There is a certain disgrace that goes along with contracting a sexually transmitted disease (STD). In fact, it can be downright embarrassing visiting with a doctor and admitting that you believe you have acquired an STD. Many people believe that STDs and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) only happen to people who sleep around. They are mistaken with this belief. However, there are ways to avoid getting an STD if you know what to do.
According to the Centers for Disease Control, in the United States alone, there are about 20 million new cases of STIs and STDs every year. That is a crazy high number to wrap your head around. The population in the United States is about 325 million people. To think that possibly 100 million people are having sex every year in the fifty states. One fifth of them are acquiring something sexually transmitted to them. But for many, there are no symptoms at all, so they are not aware they are transmitting it to other people.
One of the most common STDs is the human papillomavirus (HPV). If you are not up on STDs, then there is a good chance you have never heard of it. In fact, almost every person that is sexually active will acquire it in their lifetime. Symptoms do not always show up right away, though, if at all. But it can lead to genital warts or even cervical cancer. However, you probably don’t even realize you can get vaccinations that protect you from HPV.
Chlamydia is another STD that is passed around in high numbers. While both men and women can attain it, it does affect more women. Furthermore, it can greatly damage a woman’s reproductive system so much that it could make it impossible for her ever to get pregnant. Although, those with chlamydia often do not display symptoms either, so others pass it forward without knowing it.
If you have ever wondered if you have acquired an STD throughout the years, it would be a wise move to investigate further. There are numerous clinics available to get a quick test done that should put your mind at ease. Whether you are in Canada and want to go to a clinic specialized in STD testing in Montreal or living somewhere else in the world, there are clinics that make your privacy a priority. There are ways STDs can be treated, but you first have to determine if you have one.