“Joey and I have been dating for three months and I have yet to tell my parents about our relationship. If they knew, they would surely scold me and rant about how I should remained focused on school instead of boys. Now I’m even more afraid because he and I have had sex more than once and I’ve started to notice strange things happening to my body. I thought it may have been typical female problems, but these strange things happening to my body haven’t subsided. I just know that if they knew about what I’ve been doing, that the result could end badly. Geezz…How will I tell them? Should I lie? Maybe this will all go away!” – Lee, 18

What happened to Lee is the same thing that many young people just like you experience each and every day. Although this is unfortunate, this exemplifies the need of communicating with your parents about
the potential consequences of sex in your relationship. Each year, 13 to 24 year olds just like you account for nearly half of the 20 million sexually transmitted infections (STI) reported across the country. Unfortunately, many of them don’t know where to begin or what to do if they believe that their symptoms closely resemble an STI.

Fortunately, I grew up in a home where sex remained a major topic of discussion. My parents took every avenue to make sure that I remained aware of the dangers of having unprotected sex. For some, talking with their parents about an STI is completely unrealistic, so here are three tips to lead you in the right direction to acquire the optimum sexual health if you suspect you have an STI.

1.     Don’t ignore the issue.

Too often, many youth think that their symptoms may be caused by puberty, and don’t realize the severity of ignoring the symptoms of an STI. Blatantly ignoring your symptoms can lead to other health complications if gone untreated for extended periods of time. One example is the Human papillomavirus (HPV), which can cause genital warts. Another is chlamydia, which can lead to pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) if gone untreated. Both of these STIs illustrate how necessary it is to not ignore your symptoms and pass them off as things that naturally occur during puberty.

2.     Talk to your doctor…Get tested!

If you feel that talking to your parents about an STI is unrealistic, then try speaking with your doctor or go
to your local County Health Department. Doctors are required to respect your privacy, meaning they aren’t allowed to tell your parents what you and he/she discussed during your visit. In fact, in most states, youth ages 13 and older can get tested for an STI without parental consent. Be aware that while the doctor is not allowed to disclose your visit to your parents, there are certain circumstances were the doctor is required to notify your parents. Situations such as acquiring an STI from someone that may have done inappropriate things to you or suicidal thoughts are two circumstances when medical professionals are required by law to discuss these things with your parents to sustain your health and ensure your safety. Also, be aware of clinics and organizations in your area that provide free testing.

3.     Use your resources.

After getting tested and talking to your provider about options that will best suit you and your sexual activity, be sure to use the resources that they provide you. Most clinics and health centers will provide you with condoms for free with information to help you prevent contracting and transmitting an STI. Do not let the stigma around sex or condom usage steer you away from doing what is best for your health. Your life matters, and no matter how old you are, your sexual health is also just as important.

So make sure you seek the care and products that will help you prevent contracting an STI. Though many STIs are treatable relatively easily; such as gonorrhea, chlamydia, and syphilis; getting a STI can still be
a traumatic experience for some youth. Ensure you never have to go through what Lee went through. Protect yourself and your partners by seeking care, getting tested, and using protection when you have sex.

The post #FNFRealTalkTeam: What if I have 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

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Vagina

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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.

If you’re sexually active, you’d be smart to know how to reduce your risk of getting an STD or HIV, know the symptoms so you can tell if you have one, and to get tested every six months. Find a Health Center for free or low cost testing.

Nearly half of all new sexually transmitted diseases occur among young people ages 15-24. Chlamydia and gonorrhea can also increase the risk of HIV infection.

Chlamydia (cla-mid-ee-ah) can be transmitted from person to person without complete insertion of a penis into the vagina or butt. It can also be passed from mother to newborn during childbirth. Chlamydia infections are treatable and curable with antibiotics. Symptoms (for women, pain and itching of the vulva or vagina, for men pain or itching at the head of the penis) usually appear from one to three weeks after infection, and then go away, even if no medicine is taken. Many people infected with chlamydia never have any symptoms at all. For more on Chlamydia, click here.

Herpes and genital warts are caused by viruses and are spread by skin-to-skin contact. Herpes are sores that can appear around and on the mouth and genitals (penis and vulva); however, you don’t have to be having an outbreak to get infected. This means that just because your sex partner doesn’t have a sore on his penis or her vulva does not mean you can’t get herpes. There are drugs that you can get from your doctor or a local clinic that help control the outbreaks and make you less likely to infect someone else. For more on herpes, click here.

The same is true with human papilloma virus (HPV), the virus that causes genital warts. Actually, there are many different types of HPV, some that cause genital warts and some that cause other types of warts. Some strains of HPV that cause genital warts have been linked to cervical cancer. It is estimated that somewhere between 70 and 80% of sexually active adults have been exposed to the strains of HPV that cause genital warts. It is important that sexually active women get regular PAP smears to screen for cervical cancer. If you have not been sexually active, it’s a good idea to get the HPV vaccine to prevent the kind that is most likely to cause cancer. For more on HPV and warts, click here.

The post FNF Advice: Sexually Transmitted Diseases appeared first on Fact Not Fiction.