What Do You Know About STDs?

MYTH: Sexually Transmitted Diseases can destroy a person’s ability to have children?
FACT: True.  An undetected or untreated STD can cause sterility and death.

MYTH: You can always tell if you have an STD.
FACT: False.  Often there are NO symptoms. The best way to know if you have an STD is to get tested.

MYTH: The best way to protect yourself against an STD and pregnancy is to “double wrap” (use 2 condoms at the same time).
FACT: False.  Two condoms would create friction and increase the likelihood of the condom breaking.

MYTH: Your parents must be told if you come to a clinic to get tested for an STD or pregnancy.
FACT: False.  Your parents will not be told.  Minors (12 years and older) have rights of confidentiality when it comes to sexual health services.

MYTH: You can get gonorrhea in your throat from having unprotected oral sex with an infected person.
FACT: True.  Both giving and receiving oral sex can transmit HIV and other STDs.

MYTH: Marijuana and other drugs improve sex and increase the sexual drive.
FACT: False.  Drugs affect your ability to make a decision about whether or not you want to have sex.  These drugs do not increase your sex drive.

MYTH: Mountain Dew can kill sperm.
FACT: False.  Mountain Dew does not have any ingredients that kill sperm and does not prevent pregnancy.  The yellow #5 will not shrink your testicles (balls) or lower your sperm count.

MYTH: I haven’t been exposed to STD’s because we haven’t gone “all the way.”
FACT: False.  There are three ways to transmit sexually transmitted diseases.  These ways are vaginal or anal intercourse and oral sex.  Being sexually active even once puts you at risk for both STDs and unplanned pregnancy.

MYTH: I’m protected from sexually transmitted diseases because I take the Pill.
FACT: False.  This myth is probably on of the most common and dangerous misconceptions.  While taking the Pill decreases your risk of unplanned pregnancy drastically, it does not offer protection from sexually transmitted diseases.

MYTH: “I don’t have any of the signs or symptoms of sexually transmitted diseases, so I can’t be infected.”
FACT: False.  It isn’t uncommon to have a STD without experiencing any of the common signs or symptoms.

MYTH: If you have enough information about a STD you can always tell when you are infected.
FACT: False.  Some STDs are asymptomatic until the infection is full blown.  This  means that you do not have outwardly displays or feel any symptoms, making it harder to determine if you have contracted a disease.

MYTH: STDs are not serious diseases and are easily cured.
FACT: False.  STDs when left untreated, can cause major illnesses and problems that include sterility and death.

MYTH: When your symptoms go away, it means you are cured.
FACT: False.  The disease can still be with you unless it has been treated.

MYTH: You can contract an STD by coming in contact with an infected toilet seat, door knob, swimming pool or hot tub.
FACT: False.  Most STDs are sexually transmitted and cannot be contracted by contact with an infected surface.

MYTH: I think I might have some type of sexually transmitted disease.  But I’m not too worried, after all I just need to get a prescription and it will be gone.
FACT: False.  This casual attitude toward sexually transmitted diseases is likely one reason that the rate of STDs continues to increase.  Simply taking a pill won’t cure all types of STDs.

MYTH: I’ve only been sexually active with one person, so I don’t have to worry about STDs.
FACT: False.  How many other people did your partner have sex with before you?  Even if (s)he says you’re the first, it’s impossible to be sure that you’re getting the full truth.