STD Facts
What Are STIs and STDs?
An STI (Sexually Transmitted Infection) is an infection that does not show any physical signs or symptoms. It is contracted from another infected person through sexual activity. It becomes an STD (Sexually Transmitted Disease) when symptoms appear. It’s important to remember that not all infected people will have signs or symptoms. The problem is that some of these STDs can cause a lot of damage and can be passed to your partner without your knowledge. You do not have to have symptoms to be contagious; you can spread the disease at any time.
STIs
- More than 65 million people in the USA have an incurable STI.
- One in two sexually active youth will contract an STI by age 25.
- Many STIs have no symptoms. You can have one and spread it to others without even knowing.
- Nine million teens and young adults contract STIs each year.
- If you have had sex, including oral sex, you need to see a doctor to be tested for STIs – your life could depend on it!
Condoms
- Condoms are unable to protect you against all STIs because many STIs are spread from areas that condoms don’t cover. These include HPV and genital herpes, both of which have no medical cure.
- When a condom fails it can cause a life to begin (pregnancy) or can cause major health problems or even death (STIs). “Safe sex” can be very risky.
- The CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) states it clearly “condom use cannot guarantee absolute protection against any STD.”
The only two ways to protect yourself from STIs are to abstain from sex before marriage and to only have sex within a faithful lifelong commitment (i.e. marriage) to a partner who is STI free. If you have already had sex, there is still hope. You should begin by having yourself tested for STI’s and treated if necessary. Then you can make a commitment from this day forward to save yourself for marriage -something known as Second Virginity.
You may not be able to change the past, but you can decide what comes next.
Central Florida Pregnancy Center cares about your health and happiness, and therefore believes that abstinence is the only way to protect your heart and health from the consequences of pre-marital sex.