We are not protesting, we are just suggesting that you get tested for STDs

You are out there. You are doing your thing. It’s Saturday night and you’re out with some friends. Everyone go to the party, it’s going to be a great night. It’s fun to be young and wild and have a whole life ahead of you. Drink a few beers, flirt with a guy or girl, and head to the bedroom with the coats to get busy. There is nothing better. Unfortunately, the boy or girl you’re heading into the room with has visited a few rooms with coats before tonight. It’s time to take responsibility for your health and head for a certified STD Clinic for some tests.

The problem with youth (and I can attest) is that we feel super human. We walked into traffic barely looking both ways. We slide down the railings and hang from the rooftops. But one day, it is possible, that our cards will be dealt differently. If you tempt fate night after night, fate will catch up with you. Having no strings attached, crazy and free sex is not something I’m scared of. But I make sure I get tested for any and all STDs.

It’s only a matter of time before I turn into a human petri dish. I understand this, but I play the odds. While I’m doing that, I make sure testing is part of my social calendar. STDs are not uncommon. There are over twenty five separate STDs that are available for capture. And knowing my luck, I’ll eventually catch one of them.

Let’s take a look at some of these STDs and some information about them, shall we?

HIV AIDS

This disease, while it hasn’t gotten the press it once did, is alive and well and continues to wreak havoc among people who engage in unprotected sex at an alarming rate. HIV is the virus that causes AIDS, and once that happens, your body’s immune system breaks down and you can die from a number of debilitating diseases, including pneumonia. There are over a million people in the United States who are currently positive for the HIV virus, as it is still a deadly STD. It is estimated that there are over a quarter of a million other people who are positive and don’t even realize it. This is another statistic that shows that STD testing is very important. The test consists of a blood test where the laboratory looks for the antibodies that the body produces once a person is infected. Everyone who has sex should be tested for HIV.

HPV and genital warts.

Oh no! It’s not good at all. Can you imagine flirting with someone of the opposite sex while suffering from this disease? I don’t believe it. It is much better to stop it before it happens. You don’t want it to be you. The symptoms are small, flesh-colored bumps that may or may not look like your average wart. There are strains of this particularly nasty virus that can cause cervical cancer in women. In fact, some states now require young women to receive an HPV vaccine along with other more popular vaccines. The test is usually a visual inspection followed by another more conclusive test if necessary.

Herpes

Oh herpes! Unfortunately, this STD is as common as the mold on the Titanic. Symptoms include sores and blisters around the mouth and genitals. That’s right, sores and blisters. Did you know that they hurt too? This is a mess, and everyone who has sex (I hate to sound like a teacher or a parent) needs to get comprehensive STD testing ASAP. Herpes testing is usually carried out by taking a sample from a blister and testing it for the virus.

Think about getting tested, knowing you are safe, and only then continue to have all the sex you want, but as safely as possible. Using a condom is a lot more fun than having any of the STDs mentioned above. Geez… try to argue with that.