Common STD Myths Busted

Can you get an STD the first time you have sex? Do STDs affect adults only? Can a pregnant woman be affected by an STD? Can two condoms used at a time help prevent the spread of STD?

There are countless myths that do the rounds and create doubts as well as fear in the minds of people when it comes to sex. The following points will help dispel some of the common STD myths.

Myth 1: It cannot affect me!

It is a common notion that STDs affect only a certain set of people. That is not true. If you’re indulging in unprotected sexual activity and you’re not using condoms correctly and consistently, you are at risk for these infections. It is not possible to tell who is infected and who isn’t. The only way to tell is by having them go and get checked by a health care provider to see if they are carrying an infection.

Myth 2: Oral or anal sex cannot lead to STD

It is believed by many that if they’re not having vaginal sex, they’re not really at risk for these infections. Truth is –an exposure to any kind of body fluid is enough to transmit these infections. The transmission rate of these infections is just as high for anal or oral sex as it is for vaginal sex.

Myth 3: Only adults can get STDs

This myth is actually the opposite of the fact. The ratio of young people, especially young girls, who are infected by STDs is higher. Certain biological factors put young people, especially young women at a greater risk of acquiring STDs. Young people have more to lose as STDs acquired at a younger age can put them at a serious risk of infertility and other reproductive tract problems in case of girls.

Myth 4: Two condoms are better able to protect against STDs

As a matter of fact, two condoms can do more harm than one. Their design is such that when used together, they cause the condom to break due to increased friction. Even though it is extremely important for teenagers to use a condom consistently and in the correct manner, most teenagers are unaware of the correct usage. A condom can only protect the area that is covered by it; the remaining area and the breaks in the condom give access for the viruses to spread.

Myth 5: Antibiotics alone can cure STDs

It is true that antibiotics are highly effective in the case of bacterial STDs and work in 95% to 98% of the cases to make the infection go away. However, at times the infection has reached an extent that it cannot be treated just with an antibiotic. Viral STDs are harder to treat. Antiviral medications are generally made use of. They work by reducing the symptoms and making the virus less transmissible. However, once the patient is off medication, the infection can increase and it can be transmitted to a partner.

Precautions and awareness are the two main tools that can help a person deal with STDs.