STD Facts

How much do YOU really know?  

1. There are currently 25 different primary STDs, with more than 100 different strains & types of infections.

2. 1 in 5 adults and 1 in 4 teenagers/young adults has an STD. At least half of all people who are sexually active will be exposed to and contract an STD in their lifetime. With the current prevalence of STDs, it is very likely that there is at least one person you know, that has an STD.

3. There is no such thing as "safe sex", since more than half of all STDs can be contracted even with the use of a condom.

4. Nearly all STDs have symptoms that cause pain, discomfort, or annoyance, but some carry more serious consequences:

• There are at least 6 STDs that cannot be cured, meaning, you will have them for the rest of your life, along with any unpleasant symptoms.
• There are at least 4 STDs that can directly or indirectly cause infertlity, meaning, you cannot ever have a child.
• There are at least 8 STDs that are fatal, meaning, they can kill you.

5. STDs can effect you psychologically. Many people experience anger, resentment, regret, fear, guilt, unworthiness, anxiety and despair as a result of an STD diagnosis, all of which can lead to serious depression.  - The STD Syphilis is a degenerative disease, meaning that, once it progreses, it can destroy body tissue, including brain tissue, causing permenant damage to cells and function.

6. You can contract an STD the FIRST time you have sex.

• If your partner has had other sexual partners before you.
• If your partner was born with an STD: This is very rare, especially in recent years due to medical advancements, however it is possible for them to be a virgin, and still have an STD, if their mother had one that was incurable and passed it to them at birth.

7. STDs can be passed even if you are not having traditional sexual intercourse. Any sexual contact can spread STDs, including any skin to skin contact in the genital or anal area, petting, and oral sex, and less frequently through sharing of personal items, such as towels, washcloths or undergarments. It is a myth to believe that the "everything but intercourse" rule keeps you safe.

8. STDs can be silent diseases, meaning:

• STDs do not always have noticeable symptoms.
• Everyone does not react the same way to an STD infection, and some may not even know they have one.
• STD symptoms do no always appear right away, some take years to become active and show symptoms, some  do not have consistent symptoms (the symptoms come and go), and still others do not ever produce symptoms.

That is why it is important to WAIT until you are in a married, monogomous relationship to have sex; to know your partner and their past well, and to get tested for the full spectrum of STDs before the honeymoon, even if you are both virgins, and especially if you are not.

Do not fall for the line, "Don't you trust me?"

Remember, this is not an issue of trust, this is an issue of your health and your future.

Getting Over The Stigma

STD's bring a lot of social stigma with them. Many people are embarrased,  and feel guilty and ashamed to learn that they have an STD. They are afraid to let others around them know, for fear of the label that would be attached to them.  And while it is true that STD's are manly obtained through risky behaviors, they are diseases, just like any other disease, and those who are diagnosed with an STD need support and encouragement, rather than a social label.

 We must remember that "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23).

And that ALL people are offered the gift of unconditional love and forgiveness through God's promise to us, through Jesus Christ.

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have everlasting life. For God did not send His son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him." (john 3:16-17).

For More Info on the Most Common STDs Check Out the Links Below

(Links currently under construction...check back often!)

Aquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS)

Chlamydia

Genital Warts

Gonorrhea

Hepatitis B

Herpes

Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)

Human Papilloma Virus (HPV)

Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID)

Pubic Lice (Crabs)

Syphilis

Trichomoniasis