What to do when your STD results are positive
Education is key - knowledge is power. If you learn that you have an STD or STI, there are some steps you should take for your own health and the health of your partner(s). Click HERE for more.
(via becauseiamawoman)
April is STD Awareness Month, and today we’re making you aware of one of the most common (and curable) STDs: chlamydia.
Things You Won’t Learn in School: STD’s and Protection
- There are no reliable tests for Herpes. So whenever you go in to get a screening, know that unless you are actively having an outbreak there isn’t anything to test
- No HPV screening exists for men. Unless there is a visual inspection or a biopsy of the wart.
- Chlamydia, Gonorrhea and Herpes can have no symptoms. That’s why screening is incredibly important.
- Gonorrhea, Herpes and Chlamydia can all be transmitted orally. Oral sex is still sex and Safe Sex rules apply (Condoms and Dental dams)
- The best contraception money can buy is open sexual dialogue. Open honest conversation with your partners is invaluable. It’s your biggest weapon when it comes to safe sex.
- Glyde Dams are kind of awesome. Glyde Dams are safe barriers intended for sexual use, unlike dental dams. They’re weird when you first look at them and seem so unnatural, but the best motto is ‘Better Safe than Sorry!’
- Wearing gloves when fingering someone is totally okay. Speaking from experience, sometimes nails have a mind of their own and can cause discomfort. Additionally, though most people shower before they have sex at some point, we don’t usually wash our hands right before foreplay. This opens us up to a host of bacteria that gets introduced directly into a mucus membrane. So if you want to glove up, please don’t be ashamed to do so.
When you go to the doctor, not everyone screens you for STD’s, even if you’re sexually active- So make sure ask. You should always ask what screening tests your doctor has performed, and don’t hesitate to ask for additional tests if you think they are appropriate. Never hesitate to be your own advocate.
Did you know…
There are lubes on the market right now that can greatly increase your protection against HPV and HSV? These lubes are high in Carrageenan, a natural ingredient found in red seaweed.
Carrageenan based gels may offer some protection against HSV-2 transmission by binding to the receptors on the herpes virus thus preventing the virus from binding to cells. Researchers have shown that a carrageenan-based gel effectively prevented HSV-2 infection at a rate of 85% in a mouse model. (source)
The 2010 International Papillomavirus Conference indicated carrageenan-based personal lubricant Carraguard is effective for preventing HPV infection in women.The clinical results suggest the use of carrageenan-based personal lubricant products, such as Divine No 9 and BIOglide may likewise be effective for preventing HPV infection.” (source)
Why is this so important?
In terms of Herpes, where the barrier method with condoms alone is NOT completely effective, this is absolutely astounding. A lube is something you can use to protect yourself and your partner from skin to skin contact.A great lubricant is something I highly recommend in anyone’s sexual repertoire, so why not have it do double duty?
I recommend trying:
Oceanus Naturals Personal Lubricant
Divine 9 Water Based Lubricant.
Please note: Both lubricants are Water Based. If anyone knows any Silicon Based Carrageenan lubes, I’d love to know.
Weekly Links Roundup 3/2/12 - Condoms, Safe Sex, Sex Education
It’s Friday again ONE Condoms supporters and when Friday rolls around it’s time for ONE’s weekly links roundup! Below you’ll find news stories from the last week regarding condoms, safe sex, and sex education. Be sure to check out the developments in mandatory condom use for porn actors, QR Condoms, and the “Study Sex College Tour,” all of which have been rocking the sexual health world this past week.
If you’d like to share any additional stories we may have missed please leave them in the comments. We’d love to hear what else is going on in spreading safe sex awareness.
Condoms
Condoms In Porn Petition: Los Angeles County Measure Could Make It To November
Condom users make big mistakes that can lead to pregnancy, STDs
Women’s Condom Use Drops During 1st Year of College
QR Codes on Condoms: ‘Check-Ins’ Let You Share Your Safe Sex
Money Seems to Matter for Teen Girls, Condoms
China enforces new condom rule
Safe Sex
Zac Efron Earns a Boy Scout Safe Sex Badge
Program Increases Safe Sex Practices in Latina Women
Condom use 101: Basic errors are so common, study finds
Sex Education
Sex education should be a joint responsibility of parents, teachers
‘Study Sex College Tour’ makes Sex Ed cool, prioritizes pleasure
Utah Will Be Damned if Sex Ed Classes Teach About Anything Sex-y
I’d like to point out that just because cold sores = herpes, doesn’t mean that you should ostracize or avoid people with cold sores. People who have STDs/STIs can still live full healthy sex lives, they just have to be more careful. Use protection during any kind of sex, and don’t have sex when you have a breakout. If you contract oral herpes that’s okay. It’s not the end of the world. It’s just mildly annoying sometimes and if you have a higher immune system or take care of yourself you won’t have as many break outs. Just use protection when you are performing oral sex on someone and let them know that there is a chance that they could get herpes. Never touch a cold sore and touch something or someone else. You can transfer herpes to other parts of your body as well, so never touch a sore without washing your hands afterwards. Also, if you get herpes genitally it’s not a big deal. I have herpes genitally, and I got it from someone with a cold sore going down on me. In the almost a year that I’ve had it I’ve only had two breakouts. The first one is always the worst and the second only lasted a couple of days.
Having an STD/STI does not mean you have to be celibate, it just means you have to be more careful.
Made Rebloggable upon Request “Cold Sores ARE Herpes”
Cold sores ARE oral herpes. Most commonly, whenever someone is a child they can get herpes from a family member who gets cold sores kissing them. A LOT of people don’t know that cold sores/fever blisters are herpes and can be spread to the genitals. I’ll see posts on tumblr where people will say things like “got another cold sore, don’t worry it’s not herpes!” or “don’t worry guys cold sores aren’t THAT kind of herpes!” and all I can imagine is how awful it’s going to be when they give their partner genital herpes because they didn’t know that cold sores are herpes. That’s why using protection during oral sex is so important and the fact that many people don’t use protection during oral sex is so devastating!
make sure it is a cold sore, they are commonly confused with canker sores, which are not herpes.
Controversial Condom Campaign to Deliver Free Condoms to Teens
A new federally funded program is delivering free condoms to teenagers in many California counties. The orders are taken online and delivered straight to the teens’ homes in a nondescript envelope.
This free mail-order condom program is supported by the California Department of Public Health and was launched by the non-profit California Family Health Council (CFHC). The initiative, available through teensource.org, provides 12-19 year olds a place to order free condoms online and find locations where they can pick up free condoms from sexual health clinics across the state.
This program is targeting California counties where the number of STD cases are on the rise. Any teen in San Francisco, Sacramento, San Joaquin, Alameda, and Kern counties can receive free condoms through the program.
According to CFHC’s vice president of public affairs, Amy Moy, “We can’t keep our heads in the sand and pretend there isn’t a problem. Research shows barriers such as embarrassment or concerns around confidentiality or affordability,” limit teens from buying condoms.
Some parents aren’t thrilled with the plan however which sends a package of condoms, lubricant and an educational pamphlet to teens. Some parents argue it encourages the 12-19 year old demographic to engage in intercourse. Repeated studies have show just by providing teenaged with access to birth control and sex education does not encourage this behavior.
Since its launch on February 14th, over 550 order have been placed online.
ONE® Condoms is a supporter of comprehensive sex education and positive sex behaviors. ONE® Condoms aims for universal condom use and safe sex practices. A portion of every ONE® Condoms sale goes towards HIV/AIDS prevention efforts at home and abroad.
Do you think that it’s a good idea to provide free mail-order condoms to teenagers?
Anonymous asked: Can you spread HPV through kissing?
Nope. Some strands can be found in saliva but it’s debatable if it can be passed through sharing saliva.
