20-25% of married adults reporting that they’ve stepped out on their accomplice earlier than (observe that charges of infidelity are even larger in relationship relationships).
Infidelity is a high-risk sexual habits as a result of, as a rule, individuals who cheat don’t use condoms and, additional, they often don’t report the transgression to their accomplice or get examined for STDs earlier than resuming sexual exercise with them. In truth, a shock STI is what number of circumstances of infidelity have been found.
Additionally, for serial monogamists, whereas they could solely have one sexual accomplice at a time, most don’t get examined for STDs in between relationships as a result of they assume that they’re within the clear. Nevertheless, should you or your previous accomplice cheated otherwise you enter a brand new relationship with somebody with out discussing sexual well being historical past, this creates a possibility for STDs to enter a monogamous relationship and might result in multiple individual getting an untreated STD.
Briefly, monogamy in principle ought to defend you from STDs; nonetheless, given that folks appear lower than good at practising monogamy, it’s vital to get examined when infidelity happens or is suspected, when STD signs come up, or when transitioning between relationships.
Delusion #2: “If I’ve an STD, I’ll comprehend it”
Whereas some STDs produce signs shortly after an infection, others produce no signs in any respect or solely very minor signs which might be mistaken for different well being circumstances or don’t immediate considerations.
Consequently, it’s potential to have STDs with out understanding it and, due to this fact, to unintentionally transmit it to different sexual companions. Whereas transmission danger is often larger whereas signs are current, symptomless infections do have the potential to unfold, too.
Because of this you shouldn’t consider STD testing as one thing that’s solely reserved for circumstances wherein you expertise signs. Thus, should you’re sexually lively, it’s vital to have some type of common testing routine in order that symptomless STDs will be caught and handled earlier than they begin to trigger issues. Some STDs could cause critical well being implications, together with everlasting infertility if left untreated for too lengthy.
Delusion #3: “I don’t want to fret about STDs as a result of I exploit condoms”
Condoms are maybe our simplest device for stopping the unfold of STDs—and with good use, they’re extremely efficient. Nevertheless, identical to in the case of practising monogamy, folks aren’t good in the case of utilizing condoms, both. And this may result in untreated STDs.
Analysis finds that condom use errors are widespread. This contains making use of them incorrectly, utilizing incompatible lubricants (akin to an oil-based lube on a latex condom), utilizing condoms previous their expiration date or utilizing condoms that have been saved in a scorching place, placing on the condom after intercourse has began, and eradicating the condom earlier than intercourse is completed. All of those errors create potential alternatives for STD transmission.
Additionally, even with condoms, some STDs can nonetheless be unfold, akin to herpes and HPV, which will be transmitted by way of skin-to-skin contact on areas of the physique not coated by condoms.
For all of those causes, it’s vital to make use of condoms persistently and appropriately as a lot as potential and to not keep away from STD testing simply since you’re a daily condom person.
Delusion #4: “You don’t want to fret about STDs should you’re solely having oral intercourse”
Lots of people outline “intercourse” in very slim phrases, solely counting issues like vaginal or anal penetration with a penis. Consequently, they solely take into consideration taking security precautions in the case of these actions, however not throughout different actions akin to oral intercourse. That’s what makes this one of the dangerous STD myths as a result of oral intercourse will not be a very risk-free exercise. For instance, it’s potential to transmit herpes, HPV, and a number of other bacterial infections (e.g., chlamydia, gonorrhea) by way of oral-genital contact.
Individuals hardly ever use safety throughout oral intercourse, however there are issues you are able to do to scale back danger, akin to utilizing condoms or dental dams (latex limitations that may be utilized to the vagina or anus throughout oral stimulation). If dental dams appear cumbersome to make use of, there are additionally safe-sex panties you’ll be able to put on for an easy-to-use layer of safety.
Should you’re partaking in oral intercourse, you’ll be able to request throat swabs out of your healthcare supplier while you go in for STD testing. Observe that many healthcare suppliers solely display screen for genital infections, so you could must ask in an effort to get different physique websites examined. On a facet observe, should you’re partaking in receptive anal intercourse, it’s additionally value asking for a rectal swab.
Delusion #5: “You’ll be able to’t get the identical STD twice”
Simply since you’ve been examined and handled for an STD doesn’t imply you’ll be able to’t get the identical STD once more. Remedy doesn’t provide lifelong immunity. For instance, many individuals have had the expertise of contracting chlamydia and gonorrhea a number of occasions throughout their lives.
What this implies is that you just shouldn’t consider remedy as a “free go” (one other widespread fable) — you have to proceed practising protected intercourse. Additionally, which means it’s vital to tell your companions while you get identified with an STD as a result of should you get handled however they don’t, they’ll simply go the an infection proper again to you the following time you may have intercourse.
Concluding Ideas
A variety of the issues folks suppose they find out about STDs and the way they’re unfold are simply plain improper. It’s vital to have a scientifically correct understanding of this topic, and cease believing STD myths, in an effort to take management of your sexual well being.
Nevertheless, don’t let this info scare you away from intercourse or make you overly fearful about moving into mattress with somebody. When outfitted with the best information and instruments, you’ll be able to reduce the potential dangers and maximize the potential rewards of intercourse—and there are a lot of, many rewards available.
—
References:
Conley, T. D., Moors, A. C., Ziegler, A., & Karathanasis, C. (2012). Untrue people are much less prone to apply safer intercourse than brazenly nonmonogamous people. The Journal of Sexual Medication, 9(6), 1559-1565.
Lehmiller, J. J. (2015). A comparability of sexual well being historical past and outcomes amongst monogamous and consensually non-monogamous sexual companions. The Journal of Sexual Medication, 12, 2022-2028. doi:10.1111/jsm.12987
Lehmiller, J. J. (2017). The Psychology of Human Sexuality (2nd ed.). Oxford, UK: Wiley-Blackwell.
Luo, A., Cartun, M. A., & Snider, A. G. (2010). Assessing extradyadic habits: A evaluate, a brand new measure, and two new fashions. Persona and Particular person Variations, 49, 155-163.
Sanders, S. A., Yarber, W. L., Kaufman, E. L., Crosby, R. A., Graham, C. A., & Milhausen, R. R. (2012). Condom use errors and issues: a world view. Sexual Well being, 9(1), 81-95.
Sewell, Okay. Okay., & Strassberg, D. S. (2015). How do heterosexual undergraduate college students outline having intercourse? A brand new strategy to an previous query. Journal of Intercourse Analysis, 52(5), 507-516.
—
