5 Myths About STDs

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Posted: Jun 5th, 2019 at 12:00AM - by e7 Health

When you make the decision to engage in an intimate act with another person, you automatically open yourself up to a whole host of health risks. It doesn't take much, either — even mere skin-to-skin contact carries an inherent danger of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). STDs are a complicated conversation, and knowing truth from fiction is crucial in keeping yourself protected and safe. Let's cover some of the most common myths about STDs and get to the bottom of them.

5 Myths About STDs

Myth 1: If You Don't Have Sex, You Can't Get an STD

Truth: Any kind of sexual contact can lead to contracting an STD.

We already touched on this myth earlier on. To be clear, opting for an intimate act that isn't "going all the way" doesn't mean you can't catch an STD. This is because the various kinds of viruses and bacteria that cause STDs enter the system through very small cuts and tears.

Furthermore, for STDs like herpes, all it takes is skin-to-skin contact with an infected area.

Myth 2: If You (or Your Partner) Have an STD, You'll Know It

Truth: Many STDs often give off no visible signs.

It's not just visible signs, either — it's invisible ones, too. A person can feel totally healthy and still have an STD (and give it to others). Not even a doctor can tell just by looking or asking you questions.

Getting tested before any sexual activity happens — as well as engaging in safe sex — is vital in keeping yourself and your partners safe.

Myth 3: You Can Get an STD From a Toilet Seat

Truth: Toilet seats are not a culprit!

In many cases, a virus begins to die right after it leaves your body, meaning it cannot survive on a toilet seat and be picked up by someone else. In other cases — such as that of HIV — the virus needs an open wound to get into so it can infect your bloodstream. Once again, the mere skin-to-surface contact of a person sitting on the toilet seat won't be enough to catch an STD.

Myth 4: You Can Only Get Herpes From Someone When They're Having an Outbreak

Truth: You can catch herpes even if it's lying dormant in your partner.

Herpes can be dormant for weeks without an outbreak, and a person can still pass it along to you. They might not even know they've been infected. Just because you can't see it doesn't mean it's not there — and contagious.

Myth 5: Chlorine Kills STDs

Truth: Chlorine is no match for STDs.

There's this misconception you can be intimate in a pool or hot tub and still be safe because the chlorine (and the hot water, in the case of a hot tub) will kill off the virus or bacteria behind an STD. This is not the case. Also important to note: latex condoms can break down in hot tubs.

It seems like a lot of doom and gloom, but there is hope. Safe sex and getting tested are always a good idea. So is making sure you're caught up on your STD vaccines. E7 Health makes it simple. If you need to get vaccinated and you're in the Las Vegas area, contact us today for more information.

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