It is considered the oldest form of modern protection in the book, but for the sexually active individual, a condom may be the best method of preventing a sexually transmitted disease.
Practice safe sex: This is the message broadcast by researchers that estimated that almost 20 million Americans are suffering from a sexually transmitted disease. Young people between the ages of 15 to 24 make up 20 percent of overall cases, both new and old.
Out of all of these strains, 72 percent of people were affected by the human papillomavirus (HPV) – also known as genital warts. Alongside this disease, the remaining that also sat commonly with other cases were infections such as hepatitis B, HIV, trichomoniasis (genital inflammation), chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis and herpes.
The lead researcher of these new findings, Catherine Lindsey Satterwhite, told NBC News that the United States has an, “ongoing, severe, STI epidemic.”
What was problematic about the discovery was that the number of STIs were higher in the year 2008 than they were in 2000. In 2008, there were 19.7 million new cases as opposed to the 18.8 million new cases in 2000. Researchers are wary however, as the data from the year 2000 was not necessarily from the same source as the data in 2008.
For those in the UK, the strain is not necessarily something to be ignored, as people across the country – young and old – are annually affected by STDs across the country.
Whilst some contraceptives will prevent pregnancy, the best way to lower the risk of sexually transmitted disease is to slip on a condom during sex. You may not believe that you are at any risk, but bearing in mind that STDs do not necessarily have to be transferred by sexual contact; it never hurts to be cautious whilst maintaining a good, healthy and happy relationship.
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