Are you worried about STDs?

[archvile93]

I'm not sure how wide spread they are, but I believe they are easy to contract from a partner who has them, not sure though. Some can be cured now, some can't. I think the odds of getting them are unlikely. As to your other questions, no I don't avoid sex to avoid STDs, my lack of sex is due to strictly antisocial reasons. This also makes preventive methods unecessary.

 

[Ham_authority95]

First, no need to welcome me to the Escapist. This account was created because some of my friends know what my Escapist account is called, so I wanted to remain anonymous so I could be honest.

I grew up in a very conservative, Christian household. I was taught that sex outside of marriage was horrible, and that pretty much any attempt to engage in it would bring about either STDs or unwanted pregnancies. In fact, the youth groups I was forced to go to always taught me about how 25% of women have an STD, and stuff like that.

Yet, at the same time, I'm in college, and people are having sex left and right and it honestly doesn't seem that big of a deal. No one I know has gotten pregnant, and I'm close enough with plenty of people that they would tell me if they thought they got an STD.

Pregnancies have never been too much of a concern with me, mainly because if the proper precautions are taken on both sides, the chance of pregnancy essentially drops to a negligible amount. STDs, on the other hand, I've heard can be easily transmitted, and worst of all, they stick with you for the rest of your life. Plus, HIV/AIDS pretty much gives you a death sentence.

So, I'd like some honest feedback. Are STDs as prevalent/easy to contract as I've been led to believe? Is the risk high enough that you personally avoid sexual encounters? Do you employ methods to prevent getting STDs?

Don't just answer to try to counter the classic Christian practice of never having sex outside of marriage; I'm past that already. I just want honest answers. Thanks for your time.

P.S. Yes, I'm asking this question on a video game community forum. No, I don't care. The people I've seen on here are far more insightful and open than those on any other forum I know of.

I'm not worried about STDs because I'm not having sex right now for reasons of distance. Even when I do start having sex again, it will be with a person that I know doesn't have them.

No, STDs don't worry me enough to not have sex.

No, I have not met a single sexually active person my age who has had an STD. Must be those non-abstinence sex-ed programs working. Plenty of older people though, so it could just be a matter of time.

Methods I employ against STDs now and in the future are:

-Wearing a condom.
-Communication with the other person about their sexual health.
-Keeping myself educated about symptoms, treatment, etc etc.
-Not just having sex with anyone.

It's all you can do, really. Aside from just not having sex.

I am not worried about STD's, in fact I am more worried about getting a girl pregnant then an STD.

Almost every female can get pregnant while just a small group of the female population has STD's, at least in my surroundings, true there are more safety measures for unwanted pregnancies compared to avoidance of STD's but those safety measures are not 100% failproof.

And I feel the exact same way. I've had nightmares about having a child by accident, so the thought of not using contraceptives makes me nervous. In my dark, cold mind a Pregnancy is an STD in it's own right.

 

[Darkeagle6]

Just thought I'd chime in here and address something that I haven't seen addressed by other posters as I skimmed this topic: Not all STDs stay with you for the rest of your life. The main two infections that can't be cured are HIV infection and Herpes. The rest of the most commonly discussed STDs in sexual education and pamphlets (chlamydia, gonnorhea, syphillis) can be cured.

Of course, that doesn't mean you want to get them. The use of condoms is supposed to contribute to the prevention of transmission, but as I'm not an expert on the matter, I can't tell you how effective they are, though reliable sources agree that it *is* effective. Just be aware that most sexual contact represents a risk of transmission, not just penetration.

I'd honnestly recommend checking out non-biased sources of information on health and sexuality. I don't know any off hand, but it shouldn't be too hard to find. Of course, all those abstinence-only religious organizations are a lot more likely to skewer information than health organisations, although it can be a good idea to double check information given by sites sponsored by condom companies. Not that I know of information-skewering by those companies, but it pays to double (and triple, quadruple etc.)-check when you're dealing with questions of your own health, even if it's purely theoretical. You never know when you'll find yourself suddenly needing to apply this "theoretical" knowledge

 

[The Virgo]

Are STDs as prevalent/easy to contract as I've been led to believe? Is the risk high enough that you personally avoid sexual encounters? Do you employ methods to prevent getting STDs?

Well, a condom pretty much clears everything up, but it's always best to do some research on the girl you want to fuck to find out if she's done it before and, if so, with whom, as the HIV virus, if I'm not mistaken, is small enough to go through the microscopic holes in the condom. Also, you don't start getting the symptoms of it for some time after you get it, the clever little bastard (refering to the STD).

The risk is high in this day and age as you can never be too sure about people, but like I said, just asking some casual questions and finding out who they've been with before can sort that up.

So, to answer the base question: Yes, STDs are something to be weary of, but with a bit of caution you can avoid them. Be careful and have fun. ;-)

 

[Roofstone]

If you just keep protected I doubt you'll get one. STDs are easy to get, if you dont take care not to get them. Simple as that really. =)

 

[VladG]

No, the risk was never a put-off. First off most STDs aren't all that bad, and can be cured/treated quite easily. HIV is a problem if you get it, but HIV is actually very sensitive to it's environment and if you use a condom the chances of getting it are practically 0.

Just make sure you take hygiene seriously( really, you are waaay more likely to get a mild infection rather than an actual STD), always wear a condom, and try to be a little inquisitive about the sexual health of your partner a little selective if there are doubts and you'll be just fine.(oh, and I'm sure the 25% of women having an STD is a gross over-estimation. I don't actually know anyone with an STD, other than a mild case of Herpes a while back... and that was most likely not even sexually transmitted)

Oh, and after you start, it's not a bad thing to get checked up once in a while. It gives you and your partners peace of mind, and even if you somehow do catch something, pretty much every STD is very mild and easy to treat if you catch it early on.

 

[wfpdk]

why not just go to google and research STD's and learn all about the subject for your self. no need to make a new account on a GAMING site to tell the entire internet that you haven't gone through sex education.

 

[bpm195]

Condoms work.

Also, keep in mind that the people that tend to sleep around tend to get tested for STDs as often as the change partners.

But most importantly, condoms work.

 

[Dark Knifer]

Considering I'm only going to have sex with my girlfriend and I'll be her first sexual partner and visa versa, then I'm not worried at all. Though for your case just play it safe, condoms work well and get tested regularly if you have many sexual partners.

 

[aPod]

Hello OP

I had a similar background growing up, christian conservative and blah blah bla blagggg.

It might be true that 25% of women have an std (if it is true) but not all stds are a big deal. Some of them are easily cured with some antibiotics hell i've heard of a guy curing his crabs by submerging himself in a barrel of diesel.

Then there's the condom, it does miracles. Even if it doesn't feel as good.

The only ones i'd really be worried is if the person is trying to give you an std. Yea, there are fucked up people who would do that.

What it's really about is your own personal attitude towards sex. You shouldn't let fear of STD's keep you from doing what you want to do, if it is what you want to do. You could get hit by a car and become paralyzed, eat some bad food and get e coli, or play some wii and smash your teeth in. My point being bad shit happens if bad shit's going to happen be smart and aware and you'll decrease the chances of you getting hit by a bus. Something to that effect.

 

[Astoria]

I'm not worried mostly because I'm not interested in casual sex. As long as your safe you should be safe from a STDs.

 

[feeback06]

I'm a married man, haven't gotten anything yet

 

[lettucethesallad]

I've had my fair share of casual encounters, and always made sure to use a condom. I've never had any kind of STD. In a long-term relationship I'll go with just my birth control, but only after we've both been tested.

Do whatever you're comfortable with doing, and don't hold yourself back because of people with agendas. Read up on STDs, get an objective view. As long as you're protected, the chance of bad things happening is minimal.

 

[FamoFunk]

Currently ripping to to a friend for having the clap...

Anyway, no, I'm not worried about them, I have how to practice safe sex and I do practice safe sex.

I don't care for those who shag around without protection and catch something, their fault, not mine.

 

[The Cor]

It might be true that 25% of women have an std (if it is true) but not all stds are a big deal. Some of them are easily cured with some antibiotics hell i've heard of a guy curing his crabs by submerging himself in a barrel of diesel.

25% is way to much it would mean that out of 20 friends 5 of them have an STD, it is most likely that among those 20 friends just one of them or none of them have an STD in most common circles.

 

[The Cor]

A) at the moment I am celibate

I am going to take a guess that you choice to do that after realizing how bad your sexual history is (I am assuming you consider it bad seeing your * * comment). My question is though how does becoming celibate solve anything at all? I have had females around me who were planning to swear celibacy and it always annoyed me, because it seemed like an irrational and impulsive decision that leads to nothing. So please explain.

P.S Go celibate if you really want to avoid the nastyness of intercourse, that is a message to everyone reading this.

 

[Blow_Pop]

A) at the moment I am celibate

I am going to take a guess that you choice to do that after realizing how bad your sexual history is (I am assuming you consider it bad seeing your * * comment). My question is though how does becoming celibate solve anything at all? I have had females around me who were planning to swear celibacy and it always annoyed me, because it seemed like an irrational and impulsive decision that leads to nothing. So please explain.

P.S Go celibate if you really want to avoid the nastyness of intercourse, that is a message to everyone reading this.

society considers it bad. I just don't like admitting it. only one person on this site knows the exact number and I really doubt he remembers. Being celibate means I'm not sleeping around and less likely to catch MOST STDs. There are a few that you can catch from other things (some from shaking hands mind you) but the actual sexually transmitted ones i won't catch. My reasoning for being celibate is that the guy I most want to sleep with lives about 5,082 miles away and across the Atlantic from me. None of the men, or women for that matter since I do like both genders, over here interest me. So quite simple really. Not being impulsive or really all that irrational. Just concentrating more on getting a job and gaming. Leaves less time for sexual encounters and yeah I'm crankier without them, I feel better about myself without them. Also I don't find intercourse to be nasty for the record but then I'm also not your average woman. Sexual energy just gets directed elsewhere