What should every person know about STDs?
The fastest growing population of those with STDs is the high school population. Females are more susceptible to STDs than males because of their anatomy. In most women (and some men), there are no symptoms of STDs. Not only does a sexual partner not tell about the disease, often the woman herself doesn’t know she has it. If discovered early enough, treatment can be simple (often requiring no more than antibiotics). However, if a case goes untreated, the damage can be permanent, life altering, or life threatening. Immunity to STDs does NOT develop, and some STDs are incurable. STDs have nothing to do with cleanliness or grooming. STDs know no geographical or socioeconomic boundaries. STDs can be transmitted by oral sex, anal sex, vaginal sex, or even by heavy petting. Penile penetration does NOT have to occur.
