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STDs - You Need to Know
When it comes to Sexually Transmitted Diseases, or STDs, what you don't know could really hurt you and your partner. Some STDs have few or no symptoms, which is why testing is so important.
According to the American Social Health Association, more than half of all people will be infected with an STD at some point in their lifetime. The Centers for Disease Control estimates there are approximately 19 million new cases of STDs each year in the United States, almost half of them among young people ages 15 to 24.
So what can you do? Abstinence is the only way to completely prevent STD infection. But if you're going to have sex, use a condom and get regular STD tests. Talk to your doctor or visit your local health department for testing.
You can also get vaccinated for two common sexually transmitted viral infections - hepatitis B and Human Papillomavirus (HPV). Talk to your doctor or visit your local health department to find out more about vaccination.
Visit the website of the American Social Health Association and the Centers for Disease Control for more information about STDs.