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Any sex is risky sex
If discussing sexual history and having oral sex with a condom are mood-killers and utopian medical expectations, how do you exercise sexual freedom and still be protected?
By Andrew Rooney
Oral sex is a transmitter of herpes type 1, which can be how you get genital herpes.
Twenty to 25 percent of college students have a sexually transmitted disease or asexually transmitted infection (STI), the most common of which are Chlamydia, HPV or genital warts, and genital herpes, Columbia University reported.
“They don't discriminate, and anyone exposed to any bacterial or viral illness can come down with symptoms,” said Colleen Bernstein, a health educator at the Norris Health Center.
One of the biggest misconceptions surrounding STDs is that oral sex is STD free. However, Bernstein said, students should not get their hopes up.
“Oral sex is a transmitter of herpes type 1, which can be how you get genital herpes. So the notion of oral sex being the safe sex is not correct,” Bernstein said.
While condoms can provide protection during oral sex, the practice is usually an uncommon one.
Another misconception about STDs is that they stick with you for life.
“Viral illness (Herpes 1 or 2, warts) can be treated with symptom management, and you may not have a reoccurrence for years; bacterial illness gonorrhea, chlamydia, syphilis) can be treated and cured with antibiotics,” Bernstein said.
STDs are very treatable if detected early, and can be gone in as few as 10 days. Warts are a common virus found on many surfaces and can get onto someone’s skin and cause a wart to grow there. A good example is plantar warts from around a public pool that can grow on the bottom of your foot.
How long does it take for an STD to appear?
“It varies following exposure to symptom appearance. Herpes may appear right away or weeks or even months later. HIV usually turns positive by blood test within 12 weeks. Warts are very slow growing and may take months also. Symptoms to be aware of include painful urination, discharge, and foul order,” Bernstein said.
Everyone knows that the only way to be completely safe from contracting an STD is to practice abstinence, however, most people have broken that practice by the time they are 18.
“Aside from abstinence, the best thing for people to do is to communicate honestly and openly with their partner. Know and discuss your past sexual histories with each other. Know the risk if any, and use protection if you are unsure,” Bernstein said.
“The more partners you have, the more risk there is because you have just been exposed to everyone they have,” she said.
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