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.
Diagnosis, Treatment, and Prevention of Herpes
A follower recently asked if a blood test was necessary to be sure of a herpes diagnosis. So let’s address that, as well as ways to prevent further herpes transmission.
Diagnosis and Treatment
—Health care providers can diagnose genital herpes by visual inspection if the outbreak is typical, and by taking a sample from the sore(s) and testing it. A blood test is not always necessary.
—However, if no sores are visible, HSV infections can be diagnosed between outbreaks by the use of a blood test. Blood tests, which detect antibodies to HSV-1 or HSV-2 results are not always clear-cut, however, so it’s a good idea to maintain open communication with your healthcare provider if you think you spot a herpes outbreak.
Prevention
—One of the most important things to remember about herpes is that genital ulcer diseases like this can exist in all genital areas, and may be spread even if they are covered by a latex condom.
—It is important to remember that even if a person does not have any symptoms he or she can still infect sex partners. However, correct and consistent use of latex condoms can reduce the risk of spreading genital herpes, and if condoms are worn consistently and regularly, maintain suppressive therapy, and you engage in sex only when you do not have an outbreak, the risk of infecting another is greatly reduced.
Associated Risks of Herpes
Unfortunately, herpes can cause some additional health complications. Luckily, with treatment such as daily suppressive therapy, these can be greatly minimized. Most of the associated issues have to do with pregnancy and infections to newborns. Here are just a few things to be aware of:
—Genital HSV can lead to potentially fatal infections in babies.
—It is important that women avoid contracting herpes during pregnancy because a new infection during late pregnancy has a bigger risk of transmission to the baby.
—If a woman has active genital herpes at delivery, a cesarean delivery is usually performed.
—Fortunately, infection of a baby from a woman with herpes infection is rare.
Additionally, physicians are now well-prepared in how to manage deliveries of babies from women who have genital herpes. Medications like Valtrex - a common suppressive drug for herpes, usually taken daily - are generally fine to take while pregnant, helping to prevent an outbreak before delivery and allowing the woman to deliver vaginally.
It’s important to remember that herpes may also play a role in the spread of HIV. Herpes can make people more at risk for HIV infection, and it can make HIV-infected individuals more infectious to other people. Remember to get regularly tested and always wear condoms to minimize these additional risks.
(via the-sexpert)
Associated Risks of Herpes
Unfortunately, herpes can cause some additional health complications. Luckily, with treatment such as daily suppressive therapy, these can be greatly minimized. Most of the associated issues have to do with pregnancy and infections to newborns. Here are just a few things to be aware of:
—Genital HSV can lead to potentially fatal infections in babies.
—It is important that women avoid contracting herpes during pregnancy because a new infection during late pregnancy has a bigger risk of transmission to the baby.
—If a woman has active genital herpes at delivery, a cesarean delivery is usually performed.
—Fortunately, infection of a baby from a woman with herpes infection is rare.
Additionally, physicians are now well-prepared in how to manage deliveries of babies from women who have genital herpes. Medications like Valtrex - a common suppressive drug for herpes, usually taken daily - are generally fine to take while pregnant, helping to prevent an outbreak before delivery and allowing the woman to deliver vaginally.
It’s important to remember that herpes may also play a role in the spread of HIV. Herpes can make people more at risk for HIV infection, and it can make HIV-infected individuals more infectious to other people. Remember to get regularly tested and always wear condoms to minimize these additional risks.
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.
Feb 13 is International Condom Day kicking off National Condom Week Feb 14 - 21
To kick off the informal holiday of International Condom Day, in conjunction with Valentine’s Day tomorrow, AIDS Healthcare Foundation, the largest global AIDS organization, will be launching its “Condom-Nation” tour. This tour will consist of a groundbreaking 6 month long 20-state big rig truck tour that will stop in various cities handing out millions of free condoms and safe sex information kits.
The president of the AIDS Healthcare Foundation, Michael Weinstein, says that “Condom Nation is a serious, yet somewhat whimsical and creative effort by AIDS Healthcare Foundation to help promote increased condom use and to help make condoms more accessible and affordable.” Currently, the CDC reports that there are roughly 1.1 million people in the U.S. living with HIV/AIDS and an estimated 20% of these people do not know they’re infected. The U.S. spends approximately $17 billion in HIV/STD health care costs.
The foundations hope is to raise awareness and spark conversations about the importance of condoms and safer sex behaviors. Condom Nation’s goals are to:
- Educate and raise awareness about safe sex practices
- Promote the use of condoms through education and advertising
Events in over 30 cities in 15 countries around the wold will have free condom distribution, HIV testing, and safer sex awareness events hosted by AIDS Healthcare Foundation.
ONE® Condoms is a supporter of universal access and use of condoms for everyone. ONE® donates a portion of every sale to HIV/AIDS prevention efforts at home and abroad.
How will you be celebrating International Condom Day?
Gonorrhea Diagnosis, Treatment and Prevention
Now that we’ve talked about symptoms and transmission, it’s good to know what happens in diagnosis and treatment for gonorrhea.
Diagnosis and Treatment
—A doctor or nurse can obtain a sample for testing from the parts of the body likely to be infected (cervix, urethra, rectum, or throat), and in some cases can use urine to test.
—Antibiotics can successfully cure gonorrhea in adolescents and adults.
—However, drug-resistant strains of gonorrhea are increasing in many areas of the world, and successful treatment of gonorrhea is becoming more difficult.
—It is now recommened that two kinds of drugs be used to treatment gonorrhea.
—It is important to take all of the medication prescribed to cure gonorrhea. Although medication will stop the infection, it will not repair any permanent damage done by the disease.
Prevention Reminders!!
—Latex condoms, when used consistently and correctly, can reduce the risk of transmission of gonorrhea.
—Any genital symptoms such as discharge or burning during urination or unusual sore or rash should be a signal to stop having sex and to see a doctor.
