All You Need to Know About STI and Ways to Protect Yourself

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) or sexually transmitted diseases, or STDs, refer to a condition that can be passed around by sexual contact, whether it be vaginal, oral, or anal sex. According to the World Health Organization, there are an estimated 376 million new infections around the world yearly. Moreover, young people are more prone to STIs, and one in two people are predicted to contract an STI by the age of 25. This is due to a sexually active lifestyle and lack of awareness of safe sex practices. Women have more associated with severe health problems than STIs than men. 

While it depends on what STI you contract, STI symptoms commonly show after 2 to 3 weeks, but it could start earlier or much later. Here are the usual and apparent signs of STIs.

Men who have STIs usually experienced pain or discomfort during sex or urination together with painful or swollen testicles. For physical symptoms, sores, bumps, and rashes are found around the penis, testicles, anus, buttocks, thighs, or mouth. There are occurrences of having an unusual discharge or bleeding from the penis too. 

Symptoms experienced by females usually starts with pain or discomfort during sex or urination. Next is itchiness, discharge, and bleeding in or around the vagina. And sores, bumps, or rashes on or around the vagina, anus, buttocks, thighs, or mouth.

Symptoms may vary from one person to another, and sometimes there are few to none symptoms. It is possible to contact STI and not have a noticeable or developing sign. To be certain, you have to get yourself tested. 

Call or go to your local sexual health clinic or GP for a check-up. For people who want it done discreetly and off-the-record, online test STD is now made possible. You can now get an individual test or a ten test panel. More importantly, you can order your test by phone or online. Most people don't want to get tested, and there is plenty of undiagnosed STI that causes further problems and health risk. Ensure that you get tested regularly. 

These three are the most common STIs worldwide. Chlamydia is caused by bacteria called chlamydia trachoma. Gonorrhea, on the other hand, is a sexually transmitted disease that affects warm, moist areas of the body such as the genitals, rectum, and throat. Syphilis is a bacterial infection that starts as a painless sore on your genitals, rectum, or mouth. They are spread via the skin or mucous membrane contact with these sores.

Symptoms are showing from one to three weeks after contracting. However, a considerable percentage of both males and females do not have any symptoms or come and go unnoticed. You can treat these infections with antibiotics. 

Herpes or herpes simplex virus (HSV) has two main strains; HSV-1 causes oral HerpesHerpes that can be passed from a person's mouth to genitals during sex. HSV-2 causes genital HerpesHerpes and produces sores around the genitals. Outbreaks caused by HerpesHerpes can be extremely painful and untreatable. While there is no cure for Herpes yet, medicines can prevent or shorten outbreaks.

Pubic lice or "crabs" are tiny insects that can be found on your pubic hair. And like normal lice, they feed on human blood. They can be shared through bodily contact or shared items. You can use over-the-counter topical treatments and tweezers to eliminate them. 

HIV or Human Immunodeficiency Virus is a virus that damages the body's immune system. An untreated HIV can cause AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome). There is no cure for HIV yet, but it can be controlled and managed. Treatment can help lower the virus's level in your body and prevent transmitting it to other people. 

STIs are spread through:

Sexual abstinence means that you are choosing not to have sexual interaction or relationship with other people. Practicing sexual abstinence will help you lower or remove the chances of contracting an STI. Everyone has the right to practice abstinence if they want to. There is also selective abstinence, where you limit what you can do to avoid STD or STIs. 

Monogamy is having sex with just one person (can be your partner or not). Monogamy can guarantee that you will only have sexual contact with each other and lower your risk of STD. You can get tested from the beginning of the relationship and from then, have sex only with each other and no one else. 

Every sexually active person should get tested routinely and not just when they start to feel some symptoms. If you have multiple or anonymous sexual partners, you should at least be tested every three to six months. The only way to know if you or your future/current partner has an STI is to get tested. 

There are a couple of ways to make sex safer. One of the safest ways to do this is by using a barrier—like condoms, inner condoms, dental dams, and latex or nitrile gloves. Do this every time you will have sex or anything that can pass sexual fluids, even using sex toys. 

While vaccines are not for all types of STI's, you can get vaccines to protect yourself against HPV and hepatitis B.

In addition, you should also avoid alcohol and substance abuse as they increase risky behavior and lessen your ability to make the right decisions. You are less likely to make safer sex decisions or coerced into sexual activity without your full and informed consent. Avoiding them can reduce the risk and exposure of contracting an STI.

Now that you are fully informed, you can take better care of yourself. Bear in mind all of the things written.