Sex = (in)security?

We don’t want to be pessimists but if one doesn’t know how to handle sex properly, he or she might get into big trouble. Being it a complication running “just” a few years or a fatal problem without return ticket. However notorious the following text might seem, the fact is that, in the end, many people have suffered from the irresponsible approach thinking that it had nothing to do with them and that the problem would avoid them. Surely, you will not make the same mistake because you are wiser.

Sexually transmitted diseases

They are principal risk of sexual activities. It is far from the truth that only prostitutes and filthy people disease others. This idea is too naïve. The key problem lies often in unknowing that we are vehicles of infection because the disease is not observable at the first sight during the early stage, and subjectively we often don’t feel we are ill. Some diseases represent just a small “complication” which might make our life misery even for several years, others have irreversible consequences and might send us to our death.

The fact is that the most effective protection against transmission of venereal diseases is a condom. Contraceptive pills protect you against pregnancy but never against an infection.

HIV and AIDS

It is the best known risk of an unsafe sex. The HIV/AIDS represent a disease which is incurable up to the present and leads to death. It is transmitted by an unprotected intercourse and causes human immune system insufficiency which results in the painful death in the end. The paradox of virus HIV is the length of latency (depending upon a particular person, it might be 10, 15 years) with the absence of visible symptoms; the diseased doesn’t often know he or she is diseased. This is also the most frequent reason for another HIV transmission. Be aware that if you infect somebody with HIV, it equals almost a murder.

There is around 30 million HIV infected in the world nowadays. More than 25 million infected have died. The disease has left around 11 million orphans in Africa.

The knowing of protection against HIV/AIDS widely differs. For instance, only 15% of polled adolescents in some African countries (at the age from 15 to 19) know how to prevent the risk.

The effective protection against the risk of HIV transmission is a protected sexual intercourse, in other words the use of a condom.

Chlamydia

Following cancer and AIDS, it is the third most serious concern of global health. Chlamydia infects first of all genitals and lungs, then joints, heart and brain. In the final phase, Chlamydia causes irreversible damage of these organs which usually results in women’s sterility. It is transmitted by an unprotected sexual intercourse.

Maliciousness of this infection is multiplied by the fact that during the first phase – even for several years – visible symptoms may not appear. Transmission of the infection is much easier than in case of AIDS.

Gonorrhoea, syphilis

Well known pair of venereal diseases. Possibly you will not die of them, but they will make your life a misery. Gonorrhoea is a festering inflammation of genitals; syphilis shows itself by painful ulcers and rash in the genital area. Formerly, these diseases were of the most dangerous ones (uncured syphilis leads to facial skin destruction, dementia, and paralysis), nowadays they can be cured easily if diagnosed soon enough. The infection is transmitted – as one might expect – by an unprotected sexual intercourse.

Trichomoniasis

Trichomoniasis is a vehemently itching, festering inflammation of genitals. It makes penetration of HIV infection more likely. It is spread by an unprotected sexual intercourse. Condom can serve as prevention.

Testing

There is no shame in being sure that I am not vehicle of any STD. On the contrary, it is necessary. In our opinion, when suspecting infection, it is better to pass hundred superfluous examinations than to omit one and to let the affair grow into the horrible extent. Sometimes irreversible.

It is a good idea to have all this in mind when you have a new sexual relationship. Are you really sure that “nice, good looking and likeable” means “definitely not infected”?

Unwanted pregnancy

An unwanted pregnancy doesn’t necessarily mean medical complications (although it can, depending on the actual physical condition, age etc.), however it brings about a very difficult choice whether to have an unwanted child or to undergo an abortion, in other words termination of pregnancy (which could be seen as a murder depending on culture, attitudes, confession etc. of a particular person). Any way, to prevent the risk is better than to solve the irresolvable. The fact is that about 40 000 abortions are induced in the Czech republic annually.

Sex, drugs and alcohol

Surely, it is nice to party with friends: to drink a bit, to hang about and eventually to get some pick-me-up. OK. But in condition of “higher tolerance” for anything going on around the risk of harming one’s health or even threatening one’s life increases. With alcohol and drugs the risk of unsafe or even unwanted sex increases too.

JWe are sure that enjoying life to the full is alright but it is also desirable to think about the high price (possibly the highest) we might pay for it. We can affirm the truth of the proverb: Do today what you will not regret tomorrow.