Thousands of women are diagnosed with STIs each year in the UK alone. Women have to be particularly careful when it comes to STIs, as it can jeapardise their ability to have children in future. So what should we do about it? Keep reading to learn more.
What are STIs?
STIs or sexually transmitted infections are fairly common these days. These infections include herpes, chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, and AIDs. Among these, AIDs is the most serious and deadliest because it is current incurable.
Mode of transmission
We call them STIs because they are transferrable through sexual intercourse. Therefore, any sexual act like vaginal, anal or oral can put you at risk of getting an STI. Apart from this, multiple sexual partners and homosexuality are other causes.
What can STIs do to your body?
Studies have proven that women are more prone to STIs than men. STIs may have different presentations according to other organisms. For example,
- Chlamydia and gonorrhea can cause pelvic inflammatory disease, which can lead to infertility.
- Syphilis can cause infant death during pregnancy more than any other agent.
- Long-term syphilis can affect your nervous system.
- Human papillomavirus is a proven cause of cervical and vaginal malignancies.
- It may cause problems in conceiving, organ dysfunction, and structural defects in your genitals.
How to protect yourself?
Women cannot just stop having sex. But, we can take some precautions to protect ourselves from getting STIs.
Consult your GP
A sexually active woman should see a general practitioner or a gynecologist once a year. People only see a doctor when there is a problem, but this is not always the best strategy, especially with sexual health. Sometimes, seeing a doctor can prevent problems before they become more serious and potentially incurable.
Go for a pap smear
All gynaecologists recommend a pap smear once you are twenty-plus or sexually active. It is a screening test to detect cervical cancer. In addition, gynaecologists recommend a pap smear once every three years.
Use protection
Always use protection when you are having intercourse with someone new. No matter how much the guy insists or if you are on a pill. Always use a condom.
Limit your sexual partners
The hookup culture is a leading factor in STIs transmission. Since you don’t know the person, you don’t know his disease. So, try to stay cautious with the amount of sexual partners you have.
Get vaccinated
We have vaccines against HPV. Every woman should get a shot.
Stop Douching
Some women clean their vaginas from the inside. Stop doing that. In this way, you are stripping yourself of your good bacteria. In addition, it increases the chances of STIs.
Conclusion
Sexual health should not be a taboo subject, especially when casual sex is more common than ever. Speak to your doctor, practise safe sex, and get an STI test if you have any doubt about your sexual health.
Odyssey has been the lead content writer and content marketer. He has vast experience in the field of writing. His SEO strategies help businesses to gain maximum traffic and success.