A diagnosis of a sexually transmitted disease, especially a life-threatening one, is frightening. Sexually transmitted diseases, commonly abbreviated as STDs, range in how serious they are. Still though, virtually all of them require some level of treatment and attention. The best way to prevent problems with these diseases is to avoid getting one in the first place. While you may think that the only solution is to avoid engaging in sexual intercourse, you have other options to protect yourself.
In fact, sexual intercourse is not even the only way that you could end up with a sexually transmitted disease. Dispelling myths about STDs is important, but so is knowing the truth. For example, as you will learn, you could acquire an STD from an infected towel. While you don’t want stress and anxiety about contracting an STD to take over your life, you should implement some strategies to keep yourself as safe as possible.
1. Use Condoms
One of the best ways to avoid getting an STD is to wear a condom or have your partner wear a condom every time that you engage in sexual intercourse. Keep in mind that different condoms have different degrees of effectiveness when it comes to combating sexual transmitted diseases. Some people confuse condoms and birth control. While both can work to prevent pregnancy, only condoms protect against STDs. Remember that condoms do not offer 100 percent protection against STDs.
It’s more than just wearing the condom though. You need to make sure that the condoms aren’t expired and that they don’t have tears in them. A condom could also slip off during intercourse, so make sure you are aware of this situation. Some people will put on double the condoms because they think that doing so offers a double layer of protection. This assumption is false as the friction between the two condoms could actually cause one or both of them to rip, thereby leaving you exposed to a sexually transmitted disease.
2. Avoid Sharing Towels
Quite possibly much to your surprise, towels can actually act as breeding grounds for sexually transmitted diseases. In the event that such a disease is transmitted onto the towel, it can dwell on the surface for a period of time. Exactly how long the towel will remain contaminated depends upon the disease. The same bet here is to simply not share towels with anyone.
You might think that this piece of advice is limited to sexual partners, but that isn’t the case. If a towel can harbor and transmit a sexually transmitted disease, it does not require you to have intercourse with the person. You should be particularly careful about touching other towels when you’re in a space with many people whom you don’t know. For example, you may often go to the locker rooms at the gym or to the public swimming pool, and you don’t know what diseases could be lingering on the towels made available for public use. Be careful if another person asks you to pass a towel to him or her as well.
3. Wash before and after Intercourse
While you really can’t wash away STDs, you can make sure that you are clean before having sexual intercourse. For example, showering before intercourse may reveal to you or your partner that you have open wounds or a live infection that could end up contaminating the other person. Also, you can shower immediately after having sexual intercourse. At this time, the body may be a perfect breeding ground for bacteria to form. Taking a shower after sex might help to prevent minor infections from forming. Speaking with your doctor is a smart decision when you want to learn more about the connection between showering and sexually transmitted diseases. Merely taking a shower is unlikely to protect you from a serious disease.
4. Vaccination for Hepatitis B
Another option is to get the vaccination for Hepatitis B so that you know you are protected against this particular disease. Some people are skeptical about vaccinations and have qualms about injecting unnecessary vaccines into their bodies. If you fall into this category, consider speaking with your doctor about the benefits and drawbacks of both getting the vaccination and not getting it. Do keep in mind that vaccinations do not generally offer 100 percent protection. However, the same is true for condoms, so this fact should not necessarily preclude you from obtaining it. While you may not be entirely eliminating your risk of Hepatitis B, the vaccine can help you to reduce it.
5. Get Tested for HIV
When it comes to preventing STDs, you also want to do your role in protecting your partner. Getting tested for STDs, including HIV, is a decision that all sexually active people should make. By doing so, you will know if you have HIV or other STDs. This information is valuable. First of all, although receiving such a diagnosis is scary and jarring, you can begin to receive the necessary treatment to optimize your health. Second, you can now let potential partners aware that you have the STD so that they can decide if they wish to pursue a physical relationship. You are doing your part in preventing the STD from infecting any more people. Remember that you should encourage your partners to get tested for STDs so that you can have the same peace of mind that you are providing to them.
6. Consider Not Having Sex
While even abstaining from sex will not protect you 100 percent against STDs if you consider the towel example, it will certainly reduce your risk by a tremendous amount. You may want to consider not having sex for a certain period of time, especially if you have had a recent scare with an STD. Another option is to decide to wait until you are married or until you are dating the person whom you plan to marry. You could also make some requirements for yourself for having sex. For example, you may decide that you will engage in intercourse with a person only if the both of you go to get tested together.
7. Have Less Partners
When you have sexual intercourse with multiple people, you are increasing your chances of contracting a sexual transmitted disease. You can consider the reason why you are having intercourse with so many people and ask yourself if that reason is really more important than your health and, in the case of serious STDs, your life. Deciding to have fewer partners can reduce the anxiety that you feel about STDs. If you are finding it difficult to reduce the amount of intercourse that you have, you may want to consider speaking with a therapist.
The fear of STDs is one that could cause you to feel restless and worried much of the time. Fortunately, you can take some steps to seriously reduce your risk of acquiring one.
