STDs - Be Careful in the Dating World

Dating can be a fun and intoxicating experience, especially when two people meet and hit it off, right off the bat. One issue you should bear in mind when it's time for the relationship to move to the next level is proper safety and the possibilities of contracting an STD. We've all heard the stories, the facts, and seen the hundreds of commercials on TV but many people still don't take all of this information as seriously as they should.

When meeting the new possible love of your life the last thing anyone ever thinks about is the likeliness of this wonderful person living with a sexually transmitted disease, but statistically speaking it's more of a possibility then you may think. With more than one in five people in the US living with an STD it's a pretty serious social problem and should be treated as such.

Education is the key to keeping yourself protected from becoming one of these statistics. So let's go over some common STDs and their myths, how there transmitted, and simple things you can do to keep yourself safe.

Chlamydia

The most common STD, also known as the clap, affects more than one in four people in their lifetime. It's a bacteria that is transmitted through fluids, and is curable if treated early with antibiotics. If not treated it can cause irreversible damage to both men and women's reproductive systems. It shows very little symptoms and can be prevented with proper condom use.

HPV

Is a common virus with more than a hundred strains that affects one in four women and one in five men. It's transmitted through skin to skin contact and has no cure (although studies show that over time a person with a healthy immune system may be able to fight off the virus) and can't be fully prevented with condom use. Common symptoms may include warts (but not always) and certain strains have been shown to cause cervical cancer.

Herpes

The herpes virus consists of two different strains, HSV-1 and HSV-2. HSV-1 is essentially the cold sores (blisters) that people get on their lips which affect a whopping 80% of the population, is transmitted through skin to skin contact and by closely sharing drinks or kissing. HSV-2 is basically the same thing but the blisters appear "down there". There can often be no symptoms, or they can be so mild that a person doesn't even know they're infected. HSV-2 affects one in five people and the trend is increasing because condoms offer only limited protection because it's spread through skin to skin contact.

Although no one wants to think or let alone talk about these very common conditions, it's important that you step out of your comfort zone and talk to your partner about them. Because of the social stigma associated with them many infected people opt not to tell their partner until after they're close for fear of being rejected. By initiating the conversation you could save yourself a lot of trouble and can show your new partner that you are a responsible caring adult.

If you would like to know more about STDs and their symptoms check out Your STD Help and if you think you may have contracted an STD here's a list of free STD clinics in your area to get tested and treated.

If you are interested in a dating site for singles with STDs, read our PositiveSingles.com review for more information.