STDs are not going away and the cases of chlamydia, syphilis, and gonorrhea reported are on the rise. The CDC reports that chlamydia cases hit the 1.7 million mark in 2018 with gonorrhea following at 583,405 and primary and secondary syphilis cases reported at 35,063. What are the chances of you getting one of them?
Why the STDs Are on The Rise
There are various reasons why these three STDs are on the rise. Men will have unsafe sex if they are under the use of drugs or alcohol. Young men, gay and bisexual men often do not want to add the hassle or embarrassment of putting on a condom. Stealthing is another way that men are exposed to STDs. “Stealthing“, is the practice of a man covertly removing or damaging a condom during sexual intercourse, when his sex partner has only consented to condom-protected sex. Often men do not go to their medical provider for screenings or miss their follow-up appointments after being exposed to an STD.
Be in Control of Your Body and Take Preventions
Choose to be in control of your own body to lessen your chances of getting one of these three STDs. It doesn’t hurt to review prevention measures again! Use latex condoms and make sure to check the expiration date and of course discard any that are torn. Get help for any drug or alcohol abuse problems you have. When you imbibe in drugs or alcohol, your guard is down and you won’t always take the safety precautions you need during a sexual encounter. Limit your sexual partners or stick to a monogamous relationship. Get tested, especially if you have symptoms or believe you may have been exposed. If you are being treated, don’t have sex with another person until your treatment is finished.
If you have questions about STDs, a good place to start research is the CDC sexually transmitted disease webpage.
