“Hello, is this Ms._______?” I thought it was a call about my new job, but who knew this would turn my world upside down.

“Yes it is, how may I help you?” I responded. She said, “Well, I need you to come to the health department.“ My heart left my body. I started hyperventilating. I almost passed out until she told me, “Baby, breathe. It’s curable and don’t worry. It’s not the end of your life.” So, I immediately called the only one that it could’ve been from – my boyfriend. I went through every word that was foul and cried my eyes out. He called himself “sad.” But at that moment, he was dead to me.

I tried to come with a lie for why I had to leave. But due to my hysterical nature, I couldn’t even do it. I just
had to be straight forward with my mama. She told me, “Well, it can be cured. Praise God for that. He was messing with those nasty girls.” That made it hurt even worse. Knowing I had been lied to, cheated on, and then I have an STI.

I never got dressed so fast in my life. My boyfriend met me at the clinic. I’m scared and shaking. It all seemed so surreal. I never thought I’d get an STI. I’m trying to keep myself from having a breakdown in the office.  The minutes felt like hours. Then they finally called my name back. The nurse showed me my results and said, “You’ve tested positive for chlamydia. All you need is these four pills I’m going to get and you’re going to be okay. Calm down.” When she left the room, I thought of all the things I was going to do to my boyfriend. But I had an epiphany – I can’t fully blame him. That one time without a condom. I could’ve easily stopped it and made him put on a condom, but I didn’t.

She gave me the facts. It’ll take 3 days for the medicine to take its course. No sex with your partner or anyone else for 2 weeks. Honestly, I didn’t want to think about sex. I was more hurt by my boyfriend than I was the STI. You instilled so much trust and love into someone and they could do this to you. It’s a mental anguish. I’m just glad I was enough to handle the hurt.

It was the mental aftermath that made the situation worse. It’s not the end of the world, but it still hurts. I knew better than to not use a condom, but I thought I could trust my partner. I believed in him. My trust had been betrayed. But, it’s a process. You accept it and keep moving forward. You live and you learn. Everything will be okay. I’m just glad it wasn’t worse.

The post #FNFRealTalkTeam: I had an STI. appeared first on Fact Not Fiction.

Mississippi has some of the highest sexually transmitted disease (STI) rates in the nation. As the number of STIs continue to remain so high, it is so important that we maintain our sexual health. Health professionals suggest STI testing every three months for those who are engaging in unprotected sex, while others using protection during sex are suggested to test every six months to a year. Unfortunately, testing isn’t your only concern. Aside from having to worry about your partner’s status, you then have to make sure that you are taking good care of your “Pink Parts.”

Many people are unaware of what “Pink Parts” are, so I’m here to help you understand what they are and why it’s so important to take good care of them.

What Are Pink Parts?

Both males and females have pink parts, which include:

·
Mouth

·
Vagina

·
Urethra

·
Anus

Why are these parts so important?

These are the places that are highly susceptible to allow bacteria or viruses, including STIs, to enter your body.

Take Precautions!

There are daily activities that most of us engage in, but we never really think about how harmful they can be to our Pink Parts if done improperly.

·
Brushing Your Teeth

An activity such as brushing your teeth can actually make you more susceptible to contracting an STI. The bristles on a toothbrush can be very abrasive and can potentially puncture your gums, leaving an opening for bacteria and viruses to enter, including STIs. Our mouths and especially our tonsils are very sensitive to certain things, and this alone could put someone at high risk for contracting oral gonorrhea or oral chlamydia if they engage in oral sex. So when you brush your teeth, make sure you don’t brush too vigorously so ensure you don’t puncture your gums!

·
Vagina and Anal Douching

Brushing your teeth too harshly isn’t your only worry, though! Women and men who douche also need to be aware of their risks. Even though a douche is meant for good, it can also cause tearing of the anus and the vagina if done too aggressively. This can leave you more exposed and vulnerable to contract and/or transmit an STI, especially if one is likely to partake in unprotected sex.

·
Urethra

Although there aren’t any objects that are regularly inserted inside of the urethra, it is still an exposed opening that can allow unwanted bacteria and viruses to enter, including STIs. The best way to prevent this is to practice safe sex by using condoms when engaging in sexual intercourse.

So protect your Pink Parts! Doing so will help you protect yourself from contracting and/or transmitting an STI.

The post #FNFRealTalkTeam: What body parts are susceptible to STIs? appeared first on Fact Not Fiction.

Chlamydia is the most commonly reported bacterial sexually transmitted infection in the United States. You can get infected with Chlamydia by having any form of sex (anal, vaginal or oral), and it can cause major, permanent damage to a woman’s reproductive organs.

Most significantly, 1 in 15 females aged 14-19 years has Chlamydia.

How do I know if I have it?

Also known as a “silent” infection, Chlamydia often shows no symptoms in infected people. In other cases, symptoms may not appear until several weeks after infection.

Women, who do have symptoms, may feel a burning feeling while urinating. They also may experience a discharge (mucus-like substance) from the vagina. Untreated infections can spread through the reproductive system and cause pelvic or abdominal pain.

Men may also experience a burning feeling while urinating or a discharge (mucus-like substance) from the penis. In some cases, men may experience pain or swelling in one or both testicles.

Can it be cured or treated?

Yes. Chlamydia can be easily treated and cured with antibiotics; however, it is important to not have sex until after antibiotic treatment is complete.

Wearing a male latex condom is one of the best ways to reduce the risk of Chlamydia infection. Of course, not having sex is the only way to be 100% sure you’re not infected. Remember, even if a partner does not have any symptoms, he or she can still have Chlamydia. Don’t assume. Get tested.

For more information about genital herpes and its symptoms, read the CDC post here: https://www.cdc.gov/std/chlamydia/stdfact-chlamydia.htm

Need to get tested? Find a Mississippi health center near you: https://factnotfictionms.com/clinics.

The post The STD Files: Chlamydia appeared first on Fact Not Fiction.