HPV

Human Papilloma virus (HPV) will affect about 75-85% of females and males. HPV can cause Cervical, Vaginal, Vulvar cancer and Genital Warts in women. In males genital warts. Transmission of HPV can happen with any genital contact with a carrier. Some people who are carriers of HPV don’t know they have the virus. (It’s important to get tested for it if you are sexually active.) In women and men a certain strand causes Genital warts. But in women there can be cancer/precancerous cells of the cervix, vagina and vulva. There are many strands of the HPV virus and it is estimated that 6 MILLION new strands are found each year. The only way to fully protect your self is NOT HAVING SEX. Another way is the GARDASIL shot "GARDASIL is the only human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine that helps protect against 4 types of HPV. In girls and young women ages 9 to 26, GARDASIL helps protect against 2 types of HPV that cause about 75% of cervical cancer cases, and 2 more types that cause 90% of genital warts cases. In boys and young men ages 9 to 26, GARDASIL helps protect against 90% of genital warts cases.(www.gardasil.com)" You can get the Gardasil shot at your doctor, Gynecologist and Planned parent hood.

Have you or do you know anyone who has had the Gardasil shot?

Herpes.

Genital Herpes is caused by Simplex Viruses 1or 2. One out of five adults/adolescents have genital herpes. The virus is released from a sore, causing your unprotected genital area to contract the disease. The only way to contract Herpes is through unprotected sexual contact. You can also contract herpes between out breaks, so if you know your partner has herpes make sure to use protection ALWAYS. Some of the symptoms of Herpes are an outbreak of sores on your genitals, flu like symptoms high fever...the HSV 2 type of herpes sometimes never have sores and mild signs. Or they confuse the bump for a bug bite. To diagnose herpes you must go have a visual inspection, swab, or take blood. You can get tested at planned parent hood; you don’t have to have parental consent either. THERE IS NO TREATMENT FOR HERPES. That is something you will live with forever. There is a medication you can take to shorten and prevent out breaks. The only way to prevent herpes is to use protection, know your partners sexual backgrounds and to be abstinent. I have found all my info at  http://www.cdc.gov/std/herpes/STDFact-herpes.htm, Its a really good site with lots of info.

Clamidia.

Clamidia is a bacteria. Symptoms can appear one to three weeks after exposure. early symptoms are discharge from the penis and vagina or painful urination. If untreated it, in women it can cause pelvic inflammatory disease, and in men epididymitis or in the long run have fertility problems. This disease is also known as the silent disease. In Some cases symptoms do not show up so its hard to identify, that can be really scary. You can get clamidia from intercourse, oral and anal sex. The only 100% way to not contract clamidia is NOT HAVING SEX, or using laytex condoms. You can get tested for it at planned parent hood or a health care provider. Doctors usually do a swab test. The good thing is clamidia can be treated and cured with antibiotics. So just be safe and aware :]

Cant pick these up at Wal-Mart.

So Lets talk about STD's. A STD is a sexually transmitted disease. This happens when you have unprotected sex with an infected person. Sometimes the person who is infected doesn't even know they have a STD. That is why it is so important to go get tested every year if you are sexually active, Or before you start having sex with a new partner. You can get tested at your local planned parenthood. Its all confidential and you don't need parental consent. they also provide free condoms. If you DO have an STD, you need to tell your partner. There have been cases where people have gone to jail for knowingly having sex unprotected and infected with a disease. Come up with a plan to keep your partner safe and STD free! "There are about 50 STD's that are recognized. There are also many STD's that are not recognizable. Some of the most common STD's are, chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, chancroid, trichomoniasis, the human papillomavirus, HIV/AIDS, viral hepatitis, crabs, pelvic inflammatory disease, genital herpes and genital warts." And that's just the beginning. It is so very important to use condoms and know your partners sexual back ground. Don't be embarrassed to ask your partner the NITTY GRITTY details. You need to know who they have been with and more importantly if they used condoms. Think about it this way, every person your partner has been with essentially you have too. STD's spread person to person. And the only way to stop it is to use condoms. Or simply not have sex. Abstinence is the only 100% way to not get a STD. So be smart, know your history, and know how to use a condom. Plain and simple. Don't be reckless with your life.

Secret life.

So I watch a show called Secret Life Of The American Teenager. The latest episode was called "Just say me" it was about, well, pleasing your self...If you know what I mean ( the M word). A lot of people I have heard opinions from, think it is really taboo and wrong. They make it sound worse than having pre-marital sex. I honestly don't understand why. If you do, It ELIMINATES the risk for STDs, and Pregnancy. But people feel more guilty after "Just say me" and they dont after having sex. It just baffles me. So I would honestly want people doing that, then having sex. Maybe if teenagers did that more often, they wouldn't be so horny. But then if people just started doing that they miss out on the whole emotional relationship with another person. Hmm...here is the web address so you can watch the video! Enjoy!....http://community.abcfamily.go.com/watch/secret-life-american-teenager/just-say-me

Choice's and Needs.

Starting to have sex is a personal choice. You decide whether or not you want to have sex, before it even happens. Your parents have said wait to have sex. Your church has said wait to have sex. Even some of your friends have said wait to have sex. Though those are great influences, It still is a personal choice. For girls (most of the time) sex is about emotion. Most of us start an intimate relationship to have that feeling of security, want and need. For boys its simple, they want to have sex for needed pleasure. Most of the time nothing more.(Or vise versa) So before you start an intimate relationship think about the other persons needs. Are you going to be able to fulfill the security, wants and needs for a women? Are you going to fulfill the needs of a man by pleasing him all the time. When you are in a sexual relationship you need to find a happy median that meets both your needs. So a question for you, why did you decide to have sex? Or why are you waiting to have sex?

What your moms not telling you. Some facts for you.

1. You DO NOT have to be 18 to buy protection.
2. Doubling up on condoms is more of a RISK then just using one, when you double up you have a greater chance of the condoms ripping and having a leak of semen. which puts you at a higher chance of getting pregnant or catching a STD. (condoms do not prevent Herpes and HPV, those are spread skin to skin.)
3. The pull out method does not work. Men have pre-ejaculate. Guess whats in that...SPERM.
4. Condoms are not expensive. You can get them almost any where and range from .50-$5.00
5. Condoms can be purchased by anyone. Male or female.

6. Condoms expire!!!!! make sure to check the date.
7. Condoms can only go one round. If your up for two put on a new one.

If anyone one has any other facts about condoms. Feel free to add!