Can Washing Prevent STDs?
Feb. 21, 2002 — How much do teenagers and young adults know about safe sex? Not much. In fact, many people are still in the dark when it comes to preventing sexually transmitted diseases, according to the latest research. But on the bright side, that same research shows that counseling can shed some light on the truth while dispelling dangerous old myths. Every year, more than 15 million new cases of STDs, or sexually transmitted diseases such as chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis are reported. A study in the October 2000 issue of the American Journal of Preventive Medicine may explain why. In the study, 3,500 people who had been diagnosed with an STD were followed for a year. The patients, average age 25, were initially asked some questions about what they thought were proper behaviors to avoid STDs. The answers were surprising. • Nearly half of the group believed douching protected against STDs. • Almost 40% thought urinating after sex fought off STDs. • One in five believed birth c
