Myth-Information
HIVHepatitis C
Hepatitis B
Herpes
Chlamydia
Gonorrhea
Syphilis
HPV
Unintended Pregnancy
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Myth-Information
HIV Myth
THE MYTH: You can't have two STDs at once, including HIV.
THE REALITY: You can have multiple STDs at a time. If you have just one other untreated STD, you are 10 times more likely to have HIV. Your chances are greater if you have genital warts, lesions or ulcers like those you can get with syphilis or herpes.
Hepatitis C Myth
THE MYTH: Diet and exercise won't make a difference to your overall health if you have hepatitis C.
THE REALITY: There is evidence that a healthy diet and exercise can keep the liver healthier and slow the progression of the disease.
Hepatitis B Myth
THE MYTH: If you don't have any symptoms, you don't have a sexually transmitted disease/sexually transmitted infection (STD/STI).
THE REALITY: Many STDs are asymptomatic meaning without symptoms. Serious damage is being done to a woman's reproductive organs whether she has symptoms or not. The only way to know for sure if you are infected is to be tested. If you suspect you have a sexually transmitted infection or if your sexual partner has symptoms, you can go to your doctor or health department for testing. Talk with a knowledgeable health care provider or counselor before and after you are tested.
The surest way to avoid transmission of sexually transmitted diseases is to abstain from sexual contact or to be in a long-term mutually monogamous relationship with a partner who has been tested and is known to be uninfected.
Chlamydia Myth
THE MYTH: Only 15% of women with untreated chlamydia may develop pelvic inflammatory disease.
THE REALITY: Up to 40% of women with untreated chlamydia may develop pelvic inflammatory disease.
Gonorrhea Myth
THE MYTH: You can't have two STDs at once, including HIV.
THE REALITY: You can have multiple STDs at a time. If you have just one other untreated STD, you are 10 times more likely to have HIV. Your chances are greater if you have genital warts, lesions or ulcers like those you can get with syphilis or herpes.
HPV Myth
THE MYTH: If you don't have any symptoms, you don't have a sexually transmitted disease/sexually transmitted infection (STD/STI).
THE REALITY: Many STDs are asymptomatic meaning without symptoms. Serious damage is being done to a woman's reproductive organs whether she has symptoms or not. The only way to know for sure if you are infected is to be tested. If you suspect you have a sexually transmitted infection or if your sexual partner has symptoms, you can go to your doctor or health department for testing. Talk with a knowledgeable health care provider or counselor before and after you are tested.
The surest way to avoid transmission of sexually transmitted diseases is to abstain from sexual contact or to be in a long-term mutually monogamous relationship with a partner who has been tested and is known to be uninfected.
Unintended Pregnancy Myth
THE MYTH: If a guy doesn't come, or ejaculate, during sex, there is no chance of pregnancy.
THE REALITY: This method, called the withdrawal method, AKA pulling out, AKA coitus interruptus, is a totally ineffective method of pregnancy prevention. After a guy is aroused, and during sexual activity, pre-ejaculatory fluid, AKA precum, is secreted from the urethra. The purpose of this fluid is to neutralize the urethra so the sperm can survive. This fluid contains - you guessed it - SPERM! And as we all know, sperm can very well impregnate a woman. While the amount of sperm is considerably less than released during ejaculation, there is still a significant chance of pregnancy. Consider this: An average of 300 million sperm are released during ejaculation. If one tenth of that amount is released in the precum, that's still 30 million sperm, and it takes only ONE to get pregnant, so wrap it up boys! Another interesting fact: A girl who doesn't use protection during sex has a 90% chance of getting pregnant during the first year.
More Unintended Pregnancy Myths...
Syphilis Myth
THE MYTH: You can't get STDs from giving or receiving oral sex.
THE REALITY: This is one of the most dangerous myths in existence. Any exposure to genitalia or body fluids puts you at risk for getting an STD. There are many STDs that can be transmitted through oral sex, including genital herpes, genital warts (HPV), gonorrhea, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, chlamydia, canchroid, syphilis, internal parasite, and rarely, HIV. To prevent getting an STD from oral sex, you and your partner should get screened for STDs, and you should always use a condom or dental dam (a latex square or cut open condom) during oral sex. But of course, you can only get an STD if your partner has one in the first place, so get tested!
Herpes Myth
THE MYTH: You can't have two STDs at once, including HIV.
THE REALITY: You can have multiple STDs at a time. If you have just one other untreated STD, you are 10 times more likely to have HIV. Your chances are greater if you have genital warts, lesions or ulcers like those you can get with syphilis or herpes.
