We’re Not Protesting, We’re Just Suggesting, You Receive STD Testing
You’re out there. You’re doing your thing. It’s Saturday night and you’re hanging with some friends. You all head to the party-it’s going to be a great night. It’s fun to be young and wild, and have an entire lifetime ahead of you. Drink a few beers, flirt with a boy or girl and head to the bedroom with the coats in it to get busy. There’s nothing better. Unfortunately the boy or girl you head into the bedroom with has visited a few rooms with coats in them before tonight. It’s time to get responsible for your health and head over to a certified STD clinic for some testing.
The problem with youth (and I can attest) is that we feel super human. We walk into traffic hardly looking both ways. We slide down banisters and hang off roof tops. But one day, it’s possible, that our cards are going to be dealt differently. If you tempt fate night after night, fate will catch up with you. Having unattached, crazy, free sex is not something I shy away from. But I make sure that I receive testing for each and every STD.
It’s just a matter of time before I become a human Petri dish. I understand this, but I play the odds. As I do that, I make sure that testing is part of my social calendar. The STD is not uncommon. There are way over twenty five separate STDs that are available for the catching. And knowing my luck, I will eventually catch one of them.
Let’s take a look at a few of these STDs, and some information regarding them, shall we?
HIV/AIDS
This disease, although not receiving the press it once did is alive and well and still wreaking havoc upon people who engage in unprotected sex at an alarming rate. HIV is the virus that causes AIDS, and once that happens, your body’s immune system breaks down and you can pass away from a host of debilitating illnesses, such as pneumonia. There are over one million people in the United States that are currently positive for the HIV virus, as it is a still a deadly STD. It is approximated that there are over a quarter of a million more people that are positive and do not even realize it. This is another statistic that proves that STD testing is very important indeed. Testing consists of a blood test where the lab looks for the antibodies that the body makes once a person is infected. Everyone having sex should have HIV testing done.
HPV & Genital Warts.
Ho no! Not good at all. Can you imagine hitting on someone of the opposite sex while suffering from this disease? I didn’t think so. Much better to stop it before it happens. You do not want this to be you. Symptoms are little flesh-colored bumps that may or may not look like your average wart. There are strains of this particularly nasty virus that can cause cervical cancer in women. In fact, some states now require young females to receive a vaccination for the HPV virus with their other more commonly known vaccinations. Testing is usually a visual inspection followed by another more conclusive test if necessary.
Herpes
Ah, herpes! This STD is unfortunately as common as mold on the Titanic. Symptoms include sores and blisters around your mouth and genitals. That’s right, sores and blisters. Did you know that they are painful as well? This is a mess, and everyone having sexual relations-hate to sound like a teacher, or parent-needs to get comprehensive STD testing done ASAP. Testing for herpes is typically carried out by having a blister swabbed and tested for the virus.
Please think about getting tested, knowing you are safe, and only then continue having all the sex you want to-but as safely as possible. Using a condom is much more fun than having any of the above mentioned STDs. G’head…try arguing with that.